My first journal entry: "Dianne's birthday!" A toast to my lovely sister en ausencia.
Much like sitting in a theater watching an action-packed movie, Rome registers in my mind as mesmerizing sequences of flickering visuals. Was I watching from the sidelines or really, a participant?
We began our tour at the Vatican museum (organizing the masses? they've got it down pat!) The beauty of the frescoes, the harmony of sculpture - seemingly, every inch of wall, ceiling, door & floor, a canvas palette potential. Stories of the Bible coming alive as we walk, mouth agape. And, what can possibly be said about "The Sistine Chapel" that hasn't already had comment? Grace & Beauty in delicate brushstrokes everywhere you look.
St Peter's is amazing: the expanse, the stained glass, gilded work, marble, opulence & sense of holiness, timeliness is inescapable. We received special permission to go under the Basilica to the Vatican Necropolis, aka "Scavi". Incredible! Secret excavations starting in 1939, gradually revealed that St Peter's bones are actually buried here, which we were able to see!
The next day, a city bus tour gave us a sense of Rome at rapid speed. I was comforted to note Victor Emmanuel (1st king of Italy after unification) is still charging on his steed in front of his "wedding cake" memorial monument. Of course, we tossed coins in The Fountain of Trevi, gawked at the architecturally perfect splendor of the 120 a.d. Pantheon, period columns, ancient rubble & unaffected city life in constant motion. Visiting St Paul outside the Walls was the obvious conclusion to our tour - a beautifully reconstructed version/embellished after fire damaged most of the structure in the early 19th c. Seeing the Colosseum by early evening light was such a visual delight, the golden sunlight emphasizing the splendor of that massive arena.
Our last team meal together -- the team leaves for home early tomorrow am.
