Actually hit some communist/Labor Day concert last night. It was wild. Not surprisingly, it seemed more an excuse for the locals to go crazy than anything else -- and that they did. Do communists even smoke weed? And if so, is it state-provided?
The metro station where the concert was being held was closed, so imagine my
confusion/frustration when after all the back and forth on multiple trains, I couldn't find one that would stop at the damn station.I finally figured it out. I'm smart. And still passing for Italian -- until I open my mouth (that's when a little "USA" flag comes out).
Today's itinerary, with commentary ...
*Colosseum: It's amazing how well it's held up over the years, and also sad that so much of it is gone. Incidentally, I saw just one cat.
Russell Crowe's "Gladiator" did a fine job portraying what life was like for gladiators back then. According to our tour guide, at least. I hadn't even planned to take the tour, but I might still be in line if I hadn't.
Really, the architectural and organizational achievement of building and running a massive structure like this is amazing -- as was the compete disregard for life (human and animal) displayed by some emperors.
With all the carnage, they had to constantly pump out incense to overpower the stench of blood, urine and entrails. They apparently also did this back in the day.
FUN FACT: The source of the water used in Rome's aqueduct today is the same source that was pumped into the same aqueduct system 2000 years ago. Of course, all those people are dead now.
*Palatino/Roman Forum/Augustus' pad: The original Roman settlements turned into homes for nobles and eventually Augustus' palace. We also learned, thanks to our North Carolinian tour guide, the origin of the word "fornicate." It was right here. Same root as "forum." Apparently it had something to do with where the prostitutes of the day would advertise their, um, wares.
Damn Heathrow.
The Forum 2000 years ago = Times Square today, according to our guide (insert prostitute joke here). Seems about right. Just as many ruins, fewer pretzels.
They recently opened four very well-preserved rooms in Augustus' casi. Really quite cool. Paint still seemed fresh, you could even smell it. Or maybe that was the guy from Kansas standing next to me.
Our tour guide equated an invite to watch a performance at Augustus' own forum with an invite to a private movie screening at the White House, with the difference being Augustus could chop off your finger (or more) if he didn't like your point of view.
Maybe our tour guide never heard of Guantanamo Bay ...
Anyway, the marble arches were amazing, ill-gotten or not. I saw so many sights that I had no historical background on, but that barely diminished the awe factor.
*Circus Maximus: It's basically just a field/park now, which really is too bad. After all, it essentially was the birthplace of NASCAR.
Incidentally, when walking all around searching for the Circus (no longer quite as) Impressivus, I had to stop myself a couple of times from asking directions how to get to Fortress Maximus.
*Trevi Fountain: I did the coin toss thing, allegedly ensuring a quick return trip to Rome. But one person spent about a minute explaining to her friend that the friend had committed a tourist faux pas. Instead of tossing the coin over the right shoulder with the right hand, our protagonist had tossed with right hand over left shoulder.
Rather than returning to Roma, this apparently means that the girl instead will be mauled by a rabid, cannoli-eating koala. Or something like that. My Italian's a little rusty. Non-existent, actually.
Minutes later, some dude fell in the fountain.
Hours later, I got strange looks as I tried to work shrimp meat out of its shell (there's no shrimp-shelling industry here? Either way, of course I was going to sample the local cuisine. The McDonalds here are much different than in the States). Butterfly effect.
FUN FACT: Gladiators winning 10 fights were freed. Of course, by this time they were badly scarred, half-blind and missing fingers and limbs -- making them well-qualified for new careers as baggage security agents at Heathrow.
By the way, my pocket pc suggests words as I am typing. Each time I type "Heathrow" it suggests "still sucks." Awesome.
Tomorrow's journey: The Vatican. With God as my witness.
"My god, at least," Scott once said. To which I replied, "same guy." Wouldn't matter in Rome, where worshipping multiple gods was the way of life and Christians and Jews were SOL.
DRAINPIPE!
3 comments:
I'm beginning to think that you went on this trip just so you can write an entertaining blog about Heathrow.
Only you would be in this amazingly historic place and somehow find a way to tie in NASCAR. Don't forget to look for the Pope Mobile!
Sounds like an awesome day J. Stories about everything you're seeing is what made me want to take Latin in middleschool. Sadly the stories that were told to me in 5th grade were nothing like the actual language they expected you to learn in 6th-8th grade.
Post a Comment