Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Friday, December 23, 2011

Rome, Part 1

The big gaudy monument everybody calls "The Wedding Cake". It's one of the least historic sites in Rome, but it's right in the middle and a useful landmark. It's a monument to the unification of Italy, which wasn't governed as one country until recently.







Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Venice, Part 3

I have so many photos from the Italy trip to post. I need to go through more and get them up here.

Below: At high tide water will actually come up into St Mark's Square. They have portable elevated sidewalks that they can bring out to help you get around. 











Below: To remind you that this is a real city and not Disneyworld, the graffiti cretins will draw on a 500 year old bridge. 


Below: They really do use canals instead of streets. It's not just for tourists. Here is a "truck" delivering bottled water and restaurant supplies. 



Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Let's go see the pope!

Well, we're in Rome... might as well... even though it means getting up early to go to the Vatican. 
 Black and magenta... very stylish... it is Italy after all.

 Is that the pope?? Is he coming?
 No, relax.
 Is that him?
 No, it's not.


 Waiting, waiting.
 It's the pope, in the pope-mobile!

 Here he is... wow, we're close.





 I've gotta say, nice head of hair for a man his age.
 Can't understand a word... and speaking of stylish Italians, check out the guy with the shades.
 This guy below is doing the English portion, but it's all "we'd like to welcome the students from the Saint (insert name here) School of Boston"... and the kids cheer and the pope waves at them.
 OK, it's over.


 The place clears out remarkably fast... and then we get the scariest cab ride back to town that you could ever imagine.