Sunday, October 27, 2019
Roman Holiday
We had a great trip to Rome. Overwhelming, really. So much art, so much pasta, so many unpleasant bodily odors, so many lines. I can't even really pick one top highlight from the trip, it was all so fascinating, but the Sistine Chapel was definitely up there. Even if we were crammed in there with about 7000 people trying to take secret photographs and a man with a microphone urging "silencio" over and over again. It's one of those human accomplishments that is almost impossible to fathom, like La Sagrada Familia or Vanderpump Rules. Plus the cafeteria pizza at the Vatican cafeteria is really top notch.
One lesser known artistic experience that was also quite solid was Rome's museum of modern art. They had some very high quality works by people like Klimt, De Chirico, and Calder, but without the swarms of people complaining about the heat and looking for someplace to sit. They organized the work thematically, too, which was pretty compelling. I had never thought about the way Rodin complements Klimt, for instance, but it was striking. Also they had these contemporary sculptures that kind of looked like ghosts that my nephew took an immediate Instagram liking to.
Of course we also did the Colosseum and Roman forum, which was fascinating despite the eighty degree heat and roving packs of entrepreneurs trying to sell Michelangelo-themed aprons and such. But the best experience with ruins had to be our side trip to Pompeii, where we actually roved the ancient streets, trying to avoid being caught scowling in the background of Japanese tourists' selfies. I'm not completely sold on the concept of tragedy as tourism yet, but this was very moving.
Also? They have a wonderful TV networks called TOP Crime that plays old chestnuts like Bones and Rizzoli & Isles around the clock. And thus I may have to move there. Sorry, mom.
We had a great trip to Rome. Overwhelming, really. So much art, so much pasta, so many unpleasant bodily odors, so many lines. I can't even really pick one top highlight from the trip, it was all so fascinating, but the Sistine Chapel was definitely up there. Even if we were crammed in there with about 7000 people trying to take secret photographs and a man with a microphone urging "silencio" over and over again. It's one of those human accomplishments that is almost impossible to fathom, like La Sagrada Familia or Vanderpump Rules. Plus the cafeteria pizza at the Vatican cafeteria is really top notch.
One lesser known artistic experience that was also quite solid was Rome's museum of modern art. They had some very high quality works by people like Klimt, De Chirico, and Calder, but without the swarms of people complaining about the heat and looking for someplace to sit. They organized the work thematically, too, which was pretty compelling. I had never thought about the way Rodin complements Klimt, for instance, but it was striking. Also they had these contemporary sculptures that kind of looked like ghosts that my nephew took an immediate Instagram liking to.
Of course we also did the Colosseum and Roman forum, which was fascinating despite the eighty degree heat and roving packs of entrepreneurs trying to sell Michelangelo-themed aprons and such. But the best experience with ruins had to be our side trip to Pompeii, where we actually roved the ancient streets, trying to avoid being caught scowling in the background of Japanese tourists' selfies. I'm not completely sold on the concept of tragedy as tourism yet, but this was very moving.
Also? They have a wonderful TV networks called TOP Crime that plays old chestnuts like Bones and Rizzoli & Isles around the clock. And thus I may have to move there. Sorry, mom.
