Eating up all those paint chips, Vatican style

To leave the Vatican Museums after really taking in some of the art, historical artifacts, architecture, and sculptures engulfing the giant edifice without being completely humbled would cause one to suspect that you just might to be beaten, or shipped home ‘cause you’re a loud obnoxious American tourist. Fortunately, I can stay because the feeling and amazement that complexly engulfs you when you stare at something such as La Stanza e Loggia di Raffaello(http://www.christusrex.org/www1/stanzas/0-Raphael.html), The Last Judgment(http://www.abcgallery.com/M/michelangelo/michelangelo54.html), Raphael's Transfiguration(http://www.eyeconart.net/history/Renaissance/transfiguration.htm), or The Sistine Chapel(http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/CSN/CSN_Main.html) (yes, I know the last judgment is part of the chapel, but it’s good enough to get it’s own link) was incredibly captivating and indescribable through my poor English skills. If you don’t plan on ever going to The Vatican in your lifetime, shame on you. It’s too amazing to never see in person. Details not able to be captured by photograph are clearly visible and you can’t get the exuberance, the pure adrenaline rush that runs through you when here by looking at a picture in a book or magazine. I took some pictures that I’ll put online later in the week, though I’m not sure how well they turned out considering my camera is meant for outdoor, nothing fancey pictures. I’ll do my best to edit them so they’re good to look at, though.
On a lighter note, it’s been raining all day yesterday and today so far, which has been pretty crappy, though I was in the museums most of the day yesterday and inside today mostly, so it could have been worse. It does kind of stink for those who went on trips to Cinque Terra or Florence or wherever ‘cause it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop any time soon. Glad I stayed back to go to the Vatican instead.
Hell week one is officially over, only to make way for Hell week number two, coming up in the middle of October. Multiple tests, a quiz, and a presentation all completed in due fashion. Fortunatly, we have our party coming up and Miss Foley is coming to visit this week, should be a good time. Always nice to hang out w/part of the U of M crew…especially in Rome. Should be a good windown week before it’s time to gear it back up again.
Another nice thing is that our apt. is currently being cleaned thoroughly by the landlord for free…boo ya. It desperately needs it since we don’t have a vacume and have to rely solely on a tiny, inadequate Swiffer to clean our floors. Hurray for their bleach mops and electronic sucking machines. And new, clean sheats on our beds, yusss.
I also finished Angels & Demons yesterday…pretty sweet book. Now it’s time to go take a look at all the places in the book in a little more detail than just passing by them when walking somewhere. I already got to go check out the Dove at the top of the Fontana Dei Fiumi in Piazza Navona. Can say that I never actually saw the dove there before reading the book. My next visit will be to the Pantheon, which, saying disappointed in myself, I have yet to go inside. I’d talk a lot more about it, but I’d rather not ruin the book for anyone who has yet to delve into it’s cleverly written tale. I suppose it’s back to the Chronicles of Narnia for now, though after yesterday, I’ve added a few large books to the ever growing list of books I’d like to read but appear to never have time in which to partake, including Dante’s Inferno/Divine Comedies, along with a few tales by Homer and Virgil. I’ll just pile those on the stack of books in my room back home, lol.
That’s about it from this side of the pond, I’ll catch you cats on da flip side,
Ciao,
Jon Boy