Oct 28 -- To Rome

Rome Sept 28
Leaving Montebelli, we posed for a group photo. I wonder if Christian jumps into the center of every tour photo...

The VBT guide, Frank, meets us at the hotel in Rome. He orients us to the city with detailed maps and specific instructions like, "Spend the 25 Euros on the 3-day roma pass," and, "Don't tip!  Always make sure the waiters in the restaurant you choose are old." and, "Just walk across the road. Don't stop for the cars."
Six of the Michigan group and I opt to go on a walking tour around Rome with Frank. He walks backwards all over Rome, german-accented explanations coming at us as fast as the Rome drivers.
Frank points out many buildings designed by his favorite 16th century architect, Borghini. Borghini tricked the viewer by altering perspective or painting false windows on a facade. We dart through alleys and see places not on the list of Roman highlights, including, "Where Caesar was really murdered."
I wonder if I am the only one ignorant of the reason for the lack of skyscrapers in Rome. By treaty with the Vatican, nothing may surpass St. Peter's in height. It serves to preserve ancient structures, sometimes just a column here or there or a Roman wall used in building a Renaissance home.
Rome was not bombed during the World Wars because of the proximity of the Vatican.
Frank takes us through the Pantheon, where, on December 21, the winter solstice sun shines through the tall door and the summer-solstice noon sun floods on the floor from the hole in the cupulo. The pagan spirits were able to leave by the same hole so that the building could be consecrated when the Romans and Catholics joined forces in the time of Constantine.









Every few blocks there was another fountain. In one, four nude boys pose under a disc of falling water. Turtles seem to have been hurled up on the disc by the boys. Frank explained how, previously Renaissance art with the boys posed without action, the sculpture had been up-dated to baroque, by adding the turtles and the action associated with them.
At dark, we gazed at the fringes of the lit-up ancient ruins, then catch a bus to our hotel.