Somusing

Erin found us a nice apartment in Rome near Vatican City, with a view out the back to the dome of St. Peter's basilica in the Vatican. That wall contains the Passetto di Borgo which was an escape route for Popes in danger. Our apartment was just a few meters down the street through the gate. St. Peter's Square in the Vatican is a really impressive place, and very busy even on a not particulary busy day: I came upon the Spanish Steps by accident while walking around, which lead down to the Piazza di Spagna: The church is the church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti and the Egyptian obelisk is a copy, but itself a very old copy. According to Wikipedia, “It is a Roman obelisk in imitation of Egyptian ones, originally constructed in the early years of the Roman Empire.” All this is not too far from the H&M department store where Mira was shopping for clothes to replace those lost in her checked bag that Air France and/or Air Malta lo...

Mira and I are on vacation and are visiting Rome for a few days, our first time here. I was aware that ancient Rome was called SPQR, Senatus PopulusQue Romanus , “The Senate and People of Rome”. I didn’t realize before being here that everyone still knows and uses the term SPQR in modern Rome. Here are a few visual demonstrations gathered over two days: I keeping meaning to read Mary Beard’s history book titled SPQR . Now I really need to do it. There is here very much a sense of continuity over the past 2000+ years. Recent renovations in churches and other buildings date to the 1700s. History is in physical layers. It is a treat simply to walk and look around. The Italian language is great, like funhouse mirror French and Spanish. Of course the Italians feel their language is the normal one and the others are weird. I just have little experience with it. We are staying near Vatican City. Everywhere we go is so busy with people all the time, al...