Rome is...

...authentic and magical. I loved this city. From the moment I stepped off the train, I knew it. This place is not Las Vegas - this is the real deal. Big city, brash romantic locals, and lots of old stuff. I wish I could type more here, truly. Its just that I had this WHOLE blog typed out and organized, and then it got deleted. (See "I Hate Computers" blog). Maybe Ill go back someday and update this blog, but for now Im not spending another 2 hours indoors doing this blog. Enjoy pictures and videos with short commentary.




First picture I took when I got to Rome. Notice the tourists walking by like "What in the world..."



How about a nice little tour?



Across the street is the Roman Forum. These white pillars are the remains of the circular building that used to house the Roman flame that the Vestal Virgins were charged to protect.







The house of the Vestal Virgins! If any of these 6 women were ever found to not live up to, uh, their namesake, they were dragged through the street and then buried alive. Ouch.





A tour of my Roman house:





The Roman Forum is so big. Dang, this commentary I wrote before was so much better.



This is an old stone that people used to stand up on and delcare new political views and opinions. Here, some random tourist indulged me and took this picture.




This old man and his granddaughter were having the best time. She was so excited about whatever she was talking about, and he was so happy to be feeling so young.



*Wink*



This jumping picture spawned several others right after I took this one. I'm to the Italians what the Spanish were to Latin America; except that instead of blankets and disease, I bring jumping pictures and sarcasm.





This skylight illuminates the whole interior of the Pantheon. When it rains, a cylinder of water falls straight down and escapes through ancient holes in the ground. When it rains, locals come by and check it out.



Here I am being a bonafide tourist. Im wearing one of those Whisper devices - our tour guide had a microphone that enabled her to talk to us all without shouting. So cool. But, if you find yourself wearing a Whisper device and walking in a group behind someone with a piece of fabric on a long stick in the air, you're a tourist, buddy.



The Trevi Fountain! Im glad thing isnt copied anywhere (as far as I know). So many people here throwing coins into the fountian over their left shoulder, wishing to come back to Rome. On Mondays, all the coins are collected and given to the Red Cross.




Yes I took a picture with this. No, I didnt buy it. Thank you, thank you.



This guy was so hilarious. He was dancing and shouting at cars in the middle of this plaza and making faces at anybody who looked his way. So what did I do? I ran over and joined him. Yes, there are pictures of that, but on another camera. Hopefully Ill get those soon.







Can anybody tell me where the catacombe is exactly located?





Here's just a cool view of the Collesium.





I had to wait for so many cars and vespas to pass by to get this shot. I think there is a vespa about one foot from the right side of the frame.



This is the Collesium floor. The gladiators and animals and slaves would prepare below stage here before riding an elevator to the stage for battle.





Here's the Big News Report from the Collesium.
Check out this link http://youtube.com/watch?v=CQq8uADJo_A for the official Big News version. If that like doesnt work, check out the field version here.



This is not a covert picture of the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. That's not my chin and hat.



This is not a better shot that I got from a different angle.



Vatican City! Two countries in one day. Check me out.



St. Peter's Basillica. This plaid shirt has been officially ordained by God.



I had such a great time in Italy with the Langs. Here we all are on the last night of their trip.



It's always a good time with Bob!




Yea Rome! Im behind on blogs.

Florence is....

....hot and naked. Ok, that sounds pretty scandalous. Lemme explain. Florence is by far the hottest city so far, hotter than Venice. There just isn't that much shade here, and whatever all the buildings are made of just radiates and reflects the sun so much that you get heat from every angle basically. As for the naked statues: I've seen more bits and pieces here than in a Woodstock documentary. And that's saying a lot, because naked statues are everywhere in Europe. I mean, come on, Michaelangelo's David alone is half the reason people come to Florence.

Ok, so, a bit behind on the blogs, so I will attempt to catch up now. Rome's wont be far behind.

Here is the Duomo church in the city centre. It's go green and pink and white marble all around. Pretty busy and colourful on the outside, which makes the sparce interior a surprising letdown. But a huge church, none the less.



Here's a scene from the top of the church's belltower. Everyone is an ant.



Looking out over Florence from the belltower:



Street musicians are everywhere in Italy. A great, free soundtrack to rustic cobblestone streets.



Not the real David, but at least you can photograph this one.



Peter Pan has probably got a legal case here.



I bet this guy feels soooo much better.



In the medevial town of St. Gigminano (Im spelling that wrong).

We eat cookies.




Then we eat ice cream. This was lunch.



This must have been the 3rd gelato of the day.



This fake boar's head was asking for a classic butt rubbing. Check!





This is where bikes and vespas lock up during the day (when they're not running you down). I love the fingerprints (locks) they leave behind.





Ceramic lemons enrapture me.




At one point, Bob and I started whistling the them to the Godfather. Then this guy stepped out of nowhere, lit his pipe. And followed us around for over 10 mins. He' totally CIA.




Pisa! So hot here. And crowded! There's the Leaning Tower in the background. Check this out: The nearby dome is also leaning slightly, and the main square church is sinking.



A classic picture you must take in Pisa. I opted for the 'I'm so strong is bores me' pose, but I got the 'come gimme a hand with this pose' - just in case this one breaks down.



Reporting 'live' for Big News from Pisa, Italy:



We all went to a monestary in Tuscany where six old monks live in isolation and make beer and spirits. I needed some pants, so I borrowed Bob's. They're just a bit big on me.



Kinda like the Last Supper, huh?



These aren't the real monks, but they sure tried to serve us that grain alcohol like it was going out of style!



I love catching people just blankly staring at the camera. They totally know they are being photographed, and they don't care. Had to document this though: see the bronze curved dish in the foreground? That's a change dish. Every cash register in Europe has one next to it. For some reason, they don't like to hand change over in your hand over here. Even if you hold out your hand, they just drop it in this tray.



In the Ufizzi gallery: lots of great art in here, but look closely, and you can see where everyone ends up.

A unique jumping picture here: one-handed povault! Check out Kim in the background just going "typical Brian".

This was so great and relaxing. As the sun went down (finally) in Florence, this guy played every possible note on the saxophone as newlyweds and tourists alike walked by.

Take a listen:

This merry-go-round was so cool. Just right out there and making everyone happy.

Jenny and I acting our ages. This seemed faster when I was smaller.

Next is Rome! Look for it soon. Ciao!

Venice is...

.....sinking. Yep, the whole city. Not surprising though - the city is an island built on wooden planks sunken into mud 100's of years ago. The wood has petrified, and the mud below is slowing swallowing them. As a result, many parts of the city have uneven ground and frequently, the whole city floods. Even the main St. Mark's Square below has a flood plan. They put benches end to end to make sidewalks, and gondolas just stroll right on in.

Not today tho! It's HOT in Venice! Crazy humid too. Think Florida. Here in the morning, the miltary marched around shouting for over an hour. It was cool at first, but then all the tourists were basically over it. Even the soldiers looked preoccupied.




Here's my friends from Sacramento! L-R: Wayne, me, Ruben, Marie, (bottom row now) Kim, Jenny, Misty, and Joann. It was so good to see familiar faces.



I always like to follow up a regular picture with one of these. Long live the "thumbs up".



I hate the popped collar. Hate it. Can't stand it. I saw these two mannequins had them. Not anymore, jack.



Pigeons are usually pretty gross and annoying, but in St. Mark's Square, everyone just seemed to love them.



This picture is taken from "The Bridge of Sighs". On the left is the old government building. On the right is the prison. When criminals were convicted, they would take the short walk across this bridge, take one last look at freedom, and sigh. Notice the bars on the windows.



Here's a view from inside the bridge where the prisoners walked. Cool view, huh? Looks like Godzilla's eye, I think.



I'm in prison! (Many of my elementary school teachers' dreams, I'm sure.)




This is right before they turned on the country music. Ultimate torture.



In the prison, they had a collection of old weapons and artifacts. And this: a real life chastity belt. Wow. Good luck, dude.



I go from a chastity belt to a mosaic in a church. ::bowing:: This is inside St. Mark's Basillica. The mural at the top of this dome shows Christ's assension to heaven. Inside this church also, apparently, is the bones and remains of Mark, the Gospel writer.



Back out in the plaza, I mingle with more birds. The first one that landed on my hand to eat, no lie: part of its feathers and skin on its head was missing and I could see it's flesh underneath - probably the brain. Right after this, I pulled out the 'ol hand sanitizer.



A totally candid shot of Wayne and I, how we always look.



These gondoliers were everywhere. Know how much it costs to ride one? 100 Euro. Thats 150 dollars. And thats for 25 mins. You think they sing and do all that cool stuff? Think again. I saw many of them texting, talking on the phone, or just yelling back and forth to each other during people's rides. You'd get more of an authentic romantic experience at the Venetian in Las Vegas. For less that half the price, too.



Just enjoying the sunshine!



Wayne and I enjoying a much needed break from the blazing sun.



It only takes on hand to make my last name from trash cans in Venice. I saw "Vesta" everywhere.



This time, it's Bob and I who were caught off guard. I guess we just look this cool all the time.



At the beach, slides are fair game.



More time to relax from the sun. See a pattern here? Yeah. Hot in Italy in June.



Picnic time! We all hit up the grocery store and ate European style in the park.



Butt rubbin! First of the trip. This is a tradition, especially with targets like Bob around.



Later, Bob and I had a *very* romantic time of watching soccer and then eating gelato on the street. aaahahaha. Classic Bob face.



Now this is legitimately a romantic scene. Venice is place to dine outdoors, if you can afford it - but looks totally worth it.



I don't think I could have gotten enough pictures of gondolas going under bridges.




Sorry, no videos this time! Just loved taking pictures in Venice. Just got to Florence. Guess what - still as hot! Ciao!