Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Day 30: Our last full day in Rome....
Today was an emotional roller coaster ride....It started off with a wake up call around 11am. Thanks to the feast of Peter and Paul...the Vatican was crazy and Pizza Colonna was closed. I'm not sure what was a bigger let down. However, the triumvirate pushed on and decided to do their Vatican shopping..too bad the shops were closed. Fantastic. We figured since we were at St. Peter's, we would check out the JP II exhibition...........wow............words can not describe this exhibit. Starting from birth to death, we were taken through every major event in JP II's life. Displayed: the bowl he ate from as a child in poland, his scapular he wore in his early formation as a priest, his vestments of all pastoral positions, and the videos of his assassination attempt and his final Angelus address. An exhibit which takes all of two minutes to walk end to end in...took an hour. And we didn't even read everything completely....
We left the exhibit, and saw that the line to get into the basilica has drastically gone down. So, we decided to see St. Peter's one last time. We walked into the basilica, and three beams of light shined down onto the Bernini altar...we paid our homage to the tomb of JP II and did our own individual prayer around the basilica. As we were leaving, we all feel light come behind us. We turn around, the entire front altar of St. Peter's is illuminated, and the organ blares. Every vertebrate, every vein, every nerve inside me cringed in the beauty.
Concluding this day: A great family dinner...and pow-wow in St. Peter's Square to conclude the trip. After our group hug, we hear a pop-pop coming from where Castel San't Angelo is. Next the we see....fireworks illuminating the sky in multiple colors. Perfection
We left the exhibit, and saw that the line to get into the basilica has drastically gone down. So, we decided to see St. Peter's one last time. We walked into the basilica, and three beams of light shined down onto the Bernini altar...we paid our homage to the tomb of JP II and did our own individual prayer around the basilica. As we were leaving, we all feel light come behind us. We turn around, the entire front altar of St. Peter's is illuminated, and the organ blares. Every vertebrate, every vein, every nerve inside me cringed in the beauty.
Concluding this day: A great family dinner...and pow-wow in St. Peter's Square to conclude the trip. After our group hug, we hear a pop-pop coming from where Castel San't Angelo is. Next the we see....fireworks illuminating the sky in multiple colors. Perfection
Days 27-29: Florence
Ohhh Firenze......First, thank you Trenitalia for going on strike......Real cool....However, thank you kind bus service for taking us from Siena to Florence. Also, thank you Katie for your fearless attitude when taking us to Hotel Pendini. I would have given your GPS skills a 9.7 (.3 deduction for Ipad usage) if it wasn't for the confidence on that final turn. You're welcome for the save :) However I still give you a 9.6.
I'll give the staff a 10 for the hotel selection and more specifically the room selection for the males. Te penthouse was very much appreciated. From our jacuzzi sized bath tub I could tell anyone what the line was like for the carousel and if the music from the piazza was any good. Who needs a concierge, when you have room 316?
Okay, back to Florence itself. I absolutely loved the city of Florence. It was a perfect blend of small town feel, but also a big city hustle and bustle. There are some points there which one can tell is just booming the economy, and other places that allow one to sit back and enjoy nature.
Now that I expressed my view of Florence itself, Connection time!
1. In the Duomo of Florence (which is somewhat of a let down) there were a couple interesting sarcophagi. The sarcophagi pirctured below looks somewhat like others we have seen before except for the sculpture of the person buried. According to this sculpture, this guy really didn't sleep too much. Rather, he sat in his La-Z-Boy watching the latest episode of Desperate Housewives, Glee, or a favorite John Wayne flick....and nodded off from time to time.
2. The Basilica of Santa Croce was home to a small museum of sorts. In this museum were many medieval crucifixes. Remember that one time I predicted seeing a more "developed" evil eye amulet on christ? Well, my prophesy came true. I'll take any arguments against this thesis, but pictured here is the dead Jesus with the shadow/outline of a phallus from his upper to lower abdomen. A symbol that even in death, evil will still attempt to attack Jesus. Also, that even in death, Jesus will defeat evil.
Does this mean that I get my own book in the Old Testament?
I'll give the staff a 10 for the hotel selection and more specifically the room selection for the males. Te penthouse was very much appreciated. From our jacuzzi sized bath tub I could tell anyone what the line was like for the carousel and if the music from the piazza was any good. Who needs a concierge, when you have room 316?
Okay, back to Florence itself. I absolutely loved the city of Florence. It was a perfect blend of small town feel, but also a big city hustle and bustle. There are some points there which one can tell is just booming the economy, and other places that allow one to sit back and enjoy nature.
Now that I expressed my view of Florence itself, Connection time!
1. In the Duomo of Florence (which is somewhat of a let down) there were a couple interesting sarcophagi. The sarcophagi pirctured below looks somewhat like others we have seen before except for the sculpture of the person buried. According to this sculpture, this guy really didn't sleep too much. Rather, he sat in his La-Z-Boy watching the latest episode of Desperate Housewives, Glee, or a favorite John Wayne flick....and nodded off from time to time.
Does this mean that I get my own book in the Old Testament?
Days 25-26: Siena
Happy Birthday to me. It's not Bourbon Street, but I'll say that Piazza del Campo will do.
Also, in the baptistry attached to the Duomo, stood this very interesting depiction of Jesus. I have spoken before of the medieval depictions of Jesus' suffering. The most suffering Jesus went through was when he was chained at the pillar for his scourging (scourging almost to death). This is the first time I have ever seen a statue of Jesus chained at the pillar.
Finally, in the picture below, we see a modern interpretation of Mark 11: 15-19. Yes...this is a chapel which is has been converted into a store......wow.
Connection: On the floor of the Siena Duomo were many different depictions of what looked to be Greek gods an goddesses. Mixed into these were depictions of the reign of Herod. Pictured below is Herod's killing of the innocent. As the story goes, Herod learned of a Jewish baby born in his kingdom which will throw him out of power, so he ordered the murder of all Jewish children in hopes that he will eliminate the threat to his reign.
Also, in the baptistry attached to the Duomo, stood this very interesting depiction of Jesus. I have spoken before of the medieval depictions of Jesus' suffering. The most suffering Jesus went through was when he was chained at the pillar for his scourging (scourging almost to death). This is the first time I have ever seen a statue of Jesus chained at the pillar.
Finally, in the picture below, we see a modern interpretation of Mark 11: 15-19. Yes...this is a chapel which is has been converted into a store......wow.
Day 24: Assisi
Assisi, with no doubt in my mind, was my favorite place in Italy and is in very close running to be my favorite place in the world. In some places, beauty is found in the people, sometimes found in the landscape, sometimes found in the culture, or sometimes a combination of all these. Assisi falls into that final category. Our first experience in Assisi was accompanied by two little Italian nuns. We asked them a simple question, do you know where Hotel Giotto is? Well, one pointed one way..the other pointed the opposite way. Quickly, they went back and forth in competitive banter attempting to convince the other of the direction of the hotel and the insure the other of her stupidity. Ready.....1...2..3...awwwwwww
Approaching Hotel Giotto, we looked out to see a never-ending valley of crop fields and plains...enough said.
Thirdly, the culture. Assisi is a medieval town that it literally stuck in time. It is said that Pompeii is stuck in time, but there is only so much positivity you can attribute to a 2,000 year old city. However, Assisi is stuck in time due to their preservation of their medieval buildings and medieval lifestyle. Okay, the whole medieval lifestyle thing is a stretch. There aren't knights in shining armor slaying evil forces away from damsels in distress, but a guy can dream about it every once in a while.
Oh, yeah..connections! Well, at Basilica di San Francesco......St. Francis of Assisi's Franciscan Headquarters.....there was a small museum of artifacts/art pieces obtained by the Franciscans through the years. In the far back corner in a rear facing painting, wee see "Madonna Con Bambino" a medieval painting of Mary and Jesus. Nothing too interesting about this painting when speaking of Mary's proxemics to Jesus. However, when we look closely at Jesus, he is wearing a sort of evil eye amulet. Did the medieval culture believe that not even Jesus was free from obtaining the evil eye? Or since a common transmission of the evil eye was through jealousy of babies, Mary knew that she had something special with her, so she put the evil eye amulet on him? Now, as we head to Siena, where more medieval art lies. Allusions to Jesus and the evil eye may pop up. Maybe the amulets will develop as Jesus' age develops. As a baby, Jesus merely has an allusion to a bull horn...which is an allusion to a phallus. There has got to be a more developed amulet out there.
Approaching Hotel Giotto, we looked out to see a never-ending valley of crop fields and plains...enough said.
Thirdly, the culture. Assisi is a medieval town that it literally stuck in time. It is said that Pompeii is stuck in time, but there is only so much positivity you can attribute to a 2,000 year old city. However, Assisi is stuck in time due to their preservation of their medieval buildings and medieval lifestyle. Okay, the whole medieval lifestyle thing is a stretch. There aren't knights in shining armor slaying evil forces away from damsels in distress, but a guy can dream about it every once in a while.
Oh, yeah..connections! Well, at Basilica di San Francesco......St. Francis of Assisi's Franciscan Headquarters.....there was a small museum of artifacts/art pieces obtained by the Franciscans through the years. In the far back corner in a rear facing painting, wee see "Madonna Con Bambino" a medieval painting of Mary and Jesus. Nothing too interesting about this painting when speaking of Mary's proxemics to Jesus. However, when we look closely at Jesus, he is wearing a sort of evil eye amulet. Did the medieval culture believe that not even Jesus was free from obtaining the evil eye? Or since a common transmission of the evil eye was through jealousy of babies, Mary knew that she had something special with her, so she put the evil eye amulet on him? Now, as we head to Siena, where more medieval art lies. Allusions to Jesus and the evil eye may pop up. Maybe the amulets will develop as Jesus' age develops. As a baby, Jesus merely has an allusion to a bull horn...which is an allusion to a phallus. There has got to be a more developed amulet out there.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Day 23: What Up Benny, What Up Peter? Sounds like a Papal Party!
Sooo today was spent just about all at the Vatican. Being a part of the Papal audience was a really really cool experience. Having the ability to say Pope Benedict XVI was XVI feet away from me is unspeakably amazing.
Observations about Benny...I wonder what horse he picked in the Kentucky Derby. His hat makes me wonder if Animal Kingdom was given a little special blessing by the head of the Catholic kingdom on earth ....Hmmmmm.
Also, there is no way that his shoes can stay that red. Seriously, I swear there are smurfs shining them 24/7...
___
Moving on though, if I was not blessed with the ability to participate in a papal audience, the highlight of my day would have been the excavations under St. Peter's. To make things simple, i'll just number some quick bullet points about the scavi.
1. There are actually three separate altars built on the grounds where the current altar stands. It is told that if one drops a rock from the direct center of the cupola, the rock would pass through the center of all three altars and land on the somewhat 'undisclosed' main attraction' of St. Peter's Basilica.
2. This main attraction is the resting place of our church founder and first pope, St. Peter himself. All evidence has led for archaeologists to come to the conclusion that Peter is in fact buried in that place. On the graffiti wall in front of the current resting place of his bones, many inscriptions are written in reference to Peter, but not actually naming him. However, it was found that one inscription names Peter. names him so much that it says that this place is the resting place of the apostle Peter. Specifically it says: Petros eni..."Peter is here"
3. The mausoleums in the scavi truly made what we saw in Ostia Antica and Pompeii come alive. Literally, a city of the dead covers the entire area underneath St. Peter's Basilica and Square. each mausoleum that has been excavated is a home for the dead, and some even have stairs for their souls to walk up and down for a little exercise and for their family to do maintenance work on the mausoleum. Thankfully, Constantine had a little respect for pagans, and merely took the top off of the mausoleums. The dirt and soil Constantine filled the necropolis with completely sealed the necropolis from the elements. Thus, near perfect preservations.
4. Also, a interesting find about the Necropolis is that in the 3rd Century, it seems as if a Christian mausoleum was built. Inside the mausoleum, we see Christ on the ceiling depicted as the Sun god Helios (remembering that Christians were persecuted for expressing their fait directly until Constantine came into power). Also, there seems as though there is a fisherman as well alluding to the "fishermen of souls and men" Jesus appointed his apostles to be.
See this link for more information about the necropolis. Thank you to Michelle Rau for sending this to me while I was writing this blog. Note, she had no clue that I was writing this specific blog when she sent it to me:
http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/necropoli/scavi_english.html
An amazing day at St. Peter's Square, under St. Peter's Square, and in the presence of St. Peter himself.
Observations about Benny...I wonder what horse he picked in the Kentucky Derby. His hat makes me wonder if Animal Kingdom was given a little special blessing by the head of the Catholic kingdom on earth ....Hmmmmm.
Also, there is no way that his shoes can stay that red. Seriously, I swear there are smurfs shining them 24/7...
___
Moving on though, if I was not blessed with the ability to participate in a papal audience, the highlight of my day would have been the excavations under St. Peter's. To make things simple, i'll just number some quick bullet points about the scavi.
1. There are actually three separate altars built on the grounds where the current altar stands. It is told that if one drops a rock from the direct center of the cupola, the rock would pass through the center of all three altars and land on the somewhat 'undisclosed' main attraction' of St. Peter's Basilica.
2. This main attraction is the resting place of our church founder and first pope, St. Peter himself. All evidence has led for archaeologists to come to the conclusion that Peter is in fact buried in that place. On the graffiti wall in front of the current resting place of his bones, many inscriptions are written in reference to Peter, but not actually naming him. However, it was found that one inscription names Peter. names him so much that it says that this place is the resting place of the apostle Peter. Specifically it says: Petros eni..."Peter is here"
3. The mausoleums in the scavi truly made what we saw in Ostia Antica and Pompeii come alive. Literally, a city of the dead covers the entire area underneath St. Peter's Basilica and Square. each mausoleum that has been excavated is a home for the dead, and some even have stairs for their souls to walk up and down for a little exercise and for their family to do maintenance work on the mausoleum. Thankfully, Constantine had a little respect for pagans, and merely took the top off of the mausoleums. The dirt and soil Constantine filled the necropolis with completely sealed the necropolis from the elements. Thus, near perfect preservations.
4. Also, a interesting find about the Necropolis is that in the 3rd Century, it seems as if a Christian mausoleum was built. Inside the mausoleum, we see Christ on the ceiling depicted as the Sun god Helios (remembering that Christians were persecuted for expressing their fait directly until Constantine came into power). Also, there seems as though there is a fisherman as well alluding to the "fishermen of souls and men" Jesus appointed his apostles to be.
See this link for more information about the necropolis. Thank you to Michelle Rau for sending this to me while I was writing this blog. Note, she had no clue that I was writing this specific blog when she sent it to me:
http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/necropoli/scavi_english.html
An amazing day at St. Peter's Square, under St. Peter's Square, and in the presence of St. Peter himself.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Day 22: Etruscan Museum
Soo today was very much so a recovery day and some much needed "me" time. The Etruscan Museum was quite overwhelming. I took Greek Mythology before, but the whole making connections thing was just not working at all. It would have been quite helpful to have a classicist on this excursion to point out the mythological scenes represented on the pottery. Nevertheless, I did fine one piece as striking. Again...no photos here....but I'll try to explain the piece as best as possible.
On entering the museum, the display case in the southwest far corner upon entering is a display of small pots. The small pots, most likely used for oil, could be dated to approximately 2nd Century. In this small display, one pot had an etched cross on the side. Nothing elaborate in any way, just a hand etched cross. The whole time from then on out in the museum, I was looking for christian symbols. I could not find any on any piece dated from pre-medieval times. I make the claim that this pot was either recycled from family to family or this pot was used in a family that was converted to christianity. Other than that....I've got nothing......Apologies.
On entering the museum, the display case in the southwest far corner upon entering is a display of small pots. The small pots, most likely used for oil, could be dated to approximately 2nd Century. In this small display, one pot had an etched cross on the side. Nothing elaborate in any way, just a hand etched cross. The whole time from then on out in the museum, I was looking for christian symbols. I could not find any on any piece dated from pre-medieval times. I make the claim that this pot was either recycled from family to family or this pot was used in a family that was converted to christianity. Other than that....I've got nothing......Apologies.
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