Swompdonkey

Last night, I joined an american and another Canadian for an unbelievably delicious supper washed down with chianti in the Centro Storico, somewhere in the vicinity of the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona. The former is more magnificent than any picture could possibly lead you to believe. Lit up with floodlights, it is like an exquisite piece of early Imperial Rome transported through time completely intact and dropped down smack-dab in the middle of a 21st century city. We wandered around rather aimlessly staring at jaw-dropping sights until we happened upon a little bar tucked away in some alley. It proved to be full of people so we ordered some beers and sat down. Just as we were settling in, some guy hollered something to those assembled, and they got up as one, and filed out of the place. I quickly asked one of the limey girls whether or not they were on a Pub Crawl.. "Yeah, Rome-ing tours" she told me... I kinda found that funny, for reasons known only to myself and one other person.

Pub crawls seem to be a real hit with the hostel crowd here in Rome (The one I am staying in is both cheap and close to everything, so I will be staying put here for at least a few more days... besides, it looks like most other hostels in the area are full... some of the people here did some checking)... I'll be going on one tonight, God help my liver --two nights ago, I gave that particular organ a pounding watching Chelsea play Milan with an Englishman... I should have known better!

Today, I went to The Vatican Museum and Saint Peter's Basillica with Jinead (who is a pretty good guy, for an American). The Vatican was breathtaking... I was nearly brought to tears by some of the masterpieces of Italian art in there, that is how moving it was. I didnt even get a chance to see The Sistine Chapel (Crazy crowds!) So I'll definitely be going back in a couple of days. Saint Peter's is immense. Worthy of comparison to the great palaces of Europe. It is a true monument to the power and majesty of the Church of Rome in its heyday. I saw the crypt where the bones of St Peter are kept, and those of dozens of other popes besides. Many photos were taken, and most will not do justice to its magnificence... but that is just an incentive for people who see them to come to Rome and see the real things for themselves... I highly recommend it!