Saint Joan (Rome, Italy)

If Joan was mad, all Christendom was mad too; for people who believe devoutly in the existence of celestial personages are every whit as mad as the people who think they see them. Luther, when he threw his inkhorn at the devil, was no more mad than any other Augustinian monk: he had a moreContinueContinue reading “Saint Joan (Rome, Italy)”

Weird Sites in Rome, Take Ten

This design choice completely took me by surprise the first time I encountered it (and if memory serves, that “first time” is in fact captured above). Who thinks like this, let alone architects — and then convinces someone to build — like this?! But I’m so glad they did. What a crazy, bizarre, unexpected, jarring,ContinueContinue reading “Weird Sites in Rome, Take Ten”

Where the Ruins Have No Name (Rome, Italy)

Have I told you lately, dear readers, how much I lack a sense of direction and a memory for names? Here is another example. For the life of me I can’t find a similar view online to help me give this location a name. Part of me wants to call it the Roman Forum, butContinueContinue reading “Where the Ruins Have No Name (Rome, Italy)”

Staircase! (Rome, Italy)

Anyone who has watched a film with me in the last year has been plagued with hearing this phrase come out of my mouth (thereby breaking the code of proper movie watching – but do you really need to follow the code from the comfort of your couch – topic for later post). My pointContinueContinue reading “Staircase! (Rome, Italy)”

Weird Sites in Rome, Take Nine

We ventured on a long walk to the Colosseum, the final half-mile or so of which was all on the same stretch of road. There were large signs everywhere, pointing the way. But to be fair, the signs weren’t needed — we simply followed the crowd who all had the same idea as we did.ContinueContinue reading “Weird Sites in Rome, Take Nine”

Weird Sites in Rome, Take Eight

The ceiling is falling! The ceiling is falling! At the very least – the ceiling is perplexing! I can’t quite wrap my brain around this particular design choice (although I find the 3D effect of this photo super fun). Perhaps it’s symbolic of the powers-that-be looming over you, lingeringly, able to crush you at aContinueContinue reading “Weird Sites in Rome, Take Eight”

Weird Sites in Rome, Take Seven

As grand as this doorway is, I have no idea why they placed that little square shaped atrocity up there. Is it a light? A smoke detector? An alarm? A time traveler’s portal? What the frak, Jack? Many of my photos from Rome have this issue. I knew it would be a place where ruinsContinueContinue reading “Weird Sites in Rome, Take Seven”

Weird Sites in Rome, Take Six

Never fear – no androids here! This was early on in our trip, and had the effect of making me skeptical of any restaurant that didn’t make it clear that human beings were involved in the making of our food. I would have gone with touting their killer cappuccinos, personally (and they were absolutely divine).ContinueContinue reading “Weird Sites in Rome, Take Six”