Roman Rant

I have been in Rome since Wednesday. I am not going back home.I was in Rome a few years ago. I didn't love it. I didn't even kindof like it. I'm not sure what changed.I arrived on Wednesday morning, drank un cafe and waited to meet upwith Christine and Leah. They both had rockstar nights the night before,so when we finally connected, we took it easy and wandered through town. We walked down the river and looked for glimpses of the Rome I remember. Nothing. I have no idea what Anne and I did in 1998, but I don't recognize much.

Anyway, we went to the Forum and the Colleseum and I had a fewthoughts:The Forum is Ancient Rome in crumbles. The Roman Empire WAS the center of civilization. If you were not in Rome, you weren't civilized. But then it was destroyed. As I wander the streets I wonder what life was like during and after the fall. I also have been trying to connect the Ancient Roman government to the US' super power hubris. I wonder if and whenpeople will be taking tours of the our fallen cities. It's a Bradbury thought I suppose, but that's what's on my mind.

Also on my mind: the colleseum. The ways that people were and are entertained. It's fascinating the set up for witnessing torture. Iwonder what we as a modern society do to entertain ourselves. I wonder about race and class and how society uses these divisions to entertain, manipulate, control. Maybe I am thinking way too far outta the box, but those were my thoughts. So anyway, we (me, Leah and Christine) ate well, laughed lots, drank too much and had a fantastic day. (See previous posts).

They left for Paris and I have been alone the last couple of days.

Lots of writing.
Lots of photos.

The lovely Piazza Novona

Piazza Novona
Views of the River and St. Peter's dome