Ok, so this post is already off to a bizarre start. I didn't have to dig through any bags to get to a power adaptor, the computer charger just plugged straight into the wall. Novel concept.
These past few days I pretty much fell off the face of the earth, and I would probably still be sitting at World's End if I didn't acknowledge the fact that you all really deserve to know a: I'm still alive and b: we're at the conclusion of my blogging career (at least for now).
Of course, we had to go out with a bang right? Especially considering the fact that the flight over to Amsterdam was so eventful with volcanoes and ash, and a free vacation in Houston. Well, we got the same VIP treatment coming home except this time Mother Nature wasn't the bearer of disaster... that was pretty much left up to our airplane. It all started with the announcement that our 10:10 flight was going to leave an hour late because of "technical" difficulties on the aircraft. First of all, there is never anything that makes you want to board an airplane less than the word "technical difficulties" I get the envisionment of massive fireballs and shrapnel, "remember to always secure the mask on yourself first before turning to assist others." Never fear though apparently those difficulties simply meant the tanks for half the latrines on board were clogged... this we found out when they boarded us all because they had to move the vessel to another gate to make room for another flight. When they finally came up with a plan: fly with half working latrines, empty the tank in Maine and continue on to Houston: they discovered a bubble on the tire of the landing gear. Then, when they were changing the tire they realized a brake pad was balding and needed replacing as well. By the time we actually left Amsterdam five hours later (4 of those hours having been spent on the plane) I was beginning to worry we weren't actually going anywhere that day, and as much as I would have loved to stay in Europe a little longer... I was ready to see my Mommy and Daddy. Someone promised me that I could and that was all I was asking from life at that moment.
So, what have I done now that I'm back in America? Well, step one was to let my cell phone die, and as soon as this post is up, I'm going to casually misplace the power cord to my computer until Monday when school starts.
I've also had quite an extensive to do list:
10 episodes of "Bethenny Getting Married"
14 episodes of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey"
I've laid on the couch and watched tv since Friday, I've got the list whittled pretty low, too. I've watched 9 episodes of Bethenny and 10 of Housewives. Oh yea.
So, being back in the states has really reminded me of the things that I've missed about America, and after some hard thinking I've ranked my top three.
1. DRIVING! I'm like a 16 year old with a new license, "Mom, can I drive to the store?" I've only run a few errands, but after three months with no car the radio blaring with the windows rolled down is a beautiful thing.
2. Church. I so enjoyed getting to see everyone Sunday, and I hadn't had the time to stop and really think on how much I've missed the music and sermons! Seriously, I haven't been in a church for a purpose other than touring it in three months. It was good to come home.
3. Southern Hospitality! So, we were sitting in McAlisters after church Sunday, and it was getting busy, so mom and I got up to give our table to lady that was waiting. You know what? That doesn't happen in Europe, people get up when they're ready to get up and if you want to eat there you'll wait. It also feels nice to just be able to look people in the eye and smile as you pass them on the street. So, here's to you Southern Hospitality, tell you're Mama I asked about her, and have a blessed day.
I'm home, baby!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Homeward Bound!
So, for now, I'm going to ignore the fact that I was in Scotland the last four days. Expect a debriefing on how amazing Edinburgh was soon! Fortunately (or in my present state of mind, unfortunately) that blog post will be made all the way from my couch in Mississippi!
Last night, Christin, Blake, James, and I made a frantic dash from the Charleroi airport in hopes of catching the last train out to Maastricht at 11:00. We made it with a stealth like agility and found ourselve in Liege (Belguim) just after midnight where we took a taxi to Maastricht. We were home by 1:00 in the morning! This was lovely considering plan b was to spend yet another night in the airport. Instead, I got to sleep in a bed!
Today was devoted to packing, which happened very quickly considering I'm only traveling home with two thirds of the stuff I traveled over here with (including souvenirs, my painstaking rules on shopping really payed off). With a little ingenuity, I could ditch a bag if I really wanted to- but I don't.
So, Lindsay It's 18:30 the bus leaves at 3:30, what are you planning to do in the mean time? Answer: Youtube.
Christin and I have planned a feast of Pringles, stroop waffles, and Who's the Boss with perhaps a bit of swooning over my "Love Never Dies" soundtrack.
See you in the states!!! (Unless a certain volcano decides to act up)
Last night, Christin, Blake, James, and I made a frantic dash from the Charleroi airport in hopes of catching the last train out to Maastricht at 11:00. We made it with a stealth like agility and found ourselve in Liege (Belguim) just after midnight where we took a taxi to Maastricht. We were home by 1:00 in the morning! This was lovely considering plan b was to spend yet another night in the airport. Instead, I got to sleep in a bed!
Today was devoted to packing, which happened very quickly considering I'm only traveling home with two thirds of the stuff I traveled over here with (including souvenirs, my painstaking rules on shopping really payed off). With a little ingenuity, I could ditch a bag if I really wanted to- but I don't.
So, Lindsay It's 18:30 the bus leaves at 3:30, what are you planning to do in the mean time? Answer: Youtube.
Christin and I have planned a feast of Pringles, stroop waffles, and Who's the Boss with perhaps a bit of swooning over my "Love Never Dies" soundtrack.
See you in the states!!! (Unless a certain volcano decides to act up)
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Luck of the Irish
Ireland is quite possibly the most beautiful country I’ve seen so far with the exception of perhaps Switzerland. However, these countries are beautiful for entirely different reasons so it doesn’t seem far to compare the two. Switzerland is a land of towering mountains over glistening pools of fresh blue water while Ireland is quite simply the purest land of rolling green hill, stone walls, and the softest "grass" you'll ever feel in your entire life. While we've been spending these past 
three days in Dublin, yesterday we headed on a bus tour, (aptly named the "Paddy Wagon," I know), across the island. I absolutely loved this, not only because it was hours upon hours of sheer driving but because we disappeared somewhere off the motorway into the countryside. We took the back roads through little villages with stone houses and thatched roof cottages. Let me tell you, Ireland looks exactly how you imagine it would.
Our ultimate destination was the Cliffs of Moher, apparently recently named one of
the new 7 Wonders of the Natural World. Words cannot describe the beauty of this part of the world. The cliffs tower over the Atlantic Ocean and are located just south of Galway, one of the larger cities of Ireland. Of course, it was a windy, rainy day (hey, it's Ireland) but that didn't detract from anything at all. So, I'm thinking in about 10
years we'll have ourselves a fun little destination wedding (if the occasion ever calls for one).
The next highlight of Ireland is the literature! This morning I spent a good hour and a half at the Irish Writer's Museum ( I wish I were here longer so I could have seen the James Joyce Museum and George Bernard Shaw birthplace). It gave a brief history of all of the amazing literary writers that were born here. I bet you've heard some of them.
Jonathan Swift : "Gulliver's Travels"
Bram Stoker: "Dracula"
Oscar Wilde: "The Picture of Dorian Grey" and "The Importance of Being Earnest"
W. B. Yates: alot of poetry
James Joyce: "The Dubliners" and "Ulysses"
There are many more, but these are the most common knowledge I think. And of course, I couldn't go to a Writer's Museum without getting a book. After some deliberation I settled on a nice hardcover of Joyce's "Ulysses." This decision, however may prove to be detrimental seeming that the book itself is over 1,000 pages in length. However, it is the ultimate Dublin tale, so... I argue I truly had not choice in the matter. ;)
This time tomorrow I'll be in Scotland. Not sure if I'll have internet or not, but I'll show up when I can!
three days in Dublin, yesterday we headed on a bus tour, (aptly named the "Paddy Wagon," I know), across the island. I absolutely loved this, not only because it was hours upon hours of sheer driving but because we disappeared somewhere off the motorway into the countryside. We took the back roads through little villages with stone houses and thatched roof cottages. Let me tell you, Ireland looks exactly how you imagine it would.Our ultimate destination was the Cliffs of Moher, apparently recently named one of
the new 7 Wonders of the Natural World. Words cannot describe the beauty of this part of the world. The cliffs tower over the Atlantic Ocean and are located just south of Galway, one of the larger cities of Ireland. Of course, it was a windy, rainy day (hey, it's Ireland) but that didn't detract from anything at all. So, I'm thinking in about 10
years we'll have ourselves a fun little destination wedding (if the occasion ever calls for one).
The next highlight of Ireland is the literature! This morning I spent a good hour and a half at the Irish Writer's Museum ( I wish I were here longer so I could have seen the James Joyce Museum and George Bernard Shaw birthplace). It gave a brief history of all of the amazing literary writers that were born here. I bet you've heard some of them.
Jonathan Swift : "Gulliver's Travels"
Bram Stoker: "Dracula"
Oscar Wilde: "The Picture of Dorian Grey" and "The Importance of Being Earnest"
W. B. Yates: alot of poetry
James Joyce: "The Dubliners" and "Ulysses"
There are many more, but these are the most common knowledge I think. And of course, I couldn't go to a Writer's Museum without getting a book. After some deliberation I settled on a nice hardcover of Joyce's "Ulysses." This decision, however may prove to be detrimental seeming that the book itself is over 1,000 pages in length. However, it is the ultimate Dublin tale, so... I argue I truly had not choice in the matter. ;)
This time tomorrow I'll be in Scotland. Not sure if I'll have internet or not, but I'll show up when I can!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
"Sing it again... Sa...er... Phantom"
Ok so it’s been quite a while since I’ve written as I’m sure you’ve all noticed. Honestly, I’ve just gotten to a place with internet for a long enough time to post. I’ve had quite the action packed since I’ve left Italy.
I wrote that I said bye to Jennifer and packed my bags for the UK. I made it back to London (my third trip now) and have to say that one is never short of things to see in London. Highlights this time included eating at The Texas Embassy (slightly disappointing I have to say, burritos were square, chicken quesadillas were a little dry, and the concept of bottomless chips and salsa hasn’t made it across the pond yet, BUT the Baylor University flag is hanging upstairs, and my name is now scribbled across one of the ceiling joists), we also headed to Sherlock Holmes’ museum at 221B Baker street (I really need to read these stories). However, the highest of the highlights came on Tuesday night when I got to see a musical I’ve been dreaming of since my first visit in May.
In March, Andrew Lloyd Weber premiered his new musical, “Love Never Dies.” Have you heard of it? Well, it is actually a sequal to “The Phantom of the Opera.” Now, I had some very mixed feelings about this when I first heard about it, but there was no way whatsoever I could be in London with this musical and not go see it, especially when I wasn’t sure if it would even make it to Broadway (but the jokes on me because it’s apparently coming over next spring!) First of all, I have to say that it’s amazing to me that I got to see a musical only 5 months after if first premiered in the West End with the original cast and everything. Most of what I’ve seen until now are either classics by the time I get (like “Cats” or “Sweeney Todd”) to them or they're critically acclaimed (“Wicked”). Ok, so aside from this I'm sure you chopping at the bit to know what I think about it. Here goes...
I have no idea! That's said with certainty, right? Honestly it's taken me days to round out my thoughts. I knew going into the story that it was set on Coney Island which sounds like the worst idea ever, and I by no means was expecting something as good as The Phantom, however, I think I was expecting something thematically similar in musical style (um...alot of organ/electric guitar, large company numbers, and a smattering of more subdued pieces with strings and brass), in theatrical style (what's more of a wow factor than a giant chandelier crashing to stage? I should have thought this through more) and in plot (after seeing Phantom again in May I remembered how very dark the storyline actually is blending murder and kidnapping into the story not to mention the ever presence of a ghost story). In this I don't believe the musical succeeded much ( but then again this was what I was expecting, not necessarily what Webber was attempting).
Also, I have to say that being an huge, huge, HUGE, "Phantom" fan (seriously, when I
saw it the first time at age 11 I was planning on being a Broadway singer) I was slightly horrified at the storyline. The characters did not match their younger counter parts at all. They're either too aggressive or too pacifist and they do things that I'm not sure is unrealistic for the time. I mean yes the characters have surely changed in 10 years, but I think I'd rather see a play about those changes than a play about their results. (I will say no more than this, because some of you may actually want to see the play and I don't want to give everything away).
Well then, have you noticed that everything I have criticized this play about has been in relation to the original, "The Phantom of the Opera?" Me too, that's why I'm completely clueless as to how I actually feel because the more I settle on it, the move I adore this musical as a stand alone! Forget you already know the characters and that they're all acting like their in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," forget that the awesome organ playing the chromatic scale is not there and that nothing massive crashes onto the stage at the end of act 1. The music is absolutely breath taking. I've been listening to it for 3 days now and am constantly singing my own little medley. The singers themselves are amazing especially the Phantom (melt my heart, holy cow) and the little boy that play's Christine's son, Gustav. There is one part where the boy is singing one of three songs that's happening at the same time. I'd never stay on pitch if it were up to me! The story as a stand alone is beautiful and the lyrics portray that as well as other things. There are still kinks to be worked out, the pacing is a bit like a driver's ed student, jostling between too fast and then too slow. But again, I can't tell you how wonderful the music is! (I would post a link to some songs if I could!)So essentially, now that I know what's happening, I would love to see it again to get a better appreciation for it (especially after all the tweeks get worked out)
So there you are, a blog post, and I've written far too much about... a play. Sorry it's not any more interesting for you! I hope to write another one before I leave Ireland tomorrow night to get you caught up on all the Jolly Greeness I'm experiencing over here.
I wrote that I said bye to Jennifer and packed my bags for the UK. I made it back to London (my third trip now) and have to say that one is never short of things to see in London. Highlights this time included eating at The Texas Embassy (slightly disappointing I have to say, burritos were square, chicken quesadillas were a little dry, and the concept of bottomless chips and salsa hasn’t made it across the pond yet, BUT the Baylor University flag is hanging upstairs, and my name is now scribbled across one of the ceiling joists), we also headed to Sherlock Holmes’ museum at 221B Baker street (I really need to read these stories). However, the highest of the highlights came on Tuesday night when I got to see a musical I’ve been dreaming of since my first visit in May.
In March, Andrew Lloyd Weber premiered his new musical, “Love Never Dies.” Have you heard of it? Well, it is actually a sequal to “The Phantom of the Opera.” Now, I had some very mixed feelings about this when I first heard about it, but there was no way whatsoever I could be in London with this musical and not go see it, especially when I wasn’t sure if it would even make it to Broadway (but the jokes on me because it’s apparently coming over next spring!) First of all, I have to say that it’s amazing to me that I got to see a musical only 5 months after if first premiered in the West End with the original cast and everything. Most of what I’ve seen until now are either classics by the time I get (like “Cats” or “Sweeney Todd”) to them or they're critically acclaimed (“Wicked”). Ok, so aside from this I'm sure you chopping at the bit to know what I think about it. Here goes...I have no idea! That's said with certainty, right? Honestly it's taken me days to round out my thoughts. I knew going into the story that it was set on Coney Island which sounds like the worst idea ever, and I by no means was expecting something as good as The Phantom, however, I think I was expecting something thematically similar in musical style (um...alot of organ/electric guitar, large company numbers, and a smattering of more subdued pieces with strings and brass), in theatrical style (what's more of a wow factor than a giant chandelier crashing to stage? I should have thought this through more) and in plot (after seeing Phantom again in May I remembered how very dark the storyline actually is blending murder and kidnapping into the story not to mention the ever presence of a ghost story). In this I don't believe the musical succeeded much ( but then again this was what I was expecting, not necessarily what Webber was attempting).
Also, I have to say that being an huge, huge, HUGE, "Phantom" fan (seriously, when I
saw it the first time at age 11 I was planning on being a Broadway singer) I was slightly horrified at the storyline. The characters did not match their younger counter parts at all. They're either too aggressive or too pacifist and they do things that I'm not sure is unrealistic for the time. I mean yes the characters have surely changed in 10 years, but I think I'd rather see a play about those changes than a play about their results. (I will say no more than this, because some of you may actually want to see the play and I don't want to give everything away).Well then, have you noticed that everything I have criticized this play about has been in relation to the original, "The Phantom of the Opera?" Me too, that's why I'm completely clueless as to how I actually feel because the more I settle on it, the move I adore this musical as a stand alone! Forget you already know the characters and that they're all acting like their in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," forget that the awesome organ playing the chromatic scale is not there and that nothing massive crashes onto the stage at the end of act 1. The music is absolutely breath taking. I've been listening to it for 3 days now and am constantly singing my own little medley. The singers themselves are amazing especially the Phantom (melt my heart, holy cow) and the little boy that play's Christine's son, Gustav. There is one part where the boy is singing one of three songs that's happening at the same time. I'd never stay on pitch if it were up to me! The story as a stand alone is beautiful and the lyrics portray that as well as other things. There are still kinks to be worked out, the pacing is a bit like a driver's ed student, jostling between too fast and then too slow. But again, I can't tell you how wonderful the music is! (I would post a link to some songs if I could!)So essentially, now that I know what's happening, I would love to see it again to get a better appreciation for it (especially after all the tweeks get worked out)
So there you are, a blog post, and I've written far too much about... a play. Sorry it's not any more interesting for you! I hope to write another one before I leave Ireland tomorrow night to get you caught up on all the Jolly Greeness I'm experiencing over here.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Americans in Paris Rome
Yay for friends!!! This weekend, one of my very close friends from Baylor, Jennifer joined me in Rome! She's been working this summer as an au pair for an Italian family, so after some planning we got out schedules together so we could "do" Rome. I met her yesterday at the train station and it was just like something out of a movie. I mean slow motion running, bags falling everywhere... I"m pretty sure there was orchestral accompaniment somewhere inteh background.
Creepy Pope...
Jennifer's "Italian family" has this for dinner alot of nights apparently: bread,
salami, pecorino cheese, and grapes (the grapes were our addition). And it was fantastic! Tomorrow Jennifer and I go our separate ways. I'm heading to the UK to see England, Ireland, and Scotland, and she's heading back to her "Italian family" for another week. "What about us?... Well, we'll always have Rome."
This morning we hit the road early in an attempt to beat the lines at the Vatican Museum, which we were fairly successful at doing. Here are some of the highlights of our visit with our added commentary: free of charge.
Crappy chariot: we were wondering why no one was in this room and realized the answer when we noticed the only original part of the chariot was the little green around the edge.
Painting titled, "Strange Bird Contemplating Doom of Man," depression, much?
Creepy Pope...
Creepy Pope...
Creepy dead Pope...
But with all of our sightseeing and traveling here and there the best part of the evening by far was after the day was over. We got back to the room having walked straight from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, straight. (Ok we sat for 30 minutes at dinner). Our entire body ached and we just wanted a bath. We knew that as soon as we sat down we weren't going out for dinner so we made our own Italian dinner and a movie!
We found a website to stream "Roman Holiday," which neither of us had seen before. (Crappy ending, I think, but that's just me). It was fun to sit and point out all the places in the movie we had been earlier that day.
We found a website to stream "Roman Holiday," which neither of us had seen before. (Crappy ending, I think, but that's just me). It was fun to sit and point out all the places in the movie we had been earlier that day.
Jennifer's "Italian family" has this for dinner alot of nights apparently: bread,
salami, pecorino cheese, and grapes (the grapes were our addition). And it was fantastic! Tomorrow Jennifer and I go our separate ways. I'm heading to the UK to see England, Ireland, and Scotland, and she's heading back to her "Italian family" for another week. "What about us?... Well, we'll always have Rome."
Friday, July 30, 2010
Rome again, Rome again, jiggity jig...
"When in Rome, do as the Roman's do..."
"All Roads lead to Rome..."
"Rome wasn't built in a day..."
"I found Rome brick, I left it Marble..."
"When the Colosseum falls, Rome will fall. And when Rome falls, the world will end."
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Roman Holiday
I just couldn't resist with the title, in fact, I have a lot of great puns just rolling around in my head at the moment. I may try and use every one of them.
Guess what? Today was my first full day in Rome! I didn't do much yesterday, just got to know the street I'm going to be hanging out on the next few days and had dinner (spaghetti carbonara and a tiramesu, mouth watering yet?) But today was a different story, today I hit the road early in hopes of seeing the Pope, which I didn't but you can't call the day lost so soon.
Want to hear a funny story? Ok, here goes. While I was at the Vatican tooling around (I'm not actually going to see any of the museums until Saturday) I stepped into the post office to mail a post card. Believe it or not this isn't a story about my by a postage stamp with the Pope's face on it (which just seemed weird). When I stepped up to the window I noticed that they had ink pens for sale (one euro) that had "Vatican Post" written on the side. Brilliant, I thought, if your running a post office someone is going to want to write their letters there and if they forgot to bring a pen they have to buy one! It shows great forethought, I believe. In the next breath I scoffed at the poor dopes who had to buy a pen because they didn't travel with one (at least in my head). I headed over to the table to write my post card out and found that not only had I taken my pen out to use while I was reading my book last night I forgot to put it back in! Guess who's the proud new owner of a Vatican Post Office Pen? It's an heirloom souvenier I think.
So, after I left the Vatican I changed religions so to speak and headed over to the Jewish Ghetto, which was really interesting. Apparently the Jewish presence in Rome
has been the longest uninterrupted presence in the world, but in 1555 the Pope (I have no idea which one) decreed that Jews and Catholics should not live together and the ghetto was built. For some reason completely unbeknownst to me, I am absolutely fascinated with Jewish culture and tradition, though I know little about it. ( As I was going through the museum I was trying to decide which I know more about: Catholicism or Judaism. I can't decide.) Anyway, I'd always hear the term ghetto used in reference to WWII, but never prior so I was interested to find out that it was an age old "practice" of confining these people within a certain area typically surrounded by some sort of wall. There were only three gates leading into the ghetto. Now, I can go on and on about what all I learned in this museum, (feel free to ask if you want to know more), but I won't bore you. I will, however tell you the little tidbit of information that you all might actually already know.
My first question on finding the Synagogue? Why are there palm trees outside? I went on a tour that took me inside (the first time I have ever been in a Synagogue by the way) and this building completely rivals some of the Christian churches I've seen over here. It was built in 1904 after the closing of the ghetto in 1870. Inside it is absolutely beautiful with a painted ceiling. The guide explained all the symbolism to us: The very top of the roof was painted in rainbow colors to symbolize peace and God's promise to Noah (that I knew), at the base of this were the heads of four palm trees. Did you know that tradition holds that four palm trees were planted at each of the corners of the Garden of Eden? I did not (I fully blame my Baptist education for this. I remember nothing about palm trees mentioned in Sunday school except in conjuncture with Jesus riding a donkey, which, obviously, is not the case here.) Below that there were stars painted across a blue background references God's promise to Abraham. The museum inside was interesting too, they had all sorts of altar garments and prayer shawls. It was just like Fiddler on the Roof, except with less music... and I was in Italy, not Russia. But seriously, the Jewish community has (and in some places still is) faced unbelievable persecution for their beliefs, sadly often times (from a historical standpoint) from Christians. This, I find incredibly sad, because I see our faiths as close relatives who share a substantial amount of history. As one faith took roots and spread across the world she turned her back on her brother. (stepping down from soap box now...)
Today I am proud to announce that I did in five minutes what it took Robert Langdon
an entire book to do. Visit Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers. Ok, so it's been since my senior year in high school (3 years!) since I've read Angels and Demons, however I do remember they Langdon finds the last cardinal in this fountain (I can't remember if he dies or not. I think he does... ) It was kind of cool to see it. I'm now wishing I had reread the book so I could search out the other statues, but alas even if I had I'm sure I wouldn't have time. This one satisfies however!
Well, that's about all for now, throw in a lunch stop and you just about have my day. Oh yes, I finished the book I was reading today. Lesson to Lindsay: never ever read a biography of the person who wrote your favorite book. You will only learn that she was bitter, hypocritical, and completely incapable of having a normal human relationship. Fortunately for me this doesn't mean I have to stop liking the book, just the author. Sad day.
Guess what? Today was my first full day in Rome! I didn't do much yesterday, just got to know the street I'm going to be hanging out on the next few days and had dinner (spaghetti carbonara and a tiramesu, mouth watering yet?) But today was a different story, today I hit the road early in hopes of seeing the Pope, which I didn't but you can't call the day lost so soon.Want to hear a funny story? Ok, here goes. While I was at the Vatican tooling around (I'm not actually going to see any of the museums until Saturday) I stepped into the post office to mail a post card. Believe it or not this isn't a story about my by a postage stamp with the Pope's face on it (which just seemed weird). When I stepped up to the window I noticed that they had ink pens for sale (one euro) that had "Vatican Post" written on the side. Brilliant, I thought, if your running a post office someone is going to want to write their letters there and if they forgot to bring a pen they have to buy one! It shows great forethought, I believe. In the next breath I scoffed at the poor dopes who had to buy a pen because they didn't travel with one (at least in my head). I headed over to the table to write my post card out and found that not only had I taken my pen out to use while I was reading my book last night I forgot to put it back in! Guess who's the proud new owner of a Vatican Post Office Pen? It's an heirloom souvenier I think.
So, after I left the Vatican I changed religions so to speak and headed over to the Jewish Ghetto, which was really interesting. Apparently the Jewish presence in Rome
has been the longest uninterrupted presence in the world, but in 1555 the Pope (I have no idea which one) decreed that Jews and Catholics should not live together and the ghetto was built. For some reason completely unbeknownst to me, I am absolutely fascinated with Jewish culture and tradition, though I know little about it. ( As I was going through the museum I was trying to decide which I know more about: Catholicism or Judaism. I can't decide.) Anyway, I'd always hear the term ghetto used in reference to WWII, but never prior so I was interested to find out that it was an age old "practice" of confining these people within a certain area typically surrounded by some sort of wall. There were only three gates leading into the ghetto. Now, I can go on and on about what all I learned in this museum, (feel free to ask if you want to know more), but I won't bore you. I will, however tell you the little tidbit of information that you all might actually already know.
My first question on finding the Synagogue? Why are there palm trees outside? I went on a tour that took me inside (the first time I have ever been in a Synagogue by the way) and this building completely rivals some of the Christian churches I've seen over here. It was built in 1904 after the closing of the ghetto in 1870. Inside it is absolutely beautiful with a painted ceiling. The guide explained all the symbolism to us: The very top of the roof was painted in rainbow colors to symbolize peace and God's promise to Noah (that I knew), at the base of this were the heads of four palm trees. Did you know that tradition holds that four palm trees were planted at each of the corners of the Garden of Eden? I did not (I fully blame my Baptist education for this. I remember nothing about palm trees mentioned in Sunday school except in conjuncture with Jesus riding a donkey, which, obviously, is not the case here.) Below that there were stars painted across a blue background references God's promise to Abraham. The museum inside was interesting too, they had all sorts of altar garments and prayer shawls. It was just like Fiddler on the Roof, except with less music... and I was in Italy, not Russia. But seriously, the Jewish community has (and in some places still is) faced unbelievable persecution for their beliefs, sadly often times (from a historical standpoint) from Christians. This, I find incredibly sad, because I see our faiths as close relatives who share a substantial amount of history. As one faith took roots and spread across the world she turned her back on her brother. (stepping down from soap box now...)
Today I am proud to announce that I did in five minutes what it took Robert Langdon
an entire book to do. Visit Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers. Ok, so it's been since my senior year in high school (3 years!) since I've read Angels and Demons, however I do remember they Langdon finds the last cardinal in this fountain (I can't remember if he dies or not. I think he does... ) It was kind of cool to see it. I'm now wishing I had reread the book so I could search out the other statues, but alas even if I had I'm sure I wouldn't have time. This one satisfies however!
Well, that's about all for now, throw in a lunch stop and you just about have my day. Oh yes, I finished the book I was reading today. Lesson to Lindsay: never ever read a biography of the person who wrote your favorite book. You will only learn that she was bitter, hypocritical, and completely incapable of having a normal human relationship. Fortunately for me this doesn't mean I have to stop liking the book, just the author. Sad day.
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