Doppio!

Recovery process....So, now I know what all the fuss is about...that is darn good coffee.

...to my fellow Kentuckians, and bourbon aficionados...

It's late...and I've discovered that Four Roses single barrel flows freely here in old Italia!!! Just want to say that I love and miss you all...wish I could share this with you in person...sippin' with y'all right this here minute...Salute, cheers and much love.

The Magic Keyhole

OH! I almost forgot...what makes this scene more intriguing is the fact that you not only see a gorgeous view, but you are actually seeing three sovereign states at once..Malta, Italy, and the Vatican...cool, huh?

Allora, (so)...if you happen to pass by the embassy of Malta while wandering through Rome...walk up to the main gate, bend down and take a peek through the keyhole...you'll see this wonderful little vision.. (If unsaid systems admin of unsaid university has any commentary concerning said "keyhole", please post via private means.) Oh, by the way...it's a direct view of the Dome of St. Peter's...and for you shooters out there...image was captured through an actual keyhole. The diameter of which was just less than an inch..24-70mmL at 70mm with 5D MarkII...took a min, but the shot worked out...(just a wee bit of crop...or, crap? ha)

The main dome at St. Peter's Basilica

      Secondary dome of St. Peter's.

  

The main Dome of St. Peter's Basilica

I can't express the effect of this structure, this space...it's utterly massive - completely consuming. You recognize the physical root of faith as it was in the old world. It dominates...you begin to understand the depth of power, class, government...society through the lens of the power of faith- both real and imagined...free and forced. It's a powerful dichotomy- is it the power of God or the power of man?...I know what I feel to be right...where is truth?...but there is no escaping the complete empirical weight...448 feet to the top of the external cross.  

  

The Coliseum

Three views of the Coliseum. The visit was too quick...and, yeah Ridley Scott took his liberties, but still an amazing sight.

...I'm no videographer...

      Exterior view of Pantheon with fountain...

...I'll stick with what I can do...It's just the morning of day 3 and I've already shot nearly 20GB of data...We're packing the car and headed for Florence in a few moments, but enjoy these...

The Pantheon...absolutely unbelievable...possibly the single most important piece of architecture in Europe? 19 centuries old...the only untouched ancient structure...Constructed during the rein Emperor Hadrian/Marcus Agrippa...The worlds largest unreinforced concrete dome...

physical challenge!

now you must either rotate your display 90 degrees clockwise...or turn your head to the left...enjoy!

!ROMA!

  I've found a second...(third) home. Recovering from nearly 36 hours awake. We head to Tuscany tomorrow...I will make many posts once we're settled into the villa! But, here's a little taste of St. Peter's Bascilica... 

            Cinque Terre region...north of La Spezia

...Oh the Places You'll Go...

We'll be arriving in Rome, on the 6th...Two days - with a private tour of the Sistine Chapel...Then on to Florence..with stops in The Chianti region-  Montepulciano and others. We'll be staying seven nights in a villa thirty kilometers outside of Florence. From Florence, on to Cinque Terre - "the five lands" - on the North Central coast - We'll be hiking between the small villages lining the hills. I've posted a few maps for reference....much more to follow-next speak to you from Rome. Arrivederci.