tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74081174932146283032024-03-19T06:57:33.131+03:30Transcredible ExploitsI recently lived and worked in Kandahar for six months, now I'm traveling around and looking for new adventures. Read about it!JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-49934208339471871552012-11-06T06:54:00.002+03:302012-11-06T06:54:50.060+03:30Italy Day 8 Venice: Rialto Bridge, Vaporetto, Gondolas, Jewish Ghetto, Murano Glass, Bridge of Sighs, Indiana Jones <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Watching TV on the high speed train from Florence to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice">Venice</a>:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jbS_slhdEeTWaWm7v6e_65LVh2X7rIk4KpfwDtQqnQ_AJ6KEbbW0_Mad40h4C1cndg_7BDjT5M2u2eZTxq6kVDX_T7VgO01u2m96rEb3X1H6iIIaTbiObEF4uNWuhA-ZA9djfzlBBIE/s1600/IMG00040-20120326-0930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jbS_slhdEeTWaWm7v6e_65LVh2X7rIk4KpfwDtQqnQ_AJ6KEbbW0_Mad40h4C1cndg_7BDjT5M2u2eZTxq6kVDX_T7VgO01u2m96rEb3X1H6iIIaTbiObEF4uNWuhA-ZA9djfzlBBIE/s400/IMG00040-20120326-0930.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ilana is very hard to amuse.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's talk about Venice for a second. Venice is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 15.981481552124023px;">. The place is quite frankly the most different place I have ever visited. Venice is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archipelago">archipelago</a> off the coast of Northeast Italy. The main island looks like a fish. There are no roads in Venice, only canals. The city exists without cars or trucks. All transportation within Venice consists of walking on narrow paths and by crossing Venice's over 400 bridges, and floating. Here's how it looked a couple hundred years ago: </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/goeurope/1/0/v/j/1/venice_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goeurope/1/0/v/j/1/venice_map.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The river flowing through the island is "the grand canal", the closest equivalent to a highway in Venice.<br />
We love <a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2012/07/italy-day-3-vatican-museum-st-peters.html">the map room</a>!</td></tr>
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Venice was once a major world power. It was a staging center for the Crusades, the most important merchant city in the world (perhaps because of the easy port access?), and like most Italian cities, it was an important place in the development of every kind of art during the Renaissance. Check out this map showing the influence of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Venice#Early_Middle_Ages">Republic of Venice</a> on the world:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Repubblica_di_Venezia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Repubblica_di_Venezia.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big shot Venetians. The dark red and pink areas represent former Venetian territories.</td></tr>
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Venice declined. Largely this was because of the rise of Portugal and Spain as merchant nations, and encroaching Turkish/Albanians. Napoleon's forces delivered the killing stroke to the city-state. Venice became a part of Austria, and then was incorporated into Italy when it was formed in 1866. Since then, Venice has become a city-sized museum. The only industries on the formerly powerful island are tourism, art, and glass-works. </div>
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The <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6440198/Venice-population-falls-to-lowest-level-in-centuries.html">population of the island</a> has shrunk from 170,000 in 1951, to under 60,000 today. Native Venetians are going extinct while 20 million tourists visit the island per year. The population decline is largely attributed to lack of opportunities on the island, an aging population seeking easier lives on the mainland free of flooding and high living expenses. The island has also reportedly been slowly sinking, or at least more and more susceptible to flooding over time. Venice is quickly becoming a millionaire's playground. A Disney World for adults.</div>
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It has changed just a bit since it looked in that picture above:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.musicinvenice.com/img/mappa_ve.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="457" src="http://www.musicinvenice.com/img/mappa_ve.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They built the train/car bridge to the city for one. The black lines through the canal represent the public boat-bus system. All those blue lines are minor canals that are the equivalent of roads. Oh, and that white area on the left side is basically an island that was added as a dock for cruise-ships and as a designated parking-garage island.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We arrived in Venice by train with all our luggage in hand. There was no way we were going to carry our bags over all the bridges between there and our hotel (which was located just about halfway down the Grand Canal). We bought vaporetto tickets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporetto">vaporetto </a>is the public water-bus service of Venice. It's relatively expensive. A single ride (good for one hour) is <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">€6. A 12 hour ticket is </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.981481552124023px;">€13. We bought four 12 hour tickets so we could get around Venice for the rest of the day. And down the canal we went...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZV0Ht5Feev-1pws8Tiqyl1ugZ6MWTAMO9qvlME7u0W9eYeItwFcnIQW3g6kG8D28l_J95oJ6q_TkM8FXgBKygT1063S2YzJ6B2AzdleFF0Typxx1Z7uoBVlD0_PHREwVHKbqnDpdJuc/s1600/IMG_3984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZV0Ht5Feev-1pws8Tiqyl1ugZ6MWTAMO9qvlME7u0W9eYeItwFcnIQW3g6kG8D28l_J95oJ6q_TkM8FXgBKygT1063S2YzJ6B2AzdleFF0Typxx1Z7uoBVlD0_PHREwVHKbqnDpdJuc/s400/IMG_3984.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the four bridges that cross over the Grand Canal.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venice!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPr-aVGdROByFBeabMmufaPS-lFoLHu_3DBsfDks_dsYb8Pi06moigvJ-tnB-F7wyXH2ihecbW3V3uBVLuRPHjN6zxzH6x8VXg4bUzw6tgCRY86DydZJc15VWbVWofA0vEa3_24cu-hY/s1600/IMG_3987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPr-aVGdROByFBeabMmufaPS-lFoLHu_3DBsfDks_dsYb8Pi06moigvJ-tnB-F7wyXH2ihecbW3V3uBVLuRPHjN6zxzH6x8VXg4bUzw6tgCRY86DydZJc15VWbVWofA0vEa3_24cu-hY/s400/IMG_3987.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tOYxcLRRlZGfgxeIg6ROfTUJr3-0bXDOWArFJuSWnbwlCG-JzXmtOXzquP5-Ea-IoGkxoxssHZFtWvD3EtR5jC_dG73Zhf7G1JzzzztJwzOdVxmjdqjfApQc0DY-QF_eDe4p4NQhyphenhyphenq8/s1600/IMG_3995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tOYxcLRRlZGfgxeIg6ROfTUJr3-0bXDOWArFJuSWnbwlCG-JzXmtOXzquP5-Ea-IoGkxoxssHZFtWvD3EtR5jC_dG73Zhf7G1JzzzztJwzOdVxmjdqjfApQc0DY-QF_eDe4p4NQhyphenhyphenq8/s400/IMG_3995.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course my parents would make friends with strangers on the boat. </td></tr>
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We got off the Vaporetto and crossed over the Rialto Bridge to get to our hotel.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qY-uHhtada5VsScK5Pj0CeO5yAlISbRLVoTsNrK96Rmb4Yncyv2Fislimx3kJXCahaJA3TmyjVfyGHH4Lv8JcvIOvGPGT_g2AeeZmIg8fEykDWa7N1s3SEaYAOy5i6Zkj6CF2bUclc0/s1600/IMG_3996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qY-uHhtada5VsScK5Pj0CeO5yAlISbRLVoTsNrK96Rmb4Yncyv2Fislimx3kJXCahaJA3TmyjVfyGHH4Lv8JcvIOvGPGT_g2AeeZmIg8fEykDWa7N1s3SEaYAOy5i6Zkj6CF2bUclc0/s400/IMG_3996.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">The bridge.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rialto_Bridge">The Rialto Bridge</a> is the oldest and most famous of the four bridges that span the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canal_(Venice)">Grand Canal</a>. Like the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, the Rialto has overpriced souvenir/jewelry shops lining either side of the bridge facing inward. It's one of the most famous landmarks of Venice.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQyuTKj2InJXn82RmusJqrJjkLhS2Mf8MZF_89jPNhyLRXWMQOFKyysqZgJBPi50yMH9JFs85SgNu9Idux6hAwqRGSzu6Sj2CUNF2Cry2uWhGnGyn_71qIfgt7s9pIm2_fDWOwIgBidU/s1600/IMG_3997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQyuTKj2InJXn82RmusJqrJjkLhS2Mf8MZF_89jPNhyLRXWMQOFKyysqZgJBPi50yMH9JFs85SgNu9Idux6hAwqRGSzu6Sj2CUNF2Cry2uWhGnGyn_71qIfgt7s9pIm2_fDWOwIgBidU/s400/IMG_3997.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">View from the top of the Rialto.</td></tr>
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For some reason the souvenir of choice in Venice is elaborately decorated masks:<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZi-pMPPMW2I0KiQQqabjtUt1PJ7ceHww3uRvLFWODgHMtKi_EsQcXkYnULOj68AYP4pxfhZ5svOwjYUojBZBIAQs7PElZklFVelh_-bf7x21zpyuYT3kpplW3ojPAD4cM-_KClvq1RMM/s1600/IMG_4012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZi-pMPPMW2I0KiQQqabjtUt1PJ7ceHww3uRvLFWODgHMtKi_EsQcXkYnULOj68AYP4pxfhZ5svOwjYUojBZBIAQs7PElZklFVelh_-bf7x21zpyuYT3kpplW3ojPAD4cM-_KClvq1RMM/s400/IMG_4012.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Because nothing says "I've been to Venice" like a $300 mask...the real reason for the masks can be found <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_of_Venice">here </a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.hotelmarconi.it/hotel_marconi_in_venice-en.htm">The Hotel Marconi</a>, in all honesty, had the lowest rate of any hotel I could find that was located on the island. It also turned out to be incredibly nice - and about a hundred years old.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.breinersdorfer.com/foto_htm/geschaefte.2/2004,%20Hotel%20Marconi,%20Venice,%20ITA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.breinersdorfer.com/foto_htm/geschaefte.2/2004,%20Hotel%20Marconi,%20Venice,%20ITA.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks nicer inside, trust me. </td></tr>
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Check out these old-school postcards for the Marconi from the first half of the 20th Century:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaGtnau5XPMqd9e_ZMOhYwXqLN97axJB1hJJx9518OzbTczNqnOl18AzDrMAQYQ-JIR3bRvlPlPgm6ajlrncF5o5F28brRGZQsp50pL0n5xmH75mZTYA-DSkXEOdB28pNBTDWV1PvWKo/s1600/hotel+marconi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaGtnau5XPMqd9e_ZMOhYwXqLN97axJB1hJJx9518OzbTczNqnOl18AzDrMAQYQ-JIR3bRvlPlPgm6ajlrncF5o5F28brRGZQsp50pL0n5xmH75mZTYA-DSkXEOdB28pNBTDWV1PvWKo/s400/hotel+marconi.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Postcard-Hotel-Marconi-Advertising-Card-Venice-ca-1930-/15/!B63qmCQBmk~$(KGrHqUOKo4Ey+jC0PqmBMyiZm2QkQ~~-1_35.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Postcard-Hotel-Marconi-Advertising-Card-Venice-ca-1930-/15/!B63qmCQBmk~$(KGrHqUOKo4Ey+jC0PqmBMyiZm2QkQ~~-1_35.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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As per our usual mode of operation, we headed towards the Jewish sites in the city. This meant getting back on a vaporetto and heading back up the Grant Canal towards the train station, and taking pictures along the way, imagining that we were in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade like this guy:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least we weren't crazy enough to... <i><b><a href="http://www.traileraddict.com/clip/indiana-jones-last-crcusade/dont-go-between-them">go between them</a>!!!</b></i></td></tr>
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A quick word about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondola">gondolas</a>. You've definitely heard of gondolas. They are the prototypical boat of Venice. Long, skinny, black boats designed for private conveyance - usually of a romantic nature - through the canal system of the city. Goldoliers are seemingly required by law to dress in striped shirts and flat topped straw hats. In cartoons and movies, they are also required by law to sing "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJxmoAx5A90">O Sole Mio</a>" - but we didn't hear anyone singing while we were in town... Look! Here comes one now!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvOPMMTDFIeYuJu3DpDPTPKGGOrb3S2bC98XPeGtogYiRoyMw-aE54mqe0rOXMWFJdlPK9f-WjhtKXB5hDQNkvvLmvG9pnl4-P76GigpArhhWNNbcpcV68FDXA4Yi7tEA6F0K57URrvA/s1600/IMG_4002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvOPMMTDFIeYuJu3DpDPTPKGGOrb3S2bC98XPeGtogYiRoyMw-aE54mqe0rOXMWFJdlPK9f-WjhtKXB5hDQNkvvLmvG9pnl4-P76GigpArhhWNNbcpcV68FDXA4Yi7tEA6F0K57URrvA/s400/IMG_4002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Newlywed gondola ride.</td></tr>
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Gondolas were the primary mode of transportation in Venice for hundreds of years. Today, nearly all of them are for hire by tourists. Various gondola services have certain colored poles throughout the city. The poles designate which gondola company has the right to tie up at a given spot. See?<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmHqV2mJ4gieNT90WTkGlRy0-EqxkxNeBzakfxnMJhkV8ZLNMjiC5BNHSy72wBPq_h98bZvw5ccsA6J0bj9drYTbvgfX79rI7lhJOhv3kdxOf1xMA2jzVa7gKLl4jocdzWne-9_pHqao/s1600/IMG_3988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmHqV2mJ4gieNT90WTkGlRy0-EqxkxNeBzakfxnMJhkV8ZLNMjiC5BNHSy72wBPq_h98bZvw5ccsA6J0bj9drYTbvgfX79rI7lhJOhv3kdxOf1xMA2jzVa7gKLl4jocdzWne-9_pHqao/s400/IMG_3988.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Gondola/barber poles. Moving on...</td></tr>
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As I said before, Venice is <i>different. </i>It couldn't be more different. Many houses jut right up to the water, and are only accessible by bringing a boat right up alongside the building. Native Venetians must all own boats... right?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y1R3XPUtDzhJ1fqhn52FeLAo_qegv0sWs8jslx0X_0Esc8anBekpIMxea9_5rrV6zpJy_3JtsO8HlqF16RK7kBxxHIAjzPwfdMdlzPlpFgJXyB4vMX1eFS3xFa76o8W-Fcb2OwC8bRI/s1600/IMG_4004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y1R3XPUtDzhJ1fqhn52FeLAo_qegv0sWs8jslx0X_0Esc8anBekpIMxea9_5rrV6zpJy_3JtsO8HlqF16RK7kBxxHIAjzPwfdMdlzPlpFgJXyB4vMX1eFS3xFa76o8W-Fcb2OwC8bRI/s400/IMG_4004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A produce market. On the right, that boat is a <a href="https://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS481US481&biw=1213&bih=610&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=water+taxi+venice&oq=water+taxi+venice&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i5j0i24l7.112.532.0.653.7.5.0.0.0.0.117.160.1j1.2.0...0.0...1c.1.lVnvoK_fCCU">taxicab</a>. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCoM38y6fVq5ssN0zaW5fJBG4j9M1ykjt0iY76Wsusq36pMv1VlqJC7yrjVCrOaSuJtDaWkDGBfgn820Dh3qHHBV6QOoccytovlWcQgA3jnmwmO6YiGzaHQe6k4yWhyphenhyphenjPYJ0-0Dn-JDo/s1600/IMG_4005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCoM38y6fVq5ssN0zaW5fJBG4j9M1ykjt0iY76Wsusq36pMv1VlqJC7yrjVCrOaSuJtDaWkDGBfgn820Dh3qHHBV6QOoccytovlWcQgA3jnmwmO6YiGzaHQe6k4yWhyphenhyphenjPYJ0-0Dn-JDo/s400/IMG_4005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still heading to the Jewish Ghetto.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMBgPCDSYXea4jFk69g__1iIz4N2iA14v7Z_S4v31USh84l95TVjlyjdB13IOAd82SC9MNZrudAw0a7-HGLJvnpGlHyr5UBhjcsH-8_9B5WS9rpraP_VIE6DYnUUn913ynSD4-3Gpats/s1600/IMG_4009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMBgPCDSYXea4jFk69g__1iIz4N2iA14v7Z_S4v31USh84l95TVjlyjdB13IOAd82SC9MNZrudAw0a7-HGLJvnpGlHyr5UBhjcsH-8_9B5WS9rpraP_VIE6DYnUUn913ynSD4-3Gpats/s400/IMG_4009.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just soaking up Venice along the way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWesGdC8VOSosx3rB1WtZZCpYwg6RxVN2nrRdh8g6j1etwHBYI0JRfIAqAiWdrPBeEqDG4FzxxQOFBLKZZF_oojNvjwCTQagwwXeRTdRo5JF6hDgsfziIuNHzB3xCe1st6v2cBT0dlUUk/s1600/IMG_4010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWesGdC8VOSosx3rB1WtZZCpYwg6RxVN2nrRdh8g6j1etwHBYI0JRfIAqAiWdrPBeEqDG4FzxxQOFBLKZZF_oojNvjwCTQagwwXeRTdRo5JF6hDgsfziIuNHzB3xCe1st6v2cBT0dlUUk/s400/IMG_4010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left, that's what a waterbus station looks like. Beyond it, some gondola poles. </td></tr>
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OK. We took the water bus back up to the train station. Hung a right, and crossed over the Canale di <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannaregio_Canal">Cannaregio</a> (the second largest canal in the city) over the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_delle_Guglie">Ponte della Guglie</a>. On the other side of the bridge we confronted this sign:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxw1aU_gzJ8746Q6FDNHNKzOgihMDMzZiAAmDjR04v5bGyQAmzf4tH0RhBhfc8QbFXz16y-z_b0OqmMIJQ0_l4TO3AjCPCg2Y0PUEVBxGeYJ_J02_m7B1F3AaMT8kURWDKF4MuWDiD9w/s1600/IMG_4013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxw1aU_gzJ8746Q6FDNHNKzOgihMDMzZiAAmDjR04v5bGyQAmzf4tH0RhBhfc8QbFXz16y-z_b0OqmMIJQ0_l4TO3AjCPCg2Y0PUEVBxGeYJ_J02_m7B1F3AaMT8kURWDKF4MuWDiD9w/s400/IMG_4013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even if I didn't know Hebrew I could probably translate it: Jewish stuff this way. </td></tr>
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The Kosher restaurant, <a href="http://gamgamkosher.com/">Gam Gam</a> is right at the other end of the Ponte della Guglie. The restaurant also functions as the <a href="http://gamgamkosher.com/?p=102">Chabad</a> center of Venice, which I'm sure is very nice. Once again, to support the Jewish businesses, although this one didn't by any means appear to be struggling, we sat down to enjoy lunch there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifk_5C3gZ-pH_o3UOdCZ4AAi2NS8Leuib3aI8riyjLLoVvn0InUnZPTIin0bJPK8qmGWiueV9Z0l8KQGpdekr61rruG4UX2V75hagrcVlU6I_y0RuVna5VxOrbCfPngo4k6c-JUOipdac/s1600/IMG_4016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifk_5C3gZ-pH_o3UOdCZ4AAi2NS8Leuib3aI8riyjLLoVvn0InUnZPTIin0bJPK8qmGWiueV9Z0l8KQGpdekr61rruG4UX2V75hagrcVlU6I_y0RuVna5VxOrbCfPngo4k6c-JUOipdac/s400/IMG_4016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a photo with the menu = tourist tendencies. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LNciIlxcnbdoXRLYzYJQdo7f3f0iD5cHcLdan9-J2vddeixjyUA8pXoh96Vx6e98PRdoaUMG2COyvCncTdTYwGApFtFiVMAXFv_VntEhb3cGlmGFLjR9fYnkymQhq2CyQJ2-leQVqOQ/s1600/IMG_4018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LNciIlxcnbdoXRLYzYJQdo7f3f0iD5cHcLdan9-J2vddeixjyUA8pXoh96Vx6e98PRdoaUMG2COyvCncTdTYwGApFtFiVMAXFv_VntEhb3cGlmGFLjR9fYnkymQhq2CyQJ2-leQVqOQ/s400/IMG_4018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not even a railing between my seat and falling right into the canal.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The food was more Israeli style than Italian, but everything was delicious. There was some serious presentation put into the dishes:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-L8NY8W8fwKP5XKoB5brHIBzI-cO74e3GV1kOdRcb78dLsKceJQaZ9I5I1hvt8_wa5dUfrEPs9FfANpl0G3NjaaKf9Y81GlDgJuX-vkdGzAg7EWAA8c2ZxaYRxCAj1QzhzJbK-WdthrI/s1600/IMG_4021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-L8NY8W8fwKP5XKoB5brHIBzI-cO74e3GV1kOdRcb78dLsKceJQaZ9I5I1hvt8_wa5dUfrEPs9FfANpl0G3NjaaKf9Y81GlDgJuX-vkdGzAg7EWAA8c2ZxaYRxCAj1QzhzJbK-WdthrI/s400/IMG_4021.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamb medallions... check out that drizzling action!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDecpv8iEqoM6SRSY8hhG3Tor_e3SkqHlaxvgah0dkVI31VXCV1BcnQ4TqNy8-j1WmWkZ9bZjNitd9SBhxOTnTVpcg5kfBZAG5WHF8km7lKeV079TifnRHjuXjpgK-6rnE6QX9LFE3G8/s1600/IMG_4022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDecpv8iEqoM6SRSY8hhG3Tor_e3SkqHlaxvgah0dkVI31VXCV1BcnQ4TqNy8-j1WmWkZ9bZjNitd9SBhxOTnTVpcg5kfBZAG5WHF8km7lKeV079TifnRHjuXjpgK-6rnE6QX9LFE3G8/s400/IMG_4022.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curried chicken.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nteLZlc4xjnxQlVBQ6rLagFsdu456C1OwaoF8eFtrfMY23hpZm6aou9nQJQJv_2Ns-1qI9PuA65GEGU8JkUtcnzC5rycK3rmxRqiMTLywQfWfREqlfZYKroZAq5jUCZ0MEGSR_jI2NA/s1600/IMG_4023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nteLZlc4xjnxQlVBQ6rLagFsdu456C1OwaoF8eFtrfMY23hpZm6aou9nQJQJv_2Ns-1qI9PuA65GEGU8JkUtcnzC5rycK3rmxRqiMTLywQfWfREqlfZYKroZAq5jUCZ0MEGSR_jI2NA/s400/IMG_4023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some kind of goulash, it would appear. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvVBPmK0wUwOQ9QXBVBTtaD7-ZiqM5FHd4EcQOcqrv1kybV500zRk9y8KNvmPL84yMiWx5H0aPWjZxgKFkSjMf0vZ7938yCgQbDQsbdcpzlSq86RCKUEhHzxritCgPyXtZUIUAEsuqXo/s1600/IMG_4024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvVBPmK0wUwOQ9QXBVBTtaD7-ZiqM5FHd4EcQOcqrv1kybV500zRk9y8KNvmPL84yMiWx5H0aPWjZxgKFkSjMf0vZ7938yCgQbDQsbdcpzlSq86RCKUEhHzxritCgPyXtZUIUAEsuqXo/s400/IMG_4024.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vegetarian lasagna, but no cheese. It's a fleishig restaurant.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Venice is where the word <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghetto">Ghetto</a> was invented. Did you know that? Generally, a ghetto is defined as an area inhabited by only one ethnic group, usually due to various socio-economic reasons. In the case of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_ghettos_in_Europe">Jewish Ghettos of Europe</a>, Jews were forced to only live within a certain area. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_Ghetto">first ever "ghetto"</a> was in the north of Venice. In 1516, the Jewish presence in Venice had grown in size and influence to such an extent that the leaders of the city-state enacted a decree that restricted the residences of all Jews to a few city blocks. The result was an eclectic interspersing of Jews from all over Europe. Unlike other Jewish Ghettos, the one in Venice did not form its own identity. The different backgrounds remained separate, retaining their own languages and Synagogues. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV3F-l-Y0xUDlhYhUiQk_zgtNSvJnt-oE7ZW7QQ91dDiNTD-cPXsoVPWTFIXmy1dJJ3cQh7TkAFTJq6130QL20bgJQo6ro7Kxch5vmKA-7lz9JcRGlt1F0RCYigt2aEaaAvH5onMJlwE/s1600/IMG_4034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV3F-l-Y0xUDlhYhUiQk_zgtNSvJnt-oE7ZW7QQ91dDiNTD-cPXsoVPWTFIXmy1dJJ3cQh7TkAFTJq6130QL20bgJQo6ro7Kxch5vmKA-7lz9JcRGlt1F0RCYigt2aEaaAvH5onMJlwE/s400/IMG_4034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main square of the ghetto.</td></tr>
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</div>
Today, the ghetto is a regular residential area - hardly any forced ethnic clustering at all! It's popular among tourists, especially Jews. Lots of Kosher dining and the Jewish ghetto museum and walking tour is top notch. One side of the central square of the ghetto is dominated by the Jewish rest home for the elderly. Surprising, seeing as there are only 500 local Venetian Jews left in the city - the rest home has about seven residents. The rest of the building has been converted into a completely kosher hotel and restaurant.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUmkGp1CVB1RTxe5h_geLczduhi4npQNqt6lDSqUq56dcTWW9rnl4Zt25E-L5ooP5Dn1BAOhTl0W12NBkRKqc0f5C6TnbPl_abKYCRD3FatzzxeQVnabUSls7K5rMcJ2-2aoTYZj6rIs/s1600/IMG_4035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUmkGp1CVB1RTxe5h_geLczduhi4npQNqt6lDSqUq56dcTWW9rnl4Zt25E-L5ooP5Dn1BAOhTl0W12NBkRKqc0f5C6TnbPl_abKYCRD3FatzzxeQVnabUSls7K5rMcJ2-2aoTYZj6rIs/s400/IMG_4035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ilana and I in front of the rest home.</td></tr>
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Because glass is a specialty of Venice souvenirs, and because there are many <a href="http://www.worldofjudaica.com/judaica?gclid=COCc0unOxbICFexAMgodJ0kATQ">Judaica</a> pieces to fashion from glass, there's a common theme in the local souvenir shops:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge_oYiRftM5nK0cMd5JqGsPkg9FKAuYGhn7qeKm_RoFTdCuaVpE89Grpy-DJv3m4JfrU6wei9HjoYiiQoUytP0uAnFFffUa7UD3g13cdnrAGJW3yGiFL3RUvozOWTcW-MsUq9wWv8OwQ/s1600/IMG_4027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge_oYiRftM5nK0cMd5JqGsPkg9FKAuYGhn7qeKm_RoFTdCuaVpE89Grpy-DJv3m4JfrU6wei9HjoYiiQoUytP0uAnFFffUa7UD3g13cdnrAGJW3yGiFL3RUvozOWTcW-MsUq9wWv8OwQ/s400/IMG_4027.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David's Shop in the Ghetto. David's sister does all the work - every display has a sign like this one. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQieNsUCMk-YUZiAdgne6oLbjzUcbdFL2yvfPlkYO59w8SYYYWL4O94bqlOZHJfl6VS44pEs-MdEack9pnxU95gTk6i5WaWjoPYxRtNAVQm0NRvTMD_0qv7L8GIpcM51JkMbUYovGo1Pw/s1600/IMG_4028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQieNsUCMk-YUZiAdgne6oLbjzUcbdFL2yvfPlkYO59w8SYYYWL4O94bqlOZHJfl6VS44pEs-MdEack9pnxU95gTk6i5WaWjoPYxRtNAVQm0NRvTMD_0qv7L8GIpcM51JkMbUYovGo1Pw/s400/IMG_4028.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't touch his sister! More on David's shop and his sister in a future post. </td></tr>
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The ghetto museum and companion walking tour doesn't allow pictures. Suffice it to say that the museum is small and contains a nice collection of artifacts from the history of the Jews of Venice. The walking tour is the real draw to the museum. The tour consists of visiting all of the various synagogues in the ghetto. They're all elaborately decorated and have a lot of exposed wood. Most of them are smaller than you would expect. Finally, they're all upstairs, and give no indication from the outside of their actual purpose - all thanks to the decree set forth by the government of Venice.<br />
<br />
Please enjoy some pictures of the Synagogues <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=venice%20synagogues&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS481US481&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D7&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=ANtbUNqkE8HYywHovYCICQ&biw=1201&bih=634&sei=AttbUNqSDYP7ygHroYCgBg">here</a>, and if you wish, there are descriptions and layouts to be found <a href="http://www.ghetto.it/ghetto/en/contenuti.asp?padre=1&figlio=2">here</a>.<br />
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Don't let that smile fool you... Tensions are running high:<br />
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We spent the rest of the day zipping up and down the grand canal and around the Eastern half Venice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r-gaLj-E7dKYwapd7nKFSwlNE7Ta-JbDjHYIqNu5LEbXFaHgFazwhmrWF33aq4DQkDo9RJWfrHUy1kPYmlGzpoeskLaIyYJvknqA6QTW5CVsa6xrGs_rbVyAtGThFocsuvEttybJglI/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r-gaLj-E7dKYwapd7nKFSwlNE7Ta-JbDjHYIqNu5LEbXFaHgFazwhmrWF33aq4DQkDo9RJWfrHUy1kPYmlGzpoeskLaIyYJvknqA6QTW5CVsa6xrGs_rbVyAtGThFocsuvEttybJglI/s400/IMG_4041.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwUb4-VI9FXF4ebGCSb_A4kCbgbeoU14ZnwobrD5yi-J-KwpqPYge5i76d52K9w0jQOV9gv_qb33xtAEPf_SyMyHR5uELj293Wxt5zXiTUzJWCVrCl4xgKnEnULvTAXEVQB0Xcf2K2Ks/s1600/IMG_4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwUb4-VI9FXF4ebGCSb_A4kCbgbeoU14ZnwobrD5yi-J-KwpqPYge5i76d52K9w0jQOV9gv_qb33xtAEPf_SyMyHR5uELj293Wxt5zXiTUzJWCVrCl4xgKnEnULvTAXEVQB0Xcf2K2Ks/s400/IMG_4048.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWUmQgEBPEx7om6XNC9Y4sXvoIo-vVHRG0O5eUwMVRVWEcFI5zuZimKlKeXC68j8N91v24dec-GGz7M1kVis_PF6rLzkKb52ElfHPW4qXOskPFt3_0fBTb2IJIl9kQj4GEVYe8Z3TWvw/s1600/IMG_4049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWUmQgEBPEx7om6XNC9Y4sXvoIo-vVHRG0O5eUwMVRVWEcFI5zuZimKlKeXC68j8N91v24dec-GGz7M1kVis_PF6rLzkKb52ElfHPW4qXOskPFt3_0fBTb2IJIl9kQj4GEVYe8Z3TWvw/s400/IMG_4049.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speed Gondolas! They were going for some kind of record.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBUuYZBgHXsrT_XbpRN-mqH2Ux40OmzM9Vq1MMYjQhsxT7wp7vWk6gmhnFNF9rlk3Q4vKos-jTYfFj6gnB-W-RkPrq2Dia2KCy_h2q_c_FzgwSkPi0ptRVo-301LH3eJOArXQkuNr8i4/s1600/IMG_4052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBUuYZBgHXsrT_XbpRN-mqH2Ux40OmzM9Vq1MMYjQhsxT7wp7vWk6gmhnFNF9rlk3Q4vKos-jTYfFj6gnB-W-RkPrq2Dia2KCy_h2q_c_FzgwSkPi0ptRVo-301LH3eJOArXQkuNr8i4/s400/IMG_4052.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you imagine <i>living</i> in there? Crazy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNYMKN_HGjvnIuDpiJENnOy9FnTajPpc_3IB61-AaAmygaHwMLowomXFc3hyZVLB1brJued2QiaY08MXLwvFn3_cHOw8cDeVnhOiZhVDVEzOLBmyZ3_Q2xOhhUK8st1dSOckWB7_1F8A/s1600/IMG_4054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNYMKN_HGjvnIuDpiJENnOy9FnTajPpc_3IB61-AaAmygaHwMLowomXFc3hyZVLB1brJued2QiaY08MXLwvFn3_cHOw8cDeVnhOiZhVDVEzOLBmyZ3_Q2xOhhUK8st1dSOckWB7_1F8A/s400/IMG_4054.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standard minor canal - this could be your morning commute if you lived here.</td></tr>
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Where to go next? I'm pretty good at navigating - gotta figure out the right route to take next.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibohIbEhu1fz0tTaoIKETTjFM4GLxIoD9d0lShmFKFW7ipk-uMw1oCnRZ27ugSuo-hrk67ixMudiGUmqG_o-H0Jbs0IokUSUOSR9Ir6ocam4MdlHHlpNBOUaaIlbroAfaUIGngWlKTa0/s1600/IMG_4056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibohIbEhu1fz0tTaoIKETTjFM4GLxIoD9d0lShmFKFW7ipk-uMw1oCnRZ27ugSuo-hrk67ixMudiGUmqG_o-H0Jbs0IokUSUOSR9Ir6ocam4MdlHHlpNBOUaaIlbroAfaUIGngWlKTa0/s400/IMG_4056.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maps on maps.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddHHqcy89QjlQwxtfUDOXTI7tcyVDv1aEqK6GzX8TY7ZhPDCN-usf96qYKMJnC-jurrs0Gr5-Eb2TymGmodiJk1om01Lydv7Pv_Kp8-8nQLIUITEt8VTTD6zWvck0ALi_2Y4oud0Ld5Q/s1600/IMG_4061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddHHqcy89QjlQwxtfUDOXTI7tcyVDv1aEqK6GzX8TY7ZhPDCN-usf96qYKMJnC-jurrs0Gr5-Eb2TymGmodiJk1om01Lydv7Pv_Kp8-8nQLIUITEt8VTTD6zWvck0ALi_2Y4oud0Ld5Q/s400/IMG_4061.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where <i>are</i> we?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8n6zNxMsXwMvK4ISyJK4sByu-yBgWAzLYP-x0HVwkV059rY7RBvnp2F3RpjRaoCyY6r58cOXDmAWr7u1Y2VAXkpWhIYZZ0gM7Hh9AXJkhuqXXunSs-gZ_WmnskvRjog9f7oQZYsk9Ss/s1600/IMG_4060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8n6zNxMsXwMvK4ISyJK4sByu-yBgWAzLYP-x0HVwkV059rY7RBvnp2F3RpjRaoCyY6r58cOXDmAWr7u1Y2VAXkpWhIYZZ0gM7Hh9AXJkhuqXXunSs-gZ_WmnskvRjog9f7oQZYsk9Ss/s400/IMG_4060.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gelato!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6b1YOfR4L1DrCJ-mGKOLJuePVfRRED3BBAkHgbCqBWKUgo1FRlNXTHtpBsHJ4LORLfQYrmoKMUmOz-VI7jJ9pBtnZRqtZ9sT9TXAn7GfoMMEQW-8QxJbNyryxhbDiNJYPJtyd2Jt4fM/s1600/IMG_4062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6b1YOfR4L1DrCJ-mGKOLJuePVfRRED3BBAkHgbCqBWKUgo1FRlNXTHtpBsHJ4LORLfQYrmoKMUmOz-VI7jJ9pBtnZRqtZ9sT9TXAn7GfoMMEQW-8QxJbNyryxhbDiNJYPJtyd2Jt4fM/s400/IMG_4062.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">water-bus stop.</td></tr>
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I've said it many times - but being a tourist can be hard on your legs. Having a chance to sit on the vaporetto gave us a much needed rest:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0e41ex86-rsif_8pzammaqrSJhkZ0Vd_RB7nomv95cAOnhHxXy5-ddul0rzsxN_tABHWPP3XrQQdnF-TRScmV1nEJGkV7yASdxbgb4gXjglczdYKAKbFBop57x1kxHyJC6ms-HtAh-3g/s1600/IMG_4065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0e41ex86-rsif_8pzammaqrSJhkZ0Vd_RB7nomv95cAOnhHxXy5-ddul0rzsxN_tABHWPP3XrQQdnF-TRScmV1nEJGkV7yASdxbgb4gXjglczdYKAKbFBop57x1kxHyJC6ms-HtAh-3g/s400/IMG_4065.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamwork!</td></tr>
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We arrived to the Piazza San Marco bus stop on the southern end of Venice and walked around just a little bit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZfR-v89jw3uCsBMAtgel76Vbmb5u3NJsSeCoeoDmRKKlAVzBXXvF0Pv5EhvWNU37dUf8eviR1obARsSQM81sW-_oAZ14NqqXdtIIshD71ALogfVJ29L-GrZ7yRBQNEn81WS_v_Zjzr8/s1600/IMG_4066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZfR-v89jw3uCsBMAtgel76Vbmb5u3NJsSeCoeoDmRKKlAVzBXXvF0Pv5EhvWNU37dUf8eviR1obARsSQM81sW-_oAZ14NqqXdtIIshD71ALogfVJ29L-GrZ7yRBQNEn81WS_v_Zjzr8/s400/IMG_4066.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tourist season hasn't quite started yet... lots of gondolas are out of commission.</td></tr>
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When we took the following picture we weren't even aware it was a particularly interesting attraction. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_of_Sighs">The Bridge of Sighs</a> connects the Doge's palace to the old prison. It's an enclosed with bars in the windows. The bridge was so named because of the prisoners sighs as they caught one last glimpse of beautiful Venice on their way to imprisonment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1_avzKHwCi7gkQf8WCoJDM0P2wCLU4RxV-YYSRzNTAX6Z1m9gbgzfCGfEVBGUF516DUrAmXO8V4geDhgzwUOaqTHk42xENQZqNZOuW0sYdvJmi9fJIjtU12SkBbPrsYqn10r5MFJgdc/s1600/IMG_4067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1_avzKHwCi7gkQf8WCoJDM0P2wCLU4RxV-YYSRzNTAX6Z1m9gbgzfCGfEVBGUF516DUrAmXO8V4geDhgzwUOaqTHk42xENQZqNZOuW0sYdvJmi9fJIjtU12SkBbPrsYqn10r5MFJgdc/s400/IMG_4067.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we thought we were just taking a great picture...</td></tr>
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More on Saint Mark's square tomorrow, we only strolled around for a few minutes anyway... We got back on the vaporetto and went all the way up the grand canal and then finally back to the Rialto bridge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTF_DCfi_cJqwqChB004CGYj9X3laUKndZ-LoTuItz77oMJ54zEEii-zP-0D7frPJSbuhmR_yAG_6tM_7JyZ5lqF69SSGc7gqNxfxrSRGYT0LMAdvUhY7k95EfcpJcqc-Z7uoH81xE2o/s1600/IMG_4075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTF_DCfi_cJqwqChB004CGYj9X3laUKndZ-LoTuItz77oMJ54zEEii-zP-0D7frPJSbuhmR_yAG_6tM_7JyZ5lqF69SSGc7gqNxfxrSRGYT0LMAdvUhY7k95EfcpJcqc-Z7uoH81xE2o/s400/IMG_4075.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venice at night.</td></tr>
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We had a late dinner in one of the restaurants adjacent to the Hotel Marconi, right on the grand canal with the Rialto Bridge in the background.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGw5tx-H94HMeYN3SV0nLzi1qJVmksKL4WU9Ga8WgJCplhX2axwnGcmsLtvn1XXlp9dtjItbeLFknxSybTIow1zvt2ZIcYXhL0mjYdlq3VrTAlPJBlc_BtEps4Z4ffOHoYvrM6bIb4A0/s1600/IMG_4080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGw5tx-H94HMeYN3SV0nLzi1qJVmksKL4WU9Ga8WgJCplhX2axwnGcmsLtvn1XXlp9dtjItbeLFknxSybTIow1zvt2ZIcYXhL0mjYdlq3VrTAlPJBlc_BtEps4Z4ffOHoYvrM6bIb4A0/s400/IMG_4080.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU28RsiMr6bMu6Mo4ku8iUXrIInJZe6OtFNwRp_SEbbDpiP5NJyDKHrPGwXbB77YLs4PZJNUCTvrBpFaym7jcr3jFbGcaE2Ot5T1DMaX1gCQfSln2aqIizIyTgFevgDbt-bBr0sIbXqJk/s1600/IMG_4081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU28RsiMr6bMu6Mo4ku8iUXrIInJZe6OtFNwRp_SEbbDpiP5NJyDKHrPGwXbB77YLs4PZJNUCTvrBpFaym7jcr3jFbGcaE2Ot5T1DMaX1gCQfSln2aqIizIyTgFevgDbt-bBr0sIbXqJk/s400/IMG_4081.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1pciZusqVNA5JaaeTSF_Ms59sEpvCJ1Y6xVZOi1b2pYuZw4VZiTeSNT0gTM1f04vCzsOpfZ_nwPLGLFgKTrrvo-ssYbxc86gEfpGUIvf9CudMm93NwI4wAoMUihFciBCRFiMqIgMoh8/s1600/IMG_4085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1pciZusqVNA5JaaeTSF_Ms59sEpvCJ1Y6xVZOi1b2pYuZw4VZiTeSNT0gTM1f04vCzsOpfZ_nwPLGLFgKTrrvo-ssYbxc86gEfpGUIvf9CudMm93NwI4wAoMUihFciBCRFiMqIgMoh8/s400/IMG_4085.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_of_Sighs">Ah</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpwL1hAFdhY">Venice</a>...</td></tr>
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JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-41489483989351953242012-09-13T01:42:00.000+04:302012-10-20T05:19:32.261+03:30Italy Day 7 Florence: History of Science, Ponte Vecchio, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sunday in Florence. It's quiet. Fewer shops/attractions are open. Church bells are ringing sporadically. We headed south to the Arno from our hotel on Via Palazzuolo, then strolled along toward the Ponte Vecchio (we turned left/east and headed along the north coast). </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDb7rZAXXY4Fpi11ltyHFUlpBLo9gJKwJfS9qD-WJ3KjNWXZcKJ1Nq1iG8hZ_SyB31EYqgQB7kr8rdkCfPzLY51RAw2TNKH402nAItPEA6jwauaf_-gODbYoLN5sO5Tr-4RSetAlTYcA/s1600/IMG_3892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDb7rZAXXY4Fpi11ltyHFUlpBLo9gJKwJfS9qD-WJ3KjNWXZcKJ1Nq1iG8hZ_SyB31EYqgQB7kr8rdkCfPzLY51RAw2TNKH402nAItPEA6jwauaf_-gODbYoLN5sO5Tr-4RSetAlTYcA/s400/IMG_3892.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couple of guys fishing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNlrWJDp_0fOaXqULoK3oS3AxMY4onMCo0jhDOUK_7x2e0wR8GJlhH66MTy8FB75pIqVXRvEmN8liZqPvRFepjyLXSceaFCFFxZiE3nTzPsy9hiWls3KZNFnGLX2I1vgBDMyx9GAkDP8/s1600/IMG_3898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNlrWJDp_0fOaXqULoK3oS3AxMY4onMCo0jhDOUK_7x2e0wR8GJlhH66MTy8FB75pIqVXRvEmN8liZqPvRFepjyLXSceaFCFFxZiE3nTzPsy9hiWls3KZNFnGLX2I1vgBDMyx9GAkDP8/s400/IMG_3898.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now <i>that</i>'s a view to which <a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120724190421AArgSEP">Alfred</a> might really enjoy his funky <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaro_(liqueur)">drink</a>.</td></tr>
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We had some time on our hands, so we had a little photo shoot along the way.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9crKCt2dWJoRr3ssb04oMBQG1KcF6fRmvx52AiBzYElCLkAvRqrnaHfyyNlPQD3QtHGv7LsIdlMV48e5SH98kGpTv-NrIfP4zO-svJEnVc34491wTO0e7m-cGq0tAX_boiF6hV569r6M/s1600/IMG_3900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9crKCt2dWJoRr3ssb04oMBQG1KcF6fRmvx52AiBzYElCLkAvRqrnaHfyyNlPQD3QtHGv7LsIdlMV48e5SH98kGpTv-NrIfP4zO-svJEnVc34491wTO0e7m-cGq0tAX_boiF6hV569r6M/s400/IMG_3900.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLc3Myl3aPm4WhyNq3auX3NTWKusgNMW_JcvDvFpEV9ni7-6na6eoNOc1oZYSsfzdF0rrjgiwMYVhctSmAB6Ki82kZotmAW9s99FEo621uan7oh8qW1Xx2TB1Y3JbFcUwc6nA5siA_N_s/s1600/IMG_3904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLc3Myl3aPm4WhyNq3auX3NTWKusgNMW_JcvDvFpEV9ni7-6na6eoNOc1oZYSsfzdF0rrjgiwMYVhctSmAB6Ki82kZotmAW9s99FEo621uan7oh8qW1Xx2TB1Y3JbFcUwc6nA5siA_N_s/s400/IMG_3904.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
With all available modesty, I took the most <i>incredible</i> picture of Ilana.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT5SThFe2VvWrnVo6GXL0JdarqhV6kHANSeXQRVqN_K4G4OHU6tkoQ1nppZ1DX18ypxXt9OFUd8L2t87uTY350c4O1ODhiDWcQpEUTjBNPuUk7cEeRZTQhtJz2f04ZaSoq9Jp8ZtjiYo/s1600/IMG_3906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT5SThFe2VvWrnVo6GXL0JdarqhV6kHANSeXQRVqN_K4G4OHU6tkoQ1nppZ1DX18ypxXt9OFUd8L2t87uTY350c4O1ODhiDWcQpEUTjBNPuUk7cEeRZTQhtJz2f04ZaSoq9Jp8ZtjiYo/s400/IMG_3906.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't mean to brag but... I should consider working as a photographer .</td></tr>
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I showed her the picture and asked her to take a similar one of me:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX_6rs9whOsuoqsA_HFEKh2aHeeqN-9-LyDpl94IcCnzb1R6LTp1tnIFU1wlSj7tHkDPNzsUazsJaPcu4MhU-m1xBlFegMWc5CQa6hDfqrYMBS7wiBjVJvGhRU_tfpzbFVqM2GCBN8VA/s1600/IMG_3907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX_6rs9whOsuoqsA_HFEKh2aHeeqN-9-LyDpl94IcCnzb1R6LTp1tnIFU1wlSj7tHkDPNzsUazsJaPcu4MhU-m1xBlFegMWc5CQa6hDfqrYMBS7wiBjVJvGhRU_tfpzbFVqM2GCBN8VA/s400/IMG_3907.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not even close.</td></tr>
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While we were walking, we noticed more and more padlocks chained to every possible anchor near the river. <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=love+padlocks&hl=en&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS481US481&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=AXxBUOHzPIS9qgH7xIDYDA&ved=0CDEQsAQ&biw=1355&bih=597">Love padlocks</a>, if you haven't heard of them, are a relatively recently adopted tradition in Europe and the trend is spreading all over the world. The idea is you go to the river with your sweetie and a padlock. You lock the padlock to something nearby (usually a bridge), and throw the key in the river. Thusly, your love is locked forever. It's a nice sentiment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJStmPth1TSbYaFdsfkLUgAODbsrFSC-dA4H-GkaoFT0KG0gt-GQBI59cpm2g8C6XtRNBih-ilpr_E32lk6ldT1ktBF2JUEo-fFt-MBd1QJA760MPrOZ6Kw6pDYxSkungUm-XsrtjM-z8/s1600/IMG_3908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJStmPth1TSbYaFdsfkLUgAODbsrFSC-dA4H-GkaoFT0KG0gt-GQBI59cpm2g8C6XtRNBih-ilpr_E32lk6ldT1ktBF2JUEo-fFt-MBd1QJA760MPrOZ6Kw6pDYxSkungUm-XsrtjM-z8/s400/IMG_3908.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I guess the anchor selection is pretty slim at this juncture of the river. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9HSORkzEWKfSlmHPHrRKnKiSNatu8lSBUVoHJzj5VCWukw_4oSHxklnp5E5QayUaS08WOboQdmP8B3qXmBzeDxjhsZSZcadoT8QrXQgoYWk8GLGqgR7n42_gPv74koyKz_YIpRplnZE/s1600/IMG_3909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9HSORkzEWKfSlmHPHrRKnKiSNatu8lSBUVoHJzj5VCWukw_4oSHxklnp5E5QayUaS08WOboQdmP8B3qXmBzeDxjhsZSZcadoT8QrXQgoYWk8GLGqgR7n42_gPv74koyKz_YIpRplnZE/s400/IMG_3909.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is that a combination lock in there? <i>Someone </i>didn't fully understand the concept... </td></tr>
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<i>Unfortunately, </i>the locks cause a considerable amount of damage to the bridges of Europe. The tradition has sparked a flurry of anti-love-padlock laws, and city workers removing thousands of locks from bridges. I hope the relationships all worked out... In Moscow they even went so far as to install special <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=moscow%20padlock%20trees&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS481US481&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D7&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=On1BUPj_KMjVqQHt94CoCA&biw=1355&bih=597&sei=PH1BUPC7JcftqAGP5oDwAw">"trees"</a> as designated anchors for the love padlocks.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8MYLvIfEX-s612LfHSEpcQp5FtNZ5_YsmIsMQ1-yDd1bA2gs-CxBPKCoX2LpMm9f1SD_WzfwGfRbj0_DEImg-wSAxtMvCi-spiZDV30Z0PeiHyErpcPIfsCfbtYm0Z8qsiwDUqmZFuE/s1600/IMG_3943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8MYLvIfEX-s612LfHSEpcQp5FtNZ5_YsmIsMQ1-yDd1bA2gs-CxBPKCoX2LpMm9f1SD_WzfwGfRbj0_DEImg-wSAxtMvCi-spiZDV30Z0PeiHyErpcPIfsCfbtYm0Z8qsiwDUqmZFuE/s400/IMG_3943.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nothing can stop Gemma and Pol's love.</span></td></tr>
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We headed past the Ponte Vecchio (we'll go by it after our first stop). Our destination was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museo_Galileo">history of science museum</a> (Florence Card accepted). The museum is located just East of where the Ponte Vecchio meets the North bank of the Arno. The building is adjacent to the southern end of the Uffizi Gallery, if that helps.<br />
<br />
In the Museo Galileo, which it is formally called, we found an incredible selection of old school science toys. It's our kind of museum.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4oqTPWV3QR53l36stvlkLAR-ivHfOOQx9Sr1U3hYkZwnGrzZYtyRWkObei2bYXlstdtlnkQV5MEvwXVhn4qdrvT-l7EuM23bCg91n3P84A4eT2U0_hzlpclDOhvfHhaphCc-jU0uQps/s1600/IMG_3913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4oqTPWV3QR53l36stvlkLAR-ivHfOOQx9Sr1U3hYkZwnGrzZYtyRWkObei2bYXlstdtlnkQV5MEvwXVhn4qdrvT-l7EuM23bCg91n3P84A4eT2U0_hzlpclDOhvfHhaphCc-jU0uQps/s400/IMG_3913.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is this, a leveler?</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hJltvu1nBnCGQObId-az-7NbmJKedo-FMm_y1s6JmcJ-lV5pC2qFD8zWUID94wdKp43RwZuGC-bjOh_EZIMgJGHI0zoiN4zbdoohX3Ut0HJO3htZPJ6dSqh9yQ431fKYWPAfCvybPow/s1600/IMG_3914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hJltvu1nBnCGQObId-az-7NbmJKedo-FMm_y1s6JmcJ-lV5pC2qFD8zWUID94wdKp43RwZuGC-bjOh_EZIMgJGHI0zoiN4zbdoohX3Ut0HJO3htZPJ6dSqh9yQ431fKYWPAfCvybPow/s400/IMG_3914.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Optical <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiz_Wobplcs">Illusion</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFUYUHxQywlDvlIl2gugC8kJ8ccI4ecv8klMIZ28xQOjaJUlu9wRPLLEQVsrahUsSZPE9JAArluaW88kv1a0a8xC6MWPhasUjYEqCC2xVYlPleh2E8vSiHrAXRId_WV44OIefr04N7hQ/s1600/IMG_3917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFUYUHxQywlDvlIl2gugC8kJ8ccI4ecv8klMIZ28xQOjaJUlu9wRPLLEQVsrahUsSZPE9JAArluaW88kv1a0a8xC6MWPhasUjYEqCC2xVYlPleh2E8vSiHrAXRId_WV44OIefr04N7hQ/s400/IMG_3917.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Globe of the heavens (likely with the earth at the center)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEuGgNe3yZ7zuUMoX9SWpSluezTfOiSUohluPKL3VTjIzL4lAnl15VKs1Px-7FsRbcxny0QyT7SCywoPwV6XTgsmp0FaBfk9h7dxDKydn3GNH7OFh_cmJIMrWOabgOJBEOB6O6Xb4kvQ/s1600/IMG_3921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEuGgNe3yZ7zuUMoX9SWpSluezTfOiSUohluPKL3VTjIzL4lAnl15VKs1Px-7FsRbcxny0QyT7SCywoPwV6XTgsmp0FaBfk9h7dxDKydn3GNH7OFh_cmJIMrWOabgOJBEOB6O6Xb4kvQ/s400/IMG_3921.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ultra mega super globe of the heavens.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisvbXOGJN9oLy3LkKFqJN2xWOLYyS_dpBOI0JSXmbPJW2X8MnpAHTkmkf_MDbFbtkV1ir_7BwPp8TaOABZ6ZflXs14d1iQqwIwCrafIDe0hnh8qeHPxUvgb6f0rsVuONs0tsRu_NupuE/s1600/IMG_3924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisvbXOGJN9oLy3LkKFqJN2xWOLYyS_dpBOI0JSXmbPJW2X8MnpAHTkmkf_MDbFbtkV1ir_7BwPp8TaOABZ6ZflXs14d1iQqwIwCrafIDe0hnh8qeHPxUvgb6f0rsVuONs0tsRu_NupuE/s400/IMG_3924.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More different globe of the heavens (stars).</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A lot of the museum is dedicated to the works of Galileo, favorite son of Florence. Galileo was the first guy to take a telescope, which was originally designed as a military technology, and point it upward. He basically invented astronomy as we know it. He discovered that the moon had craters, and that Venus had phases, and that Jupiter had moons, and was persecuted for claiming that the Sun, not the Moon is the center of the solar system. He was an all-around astronomical bad-ass.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic9ApaI3Z1q46Nfx8D9sApT-VAH8WElOppAJTeIlJw25WbelPGCOE5M8mowls0HhunEnFXnKzPhiKcNKPxTZDJDmyl-6OooEzXWVzdzKkCsXbwXM5rcyUapYyiaUYxgjqNXpGAGZ8kqk/s1600/IMG_3929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic9ApaI3Z1q46Nfx8D9sApT-VAH8WElOppAJTeIlJw25WbelPGCOE5M8mowls0HhunEnFXnKzPhiKcNKPxTZDJDmyl-6OooEzXWVzdzKkCsXbwXM5rcyUapYyiaUYxgjqNXpGAGZ8kqk/s400/IMG_3929.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galileo drawings of the moon and the shadows created by craters. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp_Opg4cX73sutHJvCuQbOXrnVA82Be8jOMVK5Dywt9YIryLavI12K4_EotnC13pyGB5P3DLLnZ_v5WaVve5_se4p8SWjvObPXGqVkOHF-kY5dVUCE4Wa5i5Q9vH8zxwNICwIeq-bTwA/s1600/IMG_3930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp_Opg4cX73sutHJvCuQbOXrnVA82Be8jOMVK5Dywt9YIryLavI12K4_EotnC13pyGB5P3DLLnZ_v5WaVve5_se4p8SWjvObPXGqVkOHF-kY5dVUCE4Wa5i5Q9vH8zxwNICwIeq-bTwA/s400/IMG_3930.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Telescopes. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXmmINnACyKI-a0vLUDR08yVSlHQVBv4eku2_gbe-_yG5qeUULGLe4vwULJU9_NJWi5801KJcMnFQC8trGwCnyJPLid_6YGpgC9_wAAzL27G-DPxem4eZkG-YZu85jf6sva_gXls0xXQ/s1600/IMG_3932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXmmINnACyKI-a0vLUDR08yVSlHQVBv4eku2_gbe-_yG5qeUULGLe4vwULJU9_NJWi5801KJcMnFQC8trGwCnyJPLid_6YGpgC9_wAAzL27G-DPxem4eZkG-YZu85jf6sva_gXls0xXQ/s400/IMG_3932.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">biiiig telescope.</td></tr>
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So that did it for all the Galileo stuff. The rest was pretty entertaining as well:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVuwzXLfzNSqujDty2aTdp6qJYNIX4ybo0aFV0M-SxF4IHYnqVKl77135hUFCdY_gjlc7sbRz4NQPH2eRTa3lcHCl4ghuzu2MNGwM24YHezTVJij0GnsfAnaZmFSflGL4xuguH8T0rPM/s1600/IMG_3935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVuwzXLfzNSqujDty2aTdp6qJYNIX4ybo0aFV0M-SxF4IHYnqVKl77135hUFCdY_gjlc7sbRz4NQPH2eRTa3lcHCl4ghuzu2MNGwM24YHezTVJij0GnsfAnaZmFSflGL4xuguH8T0rPM/s400/IMG_3935.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is apparently how you used to weigh a person. </td></tr>
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Had a lot of fun pretending to be apothecaries with this old chemistry set (it was encased in glass).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlLpcb0V1w5Mb6o9DU5LrYAXCaopGRxU6APkE_l68kwx_prBtPVNATax7Y5OE_MsmKxTI0RliVttxoCT-KmISmswjYJ_BA3siQ3P45bbe6mrya03fU-h7fJUZnm7tqn8V77e__VDpc80/s1600/IMG_3936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlLpcb0V1w5Mb6o9DU5LrYAXCaopGRxU6APkE_l68kwx_prBtPVNATax7Y5OE_MsmKxTI0RliVttxoCT-KmISmswjYJ_BA3siQ3P45bbe6mrya03fU-h7fJUZnm7tqn8V77e__VDpc80/s400/IMG_3936.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stand back! I'm going to try science!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmcf1jL1WPzEmzETrHub2wpOCopuQYxMtyd405Toy-UeqnRTrnFiQnwVwuXgj7SbDLO8HmUu73zSPYC3dv0Zd7ncSy9JEiBqp1D_uSbZ01z9KrUfr6Uh7x3C0JsaQfSEihe22gKJFXvM/s1600/IMG_3937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmcf1jL1WPzEmzETrHub2wpOCopuQYxMtyd405Toy-UeqnRTrnFiQnwVwuXgj7SbDLO8HmUu73zSPYC3dv0Zd7ncSy9JEiBqp1D_uSbZ01z9KrUfr6Uh7x3C0JsaQfSEihe22gKJFXvM/s400/IMG_3937.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta just grab that mortar and pestle so I can grind up some sulfur to get rid of the bad spirits in the blood. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaV6-TKddNldbH04HentbBBSf5-lP-jWL7VI2t_y0LAmL5gqtRGy1lViHQDcUKHjSFMLi-TJ8QWeTHmBnG227J2fVai8fZvx7oFG_7u9lFaiUUZDBh0RfIbyPz0CMoAjnumubXOsfZGo/s1600/IMG_3938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaV6-TKddNldbH04HentbBBSf5-lP-jWL7VI2t_y0LAmL5gqtRGy1lViHQDcUKHjSFMLi-TJ8QWeTHmBnG227J2fVai8fZvx7oFG_7u9lFaiUUZDBh0RfIbyPz0CMoAjnumubXOsfZGo/s400/IMG_3938.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which drawer contained the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeching_(medical)#Medicinal_use_of_leeches">leeches</a>?</td></tr>
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And that was the Museo Galileo. Top marks! Up next: The Ponte Vecchio.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvkYHZw_0cYVUj-9ZnDGhUJSi6E2fSECqP6B-5vCZSGv_1EpSro4Fl610Fk5qh0t9l6LK7GoBqiZ-L6qhwKclojiBGQm32BUixH-D2WxFs_GemgkNYW23aFuDaQbMD4KsRpvyQFUAGig/s1600/IMG_3912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvkYHZw_0cYVUj-9ZnDGhUJSi6E2fSECqP6B-5vCZSGv_1EpSro4Fl610Fk5qh0t9l6LK7GoBqiZ-L6qhwKclojiBGQm32BUixH-D2WxFs_GemgkNYW23aFuDaQbMD4KsRpvyQFUAGig/s400/IMG_3912.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">The Ponte.</td></tr>
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Vecchio">Ponte Vecchio</a> - which translates to "the old bridge", has been around for a long time. A bridge has existed at this point, the narrowest point of the Arno River, since Roman times. Since the middle ages, the sides of the pedestrian bridge have been lined with shops. Usually butchers, but today it's all overpriced jewelry and souvenirs - we weren't really looking to buy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNji-2HLwO4o73YUSxI4CpIlgrezhPTQIQq2_hbQrXatGbT99-1V41ifTIlp4cu31kOU1aJTSy5OB01ZGgg8f-G_qgnJ26YxcoYs_A3HnX3WdzeqEHrNL3mD8tWBsXO8wtSmEKJpEZEM/s1600/IMG_3941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNji-2HLwO4o73YUSxI4CpIlgrezhPTQIQq2_hbQrXatGbT99-1V41ifTIlp4cu31kOU1aJTSy5OB01ZGgg8f-G_qgnJ26YxcoYs_A3HnX3WdzeqEHrNL3mD8tWBsXO8wtSmEKJpEZEM/s400/IMG_3941.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XvmFLv__ncTigqgHqPTto3wdd6TRZ24KlARXHgTbe9Nsg0dcu001LONV6F5k__IkZf3SF6O0oozZukVxmTsEzj2wajvlVomQlWZ91DLxdqhxd_LIXmm96Aa_L_2_5Qgmo1x9sz7-6G4/s1600/IMG_3946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XvmFLv__ncTigqgHqPTto3wdd6TRZ24KlARXHgTbe9Nsg0dcu001LONV6F5k__IkZf3SF6O0oozZukVxmTsEzj2wajvlVomQlWZ91DLxdqhxd_LIXmm96Aa_L_2_5Qgmo1x9sz7-6G4/s400/IMG_3946.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took a in the middle of the bridge.</td></tr>
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One fascinating thing about the bridge is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasari_Corridor">Vasari Corridor</a>. The story goes: those lazy Medicis, not wanting to walk outside between the Pitti Palace and the Palazzo Vecchio, commissioned a second story hallway constructed to connect the two. The corridor runs over an alleyway between the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery, from there it runs <i>over the Ponte Vecchio, </i>and then up the hill to the Pitti Palace. It's a hard life, walking outside is just one of those things the Medicis shouldn't have to do...<br />
<br />
We arrived to the Pitti Palace, just a little bit South of the Ponte Vecchio. While we waited to meet back up with our machatunim there, we watched an Italian kid play out an extremely entertaining exercise in futility:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/DBs574l9A4g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Then, we met back up with our machatunim and entered the Pitti Palace.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Pitti">Pitti Palace</a> is sprawlingly gigantic. It was the main residence of the Medicis, and was used as a base for Napoleon. Today, it encompasses about 8 museums under the same roof, not counting the - also sprawling - Boboli Gardens that are attached to the palace. The Florence card is valid at all of these museums. We visited the main ones, and a couple of obscure ones. The draw of these museums is mostly: here's how the Medicis used to live. Murals, moldings, private chapels, and lots and lots of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tchotchke">tchotchkes</a>. Those Medicis sure loved their tchotchkes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW_AqeY15X_ed3Z-5OrjVQL5YBHvyPV74xxCnCJqArZs3wMmzfLHd9VE0dvnmUQixIag9MMgQHuIDwd6RflqEkjlNmvhavi0HAvoqODkz8sl4w-T9aUVBmw8jqQmyrmRvuHzGa5JqvoI/s1600/IMG_3956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW_AqeY15X_ed3Z-5OrjVQL5YBHvyPV74xxCnCJqArZs3wMmzfLHd9VE0dvnmUQixIag9MMgQHuIDwd6RflqEkjlNmvhavi0HAvoqODkz8sl4w-T9aUVBmw8jqQmyrmRvuHzGa5JqvoI/s400/IMG_3956.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KWB0GMIuZaNvlmx02ZWVypyf3jKD3vtknCR2cxkd3_CtMwDiFoYZwjrv1cBYgAu6TEGjdTywUbOgm90L2nG7UVm9rLhzlqh_TTnttQL3NsbELodAXWQ9-bMyv5VPrBAYJ4tAI3bkWxw/s1600/IMG_3958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KWB0GMIuZaNvlmx02ZWVypyf3jKD3vtknCR2cxkd3_CtMwDiFoYZwjrv1cBYgAu6TEGjdTywUbOgm90L2nG7UVm9rLhzlqh_TTnttQL3NsbELodAXWQ9-bMyv5VPrBAYJ4tAI3bkWxw/s400/IMG_3958.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This statuette is <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4eBvejTvMg">smashing</a>!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_hM73q28aL3mI1vSq7_zduifcnjhNNRBqVQjb_dxrOqpIoEklsbKVnTdKUsET3Lf6m7t7OUG5_g9S89sa7CGokRL2tzeTb5jO4ncWxyWxKlMz4OkVJ0cYH_1wLceUQr3_J-jsXWYkxc/s1600/IMG_3960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_hM73q28aL3mI1vSq7_zduifcnjhNNRBqVQjb_dxrOqpIoEklsbKVnTdKUsET3Lf6m7t7OUG5_g9S89sa7CGokRL2tzeTb5jO4ncWxyWxKlMz4OkVJ0cYH_1wLceUQr3_J-jsXWYkxc/s400/IMG_3960.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collect them all! Each sold separately. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F9gvMV6ZrpONV5CZzSKnL6akB2MdeNhchAS2Gakk7EI1QLthCZDeh3ZKe4zK5Ov6ToLbnR6sVmveeh2PpUYVyxSJKFV4osOwM9nYVS-XjesE3Eniro5yasll2BJJr6ymwK7xKX_aV-0/s1600/IMG_3961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F9gvMV6ZrpONV5CZzSKnL6akB2MdeNhchAS2Gakk7EI1QLthCZDeh3ZKe4zK5Ov6ToLbnR6sVmveeh2PpUYVyxSJKFV4osOwM9nYVS-XjesE3Eniro5yasll2BJJr6ymwK7xKX_aV-0/s400/IMG_3961.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each color on this table is created by another kind of stone fitted perfectly into the table. </td></tr>
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This painting is my favorite kind of painting:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2g3LCb4zpSRXwmKaLTvPPVrM0B6e7N1lafnh_ZBLbqXq7v3abuKvQFVbodS_xxzyEKNPA3GLshRx1GSjE5UghjUK8KMEf_uda-9ZnBH3CWpTgJ2je51sa_eUGoBHIz-8YOQboE3VX9s/s1600/IMG_3962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2g3LCb4zpSRXwmKaLTvPPVrM0B6e7N1lafnh_ZBLbqXq7v3abuKvQFVbodS_xxzyEKNPA3GLshRx1GSjE5UghjUK8KMEf_uda-9ZnBH3CWpTgJ2je51sa_eUGoBHIz-8YOQboE3VX9s/s400/IMG_3962.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabinetto di Rubens, by Cornelis de Ballieur II</td></tr>
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Some guy named Rubens must've had gabinets <i>full</i> of Renaissance masterpieces... Cornelis de Ballieur II isn't a household name, but maybe it should be. Paintings like these are the stunning to me. The main subjects of the painting are nothing to squawk about, but the setting is nothing but existing masterpieces recreated in miniature and elaborate scientific instruments. I am just blown away by the skill it took to create this painting. <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=modern%20rome%20painting&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS481US481&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D7&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=KapLUOCTDeSj2QXw54GoDQ&biw=820&bih=594&sei=K6pLUO7KFua42wXuw4GgCg">Click here for another one</a>.<br />
<br />
We finished up at the Pitti Palace having visited many of the museums there (including the costume gallery which, for the record, is worth skipping). Next, we spent about an hour or so strolling through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boboli_Gardens">Boboli Gardens</a>.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3vdgAljSa6FbZvFnBjzuqEnITeXfTOpBGfLhvilXh0lapKVH8aq0iPXZNFFd-2yxlmOA6y_vD480xMVITJb2Ntm5F_qle-DtaQP6makjIwxgDTTR4icii-ub0uEeD-GJGxhVLjW77qo/s1600/IMG_3973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3vdgAljSa6FbZvFnBjzuqEnITeXfTOpBGfLhvilXh0lapKVH8aq0iPXZNFFd-2yxlmOA6y_vD480xMVITJb2Ntm5F_qle-DtaQP6makjIwxgDTTR4icii-ub0uEeD-GJGxhVLjW77qo/s400/IMG_3973.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Amphitheater in the gardens.</td></tr>
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The garden is also also a statuary... so the Medicis would have something nice to look at <i>besides </i>miles and miles of perfectly trimmed hedges and lawns. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are tourists.</td></tr>
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There are also some incredible views of Florence from certain points within the gardens:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Palazzo Vecchio!</td></tr>
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We left the Boboli Gardens and headed back towards our hotel to rest for a couple of hours. This time, we walked along the <i>South</i> side of the Arno. Took a few more pictures along the way:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents at the Arno.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stray love padlock. </td></tr>
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We napped in our hotel room for a couple of hours and met up once again with our Machatunim at the Piazza del Duomo for dinner. We ate an early dinner at one of the really touristy places down one of the alleyways directly south of the Duomo itself. Dinner was tasty as usual. Italian food is good, have you heard? After dinner we headed <i>back</i> to Vivoli. Second time in two days going to the small gelato place, but when you've got the chance to eat the best gelato in the entire world - it's worth going back for seconds.<br />
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Strolled lazily back to our hotel. Had to prepare to go to Venice bright and early the next morning. Our walk took us through the Piazza della Repubblica - which is very beautiful at night.<br />
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Goodnight Florence.JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-81722982034619239642012-09-10T02:47:00.000+04:302012-09-10T02:57:52.621+04:30Italy Day 6 Florence: Duomo, Medici Chapels, Mercato di San Lorenzo, Palazzo Medici Ricardi, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery, Vivoli, Aqua al 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On our sixth day in Italy, we had so much planned out that all we could do was snap a picture of the Santa Maria Novella as we walked by. No time for a proper tour.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sure it has many interesting attributes, but I know none of them.</td></tr>
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We had some serious touring to do. First stop: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cathedral">The Duomo</a>.<br />
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There are many fascinating things about this place but most fascinating has got to be its construction. Construction began in <i>1296 </i>and wasn't completed until nearly one hundred and fifty years later! When construction began, the technology that would go into the completion of the dome itself <i>hadn't been invented yet!</i> Good goin, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippo_Brunelleschi">Brunelleschi</a>! The inside, not quite so impressive. It was probably the least adorned interior of a church that we saw the whole trip, with the possible exception of the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=basilica%20of%20san%20domenico%20siena%20interior&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS481US481&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D7&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=g9w0UPX0OpL3yAGP1ICQBQ&biw=1353&bih=635&sei=hdw0UJDULsftygH0zIHwCQ">Basilica of San Domenico</a> in Siena. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bereft of masterpieces.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There <i>was</i> this nice piece of stained glass, and this clock that keeps only military time.</td></tr>
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The only frescoes in the place are on the interior of the dome itself, and only partially visible from a small portion of the general admission area of the church.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You have to pay a separate admission price to see the full dome - what a rip!</td></tr>
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OK. Our travel plans in Florence overlapped with plans of my sister's husband's parents! Michelle and Jay! That's pretty complicated, saying sister's husband's parents or brother-in-law's parents, isn't it? Fortunately, there's a word in Yiddish for just such an occasion: <a href="http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080711155230AAtPnGn">Machatunim</a>. Machatunim means co-in-laws. There's no word for it in English. Moving on...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Machatunim!</td></tr>
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We reunited with our relatives in Florence and headed to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medici_Chapel">Medici Chapels</a>. Of course, we used our Florence Cards to get us into the museum. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Medici">Medici family</a> ruled Florence for hundreds of years. As a result, their family crests mark all the major landmarks. Their former palaces have become museums, and all their furniture, jewelry, and artwork is on display throughout the city. The Medici Chapels hold the remains of many of the principal members of the Medici family and many of the family's collections of religious artifacts. An example of such a religious artifact is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relic">relic</a>. A relic is most often a piece of the body of a Saint, or venerated person. This practice of keeping bones and other body parts is completely alien to us (as both Jews and Americans). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With gold and silver, they really try to distract you from the fact that you're looking at a tibia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimM9Fqt8-Y7rLsNE1Km7oy2ZEx9xAPSG62L9OFeGulrOoM0yQQVsksQDmhxm-rK82-owsJGYpaGeDhfz-uBsWMZgjkS9iVz2-RdoQ1TTjwBN_PAMmRYovlp0MFx9-bBa24YcMFDJyXDG0/s1600/IMG_3838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimM9Fqt8-Y7rLsNE1Km7oy2ZEx9xAPSG62L9OFeGulrOoM0yQQVsksQDmhxm-rK82-owsJGYpaGeDhfz-uBsWMZgjkS9iVz2-RdoQ1TTjwBN_PAMmRYovlp0MFx9-bBa24YcMFDJyXDG0/s400/IMG_3838.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of these relics, like the ones above, you hardly knew you were looking at relics. Each one incorporates a small glass case with a tiny bone in it. Second from the right it has Mary praying at an altar, that is a small glass case...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The actual Capella dei Principi is very beautiful. Lots of colored marble and other standard accoutrements. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.florenceholidays.com/images/firenze-cappelladeiprincipi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://www.florenceholidays.com/images/firenze-cappelladeiprincipi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See those coffin-looking things sticking out of the wall? They're coffins!</td></tr>
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That was a good time. Next we walked over to the Mercato di San Lorenzo aka the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercato_Centrale_%28Florence%29">Mercato Centrale</a>. There's a large, indoor food market and lining the Via dell'Ariento, there are leather and all sorts of souvenir vendors. I think we may have preferred the food market.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibd2ybOTa9g292jmykWl3nAaVzKYxqXAPRuTY8EafQyFPio3CghPRgdgfDtPutM-W_S6hXmYsfNnhE-OtGO5QYJ6Y3XhLmu-roz454P0EHIFgmB4Y8byawKNyjAj008RPMwq5eoKOMH6w/s1600/IMG_3839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibd2ybOTa9g292jmykWl3nAaVzKYxqXAPRuTY8EafQyFPio3CghPRgdgfDtPutM-W_S6hXmYsfNnhE-OtGO5QYJ6Y3XhLmu-roz454P0EHIFgmB4Y8byawKNyjAj008RPMwq5eoKOMH6w/s400/IMG_3839.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5esknaJihQNETPBycoZeiAFxbO-H0kb1TiDEkafnxtJARMbOpLo44NVHISH05JL8GQA5vkIytWK11u5MNvYmDHWM0QljwnEPTbS6VQ73i5-KIrJtG5cjBwanZzBAASg8Rw6xJVIm8MbM/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5esknaJihQNETPBycoZeiAFxbO-H0kb1TiDEkafnxtJARMbOpLo44NVHISH05JL8GQA5vkIytWK11u5MNvYmDHWM0QljwnEPTbS6VQ73i5-KIrJtG5cjBwanZzBAASg8Rw6xJVIm8MbM/s400/IMG_3841.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYGFql9VBX5llA85UXecFQACqOyA9uY_7Zq5AkAmf6tZcNOkULUfWcvvilGGOo_L-ZdNJIwAOXeUSmFjNGHzfK2UHUrxG3QhlZ1xOS93RLus1m5MiAYTNo66uyIVmJpy1oJsHaWgBfXk/s1600/IMG_3843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYGFql9VBX5llA85UXecFQACqOyA9uY_7Zq5AkAmf6tZcNOkULUfWcvvilGGOo_L-ZdNJIwAOXeUSmFjNGHzfK2UHUrxG3QhlZ1xOS93RLus1m5MiAYTNo66uyIVmJpy1oJsHaWgBfXk/s400/IMG_3843.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive?</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2xseN0-qEaQ74HQg_KrqDvu0SX890PwOIJ9jN8gmswUoxsXVIXl5jPzokA4PWCuVYiKCGWom9WqtBLkJDM6A4SXzqBMuTY-cdqCwQ6u7vu6BGJp9LPYXJP3WMIhNNQ4bsqhT5Lqg2_0/s1600/IMG00025-20120324-1154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2xseN0-qEaQ74HQg_KrqDvu0SX890PwOIJ9jN8gmswUoxsXVIXl5jPzokA4PWCuVYiKCGWom9WqtBLkJDM6A4SXzqBMuTY-cdqCwQ6u7vu6BGJp9LPYXJP3WMIhNNQ4bsqhT5Lqg2_0/s400/IMG00025-20120324-1154.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Meat!</td></tr>
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Along the edge of the indoor market, there are a few vendors that have set up tables to be part market and part restaurant. The food is authentically-local and cheap - way cheaper than any restaurant you're likely to find, so if you're on a tight budget, eat at the market.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdiNluea6i30IvxyUUQjfNelQ0dEReUJugQgY7RjgZWt26t62RlP11q_5E90-4y3Ox5it-lmBWOJJKtQO7DSHqxJWXhai4G_2XOXuMx1TXLTmpGqt855J7hihYCZ3Kyg7tWafxvsNcgY/s1600/IMG_3847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdiNluea6i30IvxyUUQjfNelQ0dEReUJugQgY7RjgZWt26t62RlP11q_5E90-4y3Ox5it-lmBWOJJKtQO7DSHqxJWXhai4G_2XOXuMx1TXLTmpGqt855J7hihYCZ3Kyg7tWafxvsNcgY/s400/IMG_3847.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Give us all the pesto you got!</td></tr>
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Next on our jam-packed agenda was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Medici_Riccardi">Palazzo Medici Ricardi</a>, yet another of the elaborate landmarks and palaces left behind by the Medici family for us enjoy. To be honest, there's nothing overly interesting about this place. A friend of mine put it best: you've seen one magnificent palace in Europe, you've seen them all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qd5I9J5QPFIagCgO0WuJfZepDA6A917DK2PCr9KO0IKijtgT5-MFtg-mKiwPgcXrBkeSEttz7RwL-rSQtSpZqvWzih66FF5JPGKCOvAiDi2W5aMIwGmJG0FPlz0J3HWXLBfk4oZkoPI/s1600/IMG_3850.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qd5I9J5QPFIagCgO0WuJfZepDA6A917DK2PCr9KO0IKijtgT5-MFtg-mKiwPgcXrBkeSEttz7RwL-rSQtSpZqvWzih66FF5JPGKCOvAiDi2W5aMIwGmJG0FPlz0J3HWXLBfk4oZkoPI/s400/IMG_3850.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Xcu9tBP5NfN-_DGp37QnkRrO-HMzpfQK_vrgOP3dI_flE14gZ19783bE1n0RfRzhDDrPh7YATTRZU5cDVaGm-IJoNk0X4NaNfTntFrtzhV89XE90yrBte2AxigCAmskikMX6Td2Lck/s1600/IMG_3851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Xcu9tBP5NfN-_DGp37QnkRrO-HMzpfQK_vrgOP3dI_flE14gZ19783bE1n0RfRzhDDrPh7YATTRZU5cDVaGm-IJoNk0X4NaNfTntFrtzhV89XE90yrBte2AxigCAmskikMX6Td2Lck/s400/IMG_3851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like <i>someone</i> is very proud of their achievements. <i>Cough! Couch! <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinando_de%27_Medici,_Grand_Prince_of_Tuscany">Ferdinando</a> is a show-off! Cough!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinulf0led8yMnk5QxIJfwDuWh_t8DtW-qcGHGEYOrsIHZO0xC193wpb9dfi7wGfqM4Q03JEP2Cf90cyY1JlBUQxHpgfG2HrKLRuj7pIQqmPOqZEBV4FPg1nIaQ1AYZULBT4EwU3IAmlPI/s1600/IMG_3855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinulf0led8yMnk5QxIJfwDuWh_t8DtW-qcGHGEYOrsIHZO0xC193wpb9dfi7wGfqM4Q03JEP2Cf90cyY1JlBUQxHpgfG2HrKLRuj7pIQqmPOqZEBV4FPg1nIaQ1AYZULBT4EwU3IAmlPI/s400/IMG_3855.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this a masquerade costume, or armor? </td></tr>
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Next we turn South toward the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_della_Signoria">Piazza della Signoria</a>, the original site of the Statue of David. All they have there now is this crummy replica:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Italy.Florence.David-in-the-Piazza-della-Signoria.236.400.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Italy.Florence.David-in-the-Piazza-della-Signoria.236.400.jpeg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQVnRKIpzAU">One art, please!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The Palazzo Vecchio dominates this Piazza. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/palazzo-vecchio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/palazzo-vecchio.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basically it's like the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=siena%20town%20hall&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS481US481&aq=f&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D7&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=WfYyUPmUIY2ayQGhsoBI&biw=1366&bih=667&sei=XPYyUL2hMISYygHH9oGwAQ">town hall of Siena</a>, only more so.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The Palazzo has been the seat of Florence's governance since Florence was a city-state (for many hundreds of years). The palace contains ornate council chambers, as well as a museum of the former residences held within the town hall (the duke lived here until the duke's residence was moved across the Arno river). Mostly it's just a museum now, but the city council meets here, and the Mayor has an office here. The best room in the place is the Salone de Cinquecento, the hall of five hundred, named for the number of people who sat upon the great council.</div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.piazza-signoria.com/images/palazzo_vecchio_museum/salone-dei-cinquecento.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://www.piazza-signoria.com/images/palazzo_vecchio_museum/salone-dei-cinquecento.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">It's large.</td></tr>
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The walls and ceiling are completely covered by depictions of significant events of Florence's history, namely the gigantic paintings of Florence victorious over Siena and Pisa (OK! We get it! Florence is number one in all of Tuscany! Get over yourselves!). The paintings <i>are</i> very impressive, though...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09joLcErCkqsXXQDDK2zS1OYIvvllZt6V9vTcBeYou6LyMeLbc8V3FukSlK2Oaxb9vAYRmXlQMS-9WUwbhcOWBNqujXlnYscWdUTfOlQHk2SFdLjaYfDR5myzee6Po5sRdBTciQNLzq0/s1600/IMG_3860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09joLcErCkqsXXQDDK2zS1OYIvvllZt6V9vTcBeYou6LyMeLbc8V3FukSlK2Oaxb9vAYRmXlQMS-9WUwbhcOWBNqujXlnYscWdUTfOlQHk2SFdLjaYfDR5myzee6Po5sRdBTciQNLzq0/s400/IMG_3860.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTOHGbXsGjPolyJ3vtlLJ7aYQv4sccIgK9bLiArsp02Q1RIZX-84PcBhYRXKBOKFkVt6U4AGz0NNG5F5LpK5Lvnc9eHg9JyHmlwg16NFttzR8zceLZ0q8KMapWoATwuMMLekLR65DJD8/s1600/IMG_3861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTOHGbXsGjPolyJ3vtlLJ7aYQv4sccIgK9bLiArsp02Q1RIZX-84PcBhYRXKBOKFkVt6U4AGz0NNG5F5LpK5Lvnc9eHg9JyHmlwg16NFttzR8zceLZ0q8KMapWoATwuMMLekLR65DJD8/s400/IMG_3861.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's the gigantic wall painting I was talking about...</td></tr>
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This room can require a lot of neck-craning, so Jay is inspired to change the way tourists enjoy Florence:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGligog5yjYZcFSjm0Vav0TMSluFaCbMlPseNeQcUUjUCRZliKRiPFddVVfa8OBrETUFVNNLiiqZhJav5QMt907z7BgNn_yYu48BMK3udcZwhqIyYquU1Ty9xg5eSQS6RQ-QsmensIEY/s1600/IMG_3863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGligog5yjYZcFSjm0Vav0TMSluFaCbMlPseNeQcUUjUCRZliKRiPFddVVfa8OBrETUFVNNLiiqZhJav5QMt907z7BgNn_yYu48BMK3udcZwhqIyYquU1Ty9xg5eSQS6RQ-QsmensIEY/s400/IMG_3863.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRG-Qexs_O-UE_IMgo8I4jABxNwwqs_f6xYY-oV1nMS10G8rGz51czJ5Y5EiUgvztXrCNy95OgTdJLabnZJOK0OZePhVktHTrE1YacZAq4QteDLQ6QfnNKpBNcvxMbFx_KRcDyj8QVh8/s1600/IMG_3867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRG-Qexs_O-UE_IMgo8I4jABxNwwqs_f6xYY-oV1nMS10G8rGz51czJ5Y5EiUgvztXrCNy95OgTdJLabnZJOK0OZePhVktHTrE1YacZAq4QteDLQ6QfnNKpBNcvxMbFx_KRcDyj8QVh8/s400/IMG_3867.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's a genius.</td></tr>
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To see the apartments of the royalty that have lived here, you must climb many many staircases. This lion feels your pain:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4IQCNkhbq6XYSuHnb39leEW-Vj70-QIVlnuObIjK3ByfKWGDbI3x_Z9lJoHFTu1rfr3hfxFxm56E-iPVyuKYS0YkwUEZoehSdTofwley2XCTH4t-attVZ0FI7hmfkcOwdqKvXnOC0DY/s1600/IMG_3873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4IQCNkhbq6XYSuHnb39leEW-Vj70-QIVlnuObIjK3ByfKWGDbI3x_Z9lJoHFTu1rfr3hfxFxm56E-iPVyuKYS0YkwUEZoehSdTofwley2XCTH4t-attVZ0FI7hmfkcOwdqKvXnOC0DY/s400/IMG_3873.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You mean you're going to climb <i>all</i> <i>those stairs</i>??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt99SMxvRuH9EAAa3nWwvLYpC4xnDkxGNgWaoJIo-Xjfm_x8HPZ35mKg6-YLpkGS8maChvIkCio5wokvIN5Wjq7EZHR-LLuGD_3kpPpUrLkqRwUgGPVDf4spqCF16eBQBkvxH9W6G5BRg/s1600/IMG_3874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt99SMxvRuH9EAAa3nWwvLYpC4xnDkxGNgWaoJIo-Xjfm_x8HPZ35mKg6-YLpkGS8maChvIkCio5wokvIN5Wjq7EZHR-LLuGD_3kpPpUrLkqRwUgGPVDf4spqCF16eBQBkvxH9W6G5BRg/s400/IMG_3874.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We climbed them all.</td></tr>
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uffizi">Uffizi Gallery</a> was next. It's between the Palazzo Vecchio and the Arno river. Largely it's considered to be the greatest collection of Renaissance/Italian art in the world. The Florence card comes in handy here at avoiding the long lines. Keep in mind, this was really late in our day after many many miles of walking. <i>So much art</i> in <i>so little time</i> can desensitize you to the magnificence of... art. In the Uffizi there are seemingly endless halls of masterpiece after masterpiece. They're arranged in a U shape around this courtyard:</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnfLS3NHu_-j4Phpq5fGXvWS8lNue2FhYx-FAoiGAWSVLvEtE6Zv-VER43NIapmFwjR8icJSOVBzBGVRoQOglNwjU8yQttRoo8NpLLm4Q9oVghR5d44qYaY95QkoL3Ab36bdOr0oM28E/s1600/IMG_3877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnfLS3NHu_-j4Phpq5fGXvWS8lNue2FhYx-FAoiGAWSVLvEtE6Zv-VER43NIapmFwjR8icJSOVBzBGVRoQOglNwjU8yQttRoo8NpLLm4Q9oVghR5d44qYaY95QkoL3Ab36bdOr0oM28E/s400/IMG_3877.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">The Uffizi from the courtile (inner courtyard)</td></tr>
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It <i>was </i>a thrill to see such famous pieces as Leonardo da Vinci's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciation_(Leonardo)">Annunciation</a> and Botticelli's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_Venus_(Botticelli)">The Birth of Venus</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primavera_(Botticelli)">Primavera</a>, but mostly we went through the motions because it may be our first and last chance to see the Uffizi... We probably found these street performers in the Uffizi's courtile more fascinating:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYtUR5ZGlpgfM1829HfoOs3JAudmKTVbVY1i7Kjo0wsVr11zAdBo3eryItihDoBhOHxSAZrwTp3TOgbyaho7pMtJROTI9cml27ilrB7DDwb9fLbg7oAZqAOnuAzJPr3tNfliqhPfq3FE/s1600/IMG_3878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYtUR5ZGlpgfM1829HfoOs3JAudmKTVbVY1i7Kjo0wsVr11zAdBo3eryItihDoBhOHxSAZrwTp3TOgbyaho7pMtJROTI9cml27ilrB7DDwb9fLbg7oAZqAOnuAzJPr3tNfliqhPfq3FE/s400/IMG_3878.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pHVfV2HN5MA3YrI0WRma9jTSBZGFr5m5yFD2vO_PEBm0c9QRp3Ium7WEDIvGtkhyvk9r_HCIPPRUgCAyK7IvXHCwu0L5go84DQf3-CWWFg9Oq3b2eeU7wdGCBQkCPqoEB6KmubRy8fk/s1600/IMG_3879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pHVfV2HN5MA3YrI0WRma9jTSBZGFr5m5yFD2vO_PEBm0c9QRp3Ium7WEDIvGtkhyvk9r_HCIPPRUgCAyK7IvXHCwu0L5go84DQf3-CWWFg9Oq3b2eeU7wdGCBQkCPqoEB6KmubRy8fk/s400/IMG_3879.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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By this time in the day it was pretty late, but there's so much more to do! Vivoli is touted in all the tourist books as the greatest <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelato">gelato</a> in the entire world. Usually, these "greatest places in the entire world" are all a bunch of hype (with the clear exception of my claim of <a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2012/07/italy-day-3-vatican-museum-st-peters.html">Alice Pizza</a> in Rome being the greatest pizza of all time). In this case, vivoli <i>is</i> very good. Probably it was the best gelato we had the entire trip, but it's hard to gauge things like this. Vivoli is East of the Palazzo Vecchio on Via Isole della Stinche (which you can find by going to the key in any map of the city).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAlD0HYger_hA5TvDo-U7k2-nn1clszHt3cRfd-PAWoz4RdYQCq1hbxlTH7YwEEqJYMASA_tiMD3cZyMwYm3sA9dW7POjTUPXs8VyN1JWWAn3FJFzXVas5jcDNX2m6QuIFv3-jw4sQIs/s1600/IMG_3884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAlD0HYger_hA5TvDo-U7k2-nn1clszHt3cRfd-PAWoz4RdYQCq1hbxlTH7YwEEqJYMASA_tiMD3cZyMwYm3sA9dW7POjTUPXs8VyN1JWWAn3FJFzXVas5jcDNX2m6QuIFv3-jw4sQIs/s400/IMG_3884.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d716439-Reviews-Vivoli-Florence_Tuscany.html">Vivoli</a>!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCp5vKJDcxyzhgusz_jbE4YNEkJQRlti6PIdxXZjWlJocRRXscbGWI0W4OISrXhaX0Sn7YtEZNFS5pPLf8i7skF_QGmiy1TUUL2OvPD3Gqh9i3l3hmWkb2gxOiPDusITI-1kOl0P1ATAA/s1600/IMG_3885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCp5vKJDcxyzhgusz_jbE4YNEkJQRlti6PIdxXZjWlJocRRXscbGWI0W4OISrXhaX0Sn7YtEZNFS5pPLf8i7skF_QGmiy1TUUL2OvPD3Gqh9i3l3hmWkb2gxOiPDusITI-1kOl0P1ATAA/s400/IMG_3885.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum!</td></tr>
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Walked back to the Duomo of Florence.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9qI7Q840TYK8Zs0izROcLzObddTivlBoS-LvhuSSRfiZOPP3lLew0ndYmeth88MY3BoZBviYuqZnGGMljVJTcM6zwZqyW6YozBC4ghvmNP6681z_4cSCISWQ7XjRHyiJ89zYG5Yudpg/s1600/IMG_3886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9qI7Q840TYK8Zs0izROcLzObddTivlBoS-LvhuSSRfiZOPP3lLew0ndYmeth88MY3BoZBviYuqZnGGMljVJTcM6zwZqyW6YozBC4ghvmNP6681z_4cSCISWQ7XjRHyiJ89zYG5Yudpg/s400/IMG_3886.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're back!</td></tr>
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Someone in our group had heard about the possibility of seeing a classical music concert that night. Tourist information at the Piazza del Duomo pointed the Florence Box Office out to us, near the intersection of Via dell Agnolo and Viale Giovine Italia - not terribly close to where we were. Plus, when we got there, the box office was closed... and had been for many hours. Moral of the story: buy your tickets in advance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0E3dvEtyRq4MgfjP3qvGQ4hnHBmSS98xgRpJGIBLiw8wP7PjuY6k1Hjmu9XnuLWIbxGE1-AfYgj5JcapVwPFvi8L19IIdM8OAMY2rrBWHygThvmStB-8P9GKnIHQzP6ZIcWiBfS4MVDI/s1600/IMG_3887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0E3dvEtyRq4MgfjP3qvGQ4hnHBmSS98xgRpJGIBLiw8wP7PjuY6k1Hjmu9XnuLWIbxGE1-AfYgj5JcapVwPFvi8L19IIdM8OAMY2rrBWHygThvmStB-8P9GKnIHQzP6ZIcWiBfS4MVDI/s400/IMG_3887.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We sat for a while on this funky bench near the box office... very tired.</td></tr>
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Earlier in the day, probably around the time we were headed to Vivoli, we passed by a restaurant named Aqua al 2. Yes, it's very strange to incorporate a numeric figure in a title... like se7en, or numb3rs... But this place I had heard about from friends of mine who had been to Florence. It's very popular (and reasonably priced)! <i>So</i> popular in fact, that restaurateurs saw its potential and opened franchises in both San Diego and Washington, DC. Check out their classy website with its smooth, patronizing jazz <a href="http://www.acquaal2.com/">here</a>. We needed to make a reservation to eat there so if it's something you're thinking of doing, call ahead. Because so many of us keep the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashrut">kosher</a>, we ordered all vegetarian dishes and shared them all. They have this sampler item on the menu (there's a meat one and a vegetarian one), where it's the chef's choice of I believe five different dishes. Everything was delicious. </div>
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Walked around after dinner. A stranger took the best picture of the whole trip:</div>
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JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-69103440808126133452012-07-25T04:08:00.001+04:302012-07-25T04:08:24.175+04:30Italy Day 5 Florence: Piazzale Michelangelo, Great Synagogue of Florence, Accademia (The Statue of David), Chabad of FlorenceThe second day in a row of waking up early to take a train found my sister Ilana and I in a grumpy mood.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdK8c5inE84RYjmKJBHlolokoAMvtbozKaLiCCsgPGL8pSHrSm5bpAWCMkisscKJBHyERC6I4XuAnoVUsor3cEE2PKjjnJe-Smhos2Mg14gdwX4eoLZu1e4n7Mlud-SKWAWcfcl_Y9E2E/s1600/IMG00020-20120323-0940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdK8c5inE84RYjmKJBHlolokoAMvtbozKaLiCCsgPGL8pSHrSm5bpAWCMkisscKJBHyERC6I4XuAnoVUsor3cEE2PKjjnJe-Smhos2Mg14gdwX4eoLZu1e4n7Mlud-SKWAWcfcl_Y9E2E/s400/IMG00020-20120323-0940.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
OK it wasn't so bad.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqCUlMziB9807p97aEUbH9dhdPgc151x62O4vNvHd7tcWo6T5ar1oBazOehcMxFlzedJcdL4D0fjyiyszaTuuopFgAfIiVGb3kIK7IMUSO4qXXA4eMVOndBa5hA4UtVbZIuuavpTM5QY/s1600/IMG00021-20120323-0941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqCUlMziB9807p97aEUbH9dhdPgc151x62O4vNvHd7tcWo6T5ar1oBazOehcMxFlzedJcdL4D0fjyiyszaTuuopFgAfIiVGb3kIK7IMUSO4qXXA4eMVOndBa5hA4UtVbZIuuavpTM5QY/s400/IMG00021-20120323-0941.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
OK we were excited to go to Florence!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Sekao_a866akfZkYCbemGVUjxnYPPhDHZC7FEzWa6Y4mNaCFsLD6-KGj9wbjF5H28TCqU4DhFq74mMlEfHysfKmEvdesaLzTplCfnKthWq9fKgMTh_n6d4f3EzvvnN_s_kjbFa-57hk/s1600/IMG00022-20120323-0941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Sekao_a866akfZkYCbemGVUjxnYPPhDHZC7FEzWa6Y4mNaCFsLD6-KGj9wbjF5H28TCqU4DhFq74mMlEfHysfKmEvdesaLzTplCfnKthWq9fKgMTh_n6d4f3EzvvnN_s_kjbFa-57hk/s400/IMG00022-20120323-0941.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The first thing we did out of the train station in Florence was duck into the tourist information place to purchase our <a href="http://www.firenzecard.it/?lang=en">Florence Card</a>s. The Florence Card is a 72 hour pass to all public transportation and most museums throughout the city. They're <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">€50 each, so we wanted to make sure we got our money's worth. The great thing about the cards is that they let you skip the lines at any of the museums that accept them - so there's no need to worry about scheduling a specific entry times. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">From the tourist stand, we went to our hotel. </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">This</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;"> hotel was a disappointment compared to the rest. The </span><a href="http://www.hotelpalazzuolo.com/english/index.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">Hotel Palazzuolo</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;"> on Via Palazzuolo is a block South of the train station. The people at the desk rarely spoke English, and our room felt inexplicably damp the entire time. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">The view down Via Palazzuolo from the hotel entrance. Also Ilana!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">Nothing could be done about it so there was no use complaining. We dropped off all our stuff and took the bus (using our Florence Cards) from the train station to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazzale_Michelangelo">Piazzale Michelangelo</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">The Piazzale Michelangelo is an elevated look out point on the Southern bank of the Arno River. In the center is a bronze copy of Michelangelo's statue of David. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJO7j2H3f3OpRIRdSOjD_Lqo63QXhNu9rwUynx5ikOKyOpclERtKSn6WgIm8YgvjbodaOwrFm65sfmzIlLQFXhwcjqg9ljsRxYhZroLkx89NpkX3jJc8RzQ7qI1cW1OhR-aWtpB9lJkvY/s1600/IMG_3795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJO7j2H3f3OpRIRdSOjD_Lqo63QXhNu9rwUynx5ikOKyOpclERtKSn6WgIm8YgvjbodaOwrFm65sfmzIlLQFXhwcjqg9ljsRxYhZroLkx89NpkX3jJc8RzQ7qI1cW1OhR-aWtpB9lJkvY/s400/IMG_3795.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz0s6H2tWqo">Que heavenly music</a>.</td></tr>
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More important than the copy of David, is the view from the Piazzale. Throngs of tourists are constantly snapping pictures from this vantage. We joined the throng for about a half an hour.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfN7bau40ukMYdhZ2A3WC_6gZqyqcr3UuYPuvoWY4QskVOBmS6nD2B9Ecm-r3HbRdWNMkmZ-U4QZUkcj2VUKUrpUFWmr9YzL04Riu2dpOw5USG0GNzJHyju2dnF-ffpoAXvcH3pY7EIw/s1600/IMG_3796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfN7bau40ukMYdhZ2A3WC_6gZqyqcr3UuYPuvoWY4QskVOBmS6nD2B9Ecm-r3HbRdWNMkmZ-U4QZUkcj2VUKUrpUFWmr9YzL04Riu2dpOw5USG0GNzJHyju2dnF-ffpoAXvcH3pY7EIw/s400/IMG_3796.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhno3S6ijsAEvKCHKouhCxnojqexFW6m6ArThaQP6aAtT9nTudip_gsbG9_dzS3VN0tfeeBM32SsmD0fDeIqR6lNIVgeOcgQXGl8Y3605OJa9ZmnJtjnarb2qUErbdc2IzP3mW55c24IvM/s1600/IMG_3797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhno3S6ijsAEvKCHKouhCxnojqexFW6m6ArThaQP6aAtT9nTudip_gsbG9_dzS3VN0tfeeBM32SsmD0fDeIqR6lNIVgeOcgQXGl8Y3605OJa9ZmnJtjnarb2qUErbdc2IzP3mW55c24IvM/s400/IMG_3797.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also Flornce - you know what? I'm going to save a lot of time and just say this is all going to be Florence.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunJxOmsESA4UOU6O2RLFu1aJbYGDhlgP7hhfOiHMVT0xJ47Z8vv3W6vAWNZVZA80Cp2hunFlzy_eR_-1NUo0Ho4QeHI8Cf91C_UdUQYNfkAitBoqgcxU-EgXYIKUw41J-hLcGPIxVl1U/s1600/IMG_3798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunJxOmsESA4UOU6O2RLFu1aJbYGDhlgP7hhfOiHMVT0xJ47Z8vv3W6vAWNZVZA80Cp2hunFlzy_eR_-1NUo0Ho4QeHI8Cf91C_UdUQYNfkAitBoqgcxU-EgXYIKUw41J-hLcGPIxVl1U/s400/IMG_3798.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are photogenic.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gTDeyGW4PZ2Wbm6nQYlziE6ZBn_bdNEIMXHZmPqIlIhgaDgdg9AWJOa3ORZ99jE5tnJjrO9CUFljTkDWDeviVy04decEhSliU3Qt-awNZ7hjpNKOaR3qffyIKwfSLCRccOY0n7HeaZE/s1600/IMG_3801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gTDeyGW4PZ2Wbm6nQYlziE6ZBn_bdNEIMXHZmPqIlIhgaDgdg9AWJOa3ORZ99jE5tnJjrO9CUFljTkDWDeviVy04decEhSliU3Qt-awNZ7hjpNKOaR3qffyIKwfSLCRccOY0n7HeaZE/s400/IMG_3801.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little bit afraid of heights here...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5TIJMi_u-sLruieJ9-1zBfQZaE6sjdIo5RQxbemLqsbwLj2vRn_I5TUL-dBQ0qcEXmMTY4BWnoJp9Oyt2e2u0nbUqL5HK2U48Xp8X_qGR38Spwyyd6apHy6yTGLjEq9z1Kx6nFZqN20/s1600/IMG_3806.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5TIJMi_u-sLruieJ9-1zBfQZaE6sjdIo5RQxbemLqsbwLj2vRn_I5TUL-dBQ0qcEXmMTY4BWnoJp9Oyt2e2u0nbUqL5HK2U48Xp8X_qGR38Spwyyd6apHy6yTGLjEq9z1Kx6nFZqN20/s400/IMG_3806.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYloFcLAmOpprWkkgDsBju5LwxrChkTE_XZP_M2GXue9Aro5c1a6MsbPNyFI9biLmd3hPsZraKQBnXn4BBY2pYhtWlj1qTHdb8bTjxdAsN31Zsox3V9AFELdchNAkHTQl8DrGAotS9dpU/s1600/IMG_3811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYloFcLAmOpprWkkgDsBju5LwxrChkTE_XZP_M2GXue9Aro5c1a6MsbPNyFI9biLmd3hPsZraKQBnXn4BBY2pYhtWlj1qTHdb8bTjxdAsN31Zsox3V9AFELdchNAkHTQl8DrGAotS9dpU/s400/IMG_3811.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down the Arno River.</td></tr>
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So now we're across the river from central Florence, and are not sure <i>exactly</i> what to do next.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dctx2qKX8kwvZHYAVwrr62dcOBfiRGP5YvraY31JqancQ4EwFmLZhumFZqSfdobbktixqMjHg9aLVF0tHHVr5NEtwLw4gkdEFlSGFUP1VWwu4315iNcoouZoe7an3Z85dO5nDU3NKGc/s1600/IMG_3815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dctx2qKX8kwvZHYAVwrr62dcOBfiRGP5YvraY31JqancQ4EwFmLZhumFZqSfdobbktixqMjHg9aLVF0tHHVr5NEtwLw4gkdEFlSGFUP1VWwu4315iNcoouZoe7an3Z85dO5nDU3NKGc/s400/IMG_3815.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmmmmm...</td></tr>
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We went for our default - the Jewish attractions. We did get a <i>little </i>lost wandering around trying to find the Synagogue area, but we got to see some parts of Florence we probably otherwise wouldn't have:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwycQjn14ViHnwRyD__LVODO-AIUa5hMYMy5l5gEHobFnILf5OivLQt7VW2rRv9IWmIoqzllXfLysQVVoUKGuM7WjysTHzUNHtQ-nVvyBdOJaSPor5WGDA4sLADLXvu1LG5mLDRCpQs0/s1600/IMG_3816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwycQjn14ViHnwRyD__LVODO-AIUa5hMYMy5l5gEHobFnILf5OivLQt7VW2rRv9IWmIoqzllXfLysQVVoUKGuM7WjysTHzUNHtQ-nVvyBdOJaSPor5WGDA4sLADLXvu1LG5mLDRCpQs0/s400/IMG_3816.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence happens to be a beautiful place.</td></tr>
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The Great Synagogue of Florence is on Via Luigi Carlo Farini which is about a quarter mile East of the Duomo. We tried to visit the Synagogue through the museum and sanctuary entrance, but were disappointed to find that they close in the early afternoon on Fridays to prepare for Shabbat. Next door to the Synagogue, there's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_and_meat_in_Jewish_law">milchig </a>kosher restaurant named <a href="http://www.kosheruth.com/inglese.htm">Ruth's</a>, so we had lunch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cjnews.com/images/stories/April11/Ruths--Florence-Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.cjnews.com/images/stories/April11/Ruths--Florence-Sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you ask me, the food was pretty so-so, but it's good to support a small Jewish Community that relies on tourism.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ0JDSWKFSuDBApYTMbk9FYdzt2xwZ-z48C_khyphenhyphenbvwm9xLm6-ikzMgNK6kFjewGhgG0IJnfRkEmgSVgFV3sNqgtHoZ5sDIJpTnbJ8aNMJ3C9SIgxJm1mcPGZQqq37ds3wXqizmWtbJ1Y/s1600/IMG_3817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ0JDSWKFSuDBApYTMbk9FYdzt2xwZ-z48C_khyphenhyphenbvwm9xLm6-ikzMgNK6kFjewGhgG0IJnfRkEmgSVgFV3sNqgtHoZ5sDIJpTnbJ8aNMJ3C9SIgxJm1mcPGZQqq37ds3wXqizmWtbJ1Y/s400/IMG_3817.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! I'm supportive!</td></tr>
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The very helpful waiter, restaurateur, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabbai">shamos </a>of the Synagogue, Thomas Jelinkek, knew we wanted to enter the Synagogue <i>and </i>the museum before Shabbat started. He came to our table while we were waiting for our food to let us know that there was a wedding service going on in the Synagogue, and that they needed people to complete a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minyan">minyan </a>if we still wanted to go inside. Of course! Why not?<br />
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There were Italian armed guards at the entrance to the courtyard of the Synagogue. This is yet another sign that vandalism of Jewish holy places is on the rise, but it was nice to see that the Italian government is doing something to prevent these acts. Once again pictures weren't allowed but we sneaked a couple anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpNMaxStECmEBowXMAKD347ZFHRAhL1RrODxVMSw6ujP18ZbmIueL5p2Cgfc9RGFF6AE2MhvaCmX2ZP0cLyxxIVmEN4g0czHGS8VIPuvP4h4zygCurSVcWk5YIMre3ZiJ9QzNuuFYTiY/s1600/DSCF4160.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpNMaxStECmEBowXMAKD347ZFHRAhL1RrODxVMSw6ujP18ZbmIueL5p2Cgfc9RGFF6AE2MhvaCmX2ZP0cLyxxIVmEN4g0czHGS8VIPuvP4h4zygCurSVcWk5YIMre3ZiJ9QzNuuFYTiY/s400/DSCF4160.JPG" width="297" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHnSvYR7SU7oRUmUhZLJhZxxSUKa3cHo8SSfiY-4Mmn9CrSKSl9WDjH1ImjKw0sEcfljLuNgZe8Vvo94QxexzQ2BsWenO86dzubqidpkBAAFgLDZi6SFCSKHIIiR9hIgQv9DgNcAZEec/s1600/IMG_3818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHnSvYR7SU7oRUmUhZLJhZxxSUKa3cHo8SSfiY-4Mmn9CrSKSl9WDjH1ImjKw0sEcfljLuNgZe8Vvo94QxexzQ2BsWenO86dzubqidpkBAAFgLDZi6SFCSKHIIiR9hIgQv9DgNcAZEec/s400/IMG_3818.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From what we could gather, an Italian-Israeli wanted to have their wedding in the Synagogue of their roots. Pretty cool, huh?</td></tr>
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After our mediocre lunch and nice visit to the Synagogue museum, we headed in the direction of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accademia_di_Belle_Arti_Firenze">Accademia Gallery</a> (of Florence - there's also one in Venice). The Florence Card got us in front of the line and into the Accademia in about twenty seconds. Go Florence Card!<br />
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The Accademia houses Michelangelo's statue of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Michelangelo)">David</a>. <span style="background-color: white;">If</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baVvz2HJ9bQ">seeing The Goonies a billion times</a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">has taught me anything, it's that this statue is famous:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.primagallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Biblical-hero-David.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.primagallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Biblical-hero-David.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You've probably seen it before.</td></tr>
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Seeing the David in person is kind of surreal. It's like seeing the Eiffel Tower, or the Mona Lisa, or any <i>truly</i> famous sight in person. You've seen pictures of something your <i>entire</i> life and then you're actually seeing it! It feels like your eyes are expecting the image to be in two dimensions and then it's not. Eerie...<br />
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The statue is of David as he is about to face Goliath. He's got the slingshot draped over his back from his left and he's holding the stone with his right. The detail of things like the <i>veins</i> sticking out of David's arm and stuff like that are so life-like... Michelangelo was a genius. David's head and hands are overlarge. The explanation for this is the statue was originally supposed to be displayed along the roof of the Duomo so details like those would've been hard to make out from ground level. Unexplained is why David decided to fight Goliath in the nude.<br />
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There's also a musical instruments section of the Accademia and some other remarkable renaissance and medieval pieces, but the second best reason to visit the Accademia is the collection of the <i>unfinished </i>Michelangelo sculptures. Michelangelo was such a genius, that his <i>unfinished</i> works could pass for masterpieces. Here they are:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ssqq.com/travel/images/barcelona%202009%20004%20unfinished%20slaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.ssqq.com/travel/images/barcelona%202009%20004%20unfinished%20slaves.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelangelo would say that he could see the figures <i>inside </i>the marble and all he did when he sculped was chip away at the excess marble... what a guy. </td></tr>
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Next we strolled lazily back to our hotel on Palazzuolo taking in Florence.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1NhliQWPG7IOw9fOHQpxSb32H3H_VzORJnWOtwfs0nAB19kJggt_bFUeNq2lTZ5v56DmY04aC0SjtEfGfGOViDomwBmo5HsfZg_7EkKiwvK1Db_DYtmRd9YJ8jTeCEkrokmnDhOpQrc/s1600/IMG_3820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1NhliQWPG7IOw9fOHQpxSb32H3H_VzORJnWOtwfs0nAB19kJggt_bFUeNq2lTZ5v56DmY04aC0SjtEfGfGOViDomwBmo5HsfZg_7EkKiwvK1Db_DYtmRd9YJ8jTeCEkrokmnDhOpQrc/s400/IMG_3820.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So stylish.</td></tr>
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Enjoyed some time in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_del_Duomo,_Florence">Piazza del Duomo</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcjMr1gMqlPTcB2Jfr5ssA9d1emz3PrvGqzzz6jKGpjH8iWPpAIZrTo_NCftmGaAPyj0KD73Plu62Gw0qzsCELy6_6DNB3qTHCgD1WKs_CYXxZhy0wLeYH8wTIJj-sEZkxT2SoeeYVSw/s1600/IMG_3823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcjMr1gMqlPTcB2Jfr5ssA9d1emz3PrvGqzzz6jKGpjH8iWPpAIZrTo_NCftmGaAPyj0KD73Plu62Gw0qzsCELy6_6DNB3qTHCgD1WKs_CYXxZhy0wLeYH8wTIJj-sEZkxT2SoeeYVSw/s400/IMG_3823.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We spent an hour or two lazing around our hotel. I know that vacation time is very precious, but this was our fifth day in Italy. We needed a break during the day of <i>some </i>sort. The hotel was a nice enough spot to lay around and watch Italian-language television (mostly we watched television claiming that a salve if rubbed on the midsection could remove up to 5 inches from the waistline - crazy Italians...). </div>
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For our Friday evening, we took a taxi back to the Great Synagogue. We participated in the Shabbat evening services at the Great Synagogue. Mostly the tunes of the prayers were unfamiliar to me, and the space itself with its extremely high ceiling and extremely small congregation - did not make for the best acoustics. The high ceiling and colorful (but dark) decorations <i>did </i>make for a very beautiful setting. The Synagogue itself has a lot of architecture reminiscent of Turkish Mosques. </div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Synagogue_Florence_Italy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Synagogue_Florence_Italy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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After the Kiddush in the courtyard above (provided by our former waiter, Thomas <span style="background-color: white;">Jelinkek) we were invited to Shabbat dinner at the <a href="http://www.chabadorangecounty.com/florenceinfo.html">Chabad of Florence</a>. Anyone familiar with <a href="http://www.chabad.org/">Chabad</a> would expect exactly what we got there: A traditional Shabbat meal (chicken was a bit iffy, but I suppose they must have obstacles in the way of obtaining kosher food on a regular basis), lots of Jewish tourists/students studying abroad, and a spirited sermon delivered from the Rabbi - Rabbi Eli Dovid Berenstein. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">When I say spirited I really mean it. He said he gives the same sermon every week, so if you ever find yourself there you're in for a treat. Basically, he more and more excitedly builds up to a point about why you (as a Jew) came to Florence for the sights (at this point which he reaches several times, he will list the sights of Florence in rapid succession - ThePonteVecchio!ThePalazzoVecchio!TheDavid!The...!), but since you came to see the sights, and are celebrating Shabbat here, you are <i>also</i> bringing another place in the world closer to an ideal level of spirituality. It was nothing if not entertaining.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2664/3852486075_3a70b979e5_z.jpg?zz=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2664/3852486075_3a70b979e5_z.jpg?zz=1" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shabbat Shalom from Florence!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-77230794928517818812012-07-11T01:59:00.000+04:302012-07-11T01:59:41.607+04:30Italy Day 4: Siena<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Siena! We spent a day in Siena. We had time for </span><i style="background-color: white;">one</i><span style="background-color: white;"> day in </span><i style="background-color: white;">one </i><span style="background-color: white;">small Italian town and it came down to Pisa, Siena, or Assissi. Siena won out. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siena" style="background-color: white;">Siena </a><span style="background-color: white;">is a little <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuscany">Tuscan</a> town, most famous for being the origin of the Crayola color "Burnt Siena".</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just kidding, not about the origin of the color, but of the "most famous" part.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">We left </span><span style="background-color: white;">Rome</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i>very</i><span style="background-color: white;"> early in the morning by train. From the train station we sought out our hotel - the <a href="http://www.hotelsienaborgogrondaie.com/">Borgo Grondaie</a>. The Borgo Grondaie is a Tuscan farm converted into an interesting little bed and breakfast complex. It was the nicest hotel we stayed at the entire trip - too bad it was only for one night and we spent no time at the hotel...</span><br />
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We had this whole townhouse to ourselves, and for not much more than the cheapest hotel options I found for the whole trip!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Wow!</td></tr>
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However nice the hotel is, it's kind of a hike from the train station - probably should have found a way to call for a taxi. We dropped off all our stuff and after taking the most beautiful picture of my parents, took a taxi about a mile into the city walls of Siena.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Told you it was beautiful.</td></tr>
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Siena is like a Medieval town unchanged since before the Renaissance, except for the inclusion of certain modern comforts (automobiles, refrigeration, and lots of fashion stores). It was once one of the two great cities of Tuscany, but plagues and wars left Florence number one... I mean, it's still pretty <i>great.</i> Just not as great in size and scope as Florence.<br />
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We taxied from across the train tracks into the city walls of Siena. On our way to the tourist-y things of Siena, we got a little distracted by this huge souvenir market.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't care for shopping so much...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of trinkets.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKuE_DDYworoZBcud40QQ7ESc8_bY5Del_vPPDs_OyFCiomTNpEZmWDMG1gcM-uI_PT00eLc7kDon94QKJOYXnqd0PtNymWHHaAMERjcoGhsCDlXNVgGJ12JMySO4i_rw69yKLZy5lgg/s1600/IMG_3671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKuE_DDYworoZBcud40QQ7ESc8_bY5Del_vPPDs_OyFCiomTNpEZmWDMG1gcM-uI_PT00eLc7kDon94QKJOYXnqd0PtNymWHHaAMERjcoGhsCDlXNVgGJ12JMySO4i_rw69yKLZy5lgg/s400/IMG_3671.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The souvenir market is in Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, but only on certain days in case you were wondering.</td></tr>
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So we made our way south towards <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_del_Campo">Il Campo</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Il Campo translates to "The" Campo</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">As you can see, Il Campo is the central town square of Siena. </span><span style="background-color: white;">The plaza itself is all curved/slanted downward toward the entrance to the town hall. The semicircular plaza is divided by lines of brick flooring into nine trivial pursuit-like wedges, for the nine Noveschi who ruled Siena during the height of its power. Believe it or not, since the </span><i style="background-color: white;">1650s</i><span style="background-color: white;"> Il Campo has been the site of the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Siena" style="background-color: white;">Palio di Siena</a><span style="background-color: white;"> horse races. Twice a year, the Campo is covered with a thick layer of dirt and a three-lap horse race around the plaza is held. Hard to imagine the place converts from the setting seen in the above picture to this:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvE3shR98CzHmk38OQpQ-dVwM7mqcXAAkJQUyJkzdL1dZ10epxPcaK-rPPPSuxIbCA-IjCuhEScYp4qlndGt4aDnSgdAeKiUEh6ctl8wA2iF9X1UdI5B0nsu2mMYG-vzZtLNBd8UYzPs/s1600/palio-di-siena-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvE3shR98CzHmk38OQpQ-dVwM7mqcXAAkJQUyJkzdL1dZ10epxPcaK-rPPPSuxIbCA-IjCuhEScYp4qlndGt4aDnSgdAeKiUEh6ctl8wA2iF9X1UdI5B0nsu2mMYG-vzZtLNBd8UYzPs/s400/palio-di-siena-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incredible.</td></tr>
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That clock tower building dominating the left half of the picture is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Pubblico">town hall</a>. It, along with most of the impressive buildings of Siena is an impressive example of Medieval architecture. The clock tower was the tallest structure in Italy when completed <i>and has no metal reinforcements at all within the shaft of the tower</i>. It was built mostly to out-do Siena's then-rival city Florence. Our very brief stay in Siena didn't allow us the time to take the full tour/climb of the town hall - but we hung around the outside/courtyard for a bit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are hilarious.</td></tr>
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Across from the town hall is the Fonte Gaia - Fountain of Joy. Like the Trevi in in Rome, it was created to be a focal point for where the aqueducts that brought water to the city ended. The fountain itself is so-so. It's not quite on the same scale as the Trevi fountain in Rome, but there is one remarkable thing about it: the pigeons. Somehow the fountain has hypnotized these birds into being orderly water consumers. See this dog water spout?<br />
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Well - pigeons are known to wait patiently in line along the heads and backs of these dogs to take their turns leaning over the dog noses to take a drink directly from the spout. Why not drink from the rectangular bowl of water sitting right there? Perhaps they find the water from the spout more refreshing and clean? Perhaps they look down on the other pigeons of the world for being so inconsiderate to one another and unrefined as to simply drink water from wherever they find it without offering up their spot in line first with an, "after you, good sir." The world may never know.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I must say this water is most refreshing to me on this most humid of days!" - polite pigeons of Siena</td></tr>
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Before we left Il Campo, I tried out an old Ohio State University legend: that if you yell out "O-H!" in a crowded tourist square anywhere in the world, that <i>someone</i> will shout back, "I-O!". You can't really hear it, but it worked!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">After Il Campo we headed toward the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siena_Cathedral" style="background-color: white;">Siena Cathedral</a><span style="background-color: white;"> - referred to as the Duomo. It's impossible to miss the tell-tale white and dark green striped complex of the Duomo. It's really several tourist attractions in one. There's the cathedral itself, the museum which includes the attempted extension of the Duomo, the crypts, and the baptistery. If you've got the time, I highly recommend the all-encompassing ticket that gets you into all of these museums. The place is incredible - even more so because it was all built in the 1200s.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like we made it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">That's me in the blue shirt in front of the center door.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0w1iARlCWn7GLC04yqDg9wobHrLwVByjc7FbqONiMyQSoXKdo5sKdDjDvwQbiRrzPxqrAAkjPlFFShLSfPeF-9ba2bs3RI0DKCNXAkTmu5ESEg5jYagThOCOP72Tgo8Y_cAyUnoDAScc/s1600/IMG_3707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0w1iARlCWn7GLC04yqDg9wobHrLwVByjc7FbqONiMyQSoXKdo5sKdDjDvwQbiRrzPxqrAAkjPlFFShLSfPeF-9ba2bs3RI0DKCNXAkTmu5ESEg5jYagThOCOP72Tgo8Y_cAyUnoDAScc/s400/IMG_3707.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Interior</td></tr>
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The Duomo is set up in a traditional Cathedral style. Typical floor plan. Click this <a href="https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS481US481&tbm=isch&q=cathedral+layout&revid=1009388015&sa=X&ei=hGz2T9nLGcXIqgGTweWKCQ&ved=0CEgQgxY&biw=1348&bih=643">link </a>and you'll get a pretty good idea. At the level above the arches formed by the columns, encircling the entire nave of the church, is a row of heads with the names of all the popes from Peter to the 1200s listed beneath them. The heads are actually just the same four figures used over and over.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XLA5RrF8okGV8QR7aeRstVn6aGOavsqIqfpkoC0JSiZUV1S5noxgWl3Rm2u8RQMW960Ry6p1ESB2GkUQVTU-eHPWniVoSuR8bz4maPazQo3w9bSQlXVFrqq9j9sdwNY21ujn_wKnmIo/s1600/IMG_3697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XLA5RrF8okGV8QR7aeRstVn6aGOavsqIqfpkoC0JSiZUV1S5noxgWl3Rm2u8RQMW960Ry6p1ESB2GkUQVTU-eHPWniVoSuR8bz4maPazQo3w9bSQlXVFrqq9j9sdwNY21ujn_wKnmIo/s400/IMG_3697.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pope heads.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYARN1-2bo9Z5dci891qSLYToce8YWK5u_34bTQLOTBfmw6kFRWAwdBZIN7RfYJOkj6saQYviFH0KbdJFHsuptiDNrL8pD6BBeohAdzYwRTzTuCE5ds53S_Q1lMARo56h10VCe0sRworA/s1600/IMG_3698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYARN1-2bo9Z5dci891qSLYToce8YWK5u_34bTQLOTBfmw6kFRWAwdBZIN7RfYJOkj6saQYviFH0KbdJFHsuptiDNrL8pD6BBeohAdzYwRTzTuCE5ds53S_Q1lMARo56h10VCe0sRworA/s400/IMG_3698.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulpit_(Siena_Cathedral)">Pulpit</a>.</td></tr>
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Hey look! There's the dome!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtmyRAQy3C86P_ariKrpE7rmwrs5r-zS5KSWBiAm5MhdNkM9d-1dBU-HXKe9hZ-uE7AIql4BEMk5SXkl5Ft-0mDw3kO52nEtkFvKfVMcctUlShDi3MHpp6ixTyv4Kp7c-BDUByoIGctg/s1600/IMG_3706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtmyRAQy3C86P_ariKrpE7rmwrs5r-zS5KSWBiAm5MhdNkM9d-1dBU-HXKe9hZ-uE7AIql4BEMk5SXkl5Ft-0mDw3kO52nEtkFvKfVMcctUlShDi3MHpp6ixTyv4Kp7c-BDUByoIGctg/s400/IMG_3706.JPG" width="295" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2DIbZ_cPJGke6JSiu5iVs_DxkPsYXb71OSCp77kyEY_x6g5JY71g3Vc4x8HekKuJu2QztInmuPXLnLqfN39zwB8JZTXmXVYiKN6tKo6aVbalBdI_P1WOJnm5HtTrmmKc2TubWbpFX8U/s1600/IMG00012-20120322-1351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2DIbZ_cPJGke6JSiu5iVs_DxkPsYXb71OSCp77kyEY_x6g5JY71g3Vc4x8HekKuJu2QztInmuPXLnLqfN39zwB8JZTXmXVYiKN6tKo6aVbalBdI_P1WOJnm5HtTrmmKc2TubWbpFX8U/s400/IMG00012-20120322-1351.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Dome.</td></tr>
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Also of note is the floor of the Cathedral which is spattered with <a href="https://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS481US481&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=oIv3T53UBMinrQHk782LCQ&ved=0CEkQvwUoAQ&q=siena+cathedral+floor&spell=1&biw=1146&bih=638">enormous and elaborate mosaics depicting scenes from the bible</a>.</div>
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There's a room just off of the nave of the Cathedral called the Piccolomini Library. The walls are filled with colorful murals depicting scenes from the life of Piccolomini who was from Siena and became Pope. The walls are lined with displays of ornate choir books.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5h6MFeZSOz6IOAvNjQSAgk-6rQR4svsmqafK82JOMQBlLTebsFl8e8N_19LRTrDsnpEuUAbmTc61UnuYl1kWj8OgNSYSRNjPlNJTAqNpMYnEX-zQXB4jYB0EfIIAmkszF4jBX7uyfhM/s1600/IMG_3710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5h6MFeZSOz6IOAvNjQSAgk-6rQR4svsmqafK82JOMQBlLTebsFl8e8N_19LRTrDsnpEuUAbmTc61UnuYl1kWj8OgNSYSRNjPlNJTAqNpMYnEX-zQXB4jYB0EfIIAmkszF4jBX7uyfhM/s400/IMG_3710.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scenes from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_II">Piccolomini</a>'s life.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4X8C554-tqjmYjPJW4LVxHZrABhCVfMBoRR0q34c-ax-P0-fzpOkgBHXr3V6wIX7xEdZwLGfRinaYEQwP5HfQ8mrk8wEreVkOgVEmU9nc8dX6-UurZZkKUfkcfiQVHVet9Jy7oQUUTY/s1600/IMG_3713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4X8C554-tqjmYjPJW4LVxHZrABhCVfMBoRR0q34c-ax-P0-fzpOkgBHXr3V6wIX7xEdZwLGfRinaYEQwP5HfQ8mrk8wEreVkOgVEmU9nc8dX6-UurZZkKUfkcfiQVHVet9Jy7oQUUTY/s400/IMG_3713.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More scenes - these blocked by some nudes.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMp54FG6ah_rexbugKzSB8uHMejiw_0dhp9zHjsjeZAkqyOkqu2UyKunLVi-ULSM973XvHTH7MXcS0dRwm2aPe_S1HJsywMMVn2REqm-tu-8V0yD_2_hPoUfLoAw5993MHkZQgSjA2n_g/s1600/IMG_3716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMp54FG6ah_rexbugKzSB8uHMejiw_0dhp9zHjsjeZAkqyOkqu2UyKunLVi-ULSM973XvHTH7MXcS0dRwm2aPe_S1HJsywMMVn2REqm-tu-8V0yD_2_hPoUfLoAw5993MHkZQgSjA2n_g/s400/IMG_3716.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom sits below a choir book that is nearly her size.</td></tr>
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After the main building of the Siena cathedral, we sat for a little while on the front steps...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggohgMN3PMTztMYUvLAFlSuP9hCi_RHWoqchaxchhG_RZMv_DFXiH_B7xbGdcvsfkCZ1TJSF0GVQyOepyDZ2mdDJsCHAABXqRIbTorvIAmo4K6rGKMZNYl4WmV2zPTp7Xb994YAZ7sMiE/s1600/IMG_3725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggohgMN3PMTztMYUvLAFlSuP9hCi_RHWoqchaxchhG_RZMv_DFXiH_B7xbGdcvsfkCZ1TJSF0GVQyOepyDZ2mdDJsCHAABXqRIbTorvIAmo4K6rGKMZNYl4WmV2zPTp7Xb994YAZ7sMiE/s400/IMG_3725.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...my dad took a little nap.</td></tr>
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OK time for a history lesson. Here's how most churches are arranged:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2008remodel.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/layout.gif?w=500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2008remodel.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/layout.gif?w=500" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a cross - get it? Cause of Christianity?</td></tr>
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And here's the layout of the Siena Cathedral.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.planetware.com/i/map/I/siena-cathedral-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.planetware.com/i/map/I/siena-cathedral-map.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nave here is labeled "1, 2, 3, 4, 5" and you can figure out the rest. </td></tr>
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You see that part extending out to the right? The red wall that's an almost complete rectangle? Got it? OK. See, in their quest to be the number one town in Tuscany over Florence, the people of Siena decided they were going to expand the cathedral. They were going to do this by making the <i>existing </i>cathedral the <i>transept/crossing </i>of the <i>new </i>cathedral. That doesn't sound as dramatic when I read it... The expansion was going to more than double the existing cathedral. It was an incredibly ambitious undertaking. Too bad the black plague came through and decimated the town. The plan was abandoned, but the beginnings of the project were left up and incorporated into the cathedral museum (labelled on the map).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfC-85ifIE0Rlb56wrFNz5UUHtrEXic0hNlBbJhAFKmCsiXfAfekOFzXrA07HsG1B91kdq5_u_8eoLMyKpQx1wAOvsfOc8V-eHFG1b5QO-USco3I_umnCzOa_GfZIcDcv0JUrfFlAIYE/s1600/IMG_3726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfC-85ifIE0Rlb56wrFNz5UUHtrEXic0hNlBbJhAFKmCsiXfAfekOFzXrA07HsG1B91kdq5_u_8eoLMyKpQx1wAOvsfOc8V-eHFG1b5QO-USco3I_umnCzOa_GfZIcDcv0JUrfFlAIYE/s400/IMG_3726.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Line of arches and the inside of a would-be new facade of the unfinished expansion. See those two levels of empty windows over there on the right? We're going to climb that!</td></tr>
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The museum is in the building above. It contains many great works of art including original stained glass windows from the Cathedral. No pictures were allowed, but in a back room away from the docents I took pictures of a couple of wooden statues. I believe they might both be candidates to be the next big <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme">internet memes</a>. So I made some mock-ups for a test run.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdBXZp6gTbD4jz9kXJye2uDxQ49B0W_jDLxIblCN6N9PGKLnMrUS-q9UPpu0e_5cFHbx2yM4mMLlPiqfHZA4y_JhFdIXhqsDhIBm6ClPsaVinilQ0rpAiyEO3WnvzAn4aSlpTq1zdohw/s1600/1Ev_4SNWzE2Ubbj9aHjDFQ2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdBXZp6gTbD4jz9kXJye2uDxQ49B0W_jDLxIblCN6N9PGKLnMrUS-q9UPpu0e_5cFHbx2yM4mMLlPiqfHZA4y_JhFdIXhqsDhIBm6ClPsaVinilQ0rpAiyEO3WnvzAn4aSlpTq1zdohw/s400/1Ev_4SNWzE2Ubbj9aHjDFQ2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skeptical Saint is skeptical.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnupeij6qg4CNEN6HXojM3kwLrSRMq2BnJVbxw50GScG-GmF7ErKn0Mua7ISPjoBSVWR8coqoFsbuy3vX_RlsLsVMhwTTreIX-FE-dXgCLP4C_Wh-BfXYbZ2qc5OYMKHdsHx7DLODlGg/s1600/spKRvAiBG0uDDkGJ8sVB2g2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnupeij6qg4CNEN6HXojM3kwLrSRMq2BnJVbxw50GScG-GmF7ErKn0Mua7ISPjoBSVWR8coqoFsbuy3vX_RlsLsVMhwTTreIX-FE-dXgCLP4C_Wh-BfXYbZ2qc5OYMKHdsHx7DLODlGg/s400/spKRvAiBG0uDDkGJ8sVB2g2.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modest Mary is modest.</td></tr>
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The museum is the entrance to the would-be facade of the expansion of the church. Access to the two different levels of the expansion is granted via tiny spiral staircases.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB4D4NdvIOuV4mo1RkkDonvcrzjf0kyCuvGWUzG9z_guBjQdJEPbGlecEM1qn969d7RvTslVQCTaJshKn0FoOO5ejBxdzdvCgib_GlV_Iw1pJv3rB_bDp0WhwtQNPuxLz8NUtGsoUe6Q/s1600/IMG_3769.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB4D4NdvIOuV4mo1RkkDonvcrzjf0kyCuvGWUzG9z_guBjQdJEPbGlecEM1qn969d7RvTslVQCTaJshKn0FoOO5ejBxdzdvCgib_GlV_Iw1pJv3rB_bDp0WhwtQNPuxLz8NUtGsoUe6Q/s400/IMG_3769.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
My mother is afraid of heights. Very afraid. When we went on a family trip out west and came to the Grand Canyon, she became so overwhelmed on one of the walking paths that she crawled along most of the way to the look-out point. She didn't even let my younger sister out of the lodge there for fear that she would fall in along with the hundreds per day that also fall in according to her. Climbing the extension to the Siena Duomo was a huge step for her. Just look at this nervous smile:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzjGeGUtRKl7p6qwZcX_FloKHo5aAZiRBkPma9UUYgbC5rH2gFX5wfpZkek7e9gU4llCN2iCKcwGiSxitm2ljo_5zI1s3P1FRVM5owDL3EMhzh1riIi3Pzm8674UZEEYYeI_eSqAQXXo/s1600/IMG_3747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzjGeGUtRKl7p6qwZcX_FloKHo5aAZiRBkPma9UUYgbC5rH2gFX5wfpZkek7e9gU4llCN2iCKcwGiSxitm2ljo_5zI1s3P1FRVM5owDL3EMhzh1riIi3Pzm8674UZEEYYeI_eSqAQXXo/s400/IMG_3747.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Also this nervous smile:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0az-Iq93VP5Dd6TAiRGStTYro3jsQvgDvhoJfWNfq4QIHOEySqKKRBG1KWOchM8zH3I0xjcjGv7n8118DC5AiNkcK7jzBLGkO48ebWHcIGAJ8nhc5DDRxyZQRR7B3c5fyYTZ1kxfELW4/s1600/IMG_3749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0az-Iq93VP5Dd6TAiRGStTYro3jsQvgDvhoJfWNfq4QIHOEySqKKRBG1KWOchM8zH3I0xjcjGv7n8118DC5AiNkcK7jzBLGkO48ebWHcIGAJ8nhc5DDRxyZQRR7B3c5fyYTZ1kxfELW4/s400/IMG_3749.JPG" width="295" /></a></div>
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She <i>did </i>put on a good face for most of the pictures, but not for all of them:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ct5JCDC1aA_34IudrTXkbhyphenhyphenz39wBBsAAp4hViMewuqrbQZoUuOMXaDlsYNbw_hgHRogiWBxZsXLrbW1uQFFyzOBCBtaiONPnGD3Cvmwt3Ub4i7yinrpoOcLeT_EeQ35-JB9l7YAgsWc/s1600/IMG_3757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ct5JCDC1aA_34IudrTXkbhyphenhyphenz39wBBsAAp4hViMewuqrbQZoUuOMXaDlsYNbw_hgHRogiWBxZsXLrbW1uQFFyzOBCBtaiONPnGD3Cvmwt3Ub4i7yinrpoOcLeT_EeQ35-JB9l7YAgsWc/s400/IMG_3757.JPG" width="295" /></a></div>
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Consider this video a gift to the world:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Some of the views </span><i style="background-color: white;">were </i><span style="background-color: white;">pretty incredible:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaanYnkkrtk3eW5XcqmNe2OTHTGnnwY-rZNJ9hnKOS2OeFiziz7fxO8Gdjwc_Q79INX1hPcKg1wulKKWWe9tzBehfZ6lkNoKUe78_ue_B27ldBvnCZAVFjMldqmUVUkvIHysJF0zRHcjY/s1600/IMG_3761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaanYnkkrtk3eW5XcqmNe2OTHTGnnwY-rZNJ9hnKOS2OeFiziz7fxO8Gdjwc_Q79INX1hPcKg1wulKKWWe9tzBehfZ6lkNoKUe78_ue_B27ldBvnCZAVFjMldqmUVUkvIHysJF0zRHcjY/s400/IMG_3761.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Il Campo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGF6D-gBDdaPDG7ogKNENlUp1SIHs4NHQS2RjdUguLCbipZlirOO4kIZpUtObou7jl_HFfAAxvb-ABig9ehUWo7JvZ_IefdseuToq97JX__XLIay0EVH7aYmeI9dtb4ZNytaBDeqJeaRw/s1600/IMG_3731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGF6D-gBDdaPDG7ogKNENlUp1SIHs4NHQS2RjdUguLCbipZlirOO4kIZpUtObou7jl_HFfAAxvb-ABig9ehUWo7JvZ_IefdseuToq97JX__XLIay0EVH7aYmeI9dtb4ZNytaBDeqJeaRw/s400/IMG_3731.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuscan fields.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RbJnR6VmAFnBoyPRkXwJGsrIwsJil-hrd2ldNzVUTUsanmnPEqVHzMVgeKbpAHwS9VCJJ4kFUCvPDNP4T35pcU7jo85RIt5bfV0x8gi3p9ZcWkPdQGywDQjVgjjgiHTqsqd4kMF2jvQ/s1600/IMG_3743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RbJnR6VmAFnBoyPRkXwJGsrIwsJil-hrd2ldNzVUTUsanmnPEqVHzMVgeKbpAHwS9VCJJ4kFUCvPDNP4T35pcU7jo85RIt5bfV0x8gi3p9ZcWkPdQGywDQjVgjjgiHTqsqd4kMF2jvQ/s400/IMG_3743.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KDVHbjjtAom3T2dMkAns-yU2hzfX1sOkjBWQh2fpXzBwr57U1oWRHPHxRx6GISaHxzss3CbQ0-GuFFlMhP6IpGa-erfijS5OXY8KQKSrGzQ9LMLoOfJQxXrsHWVnNA_mtcpho-04ocU/s1600/IMG_3744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KDVHbjjtAom3T2dMkAns-yU2hzfX1sOkjBWQh2fpXzBwr57U1oWRHPHxRx6GISaHxzss3CbQ0-GuFFlMhP6IpGa-erfijS5OXY8KQKSrGzQ9LMLoOfJQxXrsHWVnNA_mtcpho-04ocU/s400/IMG_3744.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">look at all the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS481US481&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D15&q=burnt%20siena&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=5Gr2T7P7HYH7qAHmn_CLCQ&biw=1348&bih=643&sei=52r2T9XiC8i8rQH_nr2LCQ">burnt siena</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK952wbM03jsoMtwsgPFkHgFlu7QuEqGEGBXtvj0sXz8cWDzz7YXkBQrhVlW6ZrwXaZ6fbpazy3Q33XyAOrMP3OINTJ4_M7QOyIR3-ml746vxVNI1J9Ko0zShx_tXn1jK4ZzLrCRJ2YcA/s1600/IMG_3745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK952wbM03jsoMtwsgPFkHgFlu7QuEqGEGBXtvj0sXz8cWDzz7YXkBQrhVlW6ZrwXaZ6fbpazy3Q33XyAOrMP3OINTJ4_M7QOyIR3-ml746vxVNI1J9Ko0zShx_tXn1jK4ZzLrCRJ2YcA/s400/IMG_3745.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Duomo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLcSPdoUifmxPxpydAZgM2kiatqV6TFIGT-ZWlklHRiAUjXpRtYeefSv3LDuGPzhep9zbnT-wFbsxusZLVafcRr0sEAy_f6njc0tuuwJhwzfofHpab36GbdaoTVf_YIgmtljtR4vu7BI/s1600/IMG_3766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLcSPdoUifmxPxpydAZgM2kiatqV6TFIGT-ZWlklHRiAUjXpRtYeefSv3LDuGPzhep9zbnT-wFbsxusZLVafcRr0sEAy_f6njc0tuuwJhwzfofHpab36GbdaoTVf_YIgmtljtR4vu7BI/s400/IMG_3766.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all made it back down alive!</td></tr>
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The Siena Duomo Baptistery is at the base of the retaining wall holding up the extra part of the hill that had to be built to support the Siena Cathedral - see map above. A Baptistery is a separate chapel meant specifically for baptisms (big surprise there). Usually they come with batismal fonts - ornate holders for the holy water used in these baptisms. That was our final stop in the Siena Duomo complex.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gTARM7ATkG6mCS7j2MwXzAeGZ3TjeYmkFmyTHn1t_cfhBlrHbEX5O4oxhgfhCyZ1i23bNNeGqYdC89OEEszLsXyHlkijNlZAW60FVNSsi1ceVu-pz3_m2hXkJ44I6MeZeL3JaYdhizs/s1600/IMG_3772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gTARM7ATkG6mCS7j2MwXzAeGZ3TjeYmkFmyTHn1t_cfhBlrHbEX5O4oxhgfhCyZ1i23bNNeGqYdC89OEEszLsXyHlkijNlZAW60FVNSsi1ceVu-pz3_m2hXkJ44I6MeZeL3JaYdhizs/s400/IMG_3772.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baptismal Font depicting scenes from the life of John the Baptist (another big surprise).</td></tr>
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The last real attraction we visited was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_San_Domenico_(Siena)">Basilica of San Domenico</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiwbu2yv-_hobkIw6w77RseMRwztp4NZ7QlB39rnyGxFZjCdZORn9efbiwPLUHpz8YfnRyPJek8c9s46oIUaWUVsZGn7paiLQ51xFmexXWAQlol9S8spMQCWo1Necp4EvGdFP8lr9UiY/s1600/IMG_3775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiwbu2yv-_hobkIw6w77RseMRwztp4NZ7QlB39rnyGxFZjCdZORn9efbiwPLUHpz8YfnRyPJek8c9s46oIUaWUVsZGn7paiLQ51xFmexXWAQlol9S8spMQCWo1Necp4EvGdFP8lr9UiY/s400/IMG_3775.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">There it is across this valley.</span></td></tr>
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We walked the long way around to avoid the climbing. The inside of this Cathedral is very plain. Virtually no decoration compared to every other church we visited in Italy. The plain walls made it seem even bigger than most, but overall we probably could have skipped this one and done something else. One remarkable thing we saw here was the head of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Siena">Saint Catherine of Seina</a>. No exaggeration. Her head! Apparently the people of Siena smuggled her head and thumb back to Siena in order to be put on display as relics. The practice of displaying human remains as relics is strange to me personally. We didn't see it at all in Rome, but in Siena and Florence it was everywhere. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSVJBNj2k7HikZZYkiDBeX9mwuJ5NNqxr2JWacHvoaQJW427Jbzt9h279ogZ6Vn97pFaa80zFp94Jz94nB87QKsvlJuWHLDSE3dcH7dVb8btKfFmfzE4I2l4EDH5O2qs3v5Chd66Y2ik/s1600/IMG00016-20120322-1707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSVJBNj2k7HikZZYkiDBeX9mwuJ5NNqxr2JWacHvoaQJW427Jbzt9h279ogZ6Vn97pFaa80zFp94Jz94nB87QKsvlJuWHLDSE3dcH7dVb8btKfFmfzE4I2l4EDH5O2qs3v5Chd66Y2ik/s400/IMG00016-20120322-1707.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">The Siena Duomo from nearby to the Basilica of San Domenico.</td></tr>
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We ate dinner in a restaurant called Trattoria Papei. It's next to the large gazebo on the opposite side of the town hall from Il Campo. The food was very delicious and my dentist mother bonded with the dental hygienist waiter from Kosovo who served us - so he gave us some limoncello liqueur for dessert! My younger sister took advantage of the lenient drinking age laws in Italy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhz8t7nC-_PucqTu0TgSCETx4j9dXmDJIWOMqlkUb01lL3BdtjqDNsg3B6NcbFhmxJcy4DQGDyQmyIRrWA7re8yqTHm5E60iDifmygVpPBYDqebiGMW6fZEPlC8YsZzHhNis_RbOsI4Y/s1600/IMG_3785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhz8t7nC-_PucqTu0TgSCETx4j9dXmDJIWOMqlkUb01lL3BdtjqDNsg3B6NcbFhmxJcy4DQGDyQmyIRrWA7re8yqTHm5E60iDifmygVpPBYDqebiGMW6fZEPlC8YsZzHhNis_RbOsI4Y/s400/IMG_3785.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tcOZyCCQu5ufAV1iZZquBasS3Kefiz4gUtOg2zeThNbs4HRq1TX6UsamVcryY1vxq98AZHAhwdLjuE3vVo5BUmioL5SpEfBgj-KBKNwtsGIU-WmH_OspmK2Zv0XSJvxG8CaQpJ9ILTU/s1600/IMG_3788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tcOZyCCQu5ufAV1iZZquBasS3Kefiz4gUtOg2zeThNbs4HRq1TX6UsamVcryY1vxq98AZHAhwdLjuE3vVo5BUmioL5SpEfBgj-KBKNwtsGIU-WmH_OspmK2Zv0XSJvxG8CaQpJ9ILTU/s400/IMG_3788.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buon Appetito!</td></tr>
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After dinner, we took a taxi back to our villa at the good ol' Borgo Grondaie.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwjrrOtjvLVQxgO8IwO6JtwaXLmw0Tjlt4u_MltAyafhoOIyZACBgS-egeQ0mALz4kUvaPmJ68V13PZJBtAEPjT-SsnNRfkAsRQTNZClFoyH7FPUzfSOxDRugCYUb6tw6elrkNlnsm7Y/s1600/IMG_3790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwjrrOtjvLVQxgO8IwO6JtwaXLmw0Tjlt4u_MltAyafhoOIyZACBgS-egeQ0mALz4kUvaPmJ68V13PZJBtAEPjT-SsnNRfkAsRQTNZClFoyH7FPUzfSOxDRugCYUb6tw6elrkNlnsm7Y/s400/IMG_3790.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farewell, Siena.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-22589789311393433792012-07-09T02:22:00.000+04:302012-07-09T07:34:09.680+04:30Italy Day 3: Vatican Museum, St. Peter's, The Best Pizza in Italy, Galleria Borghese,<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Day 3. Here we go. The Vatican! </span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jwDRpzlkbReM41t4WyvpIAOW-Kwe_tPn4Bn7vf_kkqa8eutr2DIFCt9D2hh_xZf0O66qd86bNVDNnHhPzKcODlJO14ElEVAiESzXS-EBYIfifJ3uAUTRNqbw_UguMuGFygk_P2JowGM/s1600/IMG_3514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jwDRpzlkbReM41t4WyvpIAOW-Kwe_tPn4Bn7vf_kkqa8eutr2DIFCt9D2hh_xZf0O66qd86bNVDNnHhPzKcODlJO14ElEVAiESzXS-EBYIfifJ3uAUTRNqbw_UguMuGFygk_P2JowGM/s400/IMG_3514.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My Latin is a little rusty. I think it says Vatican Museum.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Most people know that the Vatican is about a quarter mile square and the world's smallest independent nation, but what most people do not know is most of it is a museum, well most of the </span><i style="background-color: white;">buildings</i><span style="background-color: white;"> are museum, most of the city seems to be gardens. There are a bunch of interesting facts about Vatican city most people never think about: There is no official language of Vatican City. There are virtually no civilian citizens of Vatican city - all the residents are either military, or clergy/administrators of the City. Weird, huh? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">We mostly came for the art.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Getting into the museum <i>can</i> involve waiting for <i>hours</i> in this crazy line:</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Vatican_Museum_Queue_-_April_2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="80" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Vatican_Museum_Queue_-_April_2007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Click to enlarge - it's mind-bending.</td></tr>
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What we did - and what is a fantastic solution to this problem - is book our entry time in advance. Tour groups are granted scheduled entry times so there are plenty of services out there on the internet that don't include an actual tour, but gather people together for a "tour group" for the scheduled entry time. Once inside, everyone goes their own separate way. It's totally worth the extra few euros per ticket. Also: keep in mind that the entrance to the museums is nowhere near St. Peter's Square. Lots of people end up there, but the entrance is in the center of the <i>North</i> wall of Vatican City.</div>
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The museum is a vast sprawling mess of galleries, statuaries, chapels, and former residences. First, the galleries. Here's what caught my eye:</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKoS5RtjyDuvhJUzRCao9KNGK7pxHLvUhLN20M86Fo9EBgmPTsD_wIOLAKoELcBiUflURuubXHgqApyS9fpIezqiAhTuMVHQTQyw82OFIMqH_VDWXJaYWksGomQKn30sHQ-RrYvSTeqQ/s1600/IMG_3521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKoS5RtjyDuvhJUzRCao9KNGK7pxHLvUhLN20M86Fo9EBgmPTsD_wIOLAKoELcBiUflURuubXHgqApyS9fpIezqiAhTuMVHQTQyw82OFIMqH_VDWXJaYWksGomQKn30sHQ-RrYvSTeqQ/s400/IMG_3521.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Giant tapestry of Da Vinci's last supper! </td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1BJ328EbZ7yFVfswctOrN438NSNqPiwR7Oj6J1xNNTe-SdupVnMEblsrCJdRTBwMcqCDDcLyY0Cj2MREuXZhws7JON15c3L7b865x9vRPD3jsUdhQ9oxVJs3tq4h_7Lh3OTHWJz05aU/s1600/IMG_3523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1BJ328EbZ7yFVfswctOrN438NSNqPiwR7Oj6J1xNNTe-SdupVnMEblsrCJdRTBwMcqCDDcLyY0Cj2MREuXZhws7JON15c3L7b865x9vRPD3jsUdhQ9oxVJs3tq4h_7Lh3OTHWJz05aU/s400/IMG_3523.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfiguration_(Raphael)">Transfiguration</a> by Raphael. Couldn't remember this painting so I looked it up <a href="http://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en">here</a>. The internet is incredible.</td></tr>
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This next one cracks me up. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbcVN0sr0vrf-xCl1KxapQFpWciPtM8w0sO3Wz0SRtOjTCEhPY1j_sBqVltCPN8H74IJm4_SB0A6c4VemBc1MqAAl5tn66jyBgs80T5SvB84H1mYCBlnAkl7pCLePmDP7tFATnZ_cQzI/s1600/IMG_3525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbcVN0sr0vrf-xCl1KxapQFpWciPtM8w0sO3Wz0SRtOjTCEhPY1j_sBqVltCPN8H74IJm4_SB0A6c4VemBc1MqAAl5tn66jyBgs80T5SvB84H1mYCBlnAkl7pCLePmDP7tFATnZ_cQzI/s400/IMG_3525.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
There's a lot going on here. This is an extra piece of tapestry meant to frame a more masterful piece of art with another small piece on the other side of the main tapestry. Here the frame is FAR more interesting than whatever the centerpiece was. Here we've got a picture frame woven into the tapestry itself. That's pretty common, but we <i>also</i> have a muscly man <i>punching through the frame!! </i>And here I thought <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-m6Ua9Iqkg">those Old Spice commercials</a> were so innovative...<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALwSfcQHXCgQ7Te3cQ3xWjWXMzrKo9GgVNmKVcegNitWsfzw258mbLQulFvopunhk1tnLb-LSgAJQtwigjmDI2vB8zuEjZ4R__PzYcAoe4rnxTe4D2ECV6_OYUJ-eeFCJjz_yS020R8A/s1600/IMG_3526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALwSfcQHXCgQ7Te3cQ3xWjWXMzrKo9GgVNmKVcegNitWsfzw258mbLQulFvopunhk1tnLb-LSgAJQtwigjmDI2vB8zuEjZ4R__PzYcAoe4rnxTe4D2ECV6_OYUJ-eeFCJjz_yS020R8A/s400/IMG_3526.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">OLD SPICE BODY SPRAY IS SO POWERFUL IT SELLS ITSELF IN 16TH CENTURY TAPESTRIES!</td></tr>
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I find that in painted scenes in which something astounding is going on - people look like they're overacting. Like They're all turning away in a daytime soap opera or something.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TjUCEIL2_iwBMstYxe_D5RELvfHEp_XJmPCpD0nY-isPl6tkmR-lGrxzvxnSRWFLNDKCuusabIdJfXaLAi8uS00Gctyht1I2IhJVimRLFE1L7sb_1CM5Bv3LXeI0uuGqTMqg9rOhupY/s1600/IMG_3533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TjUCEIL2_iwBMstYxe_D5RELvfHEp_XJmPCpD0nY-isPl6tkmR-lGrxzvxnSRWFLNDKCuusabIdJfXaLAi8uS00Gctyht1I2IhJVimRLFE1L7sb_1CM5Bv3LXeI0uuGqTMqg9rOhupY/s400/IMG_3533.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;"><i>I</i> didn't turn the water into wine... it was... <i>my twin brother<a href="http://dundundun.net/">!</a></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYySmnKfPqO5N5_O4lZVwYxZVf_ZO40kx1Wlt9lm3bugLFzgLV8HK5Sry0IRGhqWxCtfhpRr4Bpr2CoFXkuM8KiwXSYejZWoMzl4nDpUQp2QdMw5UIGdoMtHvk404cxH7U-gTq1LXtBFc/s1600/IMG_3534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYySmnKfPqO5N5_O4lZVwYxZVf_ZO40kx1Wlt9lm3bugLFzgLV8HK5Sry0IRGhqWxCtfhpRr4Bpr2CoFXkuM8KiwXSYejZWoMzl4nDpUQp2QdMw5UIGdoMtHvk404cxH7U-gTq1LXtBFc/s400/IMG_3534.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - Wenzel Peter</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanIKK-cGGKjzqUVKPbLXCVhIxw3t24eDUUUkUVNXPG2iErpm-JAfDh61jbluF7PG0AnEuofBrHRNWsvL9PvmgjFB5iOdjYQbD9fFBqP48tu4l9pqFzWPIQv9xvbKR-_1zFP73uTY3sjw/s1600/IMG_3536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanIKK-cGGKjzqUVKPbLXCVhIxw3t24eDUUUkUVNXPG2iErpm-JAfDh61jbluF7PG0AnEuofBrHRNWsvL9PvmgjFB5iOdjYQbD9fFBqP48tu4l9pqFzWPIQv9xvbKR-_1zFP73uTY3sjw/s400/IMG_3536.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Very Pretty</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9mdFQMJJbQZsa7oaBSsWsF_iFGvYbB0vn0dumL0tcytEP3qjvd1c_r5Ge7muEUFofoXpYBed5w7Uyozmbi05nNBHNBGxpLv7wiLz3tdmVARJMESkZRtGrRgC1F_AgD-9UGCHh7hz1v4/s1600/IMG_3537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9mdFQMJJbQZsa7oaBSsWsF_iFGvYbB0vn0dumL0tcytEP3qjvd1c_r5Ge7muEUFofoXpYBed5w7Uyozmbi05nNBHNBGxpLv7wiLz3tdmVARJMESkZRtGrRgC1F_AgD-9UGCHh7hz1v4/s400/IMG_3537.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">That Wenzel really knew what he was doing...</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The main courtyard in the Vatican Museum contains a version of the "sphere within sphere" statue by Arnaldo Pomodoro. It's said to perhaps represent many different things, but I don't really understand this kind of art. It feels out of place in this pinnacle of classical art.</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTf4Mq12XpkLwmZm-L64mBuLWKoZOOHdf5GfYTZL4cfWlzVcZwgfdfdCMfxbO-cuYX1m-7DWOPL9ggegKlFv5SM991vYw8qlNltMbgLcVdO6AWRAasyrOHcldowrfGTgRStaZGy0HUd_M/s1600/IMG_3541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTf4Mq12XpkLwmZm-L64mBuLWKoZOOHdf5GfYTZL4cfWlzVcZwgfdfdCMfxbO-cuYX1m-7DWOPL9ggegKlFv5SM991vYw8qlNltMbgLcVdO6AWRAasyrOHcldowrfGTgRStaZGy0HUd_M/s400/IMG_3541.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I can take it or leave it. </td></tr>
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Now Romans lounging around in marble, <i>that</i> I can wrap my mind around. Let's get to the part of the museum with stuff like <i>that. </i></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uXJvRcaN5e6anuAfdQ247HgXOfvDwQAIKk0_CcdA4DvOC55pmMW0mQAPrkJZi-3J9fFdc8PNz0ESWWqsuFBpJTRXFtPss1e2hBaJm9rdC3xxjajWKHgtI0OEg4UreMOglh6EwggpoTA/s1600/IMG_3545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uXJvRcaN5e6anuAfdQ247HgXOfvDwQAIKk0_CcdA4DvOC55pmMW0mQAPrkJZi-3J9fFdc8PNz0ESWWqsuFBpJTRXFtPss1e2hBaJm9rdC3xxjajWKHgtI0OEg4UreMOglh6EwggpoTA/s400/IMG_3545.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Yeahhhh.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The sculpture section(s) of the Vatican Museums is an impossibly large collection. Endless hallways lined with every sort of sculpture. If you wanted to read every explanation of every piece of art, you would <i>never </i>get to the Sistine Chapel.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac3qooHnoRgiDHyN0mwuCtSI67tV8rnQebREQNU_612uN6NaXxJB_2vf6xTmWJ0Hg9KPcmddMc32R6QV4cjKHwhLfGHFS2013BqZ7MN_IU_27FJ16r7hFDbhIB6N4ULLb3zs9636rRTw/s1600/IMG_3554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac3qooHnoRgiDHyN0mwuCtSI67tV8rnQebREQNU_612uN6NaXxJB_2vf6xTmWJ0Hg9KPcmddMc32R6QV4cjKHwhLfGHFS2013BqZ7MN_IU_27FJ16r7hFDbhIB6N4ULLb3zs9636rRTw/s400/IMG_3554.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Many many statues</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv72lyF2rq3AbHJCC08vO5PQ3Y5qcsS0g89tTnd2NdWL3uc8j6V11XwnTDFC3pj8Ss0fxGB2fiMmZjjLKxguDbjH6hVsLCOTH7_hTpQhF1466G8Lmc7x7lwYWNMJzfwTUZQk07phpEHA/s1600/IMG_3549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv72lyF2rq3AbHJCC08vO5PQ3Y5qcsS0g89tTnd2NdWL3uc8j6V11XwnTDFC3pj8Ss0fxGB2fiMmZjjLKxguDbjH6hVsLCOTH7_hTpQhF1466G8Lmc7x7lwYWNMJzfwTUZQk07phpEHA/s400/IMG_3549.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Insert <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casting_couch">casting couch</a> joke here.</td></tr>
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For some reason there is an inordinate number of animal statues in the Vatican museums.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5841SziurfG4WYCmkx2NzowKeNZKPVngecps6uMi9rM9dkxHE277DLXOGQO9YNO8BrnUrLlNIcTnxV_ccG6E6j-66k4b-17n1iCNWHOkpUd0bKM4t3bxueu-uTXMCxXA4eZKmLHOfDgc/s1600/IMG_3550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5841SziurfG4WYCmkx2NzowKeNZKPVngecps6uMi9rM9dkxHE277DLXOGQO9YNO8BrnUrLlNIcTnxV_ccG6E6j-66k4b-17n1iCNWHOkpUd0bKM4t3bxueu-uTXMCxXA4eZKmLHOfDgc/s400/IMG_3550.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Pretty sure I wasn't supposed to touch this.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjtQDTMJ5PU-wd2M7xqfZxM6FLy_NgGqvbJafh7WTwXIrFf5j_gnP09jnMITzQiy86VCS7bxjc5NKwfSNqadm4a3gaPtUJE0nKUF9bawF9h7vJ4iJ0iKubAWMlupcjK2zsntZWC5zRyo/s1600/IMG_3551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjtQDTMJ5PU-wd2M7xqfZxM6FLy_NgGqvbJafh7WTwXIrFf5j_gnP09jnMITzQiy86VCS7bxjc5NKwfSNqadm4a3gaPtUJE0nKUF9bawF9h7vJ4iJ0iKubAWMlupcjK2zsntZWC5zRyo/s400/IMG_3551.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Four-legged creatures have to be propped up in the middle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimowxA3-6YkXvEB1Pbz7gicFpZdOV_7tKwIDTz_9cgF_9-G8cQAsupC7mfn6Q-pgywIgSGLr6XIQb6aR1O597idqBtQExYDkXmcSRk0UAZyf6brfvJdyHn1WXglkYdovESub8wjbWuHCY/s1600/IMG_3552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimowxA3-6YkXvEB1Pbz7gicFpZdOV_7tKwIDTz_9cgF_9-G8cQAsupC7mfn6Q-pgywIgSGLr6XIQb6aR1O597idqBtQExYDkXmcSRk0UAZyf6brfvJdyHn1WXglkYdovESub8wjbWuHCY/s400/IMG_3552.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">See?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkEc2F3tdh6KA8iQURPgEbCr2r4oUKPJo_HEc3fBdWiD3A3g8B3tEzlN3uSVIL6G0qNjvZMrykckYnXB73il3sxvchiaEa8xrTntAq1eJXYR9xfbLS2gEyrn6pP9bzlolBBVnwa1o8bc/s1600/IMG_3564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkEc2F3tdh6KA8iQURPgEbCr2r4oUKPJo_HEc3fBdWiD3A3g8B3tEzlN3uSVIL6G0qNjvZMrykckYnXB73il3sxvchiaEa8xrTntAq1eJXYR9xfbLS2gEyrn6pP9bzlolBBVnwa1o8bc/s400/IMG_3564.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">This guy came to Rome in a box set with all the obelisks strewn throughout the city.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
One thing that is striking in here and in most lavish palaces, galleries, churches, etc. across Europe is how used to elaborate decoration you can get within just a couple of days. By this time we had to force ourselves to look at things like this:</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYpFGcX-lZbx5UgjE45Waj5HeG_hXGzDHjCAssRcF88tWMVqrLuQkq8ZF-7vCWLXGQ7QTV_xsiJBIQwLW0-cgX1Fx42O4z4z6aAe7wtnrWnJo7J0DsZFnXIEpLHcu3e1bEceOZ8uQDLk/s1600/IMG_3558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYpFGcX-lZbx5UgjE45Waj5HeG_hXGzDHjCAssRcF88tWMVqrLuQkq8ZF-7vCWLXGQ7QTV_xsiJBIQwLW0-cgX1Fx42O4z4z6aAe7wtnrWnJo7J0DsZFnXIEpLHcu3e1bEceOZ8uQDLk/s400/IMG_3558.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">mini-cupola. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Otherwise, we would've just walked right be it without a second thought.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLn8QZFWiKI">Bless my soul</a>! It's Hercules! Strange that the world's largest monotheistic headquarters should display so many relics from polytheistic religions...<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_h77T3HKYQQ289ek67EdtYOILC32XWMIAOf6Ns55qp5CdWzWTJK7zhqcGQgN59RFZE8T2-ADhfBVNq4MmaF8BGz5u8vzyKSxpKIAZZh5j4QMbsbqaaxWshcoS54o1x4A02m1PF0ovok/s1600/IMG_3561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_h77T3HKYQQ289ek67EdtYOILC32XWMIAOf6Ns55qp5CdWzWTJK7zhqcGQgN59RFZE8T2-ADhfBVNq4MmaF8BGz5u8vzyKSxpKIAZZh5j4QMbsbqaaxWshcoS54o1x4A02m1PF0ovok/s400/IMG_3561.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Zero to Hero! Big bronze Hercules.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ok get ready for the best part. Most tour books would have you believe that the "Map Room" in the vatican museum is just something to pass through like most of the rooms that are not the papal apartments or the Sistine chapel. The books will say basically, "next is the art gallery with many works of art... next is the statuary with so and so famous sculpture... then the map room... then the papal apartments! zomg! the papal apartments are the greatest thing and blah blah blah". </div>
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Not so much as a <i>word </i>of explanation! <span style="background-color: white;">Even <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gallery_of_Maps">the wikipedia page for the map room</a> sells the place short.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> The map room</span><span style="background-color: white;"> is incredible. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UGvrnK8FFjjdL0aVgDp2-QzFmVAiFUcHb1v1eWjaeCBo_hKjN4KSriEoq7Z3FHFdj96KqSelKakmLzsJm6bH5UVsa6oPu10BvvyNUJ6zoBscDIP1PEZLOL_lkOisHv9n9DV-79ipLDo/s1600/IMG_3572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UGvrnK8FFjjdL0aVgDp2-QzFmVAiFUcHb1v1eWjaeCBo_hKjN4KSriEoq7Z3FHFdj96KqSelKakmLzsJm6bH5UVsa6oPu10BvvyNUJ6zoBscDIP1PEZLOL_lkOisHv9n9DV-79ipLDo/s400/IMG_3572.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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The walls are lined with (what else?) maps. Each region of Italy is depicted in all their 1580s glory. The major towns of each region are inlaid in a profile. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jeS1DZz1kFj5lQrAJCT9yM-F2u4G02gAt24IONc_v_vKi_2aIIa_dKhUBS_FwDpks58u9tHJb9uzSNhr8dAtwfMR2eHgNbG3ECSy4hwCYfAF_PtHAWqKY5qLWfkgwT8XbO9l6jutohk/s1600/IMG_3574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jeS1DZz1kFj5lQrAJCT9yM-F2u4G02gAt24IONc_v_vKi_2aIIa_dKhUBS_FwDpks58u9tHJb9uzSNhr8dAtwfMR2eHgNbG3ECSy4hwCYfAF_PtHAWqKY5qLWfkgwT8XbO9l6jutohk/s400/IMG_3574.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">A map.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAXn5QavpTElTHga9jueaqMftJyRF3hPO3dgs9S4Bn-6AOZWeU1jnTJvxexpiWkGCmZNVMkLATGP-OwiuVhYImCvtiZ7Xpaa6j5AuMJXADkG9VTX-u8f0Ueoc9eAu3qwEBO660myDI00/s1600/IMG_3575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAXn5QavpTElTHga9jueaqMftJyRF3hPO3dgs9S4Bn-6AOZWeU1jnTJvxexpiWkGCmZNVMkLATGP-OwiuVhYImCvtiZ7Xpaa6j5AuMJXADkG9VTX-u8f0Ueoc9eAu3qwEBO660myDI00/s400/IMG_3575.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Corsica.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The maps would be incredible enough on their own, but the real incredible thing about the map room - is the ceiling. Every single inch of the ceiling is covered by incredible frescoes and dazzlingly molded frames. </div>
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Take this fresco:<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnLQNV89_2CHAw_WWNqghZHPTpGCDrCiYAWkGSqRVNIyJcqD2j-gIVFzB57K8jkTyB62LA7g4Ce-GcMfgzknxHgTI3HB-nxJGHxGudjqrr7OtXW8ussi2G2goW6CeTZZVpvvA-_1PMOo/s1600/IMG_3587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnLQNV89_2CHAw_WWNqghZHPTpGCDrCiYAWkGSqRVNIyJcqD2j-gIVFzB57K8jkTyB62LA7g4Ce-GcMfgzknxHgTI3HB-nxJGHxGudjqrr7OtXW8ussi2G2goW6CeTZZVpvvA-_1PMOo/s400/IMG_3587.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">It's a nice lady.</td></tr>
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It's a nice fresco. Now let's zoom out a bit.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfS6TnSzM21dc137XHRL73C3wuAMQkstpx5J-3gmuymfOLy79mPhbK2iSqi9gpFGr3Za6z5VyoxbQHSzPt8XECWHcrB7_eZzO_nJp_92rKuxCDL29w4B4t4JjpOj8o3DXR2SIZ_8HtOX0/s1600/IMG_3588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfS6TnSzM21dc137XHRL73C3wuAMQkstpx5J-3gmuymfOLy79mPhbK2iSqi9gpFGr3Za6z5VyoxbQHSzPt8XECWHcrB7_eZzO_nJp_92rKuxCDL29w4B4t4JjpOj8o3DXR2SIZ_8HtOX0/s400/IMG_3588.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Hmm, she seems to be overshadowed by some of the simple moldings around the frame of this fresco.</td></tr>
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Ok now one step further back. BaBAM:<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqmXrkNRtKqZh807jhNOu9hz9mq_etuRIGbECZFB0kJj5ggFqIdbSjMp7OCiLLlWbbRPB8DEW_U369glmcmf2Cs9lkE8S4jC44izRlJtjPV7t2obwGgHlftEtnfap1eWEfPoBMFOfG44/s1600/IMG_3589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqmXrkNRtKqZh807jhNOu9hz9mq_etuRIGbECZFB0kJj5ggFqIdbSjMp7OCiLLlWbbRPB8DEW_U369glmcmf2Cs9lkE8S4jC44izRlJtjPV7t2obwGgHlftEtnfap1eWEfPoBMFOfG44/s400/IMG_3589.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">That fresco was just <i>filler</i>. The <i>real</i> masterpieces are the ones depicting elaborate scenes from the bible, or scenes from mythology! Look at all that stuff going on up there! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv_aYzbf8vD1W6TBy7ImF-X0u78E_84xd2j27GQrCd1njFedINokBG3KoEacmNQgB9NRG4on74zgG3xqfafA-kZgP0Q5h5AN7h5GjFohPFto2bhFDzCFTm_OkdwFf2grFD-Pk0DHDu38/s1600/IMG_3580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv_aYzbf8vD1W6TBy7ImF-X0u78E_84xd2j27GQrCd1njFedINokBG3KoEacmNQgB9NRG4on74zgG3xqfafA-kZgP0Q5h5AN7h5GjFohPFto2bhFDzCFTm_OkdwFf2grFD-Pk0DHDu38/s400/IMG_3580.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">wow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCgmOtUjoI8wAVxY_-IJfbhnFGXptUnQ9vLJuHUM9ohN8ApMufUGLZ2KkpWYYF0aIy3xan5MGlo9vEcYx84usAUBzh_De-QW596HZFKxTizfTl9LjKh3fs4g0rKsYfdEXZb8oDuBBJFI/s1600/IMG_3600.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCgmOtUjoI8wAVxY_-IJfbhnFGXptUnQ9vLJuHUM9ohN8ApMufUGLZ2KkpWYYF0aIy3xan5MGlo9vEcYx84usAUBzh_De-QW596HZFKxTizfTl9LjKh3fs4g0rKsYfdEXZb8oDuBBJFI/s400/IMG_3600.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdav7yLhBu3M175Pc7IS8S10iESCnC8P4UUBuI0RP9Un9Ar_DIfvY0rfKk8w3h1y9blsOxWE5kEknZWhs5YvAwXKT1v-fV_ZvWkbeWX_O00O5ONDSVU7SPF-KBD1n6Gyq72dico3gwaM/s1600/IMG_3602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdav7yLhBu3M175Pc7IS8S10iESCnC8P4UUBuI0RP9Un9Ar_DIfvY0rfKk8w3h1y9blsOxWE5kEknZWhs5YvAwXKT1v-fV_ZvWkbeWX_O00O5ONDSVU7SPF-KBD1n6Gyq72dico3gwaM/s400/IMG_3602.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Best room in the Vatican.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwB19CiTMCrM0Iwc81XJa6ePJamYDQTZSfzGc8UXbgHFcyBZf02kyrabcfPzficNdunFw22U9jCbrmviHDtkyKNOPl1_-Bgk2hplg_aCFD7UYN8s4VxiaDLGWonXaQIkJOb8nruKvCBk/s1600/IMG_3605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwB19CiTMCrM0Iwc81XJa6ePJamYDQTZSfzGc8UXbgHFcyBZf02kyrabcfPzficNdunFw22U9jCbrmviHDtkyKNOPl1_-Bgk2hplg_aCFD7UYN8s4VxiaDLGWonXaQIkJOb8nruKvCBk/s400/IMG_3605.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Old school Italy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiosJGnusViMKYpB0jjbt-ghvzS438UOLQLu7irZyHA55vPpR-x_JKlzQrki7f097yFD8htKvRYhKyIa0dxfNN0k6Fu3ZIn3USnyPOajN52gyRQbNAUregfbdbjjKOUvj2BzAl_BSGS0/s1600/IMG_3606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiosJGnusViMKYpB0jjbt-ghvzS438UOLQLu7irZyHA55vPpR-x_JKlzQrki7f097yFD8htKvRYhKyIa0dxfNN0k6Fu3ZIn3USnyPOajN52gyRQbNAUregfbdbjjKOUvj2BzAl_BSGS0/s400/IMG_3606.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Modern Italy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Hopefully now people will take the map room more seriously. Wish we could've stayed there the rest of the trip, but the rest of Italy beckoned. Next came the papal apartments. One would think the walls couldn't be any <i>more</i> covered with art, but one would be wrong until they reached this point in the tour.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeSCmq9OUYTvsmFPizbK4r5ReHbpoid5NbdZiQIFytHPYnty6JcrSjvQz6l52BN4dvbJoWLYgJcXgaYUgnjqymJnANsR5Frye1JBKit9teItkWE_Jo016iGFIDEV-5xdFrFzYDdVzHZA/s1600/IMG_3609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeSCmq9OUYTvsmFPizbK4r5ReHbpoid5NbdZiQIFytHPYnty6JcrSjvQz6l52BN4dvbJoWLYgJcXgaYUgnjqymJnANsR5Frye1JBKit9teItkWE_Jo016iGFIDEV-5xdFrFzYDdVzHZA/s400/IMG_3609.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Has all the tell-tale signs of a last supper, this does.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y1VIXWE_M86hUZGaT21nXuMA_R109EuFHJ_InQzqpP2KF9uA6IdsWrBMaKMWWL7jR_H9pB2RJdhvUNUphtisrLL8jpZR7kh43F-XffgWhIBbz2GFbtpEtRbyOt8xj0hOT7TayDU0bYo/s1600/IMG_3610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y1VIXWE_M86hUZGaT21nXuMA_R109EuFHJ_InQzqpP2KF9uA6IdsWrBMaKMWWL7jR_H9pB2RJdhvUNUphtisrLL8jpZR7kh43F-XffgWhIBbz2GFbtpEtRbyOt8xj0hOT7TayDU0bYo/s400/IMG_3610.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Coronation of some Pope or other.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCW1ObcPEvOl_NKOuXjphO_LN81_gmix6WSUk9kpO-Qo7NQeQy55RrYz7pceB4yG7G7s0o_IZZ8hw-TeOyLX49qDsp9b3UQUCLbpVXaD8wPZsVeUQPNribL63FhnnIQt0elKTbCkiAbQ/s1600/IMG_3611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCW1ObcPEvOl_NKOuXjphO_LN81_gmix6WSUk9kpO-Qo7NQeQy55RrYz7pceB4yG7G7s0o_IZZ8hw-TeOyLX49qDsp9b3UQUCLbpVXaD8wPZsVeUQPNribL63FhnnIQt0elKTbCkiAbQ/s400/IMG_3611.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I'm a very good tour guide.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOv_AsbABBTPgaWo8UYaRE6BLnjt54meu6JwY-3MUDbrUT9JHpdz2VuUqZ7xNG-lKOZdgY50IZV5vvr2_zHJo9DzOniSyLOywM7RpYzO3H_bLEx1oUZlf4lEfowE88Hyq1iZxgkT6VzMg/s1600/IMG_3615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOv_AsbABBTPgaWo8UYaRE6BLnjt54meu6JwY-3MUDbrUT9JHpdz2VuUqZ7xNG-lKOZdgY50IZV5vvr2_zHJo9DzOniSyLOywM7RpYzO3H_bLEx1oUZlf4lEfowE88Hyq1iZxgkT6VzMg/s400/IMG_3615.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Of course we <i>have</i> to take a picture of the Hebrew in the painting. It says the first words of the bible: "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_1:1">In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth</a>"</td></tr>
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Then there's the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_School_of_Athens">School of Athens</a>! By Raphael!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHDebWH7ViW-E41w0gt8CfcFcZpblOmIxxsRQPoYzzuhkfZHPLKRht7jnoxMabbq1RnLKcn6640ZLnJ-xXvIZcJvo4FN1_Jn_Knfj2QYsl-BLIFiUxDsmPMYHmCItpKlRE91V31sbQt0/s1600/IMG_3617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHDebWH7ViW-E41w0gt8CfcFcZpblOmIxxsRQPoYzzuhkfZHPLKRht7jnoxMabbq1RnLKcn6640ZLnJ-xXvIZcJvo4FN1_Jn_Knfj2QYsl-BLIFiUxDsmPMYHmCItpKlRE91V31sbQt0/s400/IMG_3617.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Picture doesn't really do it justice. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Raphael's masterpiece. It shows all the great thinkers of the classical era, many of them are painted with the likeness of contemporaries of Raphael. Lenodardo Da Vinci is center stage as Plato instructing his student, Aristotle. That guy thinking at the table is supposed to be Michelangelo as Herclitus. The list goes on and on.<br />
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Finally, we came to the Sistine Chapel.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHt6mdhfy15gYm0zVRWm5Nbnl50OMSREbMrPZepaiGBRX5mT7MjNjZTuIx6yut6yJy86DeOffNiyrnm6pcgJFH9j9pncrphk56d1rTONjmVwtwK3chYXI8e8ETerZoqWykPCupN8CyVo/s1600/IMG_3618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHt6mdhfy15gYm0zVRWm5Nbnl50OMSREbMrPZepaiGBRX5mT7MjNjZTuIx6yut6yJy86DeOffNiyrnm6pcgJFH9j9pncrphk56d1rTONjmVwtwK3chYXI8e8ETerZoqWykPCupN8CyVo/s400/IMG_3618.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">The ceiling - not really supposed to take pictures here...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistine_Chapel#Southern_wall">Sistine chapel</a> is the private worship space for the pope. It's also used for official functions of the Vatican like the conclave ceremony when the college of cardinals selects a new pope. Because it <i>is</i> in use for private services, the opening hours can vary. This can be very frustrating for the tourist who has traveled thousands of miles to see this little room - and then it's closed. We were lucky.</div>
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Most people are struck by how small the Sistine chapel feels. The ceiling, as most people know, is covered with the beginning of Genesis. In chronological order, god, as depicted in a flowing pink nightgown, creates light, sun, moon, stars, man etc. Then there are a few scenes depicting the story of Adam and Eve up until Noah and the flood. People are usually <i>also </i>aware of the last judgement fresco covering all of the wall behind the altar. Jesus surrounded by many saints sort people into heaven or hell as in the Christian belief in the "end of days". It's a very nice painting. If you look closely at the guy holding what appears to be a deflated human (it's supposed to be Saint Bartholomew holding his flayed skin) - the face of the deflated human is supposedly a self portrait of sorts of the artist Michelangelo, who also painted the ceiling.</div>
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What most people <i>don't</i> know is that the frescoes on the side walls depicting scenes from the lives of Jesus and Moses can be just as incredible as the ceiling and Last Judgement. <span style="background-color: white;">These frescoes were by a combination of artists, and they are my favorite part of the room.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> If you know your bible, you can easily figure out what scenes are being depicted - just keep in mind who is who. Jesus is always wearing either purple and red or blue and red. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://d1shzm2uca9f83.cloudfront.net/large/perugino_sleutels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://d1shzm2uca9f83.cloudfront.net/large/perugino_sleutels.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Here he is giving the keys to the Church to his main man, Peter.</td></tr>
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And Moses is always wearing green and yellow.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YruqPESi1hBg5vMdFy09zD8a31th7_ZTPTFu5EHJrtsf_9yK3w-9NItbQEIBN_lXj-1SI2YYKF2-WX-mdhjLGlnBUpFJvyjzJow9ugVs9UpgmWNhDBGoASmiKIHt1_qvEiN9oZDuD5o/s1600/botticelli_scenes_mozes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YruqPESi1hBg5vMdFy09zD8a31th7_ZTPTFu5EHJrtsf_9yK3w-9NItbQEIBN_lXj-1SI2YYKF2-WX-mdhjLGlnBUpFJvyjzJow9ugVs9UpgmWNhDBGoASmiKIHt1_qvEiN9oZDuD5o/s400/botticelli_scenes_mozes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Here he is striking an Egyptian guard, running away from Egypt, driving away bandits for harassing Jethro's daughters, watering Jethro's daughters' flock, taking off his shoes, and meeting God as a burning bush (in this case it's just God peeking out from a bush for some reason), and then Moses leading the people. That guy got around! </td></tr>
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You could really spend <i>days </i>in the Vatican museums, but not if you want to see the rest of Italy when you're on a tight schedule - so around lunchtime, it was time to go. But not before taking a picture of this awesome spiral staircase near the exit:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzTfIPABsM_8Vu-ozSF7B9icZ-wWMi3p3iR7qZlXVGmGhLX1GdtJvsZ3qUJZTGSn42Czd1NbwkayFKKZ0t99wC5eRh9gapQ14DPfj7-u7BMx-67gudAqPn7J7RQFEm6srI8MchWUZDac/s1600/IMG_3624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzTfIPABsM_8Vu-ozSF7B9icZ-wWMi3p3iR7qZlXVGmGhLX1GdtJvsZ3qUJZTGSn42Czd1NbwkayFKKZ0t99wC5eRh9gapQ14DPfj7-u7BMx-67gudAqPn7J7RQFEm6srI8MchWUZDac/s400/IMG_3624.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We were even falling a little bit <i>behind</i> schedule, so we took a taxi from the museum's exit (North end of Vatican City), to St. Peter's square (East end of Vatican City). </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgU1ttEr8R1lc0uJvSDrgUIko_B1XeAgqmoZXi1evZ69k3hLBrsB94-Haza4s8qZLUzgfHuanXuDQa5v-3HsEPE1lbg_ynRCqzwWwzUKKapsWGT_emEmPV0lqRBl-xGo4tauwjwqDwavA/s1600/IMG_3644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgU1ttEr8R1lc0uJvSDrgUIko_B1XeAgqmoZXi1evZ69k3hLBrsB94-Haza4s8qZLUzgfHuanXuDQa5v-3HsEPE1lbg_ynRCqzwWwzUKKapsWGT_emEmPV0lqRBl-xGo4tauwjwqDwavA/s400/IMG_3644.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Here we are!</td></tr>
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I've already somewhat described <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter's_Basilica">St. Peter's Basilica</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter's_Square">Square </a>in <a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2012/07/italy-trip-prologue-rome-marathon.html">this post</a>, so this will be brief. Hey look at that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Guard">Swiss Guard</a>!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfmgVMECfCdTtBWkjubsuq4tEssSP6XrfxmgQR4k0dsWWCFHfgObb03dEA8hgl7Wu5-Z3XqBfin6ufe1tXPhw5GCNoknRE6m2TgRomcg46vWACHFdyCxF1IRrIPWjJOqGA3x3RboLxPI/s1600/IMG_3626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfmgVMECfCdTtBWkjubsuq4tEssSP6XrfxmgQR4k0dsWWCFHfgObb03dEA8hgl7Wu5-Z3XqBfin6ufe1tXPhw5GCNoknRE6m2TgRomcg46vWACHFdyCxF1IRrIPWjJOqGA3x3RboLxPI/s400/IMG_3626.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I feel like they should probably switch to guns by now.</td></tr>
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So we went through security at the North end of the square, went into the basilica, saw the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet%C3%A0_(Michelangelo)">Pieta</a> on the right:</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWtZpJMm9p5ubpyKdPA-nDioQmzHhwUlTO6FbxmV7kSPOWczTU9HWZU8a1smZSiNAxPM0wG6qFKXCPUBMbs3qK-YGSN8_1lFkvU0KIRx_UJTmbxb6yt6LUUnJhROBOwdkfUb72ysrCe0/s1600/IMG_3632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWtZpJMm9p5ubpyKdPA-nDioQmzHhwUlTO6FbxmV7kSPOWczTU9HWZU8a1smZSiNAxPM0wG6qFKXCPUBMbs3qK-YGSN8_1lFkvU0KIRx_UJTmbxb6yt6LUUnJhROBOwdkfUb72ysrCe0/s400/IMG_3632.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">The most impressive part about Michelangelo is the sculpted cloth. Check that out!</td></tr>
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Wowww! St. Peter's! It's incredible! <span style="background-color: white;">St. Peter's is built over the tomb of St. Peter. Big surprise there... He was the first pope.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Hey! There he is!</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9kfYWPLS6GH-KoPJ0iPitUCSreHMlit8-vdrMlboxKS6ATqb2Nxgs74IfIQKYGsGvMh3ig9zYfvldqWCiDnswVLX3v_Wv4s3h5bpusR3iH73aqXTSCC-WhtBdUp03paOMrY1owt-Hps/s1600/IMG_3634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9kfYWPLS6GH-KoPJ0iPitUCSreHMlit8-vdrMlboxKS6ATqb2Nxgs74IfIQKYGsGvMh3ig9zYfvldqWCiDnswVLX3v_Wv4s3h5bpusR3iH73aqXTSCC-WhtBdUp03paOMrY1owt-Hps/s400/IMG_3634.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">His <a href="http://saintpetersbasilica.org/Statues/StPeter/StPeter.htm">foot</a> is basically completely worn away from pilgrims touching it and kissing it for many centuries.</td></tr>
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That was the Vatican. Just as enjoyable the second time around as the first.<br />
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I'm sure that plenty of people claim to have had the best pizza in Rome/the world. But THIS! This really is the greatest pizza in Rome/the world. Or at least conceivably it is. I can't imagine a world in which this pizza could be surpassed so it must be unsurpassed. Alice Pizza. Is a little <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_al_taglio">a taglio</a> (by the slice) place just a couple of blocks north of St. Peter's Square. It's not searchable in Google Maps, so here are some directions: Exit St. Peter's Square to the north and follow Via Di Porta Angelica for a couple of blocks. Turn right on Via Delle Grazie, and immediately on your right on that street you'll find Alice Pizza. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZjUBlInhzWb8hC21JAOUHyIxfZdebF4fekoYjkfOpVFQ8GuF5GExsHTpmob4RnKH_-Ffq7vPXTCMFMW1praXOHoUUt293xFkiLPPc2zjMER1qpY-76VfVHN4XXlDQXr80oxLzrN-Mfs/s1600/DSCF4143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZjUBlInhzWb8hC21JAOUHyIxfZdebF4fekoYjkfOpVFQ8GuF5GExsHTpmob4RnKH_-Ffq7vPXTCMFMW1praXOHoUUt293xFkiLPPc2zjMER1qpY-76VfVHN4XXlDQXr80oxLzrN-Mfs/s400/DSCF4143.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">There it is!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUBY1Mk06dJtDt1rUZPSKoOhe2WdM-qU7JYI01Ln3bJVjJf4u6dHTSsAw3-caASvBJb3VVpmMtbsZUI51gbHC_GHgHHIKm2p9SphQ-RJgyDQUJWldr1ETyGcF0nEBKpHaOSMObjvw28M/s1600/IMG_3645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUBY1Mk06dJtDt1rUZPSKoOhe2WdM-qU7JYI01Ln3bJVjJf4u6dHTSsAw3-caASvBJb3VVpmMtbsZUI51gbHC_GHgHHIKm2p9SphQ-RJgyDQUJWldr1ETyGcF0nEBKpHaOSMObjvw28M/s400/IMG_3645.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Alice Pizza is the perfect Italian pizza. It's flaky, and crispy, and the toppings! Ohhh man, the toppings. The different selection of toppings is always changing.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/61/80/aa/grat-selection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/61/80/aa/grat-selection.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll have one of each, please. </td></tr>
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There is no place to sit really at Alice Pizza. Instead, there's a stack of little wicker seats to put on the front steps of the place so you can have somewhere to sit and eat. The only problem is, the seats can become so filled with diners, that the pizza place is hard to get to. Pizza a taglio is the Italian street food - meaning it's cheap, fast, and delicious.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYg1hS3nOdRBObenI_FA0i6T91QOfI5JZooh-pcHMN6c2jp_mVt8MPqASmRGXD-eGxBqs-vAd0SRZiM2QSL-flqI9c7rEe4L6PdS-1oBIgsawRfEcQAbpbDZ3kW6cHiTogeQAKvLCStw/s1600/DSCF4144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYg1hS3nOdRBObenI_FA0i6T91QOfI5JZooh-pcHMN6c2jp_mVt8MPqASmRGXD-eGxBqs-vAd0SRZiM2QSL-flqI9c7rEe4L6PdS-1oBIgsawRfEcQAbpbDZ3kW6cHiTogeQAKvLCStw/s400/DSCF4144.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best pizza on earth.</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, our very tight schedule didn't allow us to go inside the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castel_Sant'Angelo">Castel Sant'Angelo</a>, down the street from the Vatican, but we <i>did</i> get to walk by it and across the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Sant'Angelo">Ponte Sant'Angelo</a> (castle and bridge of angels respectively - both of them have a lot of angel imagery hence their inclusion in "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrB4Wop7rTIskI09te0HgeMQ1o6m6_6cCBDRy64KcC4akA9wSjn43FnBkWbqk5RPmVIiLf8EhPQQidyw-svNSMzSGF2JAI0lahmaLJ3yCK3QG3ZJ059RPZB4s4L-JMFLc7SBHZz3Nk_o/s1600/IMG_3658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrB4Wop7rTIskI09te0HgeMQ1o6m6_6cCBDRy64KcC4akA9wSjn43FnBkWbqk5RPmVIiLf8EhPQQidyw-svNSMzSGF2JAI0lahmaLJ3yCK3QG3ZJ059RPZB4s4L-JMFLc7SBHZz3Nk_o/s400/IMG_3658.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Castel, from across the Ponte.</td></tr>
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From there, we caught a taxi to take us to the last thing on the agenda for the day: the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galleria_Borghese">Galleria Borghese</a>. Tickets to enter this famous gallery of artwork located within the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Borghese_gardens">Villa Borghese Gardens</a> cost <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">€12.50 each, and have timed entrances. Your ticket is <i>only good for a two hour period.</i> Also: I heard when I was picking up our tickets at will-call, that they were sold out for most of the next week - so ordering online is a good way to go. <a href="http://www.ticketeria.it/ticketeria/borghese-regolamento-eng.asp#">Here is the website to order tickets in advance</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 15.555556297302246px;">Pictures aren't allowed in the gallery. So here are a few I stole from the internet:</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://madamuseo.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/p5250245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://madamuseo.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/p5250245.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/1x5751991/Galleria_Borghese_museumstatue_of_dancing_SM-714343-BSP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/1x5751991/Galleria_Borghese_museumstatue_of_dancing_SM-714343-BSP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 15.555556297302246px;">The place <i>is</i> very beautiful, but after wandering the Vatican for the first 5/6ths of the day, some of the wonderment was lost on us, but it's hard squeezing all the good parts of Rome out of just three days. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 15.555556297302246px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 15.555556297302246px;">We ate dinner at a little ristorante near the hotel on Via Palaestro. Here's what tired looks like:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8rgqn0PMh2Y5nozgIwu8lTcc8G50mn3reC6BadU5nVtAPsss-IrhTBaq-78gHZs6veOPfG0PGKuy0S0-bhgf1mpGMw_lQ83uWwzYctr-GMjB4EHiycnPI8rgJEAa1uUu-aljUFpcHJ4/s1600/IMG_3661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8rgqn0PMh2Y5nozgIwu8lTcc8G50mn3reC6BadU5nVtAPsss-IrhTBaq-78gHZs6veOPfG0PGKuy0S0-bhgf1mpGMw_lQ83uWwzYctr-GMjB4EHiycnPI8rgJEAa1uUu-aljUFpcHJ4/s400/IMG_3661.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-72265975885894181772012-07-06T01:04:00.001+04:302012-07-06T01:04:11.295+04:30Italy Day 2: Pantheon, Public Squares, Fountains, Time Elevator, and Opera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Day two was all about the public squares, fountains, and lesser churches of Rome. We started by taking a taxi to the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_della_Rotonda" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Piazza della Rotonda</a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The piazza houses one of the many</span><i style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> many</i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_obelisks_in_Rome" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">obelisks in Rome</a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">, so like any tourists, we took advantage of the precious landmarks. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJUMlVCwZqi7Bq9bpOllQDwwkhUImdAb0m1BLyQND1av8yE2fxc0fFNL6cHbZp-NGho1_LPfuHEUZprFBKxwmeCBpGpQ7KimvqgOeyOA2mZ5HKoHofo2W7LG2rTbkErIbPnQrC2gKiRc/s1600/IMG_3390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJUMlVCwZqi7Bq9bpOllQDwwkhUImdAb0m1BLyQND1av8yE2fxc0fFNL6cHbZp-NGho1_LPfuHEUZprFBKxwmeCBpGpQ7KimvqgOeyOA2mZ5HKoHofo2W7LG2rTbkErIbPnQrC2gKiRc/s400/IMG_3390.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? It looks like she's <i>eating</i> the obelisk! Classic!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The "Rotonda" in the title of the piazza refers to the Pantheon, because this piazza is right next to the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome" style="background-color: white;">Pantheon</a><span style="background-color: white;">! </span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnYeT7o3tfgHydWqmAqqlj10sbz12L9peGPupRPUE47nGMGLom1NUUIWy1bKCFF3BteD5iblH2gfcPwhEnwXU6r5g7sXTikiKG3uvys1l276q82RERjZzR88f2aGcXfM5lik8pZs5G3U/s1600/IMG_3439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnYeT7o3tfgHydWqmAqqlj10sbz12L9peGPupRPUE47nGMGLom1NUUIWy1bKCFF3BteD5iblH2gfcPwhEnwXU6r5g7sXTikiKG3uvys1l276q82RERjZzR88f2aGcXfM5lik8pZs5G3U/s400/IMG_3439.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Italy!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">So the Pantheon is the largest un-reinforced concrete dome in the world. ALSO - it's nearly 1900 years old. It's really very impressive. It was originally a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome, which begs the question: why is it named in Greek? Pan=all theon=gods but in GREEK! If they had wanted to name it in Latin as they should have, they would've called it Omnestheos. Oh well... In the end it became a church like all the rest of the impressive buildings throughout Rome. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlubtcZj64ltUEHONR28oHi2Pwbmsj9oYyFKGtFqCM6LnbDQjgvoET-wRTLdUhTPIYKvjKKeJMJyJs9-nbaPljNtjaOLwxqpLciolIdYEu1SvHf7FxUGjBlXz1k_AVBc6Gdptn4IllHA/s1600/IMG_3393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlubtcZj64ltUEHONR28oHi2Pwbmsj9oYyFKGtFqCM6LnbDQjgvoET-wRTLdUhTPIYKvjKKeJMJyJs9-nbaPljNtjaOLwxqpLciolIdYEu1SvHf7FxUGjBlXz1k_AVBc6Gdptn4IllHA/s400/IMG_3393.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6y_GONX1C0dgZ85F1n8dY3O93wlFWxvBKGOw1abfM90JuD_cWJP-jlzeNH0z5zFUU8F5NhX7G9RO_eE_wyxyD3Vye3ruIbxYkq0Q-eIlAgiAM7UZugp8k8zyb-0xWSBDVj4vLj__oT4/s1600/IMG_3403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6y_GONX1C0dgZ85F1n8dY3O93wlFWxvBKGOw1abfM90JuD_cWJP-jlzeNH0z5zFUU8F5NhX7G9RO_eE_wyxyD3Vye3ruIbxYkq0Q-eIlAgiAM7UZugp8k8zyb-0xWSBDVj4vLj__oT4/s400/IMG_3403.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">very large.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Z7HkXch5SfPYltYeCC_tAfDo1LMfNpwMCDaUzwrp7RPRIx6m_Z_dBMqIpma8T_UY8delNpV_hGvb-p4urO6v76ZeeyS4xCMAz-FgQoVsr_P6IUDDj3xuG30MwvamGyNP-zKKt2em6jU/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Z7HkXch5SfPYltYeCC_tAfDo1LMfNpwMCDaUzwrp7RPRIx6m_Z_dBMqIpma8T_UY8delNpV_hGvb-p4urO6v76ZeeyS4xCMAz-FgQoVsr_P6IUDDj3xuG30MwvamGyNP-zKKt2em6jU/s400/IMG_3404.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a good time. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0DVFDmk4Lp0PDoDNrkk-1ZO1SNfSEIO1cwqTS74m-7Q8Jx2JdeeMAe2GrUcsTmt719zcFfCXlJhPEn2bDbz4FYpZStMk7B4ofBFFP5f8BRC-wRdfyl927WBHifyTfFjevub5nrLo7Ig/s1600/IMG_3405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0DVFDmk4Lp0PDoDNrkk-1ZO1SNfSEIO1cwqTS74m-7Q8Jx2JdeeMAe2GrUcsTmt719zcFfCXlJhPEn2bDbz4FYpZStMk7B4ofBFFP5f8BRC-wRdfyl927WBHifyTfFjevub5nrLo7Ig/s400/IMG_3405.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oculus at the top of the dome provides light to the interior - and rain, and snow...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfB6LqoWdU8Ofa1rFWuCPxKxatLPnVK_V7JyUMiY71AtUwNlc6hmap-MViPCF5z-RMBIAFFkkF0tQngHPQjr9T6q1Kgakyv7ZIpElrFzGJx_H8MtcwESH8VchThqCo7smPz6oMXG5xbK4/s1600/IMG_3407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfB6LqoWdU8Ofa1rFWuCPxKxatLPnVK_V7JyUMiY71AtUwNlc6hmap-MViPCF5z-RMBIAFFkkF0tQngHPQjr9T6q1Kgakyv7ZIpElrFzGJx_H8MtcwESH8VchThqCo7smPz6oMXG5xbK4/s400/IMG_3407.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! Pantheon!</td></tr>
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From the Pantheon we walked to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_Navona">Piazza Navona</a> which is an oblong shaped piazza. The shape comes from the shape of the stadium that once stood there - but not a stadium like the Coliseum, more like a stadium like the one in Ben Hur when they do the horse races - more of a racing stadium... like this:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pwi3xROzpSE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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On the way there we found a little alcove that <i>clearly</i> was meant for a statue - but was missing the statue, so we decided to have a little fun.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSumJU572KC6l3VpQkL1AUmM-6mT9ZR6ELDanxJXEV9sreGUMV-T7JrUxYYQ0IhR0jHN6VVd8ksN0yw7_Od8s47hc9_nWhyphenhyphenSrg4RPEl4sGE8FmkuUgcG0_Uow21haNSPTA2mdKgH1N0E/s1600/IMG_3420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSumJU572KC6l3VpQkL1AUmM-6mT9ZR6ELDanxJXEV9sreGUMV-T7JrUxYYQ0IhR0jHN6VVd8ksN0yw7_Od8s47hc9_nWhyphenhyphenSrg4RPEl4sGE8FmkuUgcG0_Uow21haNSPTA2mdKgH1N0E/s400/IMG_3420.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends, Romans, countrymen, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBVNRkE07s4">lend me your ears</a>!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk8FW4K6NrvGn0JNcRBvDLFsgKJ9GltjtoD82hyQdLFYZ51qmkJC9AiH80M9Jbe2v0O00RcYVsmEnk0HQtqI-LAhPcqBD1kpuzl5QzEp9ZY5F1ncmGWzyGcoNJgBrT-YDha7ZH1pv1Ro/s1600/IMG_3422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk8FW4K6NrvGn0JNcRBvDLFsgKJ9GltjtoD82hyQdLFYZ51qmkJC9AiH80M9Jbe2v0O00RcYVsmEnk0HQtqI-LAhPcqBD1kpuzl5QzEp9ZY5F1ncmGWzyGcoNJgBrT-YDha7ZH1pv1Ro/s400/IMG_3422.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Italian woman walked by and laughed at us - not <i>at </i>us but <i>with</i> us...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kv6OOZ3R1lf6anLDQOXo9NELp6z7XgpwMpTiPgjd8k93JF258RVXxYykEHr0yVlsvNizJZ1iFzhbYE1cxbcPgWTbftz_m-Tx_q-iC49WH_UZVpmuz9QJsbBl7IYuYbDUlQX2dGrMh2g/s1600/IMG_3423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kv6OOZ3R1lf6anLDQOXo9NELp6z7XgpwMpTiPgjd8k93JF258RVXxYykEHr0yVlsvNizJZ1iFzhbYE1cxbcPgWTbftz_m-Tx_q-iC49WH_UZVpmuz9QJsbBl7IYuYbDUlQX2dGrMh2g/s400/IMG_3423.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean... wouldn't you laugh at us?</td></tr>
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The Piazza Navona is full of two things: street artists, and fountains. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ql7Pb-pzCMN4RkjGxptceTE45Y0w7STD90mhhagOpjBHsbBleiID1HrgFg_jxltkDtTOaRzbpY96t-trtVyCsuzSzZrGTtL8J0ZdAjLkHQ107-UjvQ9PADLDhQhDLOoYGcL_EeHGgnw/s1600/IMG_3427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ql7Pb-pzCMN4RkjGxptceTE45Y0w7STD90mhhagOpjBHsbBleiID1HrgFg_jxltkDtTOaRzbpY96t-trtVyCsuzSzZrGTtL8J0ZdAjLkHQ107-UjvQ9PADLDhQhDLOoYGcL_EeHGgnw/s400/IMG_3427.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkwtrgjDysme-CRw6k79JETwMXneyoMJOaJJJSxAm4VGEm2_7_6HdNbtaOhgY4cuZS0oLQj5pqbf54X0CmCVMw4sY-Ar_ZsUEtO1kpFrMb9mqGR087w7vFvguVpl2JspIkl8FidYZyn0/s1600/IMG_3428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkwtrgjDysme-CRw6k79JETwMXneyoMJOaJJJSxAm4VGEm2_7_6HdNbtaOhgY4cuZS0oLQj5pqbf54X0CmCVMw4sY-Ar_ZsUEtO1kpFrMb9mqGR087w7vFvguVpl2JspIkl8FidYZyn0/s400/IMG_3428.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street artists doing their thing.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWd2ObQV83kuPXz4R8fVT5JpKn1ZswIfnNN8xUqS523YLhhNXJyRl7qOWe6XcgksK061pKNq0cSzPKh0UOYqYiRx35C7P_v6nIGi9OuuMA1rZGbAHYTsYs5ARHlfQmORb3gS8Kix7XGik/s1600/IMG_3429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWd2ObQV83kuPXz4R8fVT5JpKn1ZswIfnNN8xUqS523YLhhNXJyRl7qOWe6XcgksK061pKNq0cSzPKh0UOYqYiRx35C7P_v6nIGi9OuuMA1rZGbAHYTsYs5ARHlfQmORb3gS8Kix7XGik/s400/IMG_3429.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgx_D2ucK4Qel2NgX1-yRnsmrAAQnJCwlEhXJA4zf9QmszhD4gOUt0Dzu2nah15GvBqRstZpT_Zh-z6K_5LLaEg0yU7QgEiZJjCI2acPEZTNzOvybQUMqOroQiTdIQJAq3_q10cLAeRc/s1600/IMG_3430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgx_D2ucK4Qel2NgX1-yRnsmrAAQnJCwlEhXJA4zf9QmszhD4gOUt0Dzu2nah15GvBqRstZpT_Zh-z6K_5LLaEg0yU7QgEiZJjCI2acPEZTNzOvybQUMqOroQiTdIQJAq3_q10cLAeRc/s400/IMG_3430.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fountains doing <i>their</i> thing... pretty much nothing.</td></tr>
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The centerpiece and largest fountain in the Piazza Navona is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_of_the_Four_Rivers">Fountain of the Four Rivers</a>. Designed by Bernini, it depicts four rivers from across the "four continents" - Renaissance Italy was not so good at counting I guess... The Danube, Nile, Ganges, and the Rio De La Plata. The sculpture supports another of the many <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_obelisks_in_Rome">obelisks of Rome</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3SNYLqJL2k7CHAZPeJpoRpvpr6-NLykohck0BIzqCYj02k7HLfwPpRLOuoJmRINpKvO3K_Kb8ZJVBhe4ywlXvX-weJJv8QXqpOZ4XHvGXrcXIJZczoSa62kWccKPxyWCuzFYNv7ssS4/s1600/IMG_3435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3SNYLqJL2k7CHAZPeJpoRpvpr6-NLykohck0BIzqCYj02k7HLfwPpRLOuoJmRINpKvO3K_Kb8ZJVBhe4ywlXvX-weJJv8QXqpOZ4XHvGXrcXIJZczoSa62kWccKPxyWCuzFYNv7ssS4/s400/IMG_3435.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one represents the Danube - pretty European...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Rp88T4jEVpcC5DsEyYk6QmcBYWPkiIWlFbhJ_2a1XhNv1NGZrWOvg6KVLG7n3P0k4XXiHswh9qj_-BJoEPsrWWSK6JcLfjFh7IBrblI8k50htQiaXw1DUy_Ytp5ZxCeudwA_e0PnKxE/s1600/IMG_3436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Rp88T4jEVpcC5DsEyYk6QmcBYWPkiIWlFbhJ_2a1XhNv1NGZrWOvg6KVLG7n3P0k4XXiHswh9qj_-BJoEPsrWWSK6JcLfjFh7IBrblI8k50htQiaXw1DUy_Ytp5ZxCeudwA_e0PnKxE/s400/IMG_3436.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is the Ganges - pretty much a white guy with a turban... though not quite so racially insensitive as the Nile's depiction...</td></tr>
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Legend has it that Bernini purposefully sculpted the Rio De La Plata as a figure reeling in terror of the adjacent church falling on him. You see the church, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant%27Agnese_in_Agone">Sant Agnese in Agone</a>, was designed by Borromini - a rival of Bernini's so the implication he was trying to convey - that Borromini's church might crumble - is believable. The fact that the church was built several years <i>after </i>the fountain hasn't killed the legend yet...</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3KQjMkRJZotOKiKB_GOm_jBxriT-zk5HeJcCHQFGYaGa1vMAv36O-lQl3ewvfMBj9AYgLl4D_U5_sQbDnS-TqLcqmVYqmjmipYKXrvpx3tphjwGgeYJusvywL3fn5cKINkT-4PMmzOo/s1600/IMG_3433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3KQjMkRJZotOKiKB_GOm_jBxriT-zk5HeJcCHQFGYaGa1vMAv36O-lQl3ewvfMBj9AYgLl4D_U5_sQbDnS-TqLcqmVYqmjmipYKXrvpx3tphjwGgeYJusvywL3fn5cKINkT-4PMmzOo/s400/IMG_3433.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Rio De La Plata - soon to be the Rio De La Flat-a? ZING!</td></tr>
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From the Piazza Navona we headed back Eastward passing by the Pantheon once again and visited the Church of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant'Ignazio">Saint Ignatius of Loyola</a>. This church really stood out from the others that we visited that day. Most of the lesser churches have the same level of beautiful artwork and lots of gold gilt lining the walls and all that... The unique thing about <i>this</i> church is its ceiling. Instead of most Renaissance artists' tricks of making a flat ceiling look vaulted, or making a vaulted ceiling look flat, <i>this </i>church makes a vaulted ceiling look non-existent. After visiting this church, I'm surprised Andrea Pozzo's name isn't as well known as Raphael or Donatello at <i>least. </i>I mean he couldn't beat the other two Ninja Turtles - but who could?<br />
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The ceiling takes the architectural style of the church itself and (in paint) extends the columns upward another level. There, the building stops and through where the roof <i>should </i>be there is a painted heaven full of angels and new and old testament figures. According to the wikipedia page, there is a marble disc in the center of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nave">nave</a> of the church that marks the best spot from which to enjoy the optical illusion - too bad we missed that.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBegw-SKTY8YQjRo2EDCixl6cfh9EinarAUYwg7SNUGK9-QGyahrokVFDDte9cdeuZkK5j1C2NribNNu48whJWvETU1BFsfi8lhjLf6Brg8xkNodZkDxuSnxMTHOxUlT6_6u-HZbdv8o/s1600/DSCF4112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBegw-SKTY8YQjRo2EDCixl6cfh9EinarAUYwg7SNUGK9-QGyahrokVFDDte9cdeuZkK5j1C2NribNNu48whJWvETU1BFsfi8lhjLf6Brg8xkNodZkDxuSnxMTHOxUlT6_6u-HZbdv8o/s400/DSCF4112.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The columns at the bottom of this picture are real, and then at window level the paint takes over.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EnhABqhbg9i8njdNpFIWdNMhGHNuPhV90szxKB8KXm0J6Y8tI39a8VPJFLZ7ebUmXqy9Kq7MQmP8Y7kOHO9j4bSYUou9lRAtVl3P8vy7G8HDqGEE53va0EOxHg1k77qL4Qiec2cg6jE/s1600/IMG_3444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EnhABqhbg9i8njdNpFIWdNMhGHNuPhV90szxKB8KXm0J6Y8tI39a8VPJFLZ7ebUmXqy9Kq7MQmP8Y7kOHO9j4bSYUou9lRAtVl3P8vy7G8HDqGEE53va0EOxHg1k77qL4Qiec2cg6jE/s400/IMG_3444.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow.</td></tr>
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Just North of the Saint Ignations church, in the Piazza di Pietra is the last remaining wall of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Hadrian">Temple of Hadrian</a> from Roman times. There's not really much to say about it... it was once a part of a big temple... and now the rest of the temple is gone and it's been preserved by being incorporated into the modern buildings that now exist where the temple once stood.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLglmn5x5uWW4wZY1Aj2QISZhRgO8yTVS7wLiV0XoXpaFDqu-OrX7-Gbd8vnyG3457auOQUrSDPTJORG7ZrA0NXUXdr0tVhmAtzHgFaN-1BZXfCWUt0x50HWl9vTBSTL8SqZXBkJNsf0/s1600/DSCF4114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLglmn5x5uWW4wZY1Aj2QISZhRgO8yTVS7wLiV0XoXpaFDqu-OrX7-Gbd8vnyG3457auOQUrSDPTJORG7ZrA0NXUXdr0tVhmAtzHgFaN-1BZXfCWUt0x50HWl9vTBSTL8SqZXBkJNsf0/s400/DSCF4114.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Former temple wall incorporated into a modern building... a bank I believe.</td></tr>
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Further North, there are two more nice little Piazzas, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_Colonna">Piazza Colonna</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_di_Monte_Citorio">Piazza di Monte Citorio</a>. Both are very nice and have either obelisks or another spiraled Arch like Trajan's Column near the Roman Forum, but after so many piazza, fountains, columns, churches, obelisks, etc., and with so many more to go - I guess we didn't find them picture-worthy. <i>Both </i>piazzas, however, are near the Parliamentary buildings of Italy, so there's a good chance of spotting a protest there like we did:</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdpUF8n9pj17FJDo2KGsDDDsVjG7W9PfRsREEDom8K5u34WsLBuqurVAwlCLvcajoAlAwc0etWJ4o4vzQeKYNwoGxqTBAxtjKVcYy5bXPz1cQl43lCJAwps8sRv5wTgETeNBIWaRKttc/s1600/DSCF4115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdpUF8n9pj17FJDo2KGsDDDsVjG7W9PfRsREEDom8K5u34WsLBuqurVAwlCLvcajoAlAwc0etWJ4o4vzQeKYNwoGxqTBAxtjKVcYy5bXPz1cQl43lCJAwps8sRv5wTgETeNBIWaRKttc/s400/DSCF4115.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="hps">Google Translate says it says:<br />"Everyone knows it but</span> <span class="hps">no one</span> <span class="hps">listens</span><br /><span class="hps">cleaning service</span>, <span class="hps">contract to the</span> <span class="hps">lowest bidder</span><br /><span class="hps">in environments subject</span> <span class="hps">to</span> official <span class="hps">state police</span> <span class="hps">barracks</span> <span class="hps">and</span> <span class="hps">carabineri</span><br /><span class="hps">and families</span>? <span class="hps">no future</span><br /><span class="hps">for the home that</span> <span class="hps">you do</span>? <span class="hps">we </span><span class="hps">hosted?"<br />I guess the cleaning service union wants freedom from the carabiners...</span></span></td></tr>
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A couple of blocks to the East is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevi_Fountain">Trevi Fountain</a>!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEXhbGvOWuWviA2T9x3gU5EaklzPZYxbjzYtjdE1su6N44PFn0EvDAHvM2PtFOss0UwQZsrvxfT6YeOTYFkabHuMHOfJOKebUcDOP_jeJCdqPx6fylvmMrN_6Rp16itU9s9c0cunfjpQ/s1600/DSCF4117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEXhbGvOWuWviA2T9x3gU5EaklzPZYxbjzYtjdE1su6N44PFn0EvDAHvM2PtFOss0UwQZsrvxfT6YeOTYFkabHuMHOfJOKebUcDOP_jeJCdqPx6fylvmMrN_6Rp16itU9s9c0cunfjpQ/s400/DSCF4117.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Note the <i>four stories</i> of windows on that adjacent building for scale.</td></tr>
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Seriously - it's very difficult to try and convey how huge this fountain is. Blam-o:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX_e-n_8wdNFRa0vCpu5aShVcK53AWs5viziAh0DMrzaT06nn9i-_AeFcRwvPnywVWx4YEthX6WA3wZCI79kzpIN1XazjrIbi9yYsOplGy0eRtFpgJ7JmLyDAJ_nnXyOnvTzoRH_WiuE/s1600/IMG_3450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX_e-n_8wdNFRa0vCpu5aShVcK53AWs5viziAh0DMrzaT06nn9i-_AeFcRwvPnywVWx4YEthX6WA3wZCI79kzpIN1XazjrIbi9yYsOplGy0eRtFpgJ7JmLyDAJ_nnXyOnvTzoRH_WiuE/s400/IMG_3450.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Designed by a composite of many artists in the 17th and 18th Centuries, the fountain celebrates the finding of the source of fresh water for the city and marks the spot where the aqueduct leading from that spot ends.<br />
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Tradition has it that throwing a coin into the fountain over your head with your back to the water will ensure your return to Rome - so approximately <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">€</span><span style="background-color: white;">3000 find their way into the water each day. Apparently the proceeds go to charity - nice! We tried to capture our own contributions to the collection:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdQSaKbaFoZvTz7TAVMKUf8A39bKgMALryAEe0a1azoLHOCiA9tTuz8IgbiowPyCEQjzFoUl1KLjAjQU0cEbOHOJPPS_FKsk0VzO6OfT-CmxlVJIOt1jH3GZ-h-GhJGa2S1Lmx1tCv9o/s1600/IMG_3457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdQSaKbaFoZvTz7TAVMKUf8A39bKgMALryAEe0a1azoLHOCiA9tTuz8IgbiowPyCEQjzFoUl1KLjAjQU0cEbOHOJPPS_FKsk0VzO6OfT-CmxlVJIOt1jH3GZ-h-GhJGa2S1Lmx1tCv9o/s400/IMG_3457.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like I'll be coming back...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjwX61vljSX8idmHpzDNmtzYPs2Yow00YB8MOQjL1vkpcKGNzZxD01Q2zB5-dRnklOD7d8fFmASCGCAAxtFxav8fBCdSmxd_MJ-px2gVPj0tBBfn68GYeOV9XH_RrUQZ7R_psRmOzVss/s1600/IMG_3458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjwX61vljSX8idmHpzDNmtzYPs2Yow00YB8MOQjL1vkpcKGNzZxD01Q2zB5-dRnklOD7d8fFmASCGCAAxtFxav8fBCdSmxd_MJ-px2gVPj0tBBfn68GYeOV9XH_RrUQZ7R_psRmOzVss/s400/IMG_3458.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Dad, too...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCBgMHEvm4Rq3kHjwc1UUdLeqyuXGgniqMBDojKV_KR_gnbidr1gyz0IB1ZRxRzkE0sX6H-fh9pG8xxu92IrTaexbZtXVeLXBh0yd1LPd1hOzgn7sDIbei2w9fLndwqbl0pXIzQfAr88/s1600/IMG_3460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCBgMHEvm4Rq3kHjwc1UUdLeqyuXGgniqMBDojKV_KR_gnbidr1gyz0IB1ZRxRzkE0sX6H-fh9pG8xxu92IrTaexbZtXVeLXBh0yd1LPd1hOzgn7sDIbei2w9fLndwqbl0pXIzQfAr88/s400/IMG_3460.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missed the action shot - this was staged. </td></tr>
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Now we had some time to kill, and some sitting down to do. We may have only walked about two miles so far that day, but we had been on our feet for several hours. To kill time we headed to a place where time itself is an <i>illusion.</i> It didn't take any time after discovering that Rome <i>also </i>had a Time Elevator in <i>addition</i> to that <a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2012/04/jerusalem-in-day.html">pinnacle of all Jerusalem tourist traps,</a> to decide that we must pay a visit to Rome's journey through time. I'm pretty sure the two time elevators are related as the credits of the movie had a <i>lot</i> of Jewish/Israeli names. In comparison - there is no contest. Jerusalem wins hands down. First of all, one of the 5D (since 3D would <i>never</i> be enough to journey through time) seats screeched incessantly as it moved around. Secondly, there was no <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ_-CmwHWPo">Chaim Topol</a> to guide us on our journey through time. It's really not worth it, unless you want something to <i>do</i> while taking a rest from walking all day. If you <i>are</i> interested - the website with all the information can be found <a href="http://www.timeelevator.it/">here</a>.</div>
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The next destination is far North. Following the Via del Corso all the way to the end - snapping pictures along the way. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tlL6OgntuEjWm1z0iuuRGsJgXMOltZIEX0AUEusdbbOEKKGl5dybSQr1B34c_UAGUKCM2tKs-P0TlCNyr75pIU7weaMAk8WF_AE7oFsHBJ160TJjUxs8seOWFZBZ1hovPRdUf6rnsJM/s1600/IMG_3466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tlL6OgntuEjWm1z0iuuRGsJgXMOltZIEX0AUEusdbbOEKKGl5dybSQr1B34c_UAGUKCM2tKs-P0TlCNyr75pIU7weaMAk8WF_AE7oFsHBJ160TJjUxs8seOWFZBZ1hovPRdUf6rnsJM/s400/IMG_3466.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rome is <i>pretty</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGEnOgwVqVqBRAAe6fuszhKDSAmBYG_0DZ_-7koE95qMxnOxb-9n4KWNl5MJsE8Cdnh8cDtkHfiZD5m1eic9PAbVbxY00UGdeNqTVaW8CsbfASaveR9HARmJZUvUsc4G9XVDDDDF0iig/s1600/IMG_3469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGEnOgwVqVqBRAAe6fuszhKDSAmBYG_0DZ_-7koE95qMxnOxb-9n4KWNl5MJsE8Cdnh8cDtkHfiZD5m1eic9PAbVbxY00UGdeNqTVaW8CsbfASaveR9HARmJZUvUsc4G9XVDDDDF0iig/s400/IMG_3469.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found a dental office for my dentist mom to point at - "prima" and "dopo" mean "before" and "after" I assume.</td></tr>
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Finally we reached the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_del_Popolo">Piazza del Popolo</a><span style="background-color: white;">. Another fountain, obelisk, and public square. This one is <i>much</i> larger than the rest as it was once the main entrance to the city from the North. Usually it was the first sight of Rome that visitors would see, and an impressive sight it is:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.fotocommunity.com/photos/11828104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://img.fotocommunity.com/photos/11828104.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately the tridente was under construction so I stole this from the internets. </td></tr>
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The name "tridente" refers to the fork in the road created by the twin symmetrical churches on either side of the Via del Corso. Romulus and Remus make another appearance in this Piazza:</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGbKmzERST_E9aQOQgtj1Sxfo9ZuFQV5rigVVvVxcLbjI75dGS9RJnGqVcVepE0qa8PwNjqgTWoF-OhVwNPz8wx81rU5H8xD34fKLityltYAbrrK3RYPaFNA1Dzmd9bsMfFfqrDrTHt4/s1600/DSCF4120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGbKmzERST_E9aQOQgtj1Sxfo9ZuFQV5rigVVvVxcLbjI75dGS9RJnGqVcVepE0qa8PwNjqgTWoF-OhVwNPz8wx81rU5H8xD34fKLityltYAbrrK3RYPaFNA1Dzmd9bsMfFfqrDrTHt4/s400/DSCF4120.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">If the artwork can be believed, they really went nuts for she-wolf milk.</td></tr>
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We took a left at the tridente and headed down the Via del Babuino and headed in the direction of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Steps">Spanish Steps</a>. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlICd-kRLj40Oebx0i7cBxwzPt_Ce_30LvKBbvURBzodLcmElxb_Wy8GDu7SoiwJOEsRUba9d9CjBUb-6Qq2LpTDvs-m78Uza1f1rzOAKEjVTjDwDV0riIH8Nzgx_cAhjyEAQeBdjFXLY/s1600/DSCF4123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlICd-kRLj40Oebx0i7cBxwzPt_Ce_30LvKBbvURBzodLcmElxb_Wy8GDu7SoiwJOEsRUba9d9CjBUb-6Qq2LpTDvs-m78Uza1f1rzOAKEjVTjDwDV0riIH8Nzgx_cAhjyEAQeBdjFXLY/s400/DSCF4123.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">But... they're in Italy...</td></tr>
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The steps are named for Spain because they once linked the Spanish Embassy at the bottom, with the church at the top - the church is still there, but the embassy is gone. As you can see above, the steps are the host of yet another obelisk. What's with all the ancient obelisks? Did the Catholic Church/Ancient Romams just tromp around Egypt back in the day stealing old obelisks?</div>
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Few people know this, but there's actually a free elevator if you don't feel like climbing the steps in order to get to the top. To get to the elevator turn left while facing the steps at the bottom and walk forward - down an alleyway on the right there is a sign for a public transportation stop - in that station is the elevator.</div>
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After quickly checking out the church at the top of the steps (it wasn't very impressive as I recall), we hiked over to the <i>last</i> outdoor destination of the day - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quattro_Fontane">The Four Fountains</a>. These four fountains are at the four corners of the intersection of Via della Quattro Fontane and the Via del Quirinale. Mostly uphill - the sight was not worth the climb - I'd skip it if I were you. Anyway - the four fountains represent two goddesses and two rivers. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMd9v2FDBSavMWvLKKT8AxdBNQMM4Lh_DvLom1_t0ggxuXMc6dORokhUIUZY58eCQ57M0z8i1YclmuVzZd4-YINzmY542ILh-PP3hAxhwm-LrLvEPLG0lR5jA8Wb0XYSYqQbFsRveSm4/s1600/DSCF4126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMd9v2FDBSavMWvLKKT8AxdBNQMM4Lh_DvLom1_t0ggxuXMc6dORokhUIUZY58eCQ57M0z8i1YclmuVzZd4-YINzmY542ILh-PP3hAxhwm-LrLvEPLG0lR5jA8Wb0XYSYqQbFsRveSm4/s400/DSCF4126.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">1</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfD9RagUGm5ZXO85QYKeyIMdS50TBuet5l-W6DFp1-DJU-S1Z4daqqls3sn4ZYvI3LV1r3YN_1Lk-zZ8KVHtu8KzTPSO-bHeG6c_fxr_K1iEF0lZDaSowrhew3V9BkuGYw8XHNtydbrU/s1600/DSCF4127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfD9RagUGm5ZXO85QYKeyIMdS50TBuet5l-W6DFp1-DJU-S1Z4daqqls3sn4ZYvI3LV1r3YN_1Lk-zZ8KVHtu8KzTPSO-bHeG6c_fxr_K1iEF0lZDaSowrhew3V9BkuGYw8XHNtydbrU/s400/DSCF4127.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">2</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yJahcmXA58bdEoL93tFMci9QAfkKI7vhm91Xy2lAVXajGNo8iyCJSywPZ_tPtRjpcfS8nj4s7jNctEJuuuWcIywooy4Vx_fLy4s9ZimnoTwRthCJVgZOuPpvaaLd2rJsVO_Bz_Wgum0/s1600/DSCF4128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yJahcmXA58bdEoL93tFMci9QAfkKI7vhm91Xy2lAVXajGNo8iyCJSywPZ_tPtRjpcfS8nj4s7jNctEJuuuWcIywooy4Vx_fLy4s9ZimnoTwRthCJVgZOuPpvaaLd2rJsVO_Bz_Wgum0/s400/DSCF4128.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">3</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-ZQQ8EvJvbktU8bPEHE20lr8UXTbt6V76Lsbb5RwbO6Zrv6EUgGUHHvh9F8vXu7_K-iJk7gttgn1VxykFkpnOoRnr_2910F0Ul_3j86o7VU0kLn4rJAU1ltm6VBiFUzd6jrlZof4R9M/s1600/DSCF4129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-ZQQ8EvJvbktU8bPEHE20lr8UXTbt6V76Lsbb5RwbO6Zrv6EUgGUHHvh9F8vXu7_K-iJk7gttgn1VxykFkpnOoRnr_2910F0Ul_3j86o7VU0kLn4rJAU1ltm6VBiFUzd6jrlZof4R9M/s400/DSCF4129.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">4</td></tr>
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We looped back (all downhill, thankfully) to the bottom of the Spanish steps in order to eat dinner at a place my friend suggested. <a href="http://www.allarampa.it/menu.php?language=English&cat=3">Ristorante Alla Rampa</a> is tucked away in the alleyway called Rampa Mignanelli off of the Piazza Spagna. The place has got a <i>great</i> antipasto (appetizer) bar. We probably embarrassed ourselves a little bit piling lots of food on the little antipasto place - but it was all so <i>delicious!</i> Even if we <i>were</i> embarrassing ourselves, there were no other customers! We got there <i>just </i>as they opened up for dinner - Italian restaurants close when it's not time for a meal and dinner there is later than here in America.</div>
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Sorry this post became closer to a diary entry than a blog post, but there's only one more thing to recount. The last thing we did on Day 2 was go to the opera! In many European tourist cities, they have these selections of classical music or opera available in small venues. Usually they're housed in churches/old school smaller performance halls. I did the research in advance and bought us tickets to the "enchanting arias" concert at St. Paul's Within the Walls Episcopal Church. The audience was basically all tourists, and the performance was exactly what I expected it to be - a selection from famous operas, as performed by mediocre talent. Still, it was a fun way to soak up some culture while in Rome. If you're interested in tickets I bought mine <a href="http://www.classictic.com/en/I-Musici-Veneziani-Enchanting-Opera-Arias/10064/139723">here</a>.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5lqy7V3yuIMOlwByvBPLWK7WkpRxYt5xitdjAWe_lQtqXc-ZfMC7XPUmLasvWpG1utU5gZUvSnK4Fvb5nUXUd6aWEGIN4N_RKbmqXM9A2AnPLgqYOKi8HSRlyvpx44oEVQdXiQCyotA/s1600/DSCF4139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5lqy7V3yuIMOlwByvBPLWK7WkpRxYt5xitdjAWe_lQtqXc-ZfMC7XPUmLasvWpG1utU5gZUvSnK4Fvb5nUXUd6aWEGIN4N_RKbmqXM9A2AnPLgqYOKi8HSRlyvpx44oEVQdXiQCyotA/s400/DSCF4139.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">This guy stole the show - he had us cracking up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gh5IfsGjImFpC66cG631-jZ9Xer2dcOITertcyb8eJ3h8BUdth2QZXtEp1VOyuhK-n7KCHsBSoSVJOv93v5viTcU4W9apR9DBJa08JfQK6oTebNNylze7BNz4q8VTEe0ZAOwRGtBqWc/s1600/IMG_3511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gh5IfsGjImFpC66cG631-jZ9Xer2dcOITertcyb8eJ3h8BUdth2QZXtEp1VOyuhK-n7KCHsBSoSVJOv93v5viTcU4W9apR9DBJa08JfQK6oTebNNylze7BNz4q8VTEe0ZAOwRGtBqWc/s400/IMG_3511.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">bahaha.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZfNrzRU5YDdsjYhY0BtxoWkgbi5yt3PCsJxQZhM5PfiYw1DPqshMf9bwXpmXmzV_MkZ7FS-PQpCsf55DbKASuzIQ6JtkCAmnRajeAVyioR7YKxpQ-MUipIICksHE3lunurNpfO8vH8c/s1600/DSCF4140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZfNrzRU5YDdsjYhY0BtxoWkgbi5yt3PCsJxQZhM5PfiYw1DPqshMf9bwXpmXmzV_MkZ7FS-PQpCsf55DbKASuzIQ6JtkCAmnRajeAVyioR7YKxpQ-MUipIICksHE3lunurNpfO8vH8c/s400/DSCF4140.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The two male performers were way better than the two female performers. </td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N0e536IY5UhTqBjMWB9qgq6BTBbPgc1Ir7ntOBwapWqc7rIS7_b4qy469JUaAcos5cgr8B5u1L0MYTzIfFRD6aYEZp-42YuueVWz11H1EZW3ZTm9E56_0mEL8dPuwabDEqEH1nH9DU4/s1600/IMG_3507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N0e536IY5UhTqBjMWB9qgq6BTBbPgc1Ir7ntOBwapWqc7rIS7_b4qy469JUaAcos5cgr8B5u1L0MYTzIfFRD6aYEZp-42YuueVWz11H1EZW3ZTm9E56_0mEL8dPuwabDEqEH1nH9DU4/s400/IMG_3507.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=630387">Bravi!</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Afterwards, we walked back to Via Palaestro and passed out. Being a tourist is </span><i style="background-color: white;">exhausting!</i>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-37063373175374655472012-07-03T20:50:00.000+04:302012-07-03T20:52:08.947+04:30Italy Day 1 Jewish and Ancient Rome: Rome Synagogue, Coliseum, Roman Forum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Barring two people whom I had seen during two weeks in Israel, I hadn't seen anyone I knew (much less anyone I was related to) face-to-face for the prior eight months! Family reunion! We met in the "lobby" of our hotel in Rome - Hotel Continentale on Via Palestro nearby to the train station. </div>
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They basically had traveled all of the previous night and had gotten little sleep, but time while traveling is precious so we set out immediately for our jam-packed day of sight-seeing. </div>
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We headed Southwest toward the Roman Forum.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPcUI1c5DlwQMvVsTNmvOb2sntdsT545TplnZBzbuHQzWe0wFUZ7_0Te8zcO2S6iDLEPPLAaH9CNWxzNFF6zYn1MZtGJCjsOu7d1aYVBiJQhgnvkJexlftshQPuCXAJ7ZyfsWMX98Tn8/s1600/IMG_3272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPcUI1c5DlwQMvVsTNmvOb2sntdsT545TplnZBzbuHQzWe0wFUZ7_0Te8zcO2S6iDLEPPLAaH9CNWxzNFF6zYn1MZtGJCjsOu7d1aYVBiJQhgnvkJexlftshQPuCXAJ7ZyfsWMX98Tn8/s400/IMG_3272.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My family and Caesar pose for a reunion picture - it's been a long time since we've seen Caesar.</td></tr>
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We would wind around back at the Ancient Roman sights/sites after the Synagogue, but we couldn't help but get distracted by some of them along the way. First there was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trajan's_Column">Trajan's Column</a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ocsA9uDVUVVIGGltsE0osvczJxeFp6w_AXVMrnXMr8SutMFOT4O2GJXkvcllZ7Uog778oLZTSUOOynDZCWeXPeYc08QE1QF9C-NGQx5Muroj78hP7s65SHhw12GA5GP1WPQ-0UFR2aE/s1600/IMG_3274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ocsA9uDVUVVIGGltsE0osvczJxeFp6w_AXVMrnXMr8SutMFOT4O2GJXkvcllZ7Uog778oLZTSUOOynDZCWeXPeYc08QE1QF9C-NGQx5Muroj78hP7s65SHhw12GA5GP1WPQ-0UFR2aE/s400/IMG_3274.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I assume that guy at the top of the column is Trajan.</td></tr>
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The column depicts the military victories of Trajan in a continuous spiral relief sculpture that spans every inch of the cylinder which is very impressive. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgD4ssVbknTIKYSDRyyP78Hi0-IgzDFsPU8EFMKJcWDHd5y1SHbGZvzVbAhZwTpcgoSUybRj-LadRtXmnfSuMQ8XV4TCjZTkl6NTsHVxcmI5PE9qdqzX6Ji7b5PYLr2WGPeKf8RpTemI/s1600/IMG_3278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgD4ssVbknTIKYSDRyyP78Hi0-IgzDFsPU8EFMKJcWDHd5y1SHbGZvzVbAhZwTpcgoSUybRj-LadRtXmnfSuMQ8XV4TCjZTkl6NTsHVxcmI5PE9qdqzX6Ji7b5PYLr2WGPeKf8RpTemI/s400/IMG_3278.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a relief!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhcPxHmsTlf0bIleab6HuAucGyC-3b0rDhire5eYR7htdxuEgW9qGK15Z3a9MfFeT1lAp_cPqw0BzR3dBHcvmijfbic_VesHjzpwizk0p3ThEc420vzrBzeqfWsilkSYgUeNzAx190Ys/s1600/IMG_3279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhcPxHmsTlf0bIleab6HuAucGyC-3b0rDhire5eYR7htdxuEgW9qGK15Z3a9MfFeT1lAp_cPqw0BzR3dBHcvmijfbic_VesHjzpwizk0p3ThEc420vzrBzeqfWsilkSYgUeNzAx190Ys/s400/IMG_3279.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's really lucky that Trajan's Column was the one that survived - these other ones weren't nearly so impressive.</td></tr>
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Trajan's Column is just off of the Piazza Venezia which is dominated by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_to_Vittorio_Emanuele_II">National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II</a> which contains the tomb of the unknown soldier or so I've read - we didn't go in, but walked in front of it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4u4R6zNnlwn_ECzp_rI38KyfuwYwciq3QZJZBRWj15TNm0wddwlOQquU0U1npnSOVlur8YOWH-ae2wb0VxgY_YMPNLIlTd29PTjLeTY4dvdydNnsCtbS9jXu0HbAeOpLtBRZ3I-JR5Tc/s1600/IMG_3280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4u4R6zNnlwn_ECzp_rI38KyfuwYwciq3QZJZBRWj15TNm0wddwlOQquU0U1npnSOVlur8YOWH-ae2wb0VxgY_YMPNLIlTd29PTjLeTY4dvdydNnsCtbS9jXu0HbAeOpLtBRZ3I-JR5Tc/s400/IMG_3280.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's very nice.</td></tr>
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While we were walking through that Piazza (public square/plaza) it started to rain so my mom took shelter en route.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9N5YrneFwGSPHCvp0sNKlRJibZRjoHUdjxQAgomNKJpvYO6NN2Y6HzQFphqxGHUBA-IP_92lB3-EKTClp9vJsuY-PwZfzNVfl4m2ltYAF-1XRo5-Wr8UrmaUvFp2r4-Oas-9WuW6A6g/s1600/IMG_3281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9N5YrneFwGSPHCvp0sNKlRJibZRjoHUdjxQAgomNKJpvYO6NN2Y6HzQFphqxGHUBA-IP_92lB3-EKTClp9vJsuY-PwZfzNVfl4m2ltYAF-1XRo5-Wr8UrmaUvFp2r4-Oas-9WuW6A6g/s400/IMG_3281.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ilana was better equipped to handle the rain - dad got wet.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgXI0bpsXdKvav5wTB6rnUemBjyprr4kAMbm93meGdaTpcUEbRaImLB1vm6qVI3m9iw9ucJm6N78jg-A-aLoLpXSzypo-BS8Jw_zcfbdZ6G-BXz7JDZhc12vtj561QTluyJp-15Wo6MM/s1600/IMG_3283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgXI0bpsXdKvav5wTB6rnUemBjyprr4kAMbm93meGdaTpcUEbRaImLB1vm6qVI3m9iw9ucJm6N78jg-A-aLoLpXSzypo-BS8Jw_zcfbdZ6G-BXz7JDZhc12vtj561QTluyJp-15Wo6MM/s400/IMG_3283.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SsJ0HFcpNGnNMpItOG_sGcu-kWJyMCMwNcmV-wlQ4SqqQEPI6aeQLlz1N7dJZTS0JLCzjpiYRfXD2YNRkzlq0dHNYq8IU3TDjGhYpu9KkK86iGzVpgcHl5op0unnqGgHfRnUn2CQwz0/s1600/IMG_3284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SsJ0HFcpNGnNMpItOG_sGcu-kWJyMCMwNcmV-wlQ4SqqQEPI6aeQLlz1N7dJZTS0JLCzjpiYRfXD2YNRkzlq0dHNYq8IU3TDjGhYpu9KkK86iGzVpgcHl5op0unnqGgHfRnUn2CQwz0/s400/IMG_3284.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We photograph well.</td></tr>
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Realizing we didn't want to get too wet not yet having begun our scheduled activities for the day, we ducked into the first of many churches into which we were to duck over the course of the trip. Most churches are nice to look at:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgai-fTXCEfZvFepntuIsa7AHKHYgW7WC5MrcLLjTEQo_gh7gLT8PgEaMe6Re3Fd6LmQmXDQqLTF7p1kYHYBHXhP3qzbUf_IjCx1_Q0aPUBqF7PirrnU7sgAA3xYsUek1XoC5XzTYweNvU/s1600/IMG_3286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgai-fTXCEfZvFepntuIsa7AHKHYgW7WC5MrcLLjTEQo_gh7gLT8PgEaMe6Re3Fd6LmQmXDQqLTF7p1kYHYBHXhP3qzbUf_IjCx1_Q0aPUBqF7PirrnU7sgAA3xYsUek1XoC5XzTYweNvU/s400/IMG_3286.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqK4bxa0wVKZkj51FDdyIy-0-ZrMt2u77uRuG2Q5ieBMjPpr8PE2cyILPy5VUpA_kLreDKFctNuQqsQ15Rorhn8gQHxPgRpr8aYi1um_asT1dS88ZH7swkRiKMSwyKUiQxO4fAxBVOPsc/s1600/IMG_3288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqK4bxa0wVKZkj51FDdyIy-0-ZrMt2u77uRuG2Q5ieBMjPpr8PE2cyILPy5VUpA_kLreDKFctNuQqsQ15Rorhn8gQHxPgRpr8aYi1um_asT1dS88ZH7swkRiKMSwyKUiQxO4fAxBVOPsc/s400/IMG_3288.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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The rain stopped, and we finally made it to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Synagogue_of_Rome">Great Synagogue of Rome</a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRgPwXwvVSkWsf72NQbtXEwkRMGNwS9-dbBTw6lJi7I7v9izWmIVTW7rrP5wParUK5UQ3veLXB_JO5FLMxqBlyKx7h_4EHbFYGP0vZpfXPjBVwXuK9McvXl2hjXq6h-A42N2jrd35Ijo/s1600/IMG_3292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRgPwXwvVSkWsf72NQbtXEwkRMGNwS9-dbBTw6lJi7I7v9izWmIVTW7rrP5wParUK5UQ3veLXB_JO5FLMxqBlyKx7h_4EHbFYGP0vZpfXPjBVwXuK9McvXl2hjXq6h-A42N2jrd35Ijo/s400/IMG_3292.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It quickly became clear that mom's favorite parts of Italy were going to relate to Judaism.</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, it is forbidden to take pictures within most Synagogues in Europe and those in Italy were no exception. This is because there are more security risks over there with the elevated hate crime levels across the continent.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lifeinitaly.com/files/spanish-synagogue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://www.lifeinitaly.com/files/spanish-synagogue.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Someone</i> on the internet broke the rules, but I'm glad they did because the sanctuary was beautiful.</td></tr>
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The Synagogue is still in use and regularly, but for most of the week it is used as a museum with guided tours to the sanctuary every hour or so. The museum was nice. Most interesting was the row of many Torah covers designed with various patterns of cloth. We learned later on our tour that the Jews of Italy were forced to only work in a few professions, one of them being traders of used textiles - so a common donation to the Synagogue were ornate Torah covers fashioned out of the used textiles many of the Jews handled daily.<br />
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After the Synagogue, we walked two blocks away to the main street of the former Jewish Ghetto of Rome where there is now a wealth of Kosher restaurants and Judaica shops. One delicacy they had in plenty was artichokes - I wonder if that is because there was a particular affinity for artichokes in the Rome Jewish community, or if artichokes are just popular in Rome - either way they were delicious.<br />
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Being a tourist is hard on the legs - so we taxied to the Coliseum after our lunch in the Jewish Ghetto.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There it is!</td></tr>
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Note: The ancient Roman amphitheater in Rome <i>can</i> be spelled <i>either</i> Colosseum <i>or</i> Coliseum.</div>
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum">Colosseum</a> was a Roman amphitheater used for entertainment. Entertainment in Roman times consisted infinitely more of killing human beings in one way or another than today. The wait to enter the Colosseum can be well over an hour, but if you are on a guided tour, which costs a few euros extra, one can bypass this wait in addition to receiving the tour. I would have no reference point from which to compare our tour to any others that are privately provided, but the tour provided by the Colosseum ticketing booth was <i>top notch</i>. We were granted access to the reconstructed portion of the original floor of the amphitheater <i>and</i> to the topmost accessible story of the structure, so I'd assume it's better than the private tour companies trying to sell tours outside the entrance. </div>
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Once inside, we had some time to kill before our tour started (but at least we weren't still standing in line). Ilana and i took some great pictures of each other next to a wall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbohyAhAIT8OiLtPvN2eG95N4eJ0VXyTiYF8rB93NL4_wJuSjQrPoQT9ZgvDC3OC4sff49bMt3pRq60q5TSujM4at8Zv1E7c0s76lHbJhDSeSvvhrIG4mnFvINMnD5uuSkfGvc-2sx0I0/s1600/IMG_3305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbohyAhAIT8OiLtPvN2eG95N4eJ0VXyTiYF8rB93NL4_wJuSjQrPoQT9ZgvDC3OC4sff49bMt3pRq60q5TSujM4at8Zv1E7c0s76lHbJhDSeSvvhrIG4mnFvINMnD5uuSkfGvc-2sx0I0/s400/IMG_3305.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQm4IbAjAXpuTDq5FYVMF1wSTQSuDeVi_6p727knPciMXr84H3jAknNVnovLUMiS1XqQY6m5VU7T0AfnCrZAP9rpIbaTPBq97dprI_9g6vYL19hnahQQEgUVdFFHe2bhwOWcu3wssBQls/s1600/IMG_3309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQm4IbAjAXpuTDq5FYVMF1wSTQSuDeVi_6p727knPciMXr84H3jAknNVnovLUMiS1XqQY6m5VU7T0AfnCrZAP9rpIbaTPBq97dprI_9g6vYL19hnahQQEgUVdFFHe2bhwOWcu3wssBQls/s400/IMG_3309.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then we asked our dad to take a picture with the wall, so he did this:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDhzHxQN5Lyar5oXNHokJFofSshhlKoPrLh3uhiHI56IEoIDZcCnqSt6SEK1uKTPNus1nByR2rGLPr9Y5pzGR4lhXwCpQDKh7PjCGLpK0w9k2FjeYiiJKYz9iqTrBUttTkVJx6ExLSNQ/s1600/IMG_3306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDhzHxQN5Lyar5oXNHokJFofSshhlKoPrLh3uhiHI56IEoIDZcCnqSt6SEK1uKTPNus1nByR2rGLPr9Y5pzGR4lhXwCpQDKh7PjCGLpK0w9k2FjeYiiJKYz9iqTrBUttTkVJx6ExLSNQ/s400/IMG_3306.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bahaha.</td></tr>
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As I said, the tour was very good. First we went to the reconstructed stage area and heard about all the different games played at the Coliseum, and by "games" I mean different methods of having people fight each other/animals to the death.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyn2NIJWZuZ3iuZBmYRX-f3UFCdutoh9PyLX8wPP90alfJtLiFt053cqNbXRlD8XB8jc1fbADH5Faqs8C7h7TT3seRKn5kb4D2crFO6Nb08XvfAoURAwVnu0E74OdfQA7LdciSDO60gn0/s1600/IMG_3310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyn2NIJWZuZ3iuZBmYRX-f3UFCdutoh9PyLX8wPP90alfJtLiFt053cqNbXRlD8XB8jc1fbADH5Faqs8C7h7TT3seRKn5kb4D2crFO6Nb08XvfAoURAwVnu0E74OdfQA7LdciSDO60gn0/s400/IMG_3310.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those arches in the background lead to the concession stands where the ancients sold nachos/all-beef hot dogs.</td></tr>
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I remember learning in high school Latin class that they would flood the Coliseum with water and stage naval battles <i>inside</i> the bowl of the stadium, but I never believed it. Even our tour guide who mentioned that it was thought by historians that they did this, admitted that no one knows how they <i>would</i> <i>have</i> done it. I think what happened was some ancient Roman was trying to write in his 1st Century C.E diary how awesome it <i>would be</i> if they flooded the coliseum with water and staged a naval battle, instead he wrote how awesome it <i>was</i> when they flooded the coliseum with water and staged a naval battle. Latin is very hard, it can confuse you very easily. I'm sure he was just confused.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK7D1LRmww4IjzBwzktXBkbnaIBKoY59aB9-hetq8xtobNUzeOI32qMFLN2XaVlY6ZCKsDBNUU5qRfstjc_jiMWtIb4q4JjZrtx-b7SKhUpX1ShB9WHxlG2zfIIOXqxgA3jQ_xWvYhJY/s1600/IMG_3317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK7D1LRmww4IjzBwzktXBkbnaIBKoY59aB9-hetq8xtobNUzeOI32qMFLN2XaVlY6ZCKsDBNUU5qRfstjc_jiMWtIb4q4JjZrtx-b7SKhUpX1ShB9WHxlG2zfIIOXqxgA3jQ_xWvYhJY/s400/IMG_3317.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">See what I'm talking about? The water would leak out through all these holes!!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Over the many centuries, the Coliseum turned into a quarry where the people of Rome would come to strip building materials from its deteriorating shell. To preserve it, and to memorialize the Christians who died here, a Pope made it a holy site. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvEUFdIiml25bRAfvm2v61_p_zK20cj5BCAaXqjheM-yTxfPDL3q_Nokya_PTIURQrox9Y8kA-PzNxsyvdeRhyphenhyphenqI66oOudHHybiAwcgdwG3ZLene2YcznIAH1tEUGoxnqHLYu1hjBx5o/s1600/IMG_3314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvEUFdIiml25bRAfvm2v61_p_zK20cj5BCAaXqjheM-yTxfPDL3q_Nokya_PTIURQrox9Y8kA-PzNxsyvdeRhyphenhyphenqI66oOudHHybiAwcgdwG3ZLene2YcznIAH1tEUGoxnqHLYu1hjBx5o/s400/IMG_3314.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's why there's a cross here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZOAFZQ7cpM0uQpISxYvcOjfPiwtbD16Yym-EaITF1fp9Jqrpb-k831xLuHt3VtSJXs5x9uSSsuOzIT1z6CvdexPaNg_uPDRINTYKwPgOJF7jeo2inG1j-OvHLHvKxykToOuAaZnhajw/s1600/IMG_3323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZOAFZQ7cpM0uQpISxYvcOjfPiwtbD16Yym-EaITF1fp9Jqrpb-k831xLuHt3VtSJXs5x9uSSsuOzIT1z6CvdexPaNg_uPDRINTYKwPgOJF7jeo2inG1j-OvHLHvKxykToOuAaZnhajw/s400/IMG_3323.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know what? I'm going to have to call you back... yeah I'm about to watch this lion totally eat a former slave.</td></tr>
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The tour ended at the top level of the Coliseum's remaining walkways which is restricted to most visitors. The views were really great.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGBSSZfv3z7qrcRt3mQCthuiEx5agvEhxy5EnJO_514IPanNdH017aKf3h4vY-XRjmmh4EvXssDxoI2vOM4BvsB4qM7qw5jCCVRV0LomD68ZY2oYsXaUwpfy8ASZGD4Pew43UjHholuM/s1600/IMG_3327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGBSSZfv3z7qrcRt3mQCthuiEx5agvEhxy5EnJO_514IPanNdH017aKf3h4vY-XRjmmh4EvXssDxoI2vOM4BvsB4qM7qw5jCCVRV0LomD68ZY2oYsXaUwpfy8ASZGD4Pew43UjHholuM/s400/IMG_3327.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View back towards the Piazza Venezia. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCsn-lcTA7TY-4zYhzluLh62uJ-Qf0e9A0APLQCFo67o1Y4trYEfCs0KfgBV6J_aBd9aI_gx1CX2FxbO5oDkcRrdmO0MuSaqO4zC3RHqiCPn5mAozk7eI0NDzlJXxuNlhpbnGWbcLG30/s1600/IMG_3331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCsn-lcTA7TY-4zYhzluLh62uJ-Qf0e9A0APLQCFo67o1Y4trYEfCs0KfgBV6J_aBd9aI_gx1CX2FxbO5oDkcRrdmO0MuSaqO4zC3RHqiCPn5mAozk7eI0NDzlJXxuNlhpbnGWbcLG30/s400/IMG_3331.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Roman Forum which was our next stop after the Coliseum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSNS89s3DViaMgcBeBy728G0g3aAqhGtVQ4Ym3ngtyaeARYGxiEjO60fTQfU8pPUHfW_W8313n4o3MKNEuUj5kk8LNJIP9Dyx6VpL0KxKT3QVnvcTQZ0GUw6brnKNHxOT4tT8soC30oc/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSNS89s3DViaMgcBeBy728G0g3aAqhGtVQ4Ym3ngtyaeARYGxiEjO60fTQfU8pPUHfW_W8313n4o3MKNEuUj5kk8LNJIP9Dyx6VpL0KxKT3QVnvcTQZ0GUw6brnKNHxOT4tT8soC30oc/s400/IMG_3337.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See that little area of whitish grayish stones over the left portion of the stage area? Those are the last remaining marble seats of the Amphitheater. </td></tr>
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The ticket that grants you access to the Coliseum also grants access to the Roman Forum, so doing them both in the same day is very convenient. We were realizing that touring all day on our feet can be <i>very</i> tiring so when we got to the Roman Forum, or as the Romans would spell it, the Roman Forvm, we had to have a seat:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjnbxhldE8PzWhbmvugi5sw8OAgAB_IX-iqoRskFczu7nHIwA2RTiu-Xj4ui3OGhtf0rtqDgtcDfMznRdeX8pO7aaqwD-8zne54UcjJ9jb3quCEtCaibbloVrO5KDtp5iuU6tZfHyQoU/s1600/IMG_3345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjnbxhldE8PzWhbmvugi5sw8OAgAB_IX-iqoRskFczu7nHIwA2RTiu-Xj4ui3OGhtf0rtqDgtcDfMznRdeX8pO7aaqwD-8zne54UcjJ9jb3quCEtCaibbloVrO5KDtp5iuU6tZfHyQoU/s400/IMG_3345.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
We've all been taught that the Romans were great engineers, builders, thinkers, poets. What we were <i>not</i> taught, is that the Ancient Romans were total slobs! Look at the mess they left!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNSYI0_nAVKTLt0vDa69JqQSKGT_GX5LEEkvUEC4KqOswawn-oDruFSPa8Bk2U2y6xMm9myHu1c5tKhd8owRbds9H3-wAKGynwOU6GmfwbwNjVg_gYUhkEHys9oz8MKtTbtqkFI4551U/s1600/IMG_3346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNSYI0_nAVKTLt0vDa69JqQSKGT_GX5LEEkvUEC4KqOswawn-oDruFSPa8Bk2U2y6xMm9myHu1c5tKhd8owRbds9H3-wAKGynwOU6GmfwbwNjVg_gYUhkEHys9oz8MKtTbtqkFI4551U/s400/IMG_3346.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's like they didn't clean up after themselves at <i>all. </i>No WONDER they call them "ruins"!</td></tr>
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But seriously, it was cool to be in the former seat of Roman power, despite the mess. One major attraction was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_of_Titus">Arch of Titus</a>. Built in the year 82 to commemorate the Emperor's brother Titus's death. It depicts Titus's victories and in particular the conquest/siege of Jerusalem. It depicts Jews carrying the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menorah_(Temple)">Menorah</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_in_Jerusalem">Holy Temple</a> to Rome in submission. When the State of Israel was established, local Rabbis paraded the local Jewish Community in the opposite direction as the depicted march - signifying a return from the diaspora. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZUURs9cX3ItIdaAdkbyXOydh-o1fnBfdWspy01ZfoXn98gTUOozLvmZNplxKFjxxwQa5hsuABS6NlgDKF5kdzmpks5pHxZXSTxallbDRcHaaRjlolKbNhFNES1ICqahMQHjvbkGCiNI/s1600/IMG_3356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZUURs9cX3ItIdaAdkbyXOydh-o1fnBfdWspy01ZfoXn98gTUOozLvmZNplxKFjxxwQa5hsuABS6NlgDKF5kdzmpks5pHxZXSTxallbDRcHaaRjlolKbNhFNES1ICqahMQHjvbkGCiNI/s400/IMG_3356.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still Jewish!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX3_fC2sFQPeX28GN-LR8j0rb8M58urfRByfBdpmiDNGW2EflLbphyphenhyphenEUHBu38tB0ipFhZ_lAnTIY-GMBJi5EIXPeKdDyMSH0E5xGMcBB29ZShP_2_iPkg160hrliPXQPk2YTJTlGzkAc/s1600/IMG_3360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX3_fC2sFQPeX28GN-LR8j0rb8M58urfRByfBdpmiDNGW2EflLbphyphenhyphenEUHBu38tB0ipFhZ_lAnTIY-GMBJi5EIXPeKdDyMSH0E5xGMcBB29ZShP_2_iPkg160hrliPXQPk2YTJTlGzkAc/s400/IMG_3360.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There it is.</td></tr>
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For scale:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpLllZ904DYzfRDm8Cgsz66PdUXZYwG7AzdNDG-A2LMToSIf6Xj_-qbcx_55cewbacnrVao7G-3whRFZMik-a5Svwx7lbyWxX85aVAmd4ntqd4IRDayC35AaVblYXp_OjngWfP4oxTPE/s1600/IMG_3367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpLllZ904DYzfRDm8Cgsz66PdUXZYwG7AzdNDG-A2LMToSIf6Xj_-qbcx_55cewbacnrVao7G-3whRFZMik-a5Svwx7lbyWxX85aVAmd4ntqd4IRDayC35AaVblYXp_OjngWfP4oxTPE/s400/IMG_3367.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Other than depicting Jews as slaves - it's a pretty impressive arch.</td></tr>
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In true Roman slovenly fashion, some Roman left three steps of a staircase lying around so we played with that for a while:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZPiw0qqAbSOSJ2BJlnIcSjldyZaLA5EGKkDc91JVMWuLzi___JBFwQk7s9nYCinrcGOgq_OC7CXzGSsmjxNIpApZPZP08WtpqO-k49lwriLF3thAOgzBG6hivhyphenhyphenTTle4qEwPcMy8fgQ/s1600/IMG_3375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZPiw0qqAbSOSJ2BJlnIcSjldyZaLA5EGKkDc91JVMWuLzi___JBFwQk7s9nYCinrcGOgq_OC7CXzGSsmjxNIpApZPZP08WtpqO-k49lwriLF3thAOgzBG6hivhyphenhyphenTTle4qEwPcMy8fgQ/s400/IMG_3375.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3klmZiEg0GbjFPFLS-PhaNZaqsSr6Ppr5DrjyUA50Q1LnbbOuaA13ZwhV-NxGxOHCCg0tkFOAGNVL3VUhDt78y4ND3hwTrM8jJLOgGAwXbiXex9IXw-ZCIafNpHCwB1bBYuESccO7Gs/s1600/IMG_3377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3klmZiEg0GbjFPFLS-PhaNZaqsSr6Ppr5DrjyUA50Q1LnbbOuaA13ZwhV-NxGxOHCCg0tkFOAGNVL3VUhDt78y4ND3hwTrM8jJLOgGAwXbiXex9IXw-ZCIafNpHCwB1bBYuESccO7Gs/s400/IMG_3377.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNxrY1-Hz8Y975B7BCoZSzh_6N8Ea7BZU2adbNoc_koVQPDJN6W5GnUGf973kQUCluxN9duTCl6Bt70w9hsN3cA-dmULv6Q58_JN7WcMeDDqNWgUs39C3JzSruGk6-m72GmoIa9a8viE/s1600/IMG_3378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNxrY1-Hz8Y975B7BCoZSzh_6N8Ea7BZU2adbNoc_koVQPDJN6W5GnUGf973kQUCluxN9duTCl6Bt70w9hsN3cA-dmULv6Q58_JN7WcMeDDqNWgUs39C3JzSruGk6-m72GmoIa9a8viE/s400/IMG_3378.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aYigsuiwOfjsq7J06UuViE83rP7PMdtRUd1zW7jsnxuv922Uczee3yVH7s73ncawceEb86VdYEaQnBKQuyPu-tH4eLLDJut4uHRorjTpJ2X3YhQvPOwypIgEkyKOTM544NHDfQXVKQY/s1600/IMG_3379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aYigsuiwOfjsq7J06UuViE83rP7PMdtRUd1zW7jsnxuv922Uczee3yVH7s73ncawceEb86VdYEaQnBKQuyPu-tH4eLLDJut4uHRorjTpJ2X3YhQvPOwypIgEkyKOTM544NHDfQXVKQY/s400/IMG_3379.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was entertained...</td></tr>
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Exhausted, we taxied back to our hotel on Via Palestro. Unfortunately, due to our hotel's proximity to the center of Rome, we were not going to be spending much time in the public squares at night, which are supposed to be very beautiful and lively. Instead, after having dinner nearby to our hotel, we strolled down to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_della_Repubblica,_Rome">Piazza della Repubblica</a>, and although it's no Piazza Navona - it was still beautiful.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFzjOqcPB85ZjFc-pOmOpePXywBBFkbRUMcof2eMBWqx01A_74KTTL4-Htc8nCCZeAI1S32yZe8QqJ2nKq_ajUg0pUEMlOPfu2MU6K8cJOJp3doAdoQ7gaj8FLf-qwVzHKOioK6NHP0s/s1600/IMG_3383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFzjOqcPB85ZjFc-pOmOpePXywBBFkbRUMcof2eMBWqx01A_74KTTL4-Htc8nCCZeAI1S32yZe8QqJ2nKq_ajUg0pUEMlOPfu2MU6K8cJOJp3doAdoQ7gaj8FLf-qwVzHKOioK6NHP0s/s400/IMG_3383.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnrdQDkxxvqkA0lkSTo1ymMYVKZT9n5C26Zor9CczIqoDkVUd-FJO5c5ANTCVC3jGEpWFK3jC-L3ezHdoEp2JwQM_1wy2tPI7RjNZg8j7JHJhdmHhhQpU5yOk56_KHm9mDal1kM_DbfQ/s1600/IMG_3384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnrdQDkxxvqkA0lkSTo1ymMYVKZT9n5C26Zor9CczIqoDkVUd-FJO5c5ANTCVC3jGEpWFK3jC-L3ezHdoEp2JwQM_1wy2tPI7RjNZg8j7JHJhdmHhhQpU5yOk56_KHm9mDal1kM_DbfQ/s400/IMG_3384.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2E6SZfq4nJHOO3l0jvLdZHjEEEB5nEllmUS-hlBCX43miAImbCW98aPM2BqF4BhgDClQI1EG1FDXnIFsRdjeh7nqtxHiqPIf8inYYglrcUWRTu7knRMNxaZYxkyUaguTGZryI7bKBhc/s1600/IMG_3388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2E6SZfq4nJHOO3l0jvLdZHjEEEB5nEllmUS-hlBCX43miAImbCW98aPM2BqF4BhgDClQI1EG1FDXnIFsRdjeh7nqtxHiqPIf8inYYglrcUWRTu7knRMNxaZYxkyUaguTGZryI7bKBhc/s400/IMG_3388.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great first day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-50071887176657247292012-07-01T18:36:00.001+04:302012-07-02T00:55:35.665+04:30Italy Trip Prologue: Rome Marathon, Climbing St. Peter's Basilica, Seeing the PopeIsrael was nice, but it was time to move on. I met up with my parents and younger sister in Italy for a fantastic nine day trip. It made more sense for me to fly in Sunday morning and for them to arrive on Monday, so I began the trip alone - therefore I consider this post a prologue to the actual trip even though I did a lot of fun things that day.<br />
<br />
After having been up all night in the Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport and after an airline mix up which left me having to buy a carry-on sized bag in the airport itself I arrived in Rome. Despite the mix-up, Ben Gurion Airport is <i>extremely </i>nice and I consider it a model for how airports should be arranged.<br />
<br />
Upon entering the baggage claim/ground transportation area of the Rome airport, I followed the signs to the bus ticket vending window. It costs four euros to ride a coach bus to the central train station of Rome. From there I took a cab to my hotel - the Best Western Astrid - pretty far north along the East bank of the Tiber river. It so happened that that day was the day of the Rome marathon. Luckily the marathon route didn't obstruct my taxi driver (the nicest taxi driver in all of Italy who gave me an English language tourbook of Rome someone had left in his car) from taking me to the hotel. <br />
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Although I was very tired, I did not want to waste any of my time in Italy at all, so I started walking toward the sights - snapping pictures of the marathoners along the way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj002b4RdxbXGpComLC4SJuW-9d4tINol7vVFvEsUVe4MZJifQwnBxOAmgn_Gf0qfrXdIzbB3Sei0wUnrBMboPYW6jnd5apB0KM2zQVq5sgUDpktpyHhOMUJRQfkABgAmdZGnjuK_HCSSY/s1600/DSCF4069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj002b4RdxbXGpComLC4SJuW-9d4tINol7vVFvEsUVe4MZJifQwnBxOAmgn_Gf0qfrXdIzbB3Sei0wUnrBMboPYW6jnd5apB0KM2zQVq5sgUDpktpyHhOMUJRQfkABgAmdZGnjuK_HCSSY/s400/DSCF4069.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can do it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0lM8MlKOIhaWYosI6FUwNs-5WNN0uH1Oy161Xjsop3cmUOkK6c6J2MWB9R8iX0zSauTaAMAq7Bac_IapcZ2Dpq6PjaefbE-Wd45tSS0ZsCicx5oJqvWUHp3tDpVROr7k4wk6_lB-Bvc/s1600/DSCF4070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0lM8MlKOIhaWYosI6FUwNs-5WNN0uH1Oy161Xjsop3cmUOkK6c6J2MWB9R8iX0zSauTaAMAq7Bac_IapcZ2Dpq6PjaefbE-Wd45tSS0ZsCicx5oJqvWUHp3tDpVROr7k4wk6_lB-Bvc/s400/DSCF4070.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not so used to marathons taking place so close to such beautiful churches.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyIiO0ads9-cRyg13tShZ_YmygVl3YcnrwgwzWRMd8arou0K4fGxyRZ23gCQGuzgP8d-kkvp9jmUt7uB2R50I6oJeiinlXJU3k9JJCeiHdjieBAMQ5gWdli5EXyxRYqgX5R_kFR-6eGI/s1600/DSCF4072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyIiO0ads9-cRyg13tShZ_YmygVl3YcnrwgwzWRMd8arou0K4fGxyRZ23gCQGuzgP8d-kkvp9jmUt7uB2R50I6oJeiinlXJU3k9JJCeiHdjieBAMQ5gWdli5EXyxRYqgX5R_kFR-6eGI/s400/DSCF4072.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go! Go! Go!</td></tr>
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And then I saw the Vatican! The biggest church in the world! It was mind-blowingly cool. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ktVnU2w6c2rXtZrCXwN4ZaeDdaGKYRcD-Rd6h4QBE0BK64YEhmnD6fIkpKcVI-_w6wqAICBhlayG7-qH4otZka_J0lzo0_ipKRPqA04QBruzIzmVNcm4uQudxnRpkLDagMm6vdcNcUc/s1600/DSCF4074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ktVnU2w6c2rXtZrCXwN4ZaeDdaGKYRcD-Rd6h4QBE0BK64YEhmnD6fIkpKcVI-_w6wqAICBhlayG7-qH4otZka_J0lzo0_ipKRPqA04QBruzIzmVNcm4uQudxnRpkLDagMm6vdcNcUc/s400/DSCF4074.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could you ask for a cooler finish line?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhdhdP-03PATqOaF1vKjbgXAuEkNmzH5-AKQh4oETpkoKAjYsWVjWHPffyKM19YrdCFFVPEthJqSXm1v0e1X5DPQxVzuWCOc9h887ZRaqzkIZXafQtp1M991PwBWaEUyyLMxxpSjCnVw/s1600/DSCF4077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhdhdP-03PATqOaF1vKjbgXAuEkNmzH5-AKQh4oETpkoKAjYsWVjWHPffyKM19YrdCFFVPEthJqSXm1v0e1X5DPQxVzuWCOc9h887ZRaqzkIZXafQtp1M991PwBWaEUyyLMxxpSjCnVw/s400/DSCF4077.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
OK turns out the marathon <i>didn't </i>end at the Vatican like I thought it did. In the picture below, which is the same stretch of the race as depicted above only facing <i>away</i> from the Vatican you can see they veer away.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iLBk_j6GV24CSgbjh7RzO7qH_SUTNJnRj8MO3tt0VD110aIDQoup4BqRlAgcsl6k-HgSFXYHi22aDBiMMF3H-a3mA6A2sSJgTOFf8aMtQsX0jBAPPTDz4eX9gPLaVD3KFRDS7tmFhuo/s1600/DSCF4078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iLBk_j6GV24CSgbjh7RzO7qH_SUTNJnRj8MO3tt0VD110aIDQoup4BqRlAgcsl6k-HgSFXYHi22aDBiMMF3H-a3mA6A2sSJgTOFf8aMtQsX0jBAPPTDz4eX9gPLaVD3KFRDS7tmFhuo/s400/DSCF4078.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Disappointed from thinking I was going to see the finish line, I decided to visit St. Peter's Basilica. Pictures do <i>not</i> do the place justice. It is something one must see in person to appreciate. Unlike what people think of as classic renaissance church design, the ceilings are mosaics (pictures made of different colored tile) instead of frescoes (paintings). Entry to the Basilica is free, but in most cases visitors do have to stand in long lines to get through security on the north end of St. Peter's square to get in as I did. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaltvvTc-e667XPI8ZKP0dPLzbrktq0RnKcatcCCXhHHmYy6uC4fTLp2KCcylYygngPIt36Mrz5M9xcc8eAYreXiPwggVnKHrivpWzXndOGWRkJgM8ezfqhJfQpFuA4fjbTpjfLFO9wM/s1600/DSCF4080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaltvvTc-e667XPI8ZKP0dPLzbrktq0RnKcatcCCXhHHmYy6uC4fTLp2KCcylYygngPIt36Mrz5M9xcc8eAYreXiPwggVnKHrivpWzXndOGWRkJgM8ezfqhJfQpFuA4fjbTpjfLFO9wM/s400/DSCF4080.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breathtaking. Keep that golden ring near the top of the picture in mind for later.</td></tr>
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Once inside, immediately on your right you see Michaelangelo's <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet%C3%A0_%28Michelangelo%29">Pieta</a>- </i>one of the many scenes from the bible I was about to see very often over the following ten days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMe4dUucyKPJJPa8Bftsr4m7RvNMKkKtc-Qmyxoq-rzaDn3gpEyJM93yLlgJBAm5BmVzCBNovOwRJcYZOUnlNYg4g2ELM-F4w4R3Km6kYVxwwrjF8aQQslVjZe51_sMkcTSm0KkztLZQ/s1600/DSCF4081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMe4dUucyKPJJPa8Bftsr4m7RvNMKkKtc-Qmyxoq-rzaDn3gpEyJM93yLlgJBAm5BmVzCBNovOwRJcYZOUnlNYg4g2ELM-F4w4R3Km6kYVxwwrjF8aQQslVjZe51_sMkcTSm0KkztLZQ/s400/DSCF4081.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My camera was dying - not enough juice to try several times to get a clear picture. Anyway - it's behind smudgy glass... just google it. </td></tr>
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I strolled around the Basilica. When I had finished doing that it was time to climb to the top of the dome. You may ask, "but Josh, how can you climb to the top of the most imposing landmark in Rome?" Well I'll tell you. What you'll want to do is head out of the front entrance to the Basilica and turn left back towards the security entrance. Once past the north wall of the entryway to the basilica turn left again and head down the alleyway to get to the entrance to the cupola tour (cupola means dome).<br />
<br />
It costs <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">€</span>5 total to climb the stairs the entire way and <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">€</span>7 total to take the elevator halfway up to the roof of the Basilica and then up and down the cupola by stairs, then back down to ground level by elevator. I highly recommend the elevator. I've read that there are no views along the way up to or down from the roof of the Basilica and it's just adding exercise to an already strenuous climb.<br />
<br />
Stairs are <i>hard</i> if they're not a cardio motion you're used to, and in Afghanistan I probably averaged about five stairs per day for the entire seven months I was there. I've climbed various other stair-centric tourist attractions and I knew I was going to be sore before I began - so yeah - elevator is the way to go.<br />
<br />
There are endless spiral staircases up through the lattice-work of the dome. I'm surprised that they allow tourists to even go up there considering the risks of a pileup or a missed step leading to a bunch of broken legs - although there <i>are</i> emergency buttons you can press at most of the many landings along the way. The views of Rome from the top were yet to come, but first I came upon the inner ring of the cupola. Here I was looking <i>down into </i>the basilica. These pictures <i>might</i> help someone who has never been comprehend the sheer scale of this church. Once again my camera's battery was dying and there's a chain-linked fence keeping those at this level behind the railing.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0tdJUUE4aRczR0ec4nzKpYY3CP3RE_P1EoYYWvBjvsaxF51tz1YoWixOI5aXxRf8QUX9fy58lL0E8gCj_wjoo_AQsdy_-SsCWSdyqQ7JCpztlt9ijfTcNZ7HuMWmwOKox-cynZqKeG8/s1600/DSCF4082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0tdJUUE4aRczR0ec4nzKpYY3CP3RE_P1EoYYWvBjvsaxF51tz1YoWixOI5aXxRf8QUX9fy58lL0E8gCj_wjoo_AQsdy_-SsCWSdyqQ7JCpztlt9ijfTcNZ7HuMWmwOKox-cynZqKeG8/s400/DSCF4082.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-Nt8SPEUU4">A center for <i>ants?!?!</i></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvn4V6QPl6kR5M71YfbOFy9U5UVpXNdu86PhhkcxDEmfzM979P_jcTKz8g1Ow-CcpERsZVEXwV86gLRUO9lEfA4dy1mk3lH3a9UL_fqeYL_dXw0yvFpeVIKz_j0UXfVtrVhkf-RjBum8/s1600/DSCF4083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvn4V6QPl6kR5M71YfbOFy9U5UVpXNdu86PhhkcxDEmfzM979P_jcTKz8g1Ow-CcpERsZVEXwV86gLRUO9lEfA4dy1mk3lH3a9UL_fqeYL_dXw0yvFpeVIKz_j0UXfVtrVhkf-RjBum8/s400/DSCF4083.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember that gold ring from earlier? Now I'm above it. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uLENbVImsgD6ZVKf3emiKcSbZlNtK9Osfv6vQxcCu2IRn2dpnIbVjgdHfytpxP-xPejkNs-vNwPDvju4jhQx1gZMBS7pqIZRobeozP3EyVyFdpPgLcEFyv7Yblwl9BEWX-aCG8E0264/s1600/DSCF4084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uLENbVImsgD6ZVKf3emiKcSbZlNtK9Osfv6vQxcCu2IRn2dpnIbVjgdHfytpxP-xPejkNs-vNwPDvju4jhQx1gZMBS7pqIZRobeozP3EyVyFdpPgLcEFyv7Yblwl9BEWX-aCG8E0264/s400/DSCF4084.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After that landing you continue to ascend through the dome structure - the stairway leans more and more inward accounting for the curvature of the dome until you're climbing with your body nearing a forty five degree angle - then the direction switches and instead of back and forth, you're at a point where the incline of the staircase turns directly inward and upward toward the very top of the dome where you get the best view of anywhere in Rome!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9njt3PSarP-Tt3qoIzuvVTUVD3yaTJUwWGjDtWFcyNRjQb1fc5CZ34d3FwyVi59ljY3J4cm-gGalVJWPEUIFx2ejm7OshxYZISXULvP2MPy-wMe8IDh3y9lnWCP3zQo0uQ1WFcdHpN4U/s1600/DSCF4088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9njt3PSarP-Tt3qoIzuvVTUVD3yaTJUwWGjDtWFcyNRjQb1fc5CZ34d3FwyVi59ljY3J4cm-gGalVJWPEUIFx2ejm7OshxYZISXULvP2MPy-wMe8IDh3y9lnWCP3zQo0uQ1WFcdHpN4U/s400/DSCF4088.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That crowd in St. Peter's square seems to be growing...</td></tr>
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Back down at the roof level I took a few more pictures of the surrounding areas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpswrP60m6sWJlclExflDhQYtnK9NuPQG_-naREqXKR8gwfSGiz-AJ5vmnP4EPZiYgHynuvU1BFz_xBzHvWo3UXNisQBo_0nzqYkDSwNFINhap7_gkW8dehS2my7IfrMcdVyrtExrUJLY/s1600/DSCF4086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpswrP60m6sWJlclExflDhQYtnK9NuPQG_-naREqXKR8gwfSGiz-AJ5vmnP4EPZiYgHynuvU1BFz_xBzHvWo3UXNisQBo_0nzqYkDSwNFINhap7_gkW8dehS2my7IfrMcdVyrtExrUJLY/s400/DSCF4086.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking East at the Castel Sant'angelo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhds0A0Q0FlYPZi1m_dLr174c84_8KDFMfMgOgYEu3dYZuXOgnZFhF_iIAkNLivVyiNObMDvUYrihttuTzJTcnnanDI0ZHkV9N8gneFOvmc4VGmvSsThRU1UXee2wgQJY8Et0X1Tm8pJ4I/s1600/DSCF4087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhds0A0Q0FlYPZi1m_dLr174c84_8KDFMfMgOgYEu3dYZuXOgnZFhF_iIAkNLivVyiNObMDvUYrihttuTzJTcnnanDI0ZHkV9N8gneFOvmc4VGmvSsThRU1UXee2wgQJY8Et0X1Tm8pJ4I/s400/DSCF4087.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking South you can see the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS481US481&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D15&q=italy%20tomb%20of%20the%20unknown%20soldier&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=qjPIT9OZAuGA2wWfqajiDQ&biw=1244&bih=641&sei=rDPIT5OSGorK2AWFlf3TDQ">tomb of the unknown soldier</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And that's what it's like to climb St. Peter's. My legs were very shaky and tired at the end, but this climb is worth it. As I walked back into St. Peter's Square everyone started applauding! I thought, "Wow, Rome really knows how to welcome a lowly tourist!" and then the speakers rang out in Italian. Pope Benedict XVI was addressing the masses from the papal apartments. It was a Sunday during lent so it warranted a special sermon from the Pope himself! This explained the gathering crowd in the square.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2NAlCB-3vstNiJSCAWZRlVVcEgQhxTjCHRJ45EqXym7gm7PUTk1OFbgih46O3ZGCkj34QR4AyLCQ5N1Vpgf-PvIhLT7RkJrhjYu0aZY856pKZ9rbzGmsi1QCC4OjpJc1K2F_-icwlME/s1600/DSCF4089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2NAlCB-3vstNiJSCAWZRlVVcEgQhxTjCHRJ45EqXym7gm7PUTk1OFbgih46O3ZGCkj34QR4AyLCQ5N1Vpgf-PvIhLT7RkJrhjYu0aZY856pKZ9rbzGmsi1QCC4OjpJc1K2F_-icwlME/s400/DSCF4089.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See that little mauve drape thing under that window - that's the pope above that!</td></tr>
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The Pope spoke mostly in Italian, but in total he spoke <i>six </i>languages including Latin, Spanish Russian, English, and German. Very impressive.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MkVSdqZB7zloCBuSjNMiPSilY8bjbu7MsetL6jmNpIlej5SkqpTcapFTgo6YEs6FP2ZmQJNqD4C_qz4JLIGwUvEtJqqJJQUJrjMJ5CN-DZKblHkhI7Zhx6gA1tZs2xsyKRhQBaKzCxk/s1600/DSCF4091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MkVSdqZB7zloCBuSjNMiPSilY8bjbu7MsetL6jmNpIlej5SkqpTcapFTgo6YEs6FP2ZmQJNqD4C_qz4JLIGwUvEtJqqJJQUJrjMJ5CN-DZKblHkhI7Zhx6gA1tZs2xsyKRhQBaKzCxk/s400/DSCF4091.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crowd.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdRxfErrF9blfMOyy62Hr2AgbYosrWMcwylDCcjTnUXbmwyA88JtNvGaqZzHZ855SjAS6NVCv-GgaZn9cmS4kK47BrDIzEBHNYJHlKyjAPT3XiMaAqj4eJDsnek_abZ3d8Qt-A3ng4Pw/s1600/DSCF4092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdRxfErrF9blfMOyy62Hr2AgbYosrWMcwylDCcjTnUXbmwyA88JtNvGaqZzHZ855SjAS6NVCv-GgaZn9cmS4kK47BrDIzEBHNYJHlKyjAPT3XiMaAqj4eJDsnek_abZ3d8Qt-A3ng4Pw/s400/DSCF4092.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg46nGVTUMzBgbFw-xVDxDDE13WdFeJPBeT633VHvIdOhmFY5sAFMJMQ-cOn3jUQgjsnbzM2TaCXH3r8C7aiMJ2f_8NlkVJTcud1DZj0r5LUnextSAplDOzbLMs0RfCPWHJ0u9394zCvA/s1600/DSCF4093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg46nGVTUMzBgbFw-xVDxDDE13WdFeJPBeT633VHvIdOhmFY5sAFMJMQ-cOn3jUQgjsnbzM2TaCXH3r8C7aiMJ2f_8NlkVJTcud1DZj0r5LUnextSAplDOzbLMs0RfCPWHJ0u9394zCvA/s400/DSCF4093.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for all the blessings, Papa!</td></tr>
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The legend of the founding of Rome revolves around Romulus (the founder of Rome - note the similarities in the names) and Remus being raised by a she-wolf. Concordantly, this subject is often depicted in art throughout Rome and all art museums in and out of Rome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgH3aRlJ8xjKnHi5xZYR5I-9_LIoqZusWFqBcUkS5p5uzxLkF4Q1h41AEhEnjMGMrd0t185C1FDzV-JuxllDKGsGKL-vVReN8gbxmXiN-wSgDpeTFeYpaqYcZYa7LzYgAYKMtK4UusTUU/s1600/DSCF4094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgH3aRlJ8xjKnHi5xZYR5I-9_LIoqZusWFqBcUkS5p5uzxLkF4Q1h41AEhEnjMGMrd0t185C1FDzV-JuxllDKGsGKL-vVReN8gbxmXiN-wSgDpeTFeYpaqYcZYa7LzYgAYKMtK4UusTUU/s400/DSCF4094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mmm... wolf milk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
By the time I finished soaking up some Vatican views, I was truly exhausted. I strolled back up the Tiber toward my hotel and as I walked snapped a couple more pictures of the stragglers in the marathon, disheartened at how little it turned out I knew of the route the race takes through Rome. I passed out in my hotel and got some much needed sleep. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNPEyaZFlqoqvxh4abhNumQuyJpEBDy6S9yCCeruh8-serVutbtuMBfWWZqHtG9SaYso_G0QSwXSDUywCZ6KhDL8kHkYwDFtzs8-SxMiS9ZEVFT4dDZT_RT-LR3uXU4pxufj_-I7ISFY/s1600/DSCF4099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNPEyaZFlqoqvxh4abhNumQuyJpEBDy6S9yCCeruh8-serVutbtuMBfWWZqHtG9SaYso_G0QSwXSDUywCZ6KhDL8kHkYwDFtzs8-SxMiS9ZEVFT4dDZT_RT-LR3uXU4pxufj_-I7ISFY/s400/DSCF4099.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clowns running a Marathon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaMoTGyz9MSCAEc-vfbW9hNM5DnD4WyqjzozUJTSDXTlr_a2LJfqCm7CUbWJccR7_hNtvFiJEx4dR_roho8FCUT0g3T_NetERsWd0lwDAvytFbmsFPlKXaScFhkjlU95AnIxuPGPIkGk/s1600/DSCF4098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaMoTGyz9MSCAEc-vfbW9hNM5DnD4WyqjzozUJTSDXTlr_a2LJfqCm7CUbWJccR7_hNtvFiJEx4dR_roho8FCUT0g3T_NetERsWd0lwDAvytFbmsFPlKXaScFhkjlU95AnIxuPGPIkGk/s400/DSCF4098.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now they're running into a tunnel? I don't know this city at <i>all... </i>yet...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com200120, Holy See41.902916 12.45338941.891098 12.433648 41.914733999999996 12.47313tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-41877432751151678642012-04-18T22:28:00.001+04:302012-04-18T22:45:06.675+04:30Tel Aviv Animal ShelterMuch of my second week in Israel was spent staving off boredom as most of the people I was spending time with were consumed with their first week of internships. Invariably, there were several people whose internships had not started yet with whom I spent the majority of my time. One such unemployed person came to me one day with the suggestion that we go "volunteer" at the Tel Aviv Animal Shelter. By volunteer, what I mean is play with an adorable puppy for a while.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkZH9J8p__OG-cSeGewzL_vYhZgt0g4zdSSYr-FKQCCRowHt2ta1amLPDrExl2kBf9hZa9wvBL0X6hlLUJeFpBhLfWvY13IjcMrCU3uNyQHvHxuqIF9lntpIEnc5HI_6UM0HeGkUpnLo/s1600/DSCF4060.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkZH9J8p__OG-cSeGewzL_vYhZgt0g4zdSSYr-FKQCCRowHt2ta1amLPDrExl2kBf9hZa9wvBL0X6hlLUJeFpBhLfWvY13IjcMrCU3uNyQHvHxuqIF9lntpIEnc5HI_6UM0HeGkUpnLo/s400/DSCF4060.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Tel Aviv Animal Shelter (more formally The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Israel), is exactly what it sounds like. It's a home for abused, or unwanted animals of a seemingly wide variety (mostly dogs). We found the perfect dog to volunteer with. Here he is:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW1vOy0QQrn4WWm_z2zCsSOjb0fWuE3spwNVy4RQZt7MEm3RB_4-UMnEcCffZU9CJSOhGW6q2z79To4vMryQ2_khHRiDvhJCLoOYH8ZE9bDi7-YHY-HOuI6bgbNNkS1Ldql2dVxB6Sxw/s1600/DSCF4044.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW1vOy0QQrn4WWm_z2zCsSOjb0fWuE3spwNVy4RQZt7MEm3RB_4-UMnEcCffZU9CJSOhGW6q2z79To4vMryQ2_khHRiDvhJCLoOYH8ZE9bDi7-YHY-HOuI6bgbNNkS1Ldql2dVxB6Sxw/s400/DSCF4044.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I love dogs though I'm not sure I would make a very good dog owner. Our dog, who we named <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um8mMa5w41A">Rufio </a>was having me rethink that. He was so affectionate!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQeJO265EbOsWA1ojhkoTaZDhfG97lUjbvxA9fMPL4VLwpQ4NoiBDPsM2BGT5Cwjs_tCKaQSetV8-c7YCGdpJbRcvbk67yGbctCZ2sk8vNl1SAxw7uE67z-cJw-s1AXSH2Sice4SMGFk/s1600/DSCF4045.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQeJO265EbOsWA1ojhkoTaZDhfG97lUjbvxA9fMPL4VLwpQ4NoiBDPsM2BGT5Cwjs_tCKaQSetV8-c7YCGdpJbRcvbk67yGbctCZ2sk8vNl1SAxw7uE67z-cJw-s1AXSH2Sice4SMGFk/s400/DSCF4045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X_yvhq1JA6XrL4VLK4XF23OxqLnI7FcObXtLdg8IZkEHB51CsvEIigczeL-7_BJGwwjcL2WaLA4C8rv0ougrraHhdL8NCXpe8YPo0YT0choV567i0To8SbgvfUzsFCWwK44o2qmr26g/s1600/DSCF4046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X_yvhq1JA6XrL4VLK4XF23OxqLnI7FcObXtLdg8IZkEHB51CsvEIigczeL-7_BJGwwjcL2WaLA4C8rv0ougrraHhdL8NCXpe8YPo0YT0choV567i0To8SbgvfUzsFCWwK44o2qmr26g/s400/DSCF4046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26tD0i5_9zuTRPk7EdLx32g8LKEHgmync4WUp6PqkrhDCGgyuD8CpGuGmfTsoaJ5xfASCC_Xh3lqXpGuiHCXZ0THT7xfGKo4kJNVS8Ka3lIH-r91AUpxlS9_EyaiXZy4SNGWwwK69Qcc/s1600/DSCF4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26tD0i5_9zuTRPk7EdLx32g8LKEHgmync4WUp6PqkrhDCGgyuD8CpGuGmfTsoaJ5xfASCC_Xh3lqXpGuiHCXZ0THT7xfGKo4kJNVS8Ka3lIH-r91AUpxlS9_EyaiXZy4SNGWwwK69Qcc/s400/DSCF4048.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiLjpBZbM2C7Nfq7BB2Id2DL5EZDAeY-k5Wjk3i5LiLOMDQ09d0okMyEnpNw1vgMdIsZYM8n-GPTQQGZf-R3TFwrZqU9U0jsGLR2psPY8rMJM_w0cWAry_L-BFijms7l56ulWbV5vz5I/s1600/DSCF4050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiLjpBZbM2C7Nfq7BB2Id2DL5EZDAeY-k5Wjk3i5LiLOMDQ09d0okMyEnpNw1vgMdIsZYM8n-GPTQQGZf-R3TFwrZqU9U0jsGLR2psPY8rMJM_w0cWAry_L-BFijms7l56ulWbV5vz5I/s400/DSCF4050.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_uIaZympOWF9qEYOoVygBcr9jhluE7OXVoDh5SCUdRf09FLKvKTBCrzJCZZPvjZg5-3S8gRDOw2wNc49A_3204kNDOGJW3jXzzHRobZz4ga7ivZ7VsBiGCr6-sjc9vcS9skGl1n8aqU/s1600/DSCF4052.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_uIaZympOWF9qEYOoVygBcr9jhluE7OXVoDh5SCUdRf09FLKvKTBCrzJCZZPvjZg5-3S8gRDOw2wNc49A_3204kNDOGJW3jXzzHRobZz4ga7ivZ7VsBiGCr6-sjc9vcS9skGl1n8aqU/s400/DSCF4052.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">awwwww.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So what you do is basically take a dog out on a leash in their little courtyard thing that has enough room to walk/run around. There are doggy treats, and some toys to play with - pretty standard dog shelter stuff. <br />
<br />
At this point I'd say I've used enough pictures of one thing for one blog post - but he was just so damned cute! I'll have to make an exception. After about a half an hour, another volunteer with another dog came close to us and Rufio barked at them like they were trying to attack us. He was protecting us! At this point we were anticipating some separation anxiety. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu09a9xkb3SNzrAf5oYOnzPq0lSMDr006cYZpRzQ5UT6RJ9hV6awr5PehVLZVjwv96XEuSSBEK7aSH813UHXCR1P7B52UfyHqNzYcTD9fPh8OpJBZyEzMMdMk1pIjsrUBoYQz7tukQbMs/s1600/DSCF4054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu09a9xkb3SNzrAf5oYOnzPq0lSMDr006cYZpRzQ5UT6RJ9hV6awr5PehVLZVjwv96XEuSSBEK7aSH813UHXCR1P7B52UfyHqNzYcTD9fPh8OpJBZyEzMMdMk1pIjsrUBoYQz7tukQbMs/s320/DSCF4054.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsbZoGRb7LpmKqiofV9RCcVxYDXXWVCfXOAu1x-WLCG0e2NxyF8Xq92FRIH79kvzsYj2M5TJ9qCAGveRD-BqsJnMcBZyJzPX7oALZfH-BCIxCBfO1poWxoQHu7XPUh_8Ch2fD6zyWTG8/s1600/DSCF4056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsbZoGRb7LpmKqiofV9RCcVxYDXXWVCfXOAu1x-WLCG0e2NxyF8Xq92FRIH79kvzsYj2M5TJ9qCAGveRD-BqsJnMcBZyJzPX7oALZfH-BCIxCBfO1poWxoQHu7XPUh_8Ch2fD6zyWTG8/s320/DSCF4056.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGu0B83WjpbnllyMLOjtBivs0ng-t-X1bi-5_T68yyrGH_hrfxmVnTstNDyQRJs3r4j0ZK2VGoAXnzsnLoW3_pcrvaE5xBki1eQosACHjp0SBwSxDzhR0vY1llB32ZLOO15mEnC0Fd6Y/s1600/DSCF4057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGu0B83WjpbnllyMLOjtBivs0ng-t-X1bi-5_T68yyrGH_hrfxmVnTstNDyQRJs3r4j0ZK2VGoAXnzsnLoW3_pcrvaE5xBki1eQosACHjp0SBwSxDzhR0vY1llB32ZLOO15mEnC0Fd6Y/s320/DSCF4057.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouxFwp7hwglG_pPJ0_Owfn_lmzdvj1UXBvPgQa-7YpYPxwSZ26EwhwCuJj_r7hLIv-3Wd9mcTztnKW5_Oq5uEUy2_FRguTVhhHwojPUE3onjdL-K5ghL1KYGMzog1QNK3NGSdapBMx34/s1600/DSCF4059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouxFwp7hwglG_pPJ0_Owfn_lmzdvj1UXBvPgQa-7YpYPxwSZ26EwhwCuJj_r7hLIv-3Wd9mcTztnKW5_Oq5uEUy2_FRguTVhhHwojPUE3onjdL-K5ghL1KYGMzog1QNK3NGSdapBMx34/s320/DSCF4059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I hope Rufio found a good home.JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-30535913520740845232012-04-14T21:12:00.000+04:302013-10-09T23:33:34.525+03:30Jerusalem in a DayIn my opinion, no trip to Israel is complete without a visit to Jerusalem. This trip, in relation to the other times I've visited Israel, was decidedly not Jerusalem centered. I enjoyed my experience in Tel Aviv overall, and it was nice to spend lots of time on the beach and see secular Israel, but I'm much more of a Jerusalem guy than a Tel Aviv guy.<br />
<br />
I went with my good friend Seth who is in Israel on a Masa Program to see the sites I had seen many times before, but am always excited to see again. <br />
<br />
We started by taking the 405 bus from the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv to the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem. From the CBS in Jerusalem, we took the newly completed light-rail directly to the North Gate of the Old City - the Damascus Gate. Entering this gate headed south puts the Christian Quarter on your right and the Muslim Quarter on your left.<br />
<br />
We continued south and took a quick look at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This church encompasses the sights where Christians believe Jesus to have been crucified, buried, and resurrected. The several final stations of the cross on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Dolorosa">via dolorosa</a> are within the church itself. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Pp8mwKgHzabUo7zgi3FBpM942aUyCFxiPfhPxfs7MIAILMLAFKiH2j2iC1ZIaiAiBudSKXEffsmm3bSCP5m3yo1zezjDkhno46-SIc4IAsCN9bEnCT8epRk_kc9q2IGOY6z2Fr7PUqY/s1600/DSCF4005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Pp8mwKgHzabUo7zgi3FBpM942aUyCFxiPfhPxfs7MIAILMLAFKiH2j2iC1ZIaiAiBudSKXEffsmm3bSCP5m3yo1zezjDkhno46-SIc4IAsCN9bEnCT8epRk_kc9q2IGOY6z2Fr7PUqY/s400/DSCF4005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There it is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk-G65f3j3GXIFG5PsG7SFn1dzPhs9xeLndD1d-Yf3uZdxC_nYIHeiJJONgdw8A3TZNLDde2AheMwHIAxI1hPwjbKTq6scTZjHSR8ydpHlT756f_pd_N8KO-5GWw3AM1Q0jCjBIaRYqI/s1600/DSCF4007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk-G65f3j3GXIFG5PsG7SFn1dzPhs9xeLndD1d-Yf3uZdxC_nYIHeiJJONgdw8A3TZNLDde2AheMwHIAxI1hPwjbKTq6scTZjHSR8ydpHlT756f_pd_N8KO-5GWw3AM1Q0jCjBIaRYqI/s400/DSCF4007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Site of the crucifixion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAs_2-Ch33J_aU7WMsJzgwSX-Bo_E46F6sldsdvhZsj3X87aMPJ6WMRSJil2-kh_lJvz_jQgMNVEwWtNx6SUA7MUiISLkXYhtId39jyPxC1c9UvQAK60kJE_yzpMqT6NZ2ErGGVKrCUyk/s1600/DSCF4011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAs_2-Ch33J_aU7WMsJzgwSX-Bo_E46F6sldsdvhZsj3X87aMPJ6WMRSJil2-kh_lJvz_jQgMNVEwWtNx6SUA7MUiISLkXYhtId39jyPxC1c9UvQAK60kJE_yzpMqT6NZ2ErGGVKrCUyk/s400/DSCF4011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Churches are usually pretty nice looking.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVp1hLtrqO-K-7JCm7GXOA2D1v5Ynoa9R5SnpbkxFuakISgXdLQqP0nQCdTQR4oDXX3nxae-UmcjYB4Llsu1fd37bouagkTd2_TCLGw3jtzpgt3xjoY4Z9HcI4-cHpvRYckJC-R8ilHI/s1600/DSCF4012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVp1hLtrqO-K-7JCm7GXOA2D1v5Ynoa9R5SnpbkxFuakISgXdLQqP0nQCdTQR4oDXX3nxae-UmcjYB4Llsu1fd37bouagkTd2_TCLGw3jtzpgt3xjoY4Z9HcI4-cHpvRYckJC-R8ilHI/s400/DSCF4012.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tomb where Christians believe Jesus was buried and came back to life.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
OK this church was established in the 300s by Constantine (most people know him as the guy who converted the Roman empire's religion to Christianity)'s mother <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_%28Empress%29">Empress Helena</a>. After Constantine changed the official religion - she went on a mission to the holy land to "find relics". She came back to Rome having "found" the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Cross">true cross</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Tunic">holy tunic</a>, the nails of the crucifixion, as well as the sites of various important points in Jesus's life such as the site of the nativity, and the place where Jesus was crucified.<br />
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It's a little funny to me to imagine her walking the streets of Jerusalem and pointing to the stations of the cross along the road, "and that's where he fell, and that's where Simon the Syrene helped him carry the cross, and that's where he was crucified... and so on". Archeologists believe that the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was once the site of a Roman temple so really it's more like she was sent to convert the holy land into the new religion of the empire - in the same way that late December became Christmas because there was a Roman holiday at that same time of year. I find it hard to believe that basically any of these churches marking the important points mentioned in the bible are actually in the right place, but I understand the Christian desire to have these actual churches erected - it makes it more relate-able that they are walking in the same places as Jesus once walked.<br />
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The church itself is shared between the sects of Christianity that are prominent in Jerusalem. These sects have shared responsibilities and prayer times within the church for more than a hundred and fifty years. Every once in a while the status quo of this shared status is tested by something most people would consider to be very minor. A door is left open, a guy moves his chair a few feet to the left - things like that, and a fist fight breaks out between the sects. I think it's pretty funny.<br />
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After visiting that church we backtracked a little bit and passed various stations of the cross along the via dolorosa. Here's a picture of one of those:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKWO1ddcmnhF5CnMf9Qt8KBog-kbLrLvkKLlw2DdBiA3UY9gznZGctCovnIU6K-CteozbqB5r2Mit3j0djtXt5JGwtpHkUXtcd0TDQ6NjbD-hc63x2Ge4G2FRuQqg0FKCRprj9AJ0fVg/s1600/DSCF4013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKWO1ddcmnhF5CnMf9Qt8KBog-kbLrLvkKLlw2DdBiA3UY9gznZGctCovnIU6K-CteozbqB5r2Mit3j0djtXt5JGwtpHkUXtcd0TDQ6NjbD-hc63x2Ge4G2FRuQqg0FKCRprj9AJ0fVg/s400/DSCF4013.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think it's one of the two stations that mark where Jesus fell while carrying the cross.</td></tr>
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We were backtracking to make our way to the Austrian Hospice. Not hospice like a hospital, a hospice is also like a hostel and generally intended for use by people of a certain religion. The Austrian Hospice in Jerusalem has been in use since 1863.<br />
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If you know where it is (it's at a point along the via dolorosa) and if you ring the bell they will buzz you in. Once inside - say hello to some German speakers if you must but then - climb the stairs to the roof! It's a great view of the old city from inside of it!<br />
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Wow that was fun. After that, we started heading toward the Western Wall. Along the way I had to take this picture:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OSU v. Michigan. </td></tr>
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So the Western Wall is the closest bit of retention wall holding up the Temple Mount to where the Jewish Temple once stood that is open to the public. It's forbidden to more observant Jews to go up to the Temple Mount lest they stand in the spot where the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_of_Holies">Holy of Holies</a> once stood because that exact spot isn't known, BUT since the Holy of Holies is the aptly named holiest spot in Judaism, Jews pray <i>towards </i>it, and since this is the closest permissible spot to stand and pray - it's a popular prayer spot. Sorry if that was complicated. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemTxvz-1v83KfxJhrEtFiM9stRziHia2qUiZsktloTq8v4s0MqQX1iZFC0R8VfctYyS3J2Hi0U1NvPvwCZfWdJttT-SD24Oa0BuFo_GNoU69-II1rv0pZfnzBG5BtX8vj35hWvAlhU9E/s1600/DSCF4016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemTxvz-1v83KfxJhrEtFiM9stRziHia2qUiZsktloTq8v4s0MqQX1iZFC0R8VfctYyS3J2Hi0U1NvPvwCZfWdJttT-SD24Oa0BuFo_GNoU69-II1rv0pZfnzBG5BtX8vj35hWvAlhU9E/s400/DSCF4016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well - it's usually popular. Sometimes there are lull periods like this one.</td></tr>
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Spent some time at the Wall, then, by chance the Temple Mount was opening up to tourists so we went up there. Tourists are only allowed up to the Temple Mount at very odd hours and only at the entrance ramp made of wood visible from the Western Wall prayer plaza. Muslims are allowed to go there by various other entrances, but there are Israeli guards stopping people who don't look Muslim - pretty much the most racially profiling job of all time. I look very local in the Middle East so I probably could have made it in, but Seth looks White - thanks a <i>lot</i>, Seth.<br />
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As a tourist, you're not allowed to enter the Dome of the Rock or the Al Aqsa Mosque, but the Temple Mount itself is very pretty. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3Q36mjkLgzSY_gCKd7GZRVHKazMvvMiMPDglX2g4JJMFuA_ixcTp-8vm-jG2s2w5rGWM9yekePPIV2JLKSJuHw_J0I38glwzhy3vghPfX52W-zOjizVf0kslCtigdd6SGtRsj2aBB6s/s1600/DSCF4017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3Q36mjkLgzSY_gCKd7GZRVHKazMvvMiMPDglX2g4JJMFuA_ixcTp-8vm-jG2s2w5rGWM9yekePPIV2JLKSJuHw_J0I38glwzhy3vghPfX52W-zOjizVf0kslCtigdd6SGtRsj2aBB6s/s400/DSCF4017.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This kid was having a temper tantrum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJkMvstHaZBS1INK_FcGvDestNFxUgimjXv079vhNWRSDXb8eL-WiTfrXb3jztu_xnpIsJVY2cgJuecLMsZ3sDxu5T55NG3Nzz9EPQ0ptXN6XQbeLfR2ZLVfOFb3KGcj8kdDoLpPvtVc/s1600/DSCF4018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJkMvstHaZBS1INK_FcGvDestNFxUgimjXv079vhNWRSDXb8eL-WiTfrXb3jztu_xnpIsJVY2cgJuecLMsZ3sDxu5T55NG3Nzz9EPQ0ptXN6XQbeLfR2ZLVfOFb3KGcj8kdDoLpPvtVc/s400/DSCF4018.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temper Tantrums are pretty much the same in every language.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdfp5RgYAz4J8uy5TztXJEfIc_Djajtu1s5OzUcK1VoeW8cpPHIZBKbHhHrltADJIoeRsaLvZgCeOpEDYV0nRKEFtX6NomqioyLL5qaS-ApbmcrRwWmE3USDhWNu-8ukXNxvVQhaizB0/s1600/DSCF4019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdfp5RgYAz4J8uy5TztXJEfIc_Djajtu1s5OzUcK1VoeW8cpPHIZBKbHhHrltADJIoeRsaLvZgCeOpEDYV0nRKEFtX6NomqioyLL5qaS-ApbmcrRwWmE3USDhWNu-8ukXNxvVQhaizB0/s400/DSCF4019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? It's pretty.</td></tr>
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Then we took <i>very</i> tourist-y pictures like this one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsZ60d6SyzAWYl1luoRXI96J5ik-a3pbpTXFZFQ4wQAbfuMHt4Adr3YdE0caPzefzidud68gM_Cf_oRPt9190EKQ1f_yMitC_WNH8V4Hjv1q0QpgGLDNEYbODH_Ba-Wqfr2-WtZJyRoo/s1600/DSCF4021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsZ60d6SyzAWYl1luoRXI96J5ik-a3pbpTXFZFQ4wQAbfuMHt4Adr3YdE0caPzefzidud68gM_Cf_oRPt9190EKQ1f_yMitC_WNH8V4Hjv1q0QpgGLDNEYbODH_Ba-Wqfr2-WtZJyRoo/s400/DSCF4021.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seth.</td></tr>
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From the Temple Mount, you have a great view across a valley towards the Mount of Olives. Half of this hill-face is completely covered with the graves of thousands upon thousands of Jews. The graves are strategically placed. Jewish tradition holds that when the Messiah comes, the dead will wake and live in a Paradise. The people who are buried there are in a prime spot for when that happens - right there facing Jerusalem!<br />
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Also on the Mount of olives are various other Churches dedicated to specific events mentioned in the new testament. This picture shows three of them with the giant cemetery just visible at the upper right of the photo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmm9bXXA7NAISbWJsdm51sMd3h2gNhM9QjVlm1gu1XtNobFHQAIYKoZ-mBLmEOMeKamd5EuE4P9cj_5uTPwcbd-pWPpcHCAb6KupTLDwr96NIEzEo98eoeSiNGsP7sFdTdU7CaZ5oem_M/s1600/DSCF4027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmm9bXXA7NAISbWJsdm51sMd3h2gNhM9QjVlm1gu1XtNobFHQAIYKoZ-mBLmEOMeKamd5EuE4P9cj_5uTPwcbd-pWPpcHCAb6KupTLDwr96NIEzEo98eoeSiNGsP7sFdTdU7CaZ5oem_M/s400/DSCF4027.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower left to upper right: Church of Gethsemane, The Church of Mary Magdalene, and the Church of Dominus Flevit. </td></tr>
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Gethsemane is mentioned in the bible as the garden where Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion. There's a garden next door to the church with many trees hundreds of years old - perhaps not 2000 years old, but this is the traditional Gethsemane garden. The Russian Orthodox church of Mary Magdalene is very clearly Russian - lots of different nations make their mark like this one on Jerusalem. My history of Jerusalem teacher said that Jerusalem is like a beautiful woman that nations try to woo by giving her beautiful jewelry like this. Interesting way of putting it... Anyway this church is also only open at odd hours like the Temple Mount (I went there back in 2008). The church contains a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relic">relic</a> of the pinky bone of the Saint Mary Magdalene herself, but don't ask me about its authenticity... Finally the church of Dominus Flevit marks the passage of the bible where Jesus looks upon Jerusalem and weeps (dominus flevit means "and the lord wept" in latin) because he foresees the destruction of Jerusalem - and so the church is shaped like a tear. That church is tiny. Basically it's a 20 foot square chapel.<br />
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After leaving the Temple Mount, we started heading towards modern Jerusalem, after first spending some time in the Jewish Quarter - taking in some sights and eating some shawarma, we headed towards the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_David_Hotel">King David Hotel</a>. This is one of the oldest and most luxurious hotels Israel. Since its opening in 1931, it has hosted royalty from all over the world - presidents, prime ministers etc. The headquarters of the British mandate was housed here - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwKP09W6-vU&t=6m50s">this one scene from the awesome film Exodus was filmed and took place here</a>. Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint had Martinis there - so we ordered some Martinis on the terrace which also has an incredible view of the old city.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To industry!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the sun never setting on her majesty's empire - oh wait...</td></tr>
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After our classy drinks and what had become a <i>lot</i> of time on our feet, we were ready to be done. There was just one more sight I had to see. <a href="http://www.time-elevator-jerusalem.co.il/en/index.asp">The Time Elevator</a>. The Time Elevator is the most kitschy, corny thing you could possibly do in Jerusalem - and I hadn't done it yet. I had waited for this moment for years. Basically, it's one of those movies with the moving seats that make people nauseous. You are in a malfunctioning time machine that Chaim Topol - the actor who played Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof - helps to navigate back to the present by showing you around the history of Jerusalem, and YES - it is exactly as awesome as that sounds.<br />
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After the <i>incredible </i>experience at the Time Elevator, we made our way back to the Jerusalem Central Bus Station and hopped on a bus back to Tel Aviv. We really did see the highlights of Jerusalem tourism in one day of touring - which is a feat! Take it away, Bender!<br />
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JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-62591905021945580592012-03-18T00:05:00.002+03:302012-03-18T02:38:40.871+03:30Purim in Tel AvivPurim is a Jewish Holiday celebrating the events described in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Esther">Book of Esther</a>. Basically, evil guy named Haman tried to convince the Persian King Ahasuerus (who in <i>fact</i> historically syncs up with King Xerxes who most people will know from the movie 300 as an impossibly large guy with an impossibly deep voice - anyway...) to kill the Jews. Esther, who had become queen by being the most beautiful in the Kings eyes then reveals herself to be Jewish and exposes Haman's evil plan. The holiday subscribes to the adage that follows most Jewish holidays and that is this: "They tried to kill us. We survived. Let's eat."<br />
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Purim is all about hiding ones identity - Esther hiding the fact that she is Jewish, Haman hiding the fact that he is evil, Ahasuerus hiding his <a href="https://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1280&bih=551&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=xerxes&oq=xerxes&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=3&gs_upl=1664l1981l0l2264l3l3l0l0l0l0l239l693l2-3l3l0&gs_l=img.3..0l10.1664l1981l0l2268l3l3l0l0l0l0l239l693l2-3l3l0.frgbld">secret obsession with gold jewelry</a>, Mordecai (Esther's righteous cousin and adopted father)'s behind the scenes helping people like he's Batman... and so a central pillar in celebrating Purim is dressing up in masks. Jewish Halloween, essentially. Exhibit A - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haredi_Judaism">Chareidi</a> guy talking to a crazy dressed person:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioFotincQdtfKWDuUmJWzhod53OaT6KBo_BRFlcUk-Zadi4QvuF14Ovl7HPYpQt2xg0e1VM0iHw-mdOQcmgQj_T8vYvnGwoDqglcm48ReD6ViB17_leVKINvUcuZ2cd-rd79T4IG6lmI/s1600/DSCF3884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioFotincQdtfKWDuUmJWzhod53OaT6KBo_BRFlcUk-Zadi4QvuF14Ovl7HPYpQt2xg0e1VM0iHw-mdOQcmgQj_T8vYvnGwoDqglcm48ReD6ViB17_leVKINvUcuZ2cd-rd79T4IG6lmI/s400/DSCF3884.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture worthy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_Herzl">Theodor Herzl</a> is largely considered the founding father of the idea of a modern Jewish state. He looked like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://zioneocon.blogspot.com/theodor%20herzl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://zioneocon.blogspot.com/theodor%20herzl.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those far-seeing eyes see a new state on the horizon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anyway, he's a very recognizable figure here. I happen to have been blessed with a natural talent for looking like him upon my arrival, so all it took was a couple of wardrobe changes to bring Herzl back to life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpxGNhA7HvBdyXnH4T_qAPSNDqQWEwz1uP079G8xxaH2UVuFcEMcarY0G0ptpQlN-9_AghvW3uWSHu-EdFcnvT8IRDy_8GxzUNBaCnqb_G5XEoRCCgqvGcE6NvwvSehKJPzZOMUzvZfs/s1600/DSCF3887.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpxGNhA7HvBdyXnH4T_qAPSNDqQWEwz1uP079G8xxaH2UVuFcEMcarY0G0ptpQlN-9_AghvW3uWSHu-EdFcnvT8IRDy_8GxzUNBaCnqb_G5XEoRCCgqvGcE6NvwvSehKJPzZOMUzvZfs/s400/DSCF3887.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"If you will it - it is no dream" - Thejoshdor, Herzl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A couple of Israelis commenting on my beard before Purim even began brought up Herzl's name so this was a no-brainer for the first "day" of Purim (Purim was actually Wednesday night-Thursday, but here it was celebrated Tuesday-Saturday!).<br />
<br />
There was a massive zombie walk that started near King George Street, and <i>there</i> you could see just how much Purim is related to Halloween and how much Israel is connected culture-wise to the rest of the world, what with the zombie craze and all that going on. There were lots of zombie versions of pop-culture figures. I thought of going as Zombie Herzl, but in the end chose not to.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGt_asfTuW4qlIuAtADM4bTq5HtbJGuYQf-4o3f3Mh3DGp11vuEuA7tth8DMloTb5rP9kndiMqx7Tx4dfpbQzbxSokWlNAPzv_jjn90qvlt_xob0g0Dmaf2EhqUbH4oTg5ayNWMsl-J5k/s1600/DSCF3889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGt_asfTuW4qlIuAtADM4bTq5HtbJGuYQf-4o3f3Mh3DGp11vuEuA7tth8DMloTb5rP9kndiMqx7Tx4dfpbQzbxSokWlNAPzv_jjn90qvlt_xob0g0Dmaf2EhqUbH4oTg5ayNWMsl-J5k/s400/DSCF3889.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your brains are in another castle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoNH9GglqQlcthzsr8S5378_SKnP-FXx3xBMFzaym20WcvJ2z_GMDtY2ttQaHP-HsCc8QZ_zp7LwE3RGhDcFKIRSKmAY6-VQbEUc-d6xIaY_PumD_FYaHXVr5zXewsL4n7i38rj01bSs/s1600/DSCF3890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoNH9GglqQlcthzsr8S5378_SKnP-FXx3xBMFzaym20WcvJ2z_GMDtY2ttQaHP-HsCc8QZ_zp7LwE3RGhDcFKIRSKmAY6-VQbEUc-d6xIaY_PumD_FYaHXVr5zXewsL4n7i38rj01bSs/s400/DSCF3890.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEo5N5k4pFmzsCgzqcGZB2UJhrSZRU4PHDvJDwwNTnM4DGhWRlABNfXoxQQjnop86niz8y7IBbpGI37urt08YNN840bJs-tD7XmePyY_dk6KwgxUua3aUNvqo6MaIC0h2x2fzMlaPOh0/s1600/DSCF3892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEo5N5k4pFmzsCgzqcGZB2UJhrSZRU4PHDvJDwwNTnM4DGhWRlABNfXoxQQjnop86niz8y7IBbpGI37urt08YNN840bJs-tD7XmePyY_dk6KwgxUua3aUNvqo6MaIC0h2x2fzMlaPOh0/s400/DSCF3892.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqk3I0ZfNcbyn3sJIvVLeNPkCr7CvTz6WuC_G3Set1ScehVhzPJ0VkEarcTXWPs4Z9ogyFW_IwpMk5SYTu7mFJOj5b8qyD42ojoLQbWmMrvWxwEuot-2yzOjM-ZxjBmF3mmO_z45SoFA/s1600/DSCF3894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqk3I0ZfNcbyn3sJIvVLeNPkCr7CvTz6WuC_G3Set1ScehVhzPJ0VkEarcTXWPs4Z9ogyFW_IwpMk5SYTu7mFJOj5b8qyD42ojoLQbWmMrvWxwEuot-2yzOjM-ZxjBmF3mmO_z45SoFA/s400/DSCF3894.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Oh... I'm sorry. In my last post, did I make it seem as though I shaved off my entire beard in one day?? No no no nooooo. My bad. I made as much use out of the facial hair as possible throughout the <i>week.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0DiHeIt7B5eIsdlr1ig03IwBMrSxYjhzrfU3lmAaZ1clViNwg0-YY5bH0QGdZQ4E4FvMkMZqoui1p5noBmfgwfynFBypryba-ZMJzMq1QSxdMD642xQW54rf3P8KdAjgtvvBcgAw2_I/s1600/DSCF3924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0DiHeIt7B5eIsdlr1ig03IwBMrSxYjhzrfU3lmAaZ1clViNwg0-YY5bH0QGdZQ4E4FvMkMZqoui1p5noBmfgwfynFBypryba-ZMJzMq1QSxdMD642xQW54rf3P8KdAjgtvvBcgAw2_I/s400/DSCF3924.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jolly</i> good! Eh, what?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwxkkXzlIdT9673SmBh-9nHaKGjQNwxylB0msKicdlZsN2poyRWKgh8Q9AS0nWyRqqCRduTeMrk_JqSgRf43CiFc5kKJEeCRfx87IJpffAEEQCjvihRcXaeKfYmdHPFHH2Fq0eRaH3K4/s1600/DSCF3928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwxkkXzlIdT9673SmBh-9nHaKGjQNwxylB0msKicdlZsN2poyRWKgh8Q9AS0nWyRqqCRduTeMrk_JqSgRf43CiFc5kKJEeCRfx87IJpffAEEQCjvihRcXaeKfYmdHPFHH2Fq0eRaH3K4/s400/DSCF3928.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Exactly </i>like Halloween back home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM95bI0Otfh-naxPgOStkPh5vuR45Jt_ng7YJCvNBcrpgu7wGkx0lrRbUHANrUAFlwkscD3PAtqGFW39ng9XAm2IruOcYXudW4U3-Y5aM5szArhZ8drVXu-guIrPNw-D3-nR677MN4Hko/s1600/DSCF3932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM95bI0Otfh-naxPgOStkPh5vuR45Jt_ng7YJCvNBcrpgu7wGkx0lrRbUHANrUAFlwkscD3PAtqGFW39ng9XAm2IruOcYXudW4U3-Y5aM5szArhZ8drVXu-guIrPNw-D3-nR677MN4Hko/s400/DSCF3932.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The spirit of Purim is evident everywhere. In malls, on the streets, on the <i>beach</i>.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRmZFqD6S64L7bBROg8G0vnPDtp7KGR8FLH741mGt1tHMfi4JgliTYTptu8fsNqlUoA-e8THZhmas0hrTYi-2jLVG-dakVoiMjQ-OKUk-fBKAY4qwqnqLHlmps2Zn8u3_7JDpKuJ_-g4/s1600/DSCF3934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRmZFqD6S64L7bBROg8G0vnPDtp7KGR8FLH741mGt1tHMfi4JgliTYTptu8fsNqlUoA-e8THZhmas0hrTYi-2jLVG-dakVoiMjQ-OKUk-fBKAY4qwqnqLHlmps2Zn8u3_7JDpKuJ_-g4/s400/DSCF3934.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Here Adrian brings the magic of costumery to the beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I should also note here that Purim is also a holiday known for merry making. It is, after all, a commandment to be so "merry" as to not know the difference between haman the evil and mordecai the righteous. Just food for thought while enjoying the following pictures.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PijKwzY79Oyv98ym5MEA3rieAjsT4InkX5TYAfB2EhbGVLmfluBiSH6SpTQASAAFvhz3eUtBqPTKtqV1iprRT-zX7uu7FpWVBQgdLnFN32Lk5I6aHSI1HTNb3ds6xINqYz1oqTxFT9E/s1600/DSCF3952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PijKwzY79Oyv98ym5MEA3rieAjsT4InkX5TYAfB2EhbGVLmfluBiSH6SpTQASAAFvhz3eUtBqPTKtqV1iprRT-zX7uu7FpWVBQgdLnFN32Lk5I6aHSI1HTNb3ds6xINqYz1oqTxFT9E/s400/DSCF3952.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a couple of circus freaks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hfQRBrolTFjHN7BQokNVCxK9Y0ISQ0RhngAX6_Kb9yc0LZZpnWw2gD8gkpSeMgnOkJDJHMd7w3psYxjiC8JQF5F6jrvdr1klG0iinAHlxUu3AbfgwGRfOrnpYG6GciObxkJOmDZRNG0/s1600/DSCF3956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hfQRBrolTFjHN7BQokNVCxK9Y0ISQ0RhngAX6_Kb9yc0LZZpnWw2gD8gkpSeMgnOkJDJHMd7w3psYxjiC8JQF5F6jrvdr1klG0iinAHlxUu3AbfgwGRfOrnpYG6GciObxkJOmDZRNG0/s400/DSCF3956.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Risky Business.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL3xfXGYAh62sHtDQcujFEcqB78Dy4P5znr4coKUJoOVRJa0XY0l1TEB8UYY6M6rxX1tUNpm3tjJ8ow87taHoRypP42EF87kFvrg1IJk40KHtiG4janZQyt6oq4NyK8tdz-ufduUlLXU/s1600/DSCF3957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL3xfXGYAh62sHtDQcujFEcqB78Dy4P5znr4coKUJoOVRJa0XY0l1TEB8UYY6M6rxX1tUNpm3tjJ8ow87taHoRypP42EF87kFvrg1IJk40KHtiG4janZQyt6oq4NyK8tdz-ufduUlLXU/s400/DSCF3957.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Risky indeed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPtGiiF2bx3i5v3g99cm6-cBIDjprXz2s2rnbkIXzzbZeqMkX4r6VUq0V-9brma_V53CD13RLFIbS-5J2c50cHpZOxdYxn_66A07zD28RcYtDqTY69dTvAUbv9_giz3jnLIKLdPnevRw/s1600/IMG_0900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPtGiiF2bx3i5v3g99cm6-cBIDjprXz2s2rnbkIXzzbZeqMkX4r6VUq0V-9brma_V53CD13RLFIbS-5J2c50cHpZOxdYxn_66A07zD28RcYtDqTY69dTvAUbv9_giz3jnLIKLdPnevRw/s400/IMG_0900.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I come from the distant past to investigate how humanity evolves in the futah!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUKQkx_LoNATCJ6KujO1QNm-_HfpZ-DmUBCs0X26lTfSLG8VtlGlm5CVaTgs-vDqD3HsFcOk-L2oA0iHFY0RBsS_Fhe8n0BbyuwHVlwZmJzS5R0pPYtSaMtEl4ggI43GlFaeIT_fXeXI/s1600/IMG_0903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUKQkx_LoNATCJ6KujO1QNm-_HfpZ-DmUBCs0X26lTfSLG8VtlGlm5CVaTgs-vDqD3HsFcOk-L2oA0iHFY0RBsS_Fhe8n0BbyuwHVlwZmJzS5R0pPYtSaMtEl4ggI43GlFaeIT_fXeXI/s400/IMG_0903.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCBvs63xP4eOJjrgavQNjb10YXLoOHEwRbSgYIJYd4aAdGJRKsQ227QWAu1SAavzAv7N8OrAl-VEoUpD17H1I74t1XTFTVD7j4kdF7axksU362QptnSoH3yIPFFhERrMz6ZBPNkhE7W4/s1600/IMG_0906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCBvs63xP4eOJjrgavQNjb10YXLoOHEwRbSgYIJYd4aAdGJRKsQ227QWAu1SAavzAv7N8OrAl-VEoUpD17H1I74t1XTFTVD7j4kdF7axksU362QptnSoH3yIPFFhERrMz6ZBPNkhE7W4/s400/IMG_0906.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnrPw6drF-yjH8WvEZalKRFga2-pkC58qylGIGstE2KJveuIrWhNkF8N_mmfr3bZbUVw0I0LeM01a7KRivXMOrjMlnIdkuGOap6x-djE7gIAR6tkq3xUYFuLtBZjTrVZMJmTdMJtbwwE/s1600/IMG_0907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnrPw6drF-yjH8WvEZalKRFga2-pkC58qylGIGstE2KJveuIrWhNkF8N_mmfr3bZbUVw0I0LeM01a7KRivXMOrjMlnIdkuGOap6x-djE7gIAR6tkq3xUYFuLtBZjTrVZMJmTdMJtbwwE/s400/IMG_0907.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSDxcdlViJNr7qh65YJXO5BKk0aJhHJFZyImnP4tvPoHV4DFKNtefOidVEn69c7S6C3gxSr3GazgCInWuFPp2raO_bmC2IGAvRO7ygN2-JK7wpE36oK1HEzeW3PmGp5YkEBvZaKR99D0/s1600/IMG_0910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSDxcdlViJNr7qh65YJXO5BKk0aJhHJFZyImnP4tvPoHV4DFKNtefOidVEn69c7S6C3gxSr3GazgCInWuFPp2raO_bmC2IGAvRO7ygN2-JK7wpE36oK1HEzeW3PmGp5YkEBvZaKR99D0/s400/IMG_0910.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To industry!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIHNuwVUu-4B7Ku83IIYY37LrPJ5cpQM70LgI8lJp5-_L6X8H11MzOVmZ7ugt67goC919aqCBvoOOMOQyWSRbG1ebOLtfjI8f_35jDtYS7URYdxaEoGSRlymeK3FX1803jMrlB_nTzlY/s1600/IMG_0912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIHNuwVUu-4B7Ku83IIYY37LrPJ5cpQM70LgI8lJp5-_L6X8H11MzOVmZ7ugt67goC919aqCBvoOOMOQyWSRbG1ebOLtfjI8f_35jDtYS7URYdxaEoGSRlymeK3FX1803jMrlB_nTzlY/s400/IMG_0912.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I wear two hats I become <i>doubly</i> fancy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Friday during the day there was a large street fair near the Tel Aviv museum of art. When I say large I mean it was completely packed. There was live music, and plenty of creative costumes. By this time I had devolved into the Pringles guy.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFyLI4l52IF6w8BZcHDcvZWb6U_gekaRD_VlNbRvnaVGJRXoHmNQCxPqSoXP5XkP0pZ3adIZP3cZDnfW6dNwtPu6ISI5L_LJ6cQt-QhcM0D9gPFA-GnD9hxuqzLIxYf69sXyiZ4nFaoE/s1600/DSCF3994.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFyLI4l52IF6w8BZcHDcvZWb6U_gekaRD_VlNbRvnaVGJRXoHmNQCxPqSoXP5XkP0pZ3adIZP3cZDnfW6dNwtPu6ISI5L_LJ6cQt-QhcM0D9gPFA-GnD9hxuqzLIxYf69sXyiZ4nFaoE/s400/DSCF3994.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once you pop... you know the rest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vPc65Nu0C9Pihk8rZoRwEQK9OSrtbE6XZMgDqeysx6vggQHsnrBh0kjK922bA1y2OlWEd11Alux3_TXQ1tkBeSE-yA4Sz5e-MfalmFzZMwmrIk_AIKCDCIkdJmkPDk377frZxPhpQPk/s1600/DSCF3963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vPc65Nu0C9Pihk8rZoRwEQK9OSrtbE6XZMgDqeysx6vggQHsnrBh0kjK922bA1y2OlWEd11Alux3_TXQ1tkBeSE-yA4Sz5e-MfalmFzZMwmrIk_AIKCDCIkdJmkPDk377frZxPhpQPk/s400/DSCF3963.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some guy dressed as a GIANT Smirnoff bottle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmI6ysLYXfNADcYhwWHYBS5s7CQ9RttpNMaYEjBRcprIWtvYjaQQ1uE0jhg7Z9Ts2KBDnKM8v3rXdnNn3HlJ7Is1zHevSXHIflMALAUp0xzwPj7OMmskfYU9I_3s3d5bqVfQEPFxy1YY/s1600/DSCF3967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmI6ysLYXfNADcYhwWHYBS5s7CQ9RttpNMaYEjBRcprIWtvYjaQQ1uE0jhg7Z9Ts2KBDnKM8v3rXdnNn3HlJ7Is1zHevSXHIflMALAUp0xzwPj7OMmskfYU9I_3s3d5bqVfQEPFxy1YY/s400/DSCF3967.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj84xhaKRYW-jTvFiLdIsT2DLbziFEAVGINgDDqo-KqW8nEQVChcPD1QfZmlAVHS_Ff9BA8BCKLg2PbOMWJGGZ3JLtsbdffrxwTj3o0F8-PY1X_lBdei9ivqGHSTHdjHWU1-9anMy6g_g/s1600/DSCF3968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj84xhaKRYW-jTvFiLdIsT2DLbziFEAVGINgDDqo-KqW8nEQVChcPD1QfZmlAVHS_Ff9BA8BCKLg2PbOMWJGGZ3JLtsbdffrxwTj3o0F8-PY1X_lBdei9ivqGHSTHdjHWU1-9anMy6g_g/s400/DSCF3968.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSN0jCD9HL4l608A6wefDSBgtXTrtYe3e2dTsP6_9J9VtbPhUPQLDjt_Z5DX7UPQUBMD6KdXLhXs9sQGBhB4reowMxuf8-PQjZNSWC1O_WPQwbLrG8rex8wDT_MEYiQkLqkO9tOfI6t1s/s1600/DSCF3971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSN0jCD9HL4l608A6wefDSBgtXTrtYe3e2dTsP6_9J9VtbPhUPQLDjt_Z5DX7UPQUBMD6KdXLhXs9sQGBhB4reowMxuf8-PQjZNSWC1O_WPQwbLrG8rex8wDT_MEYiQkLqkO9tOfI6t1s/s400/DSCF3971.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe that Beast and the rest of these princesses converged on this spot independent of one another.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6Z8IkPlX_CuAMNQo870J6tFfz2_NIlHoyyh3H7rgnfyEesQJ4ZWynuZmB8HBKNEyiYlc9wOjEUkymeGlVIvCdL4TfBsWy3w5I1orLbyZKXDzCdo0bXWfacwiyn1J3jK_YF2NPr6ridQ/s1600/DSCF3973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6Z8IkPlX_CuAMNQo870J6tFfz2_NIlHoyyh3H7rgnfyEesQJ4ZWynuZmB8HBKNEyiYlc9wOjEUkymeGlVIvCdL4TfBsWy3w5I1orLbyZKXDzCdo0bXWfacwiyn1J3jK_YF2NPr6ridQ/s400/DSCF3973.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That a pretty excellent rendition of a pretty crappy Willy Wonka.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YJ5D6P5lmTPojbEH0XhJCLq8jaaWsiKEWLLQTiiKUCCQcEqGyMpYud1HXMtXF_ruXAgLyhDV3m3aNDRd_KX1avcWHSt7aYJCFZoiLZ7Y2FhKRsIWCaFkVb9UkqmAVmWEcBcsHbE8E9E/s1600/DSCF3978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YJ5D6P5lmTPojbEH0XhJCLq8jaaWsiKEWLLQTiiKUCCQcEqGyMpYud1HXMtXF_ruXAgLyhDV3m3aNDRd_KX1avcWHSt7aYJCFZoiLZ7Y2FhKRsIWCaFkVb9UkqmAVmWEcBcsHbE8E9E/s400/DSCF3978.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That Beast and Belle seriously went all out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YR_eCzcZN5F-Dv7k1_y2tqbh_EYpS8Ylx-8Epha-juNw6gnRZ2IIZmxWuflIRhnzubwjSdKef_kZIWe9iHuupSxhmDLAmZaFTD5WehG7fvdZrs8pOBjXHzPqLQ9FOfuohPdCnThR8qY/s1600/DSCF3979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YR_eCzcZN5F-Dv7k1_y2tqbh_EYpS8Ylx-8Epha-juNw6gnRZ2IIZmxWuflIRhnzubwjSdKef_kZIWe9iHuupSxhmDLAmZaFTD5WehG7fvdZrs8pOBjXHzPqLQ9FOfuohPdCnThR8qY/s400/DSCF3979.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wrvA2q9ufsNuejGINysmDXMiSL1bW4fUjU2BeN7CbOn_PlMrfslgzaxhN8lvDVK09KWeUhKEGkNOgox5-E9qTqXdsZaije90vV9wwMlu6KU9P7wo8ZsLVhwqElpcUfGkym_qsRSfxUA/s1600/DSCF3980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wrvA2q9ufsNuejGINysmDXMiSL1bW4fUjU2BeN7CbOn_PlMrfslgzaxhN8lvDVK09KWeUhKEGkNOgox5-E9qTqXdsZaije90vV9wwMlu6KU9P7wo8ZsLVhwqElpcUfGkym_qsRSfxUA/s400/DSCF3980.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stewardesses.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Er-hBe_hiQfIrpnSSLUPFL4V12-PVPITFOtXw_iChDKMv_wwvtlHejwEv4tXZnsupd8zOH-IPtlQnXvv7FcuzUlvbu3Oq7bGHOQ5mR36KvrbAyFOsetL2Lo3F__tBcHvkREgBISz5cU/s1600/DSCF3981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Er-hBe_hiQfIrpnSSLUPFL4V12-PVPITFOtXw_iChDKMv_wwvtlHejwEv4tXZnsupd8zOH-IPtlQnXvv7FcuzUlvbu3Oq7bGHOQ5mR36KvrbAyFOsetL2Lo3F__tBcHvkREgBISz5cU/s400/DSCF3981.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Captain America was pretty miserable - probably because he misses his country..</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkyBWah0PQRV1OCzk_y6ek1umxRlyeqFRdqOBD4XUsxQOB2Cw24x3zaykc9_rauG7oooqgxPVlkaRMWYgwbkZ45hzPD4N27nKK4lhs9MGJPiFvhQHSMebd2DVU7x0WmOcG3e2gRCd_kM/s1600/DSCF3983.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkyBWah0PQRV1OCzk_y6ek1umxRlyeqFRdqOBD4XUsxQOB2Cw24x3zaykc9_rauG7oooqgxPVlkaRMWYgwbkZ45hzPD4N27nKK4lhs9MGJPiFvhQHSMebd2DVU7x0WmOcG3e2gRCd_kM/s400/DSCF3983.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihrvpnrYqyOy68oJno4knHhAYB_z6vpUnjwTeULot1aEFdb0fx9fg_tRBKissYCRavqS9OSk7nAbleSRxWGCaEvaYH_vfWzV7evaS4JUrQJJhNBS-CDWayQijWFGaldzRIJp_GTUBjy0/s1600/DSCF3985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihrvpnrYqyOy68oJno4knHhAYB_z6vpUnjwTeULot1aEFdb0fx9fg_tRBKissYCRavqS9OSk7nAbleSRxWGCaEvaYH_vfWzV7evaS4JUrQJJhNBS-CDWayQijWFGaldzRIJp_GTUBjy0/s400/DSCF3985.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=hello+this+is+dog&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=civ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=0WhjT-TCIsb64QSv3PjrBw&ved=0CEIQsAQ&biw=1275&bih=539">Hello? Yes, this is King.</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvthWksysVLT9ORTqkSh4PMx6vr_-AWfvW5HjFTnSPUSMJaR8BR3NzgSkh2pFCu_j6UH5hp9MHjdAi3kGcK3rozDUFJbGuWd-rB1grLugYm7BusTNFPSMmogHGy3rwjsgrKDpP1sKWoA/s1600/DSCF3987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvthWksysVLT9ORTqkSh4PMx6vr_-AWfvW5HjFTnSPUSMJaR8BR3NzgSkh2pFCu_j6UH5hp9MHjdAi3kGcK3rozDUFJbGuWd-rB1grLugYm7BusTNFPSMmogHGy3rwjsgrKDpP1sKWoA/s400/DSCF3987.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once again, several individual geishas converged at the same spot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cdhuF5p9RonLo3Bl5HkbW5xc9csIfWwn4-L5ufp7BGZet4yeC-BPqq5n4cnna7YitI6pkCJ37gowbP4PgBigvc6emVWbxcqDN5Y-YE-8F82eMoGtF_LUFfZHAE4WHOdkbZ_NRQ4fOnk/s1600/DSCF3990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cdhuF5p9RonLo3Bl5HkbW5xc9csIfWwn4-L5ufp7BGZet4yeC-BPqq5n4cnna7YitI6pkCJ37gowbP4PgBigvc6emVWbxcqDN5Y-YE-8F82eMoGtF_LUFfZHAE4WHOdkbZ_NRQ4fOnk/s400/DSCF3990.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If she doesn't scare ya, no evil thing will.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCvbvgQPGOZgfmktS2Zp8HMDGdwMZmdP45o1Ll51nNf5vTZOEfdroCdl0bvndQofWuBdtmph8eXbzQwmOdvPLmTS6bBsvdSa3aVze1CsUqd92Lci1a_1aykuSkCNx2TKiMlUXGP3h9K4/s1600/DSCF3991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCvbvgQPGOZgfmktS2Zp8HMDGdwMZmdP45o1Ll51nNf5vTZOEfdroCdl0bvndQofWuBdtmph8eXbzQwmOdvPLmTS6bBsvdSa3aVze1CsUqd92Lci1a_1aykuSkCNx2TKiMlUXGP3h9K4/s400/DSCF3991.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of Purim observers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-38581773340089529892012-03-13T22:26:00.002+03:302012-03-14T12:13:25.434+03:30Tales of Beardle the Beard Part IISince my <a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2011/09/tales-of-beardle-beard.html">last post about growing a beard</a>, I think it's probably fair to say that it got a little out of hand...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgv5eE0KoYXkMBlemvaa1jRkmLUmtlk-T3Af4ftZavcHVD2mwYrcrb4OtyudfFItxERWGuKPsdtDxaIoDUkdQbatEtA1rIl9xUMHkDb4G5rd9Dd81i6Rima_WAN3XFso8jzuwbAX0KQQ4/s1600/DSCF3885.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgv5eE0KoYXkMBlemvaa1jRkmLUmtlk-T3Af4ftZavcHVD2mwYrcrb4OtyudfFItxERWGuKPsdtDxaIoDUkdQbatEtA1rIl9xUMHkDb4G5rd9Dd81i6Rima_WAN3XFso8jzuwbAX0KQQ4/s400/DSCF3885.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=leonidas&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=wBReT4tNoa7RBY3S1NIN&biw=1259&bih=544&sei=wxReT4PFIoLB0QXm09S6DQ">THIS </a>IS <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burger_Ranch_%28Israel%29">BURGER RANCH</a>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When I arrived to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, I was asked a few <i>extra</i> questions at various points on my way to passport control from security. I was expecting this and understand why they pulled me aside to ask me about my reasons for visiting Israel and such, but in my case they were misidentifying me as a threat. I think I may have made a few of the security personnel feel bad when I told them that this was my sixth time in Israel and when they saw all the Israel stamps plus the Hebrew University student visa in my passport.<br />
<br />
Back in civilization, and with people who were not familiar with the practice of contractors downrange growing a beard being an impulse as natural as the migratory patterns of birds - it was time to shave. As usual, I did it in stages.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb06NpvK_l2iS1qBmJwSGIFu6u1JqxHqs03iTdOvywVAkCBqd72Jxjv24sEtmjTaLwL8wCAiL8QmlmRK84r7FAVQY8YALmqJFrr5E-qhPa0oZca3UQtLuqhH564C3fW1x6dte05pCAIFY/s1600/DSCF3901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb06NpvK_l2iS1qBmJwSGIFu6u1JqxHqs03iTdOvywVAkCBqd72Jxjv24sEtmjTaLwL8wCAiL8QmlmRK84r7FAVQY8YALmqJFrr5E-qhPa0oZca3UQtLuqhH564C3fW1x6dte05pCAIFY/s400/DSCF3901.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I've been spending most of my time in Israel with people on a <a href="http://www.masaisrael.org/">Masa </a>program called Career Israel. The living situation is sort of like an American dorm setting and so meeting people was often a whirlwind of names and faces. I had already gotten to meet a bunch of people on the program by the time I was going to shave - so no doubt I confused a bunch of people when my facial hair disappeared and I looked completely different.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1MB5ujDdQIEcXxkjYoxtiVgP4Ws5beEWb9I8LNuyWSAILBkDl9c4PHOPB5LWnBRcopNeToK67EQFgWRGcjsJSIyxhGbg67ESAV1QAah1cm6VztVSxjeFJL_0ti2J2HLC60Ns6LY2KoM/s1600/DSCF3904.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1MB5ujDdQIEcXxkjYoxtiVgP4Ws5beEWb9I8LNuyWSAILBkDl9c4PHOPB5LWnBRcopNeToK67EQFgWRGcjsJSIyxhGbg67ESAV1QAah1cm6VztVSxjeFJL_0ti2J2HLC60Ns6LY2KoM/s400/DSCF3904.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dEfRSGxQLvN111Ueq9CLyQJmrBNeVF21UGKRZwoHrs8BfdrpyFYBK77wzthBlU-i9Sc26V6Mt9DLe3pAK_yeEyemuU7tU1eZjtgxuj9Fh1tLMiXAzNzML5zhIOjAxuIO9uo-5rXLkFc/s1600/DSCF3907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dEfRSGxQLvN111Ueq9CLyQJmrBNeVF21UGKRZwoHrs8BfdrpyFYBK77wzthBlU-i9Sc26V6Mt9DLe3pAK_yeEyemuU7tU1eZjtgxuj9Fh1tLMiXAzNzML5zhIOjAxuIO9uo-5rXLkFc/s400/DSCF3907.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, I kinda look like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_Herzl">Herzl</a>...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpacb4nJZUwS0lmS9yhQ103ixtsmmJR6Z9vb3Cc3n5xzYHHpoXS2TBmsEgkjC3vIWfA0c5j12G7JPNQqMyjeXrkDTFQczY9VQ18OClGi0pjKnc192-qzTMJgmP0ifExVPIR7odfMzWno/s1600/DSCF3910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpacb4nJZUwS0lmS9yhQ103ixtsmmJR6Z9vb3Cc3n5xzYHHpoXS2TBmsEgkjC3vIWfA0c5j12G7JPNQqMyjeXrkDTFQczY9VQ18OClGi0pjKnc192-qzTMJgmP0ifExVPIR7odfMzWno/s400/DSCF3910.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kS4tFDiiafiWM62ElJgszGOGmdp-S9RsCbDzlqOHnpuywuT9Nmmp40YVoj4O5rYo94bj2dirG7imQl148Fu6EUtkbPsAgqkc5OAgO0N4H2BJrmBiSfScuDniatP6irs-QT_qQ1Q-sQ8/s1600/DSCF3913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kS4tFDiiafiWM62ElJgszGOGmdp-S9RsCbDzlqOHnpuywuT9Nmmp40YVoj4O5rYo94bj2dirG7imQl148Fu6EUtkbPsAgqkc5OAgO0N4H2BJrmBiSfScuDniatP6irs-QT_qQ1Q-sQ8/s400/DSCF3913.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"It feels so weird!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO-sKyoCHsaKIsyBsTLWgu0NFVF3tnkbbpNDr2LmE26s2Xb_BTTgT7KHNWppIHosH_PY9GezpcsisriCpNQjeyd3ZghIvktqKiaxodyKJOyNWGCR9bU_trKEB2KwQnx_vr3Wi1VGrhKA/s1600/DSCF3923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO-sKyoCHsaKIsyBsTLWgu0NFVF3tnkbbpNDr2LmE26s2Xb_BTTgT7KHNWppIHosH_PY9GezpcsisriCpNQjeyd3ZghIvktqKiaxodyKJOyNWGCR9bU_trKEB2KwQnx_vr3Wi1VGrhKA/s400/DSCF3923.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Jove!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ok... Maybe I didn't reach the supreme levels of beard-hood to which I once aspired personified in the late <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grimes_Walker">Admiral John Grimes Walker</a>'s face, but I think it was pretty respectable.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzq3eOA6DfsuCe_zxE0d2o70E7-p8GkX7Jh0ilmaD5ZY1TiVRS6lg5MTtfi7vcTVJ7A8Ovip6KVI-3U8kjnyQEzm9iHqq1nRRzyxdq9CMqGOlDv_ChFZnXX1ssuxVBkF6HUc8c1d8mjJ0/s1600/DSCF3938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzq3eOA6DfsuCe_zxE0d2o70E7-p8GkX7Jh0ilmaD5ZY1TiVRS6lg5MTtfi7vcTVJ7A8Ovip6KVI-3U8kjnyQEzm9iHqq1nRRzyxdq9CMqGOlDv_ChFZnXX1ssuxVBkF6HUc8c1d8mjJ0/s400/DSCF3938.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WX-lIoShL7FHfZITIhDnzHwqbmtJyxtO0iA_J5u1YmaQuC-bjQgOp6GM_bS-kLikzOJvAth7PoxIelvRrElKLgFW4lyyQ1CdoULMx6d1sF0yYNqV9ZM0IHhSH1Y5BuoL-gn6q1wrLoo/s1600/DSCF3941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WX-lIoShL7FHfZITIhDnzHwqbmtJyxtO0iA_J5u1YmaQuC-bjQgOp6GM_bS-kLikzOJvAth7PoxIelvRrElKLgFW4lyyQ1CdoULMx6d1sF0yYNqV9ZM0IHhSH1Y5BuoL-gn6q1wrLoo/s400/DSCF3941.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little lopsided.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjCU5RSdoNHs279a2tuIRib3gV7xaTe0Cpb3YVJCX6OC_v_R1lh25oJuaM4riQzBzmfAaOjwz85ZwVRJGF5ab3aWpsn2DD-NXprRt7_C9u-apuPkfs-5cYzs595wazLuCDcJ1npHm1fA/s1600/DSCF3944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjCU5RSdoNHs279a2tuIRib3gV7xaTe0Cpb3YVJCX6OC_v_R1lh25oJuaM4riQzBzmfAaOjwz85ZwVRJGF5ab3aWpsn2DD-NXprRt7_C9u-apuPkfs-5cYzs595wazLuCDcJ1npHm1fA/s400/DSCF3944.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM6IB9RNxC_Byf7gLZc0RHLODSTbF1tymEao63aBI9pjGJ920maoVoD98cWyjgAQVBE-hMoxTQEzsWtK02_nA64-aAVlJ2wJvUaQK727F3_fMTY7y-RUk5O9yy84GPsru59dOHSkqsK8/s1600/DSCF3950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgM6IB9RNxC_Byf7gLZc0RHLODSTbF1tymEao63aBI9pjGJ920maoVoD98cWyjgAQVBE-hMoxTQEzsWtK02_nA64-aAVlJ2wJvUaQK727F3_fMTY7y-RUk5O9yy84GPsru59dOHSkqsK8/s400/DSCF3950.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now I look like I might be ready to open a barber shop of my own, in around 1880.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAASF_5QeKjA8KFV6sQRQw5uk-zTFWm1br6QoOlz1zZInYZDkeqX0QaGddH4HVo4QtlD0Ab1KSDzfNyV1uR02XJNUGBoMBgE_lUu1nNmAT54tcwMBHsAt3Sw_4i-dXtJMXpv4eYSBQwuE/s1600/DSCF3951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAASF_5QeKjA8KFV6sQRQw5uk-zTFWm1br6QoOlz1zZInYZDkeqX0QaGddH4HVo4QtlD0Ab1KSDzfNyV1uR02XJNUGBoMBgE_lUu1nNmAT54tcwMBHsAt3Sw_4i-dXtJMXpv4eYSBQwuE/s400/DSCF3951.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm in the market for a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcBSiufh-so">bicycle </a>with a GIANT front wheel, and a teeny rear wheel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamj_1J5JPj2uml5JrmS6eBP_FKB3xujXMn70u1-Y9yM6eQspRySeki2OdbWVqGIoPenLPH9Y44NVrER_KSOJPeFm-HGxBCUtwvNJaJuDYCNVszh7BEw0_yhNi7ga3joIPL8PqGTsalm8/s1600/DSCF3997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamj_1J5JPj2uml5JrmS6eBP_FKB3xujXMn70u1-Y9yM6eQspRySeki2OdbWVqGIoPenLPH9Y44NVrER_KSOJPeFm-HGxBCUtwvNJaJuDYCNVszh7BEw0_yhNi7ga3joIPL8PqGTsalm8/s400/DSCF3997.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07y4BNuLGAvAMlxwCzockio52JkXfwUe9UImskd27Yfm6suhNntk8DwO-4pkr26oT37UWVkANLRD8NyvOb8_YqV9kwAyC3I7QFLUIfQFyqvu0rFrEbKwD-COP0d8f6Zy-bRiSuuejwIU/s1600/DSCF3998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07y4BNuLGAvAMlxwCzockio52JkXfwUe9UImskd27Yfm6suhNntk8DwO-4pkr26oT37UWVkANLRD8NyvOb8_YqV9kwAyC3I7QFLUIfQFyqvu0rFrEbKwD-COP0d8f6Zy-bRiSuuejwIU/s400/DSCF3998.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting closer...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFnEF9hTcy7a9yFcLZIQCDVI_w0g7QTBHGKXg04Yg9DFxuMN0D3VCgriFrUELVpWg7iU9EQs4dSrUdy2-ow8ZNz8I6jtwJUsPHRYW8wB3q28U-H_4W-fx041Ywyhv0K_OKyrsrSQSEB0/s1600/ALL+CLEAR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFnEF9hTcy7a9yFcLZIQCDVI_w0g7QTBHGKXg04Yg9DFxuMN0D3VCgriFrUELVpWg7iU9EQs4dSrUdy2-ow8ZNz8I6jtwJUsPHRYW8wB3q28U-H_4W-fx041Ywyhv0K_OKyrsrSQSEB0/s400/ALL+CLEAR.JPG" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi we actually met earlier, but I'm Josh - yeah the guy with the big beard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-7751160572323246452012-03-06T14:13:00.002+03:302012-03-10T17:33:33.522+03:30Extreme Sleep Deprivation Part IISo I may not have been tired on my way through <i>Manas </i>this time around, but I started off on the wrong foot to continue my journey in the same manner when I got to the Bishkek commercial airport at 5 AM having gotten no sleep whatsoever.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>The whole day was a textbook description of experiencing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_shock#Reverse_culture_shock">reverse-culture shock</a>. I was constantly barraged by the extreme cleanliness of the Istanbul airport and the restaurant attached to the hotel I stayed in in Germany. Did you know the Istanbul airport is full of nothing but <a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2011/12/women.html">women</a>? It's true! Because I was used to there being practically no women downrange it really seemed like they were everywhere I looked (and this continues to be the case as I write this while I am currently visiting Israel). Anyway with a relatively long layover in Istanbul, and a shuttle from Frankfurt to <a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2011/08/little-things.html">Sandhofen</a>, just north of Mannheim, I was very ready to pass out and did.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Being back in Sanhofen was also very strange, but in a way unrelated to the reverse-culture shock. Firstly, CTC is no longer storing people in the Weber, it's all about the Adler hotel, now. There are good things and bad related to the change, anyway it was only for one night. Also, being in the same place first in summer, and then again seven months later was interesting to see. </div><div><br />
</div><div>After my out-processing in Coleman Barracks, which consisted basically of my filling out some forms and giving my opinions on how the program can be improved, I was on my way again back to the Frankfurt airport. Hearing Israeli's speaking Hebrew on their way back from a trip to Italy in the Rome airport (which coincidentally was <i>also</i> full of women) was like music to my ears.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh6KKTSClb-HtgFQh1rLXoB8UzgBnXJkRy2jrrxzx0Bz1TFNJy5mH1W54ygJ-j2XIyAu00hvNACJ76VNzSXsQ3JtMn7Txx4hEQgGMvEr4tsbEbLc9Dc4n54byYUR4WV8wDCKullONGpQ/s1600/DSCF3874.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh6KKTSClb-HtgFQh1rLXoB8UzgBnXJkRy2jrrxzx0Bz1TFNJy5mH1W54ygJ-j2XIyAu00hvNACJ76VNzSXsQ3JtMn7Txx4hEQgGMvEr4tsbEbLc9Dc4n54byYUR4WV8wDCKullONGpQ/s400/DSCF3874.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alitalia is very concerned over the people nearing their 40s who still play their original gameboys.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>By the time I got to the little hotel near the beach in Tel Aviv that I was staying in it was 5 am again, and I had a hard time sleeping. By Saturday night, I had gone since Wednesday morning with nothing more than 10 hours of sleep total...</div><div><br />
It's good to be back, civilization.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqbX1qLS643fYxwFeT4Bly8yDDY9BvUDGUTrV6qku9xLQNY7xnbBFXKqAGv8m4Q-czFBtsf5jVx6jny9F1Zq5lYZgHG2zwbmg_7abzuqYlG4WEb0A5fqsqojWcJA4RcQUHfPMB78I6kw/s1600/DSCF3878.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqbX1qLS643fYxwFeT4Bly8yDDY9BvUDGUTrV6qku9xLQNY7xnbBFXKqAGv8m4Q-czFBtsf5jVx6jny9F1Zq5lYZgHG2zwbmg_7abzuqYlG4WEb0A5fqsqojWcJA4RcQUHfPMB78I6kw/s400/DSCF3878.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-57119427534727177222012-03-04T02:36:00.000+03:302012-03-04T02:36:51.863+03:30TransientMy experience from Kandahar to Manas was basically the same as my trip in, but in reverse, and without the <a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2011/08/extreme-sleep-deprivation.html">extreme sleep deprivation</a>. There were no all-night flights. I was able to appreciate the experience of flying in a C-17 because I wasn't nodding off, using my body armor as a headrest.<br />
<br />
The Manas Nato base at the Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan airport, is meant as a staging area/transient base for people going somewhere or coming back from somewhere (mostly Afghanistan). Everyone not leaving within a few hours is assigned transient billeting, which is like what you imagine old-timey barracks to look like. Rows of bunk beds in a tent, and that's it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90Y7LJFyWmN3BjCCpWwyHy_q8lDCLohADti_PyxW1WEMIdIYp23-hfm4gIjioU7kpGAkx6aSqheCfOfdBbDAr0VXxR-2ZJrO2YaWG6ar7x3i4bRXyVjpdAG9_AiLlEamcH5_vbcQiEOs/s1600/DSCF3864.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90Y7LJFyWmN3BjCCpWwyHy_q8lDCLohADti_PyxW1WEMIdIYp23-hfm4gIjioU7kpGAkx6aSqheCfOfdBbDAr0VXxR-2ZJrO2YaWG6ar7x3i4bRXyVjpdAG9_AiLlEamcH5_vbcQiEOs/s400/DSCF3864.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I got to Manas Monday evening and was stuck here until I left for my commercial flight back to Germany very early Thursday morning with nothing to do in between those times except turn in my body armor which took about twenty minutes. So with all that time on my hands, I got to know the base fairly well. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAAPgXjXXM-hy7DUVWe0BaQAYhQ5rXNZYZq0lCBKEjQrKRMEIIIHqJWcECCLrz1J5_84skT1VnWTxGmAGi0btL_Fl8gUznID0NN1eVW2FkTzLcHPr9KqUqJNSpr1ysfxXPaJkmFyn0LM/s1600/DSCF3871.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAAPgXjXXM-hy7DUVWe0BaQAYhQ5rXNZYZq0lCBKEjQrKRMEIIIHqJWcECCLrz1J5_84skT1VnWTxGmAGi0btL_Fl8gUznID0NN1eVW2FkTzLcHPr9KqUqJNSpr1ysfxXPaJkmFyn0LM/s400/DSCF3871.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>After getting everything scanned in, and getting some linens for my stay, and arranging for my travel to the Bishkek commercial airport on Thursday morning at 0430, I traipsed over to Pete's Place.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyeuIf4JPYHup7-_KrJEGeYh7u0rnUD8SN_6872kCkNMjBIis6EEPF6BSzEaOCRhwBC2qDtqOMhGr_FPqJomhO41PiuKFVsIG_Dg35IfMXOuumgUCJohqng5fSAhvT0rVbbvfmL5Ic-E/s1600/DSCF3865.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyeuIf4JPYHup7-_KrJEGeYh7u0rnUD8SN_6872kCkNMjBIis6EEPF6BSzEaOCRhwBC2qDtqOMhGr_FPqJomhO41PiuKFVsIG_Dg35IfMXOuumgUCJohqng5fSAhvT0rVbbvfmL5Ic-E/s400/DSCF3865.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX8iweqfz3ZSXlHzoPirHWrEoD5sou99izdMXozNzrFE-wA5ViV_QZDt7IB1CmRKdpiF11qhhoT7B007pe8urmfnJCS14vrDvB07d8SwrtYl-z1rbeZP3IEZ8apY4bzRlc12jESLN_30/s1600/DSCF3866.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX8iweqfz3ZSXlHzoPirHWrEoD5sou99izdMXozNzrFE-wA5ViV_QZDt7IB1CmRKdpiF11qhhoT7B007pe8urmfnJCS14vrDvB07d8SwrtYl-z1rbeZP3IEZ8apY4bzRlc12jESLN_30/s400/DSCF3866.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>This is where residents of Manas are permitted to buy and consume two alcoholic drinks per day. As far as I've been told, most other bases where alcohol is permitted, but restricted offer two beers <i>smaller</i> than a regular 12-oz can/bottle. Here, they're serving big, European-style, .5 liter bottles. <i>Also</i> they were serving these beers at incredibly low prices - nothing over $3 for a wide variety, including many fancy schmancy brands. Not having had the ability to drink for a very long time, my alcohol tolerance had diminished... noticeably. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbkKxcUX7SwXPqXZGjx2DYBdgAG1Rsm98s1foGI9IjYL8Di3EOP8z9ZsI4OByTf5HuER9wI3paxYvdbLOdqb2XyhqjOSloGf3ICw8px878-5zgAHkZa0p6cWKZiMN5Zs3slJ9LLs34_M/s1600/DSCF3861.JPG"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbkKxcUX7SwXPqXZGjx2DYBdgAG1Rsm98s1foGI9IjYL8Di3EOP8z9ZsI4OByTf5HuER9wI3paxYvdbLOdqb2XyhqjOSloGf3ICw8px878-5zgAHkZa0p6cWKZiMN5Zs3slJ9LLs34_M/s400/DSCF3861.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Across the room at Pete's Place I noticed a man wearing a Yarmulke. I went up and asked him if he was with the chaplaincy, and he told me not yet but that he planned on it <i>and </i>on going to JTS for his rabbinical training. I'm sorry we didn't get to chat longer, I didn't even catch his name, but good luck to that guy.<br />
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Also on base, there is AAFES town. AAFES has set up a sort of courtyard of shops off to one end of the base. There's a bunch of souvenir shops, a Burger King, a Pizza Hut, and a Green Bean coffee place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnN58Cpeq7lWsHzct0pZXHdmCrTQXB6L8cLQ3iJ3CTjBb-K5Yugd8ZYFHBb4I-Z1P8MtwL3ED8t-RI6AW6TcgernxbFy4Oak-_iQcIi5vDZlbeyPbLeak5vEmcefZ7BFdjMiRIzM5kym4/s1600/DSCF3867.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnN58Cpeq7lWsHzct0pZXHdmCrTQXB6L8cLQ3iJ3CTjBb-K5Yugd8ZYFHBb4I-Z1P8MtwL3ED8t-RI6AW6TcgernxbFy4Oak-_iQcIi5vDZlbeyPbLeak5vEmcefZ7BFdjMiRIzM5kym4/s400/DSCF3867.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AAFES Town.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_hHV6sG545ew8Py-wI_gKLxUMGbVk0O5y6PGPuLGOCWe5HGZ5TstTxXmXJAZH5DbVOJscDfTxs8Gv9vJIbc14381fVu4tGPDxPDj3RSxuf7zPj7QO07s6frZkXdNL7sAs7XqADcJBuc/s1600/DSCF3868.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_hHV6sG545ew8Py-wI_gKLxUMGbVk0O5y6PGPuLGOCWe5HGZ5TstTxXmXJAZH5DbVOJscDfTxs8Gv9vJIbc14381fVu4tGPDxPDj3RSxuf7zPj7QO07s6frZkXdNL7sAs7XqADcJBuc/s400/DSCF3868.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently structures of this shape are central in Kyrgyz culture, and that's why this gift shop was shaped this way.</td></tr>
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Most of Wednesday evening I spent wasting my energy trying and failing at getting some sleep before my shuttle to the commercial airport. Since that wasn't working I got to chit chatting with some of my tent-mates (who were also my plane-mates on my way out of Kandahar as we were all assigned to the same tent). One of the two soldiers I was talking to said that he was from Ohio. Where Ohio? Cleveland area. Where Cleveland? Do you know the Shaker Heights area? Ha! How crazy is that? A guy from the Shaker square area and I (also being from Shaker Heights) end up sleeping in beds 6 feet from one another on the complete opposite side of the world! We spent some time leading up to his (and everyone else in my tent besides my) departure recommending restaurants in the Cleveland area for each other to visit once we each get home.<br />
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For a brief moment at the Bishkek commercial airport just after 0500 on Thursday morning, it looked as though I wasn't going to get on the flight which would've been a disaster. Apparently, the interpreters had told me I had the proper stamps on my paperwork to travel through Kyrgyz customs, but in fact, I did not. After the interpreter with me rushed off to get me the right stamp, I made it through customs on time and I was on my way.JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-39473360267436108632012-02-26T16:17:00.000+03:302012-02-26T16:17:00.105+03:30The End.This song pretty accurately and awesomely sums up how I feel:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FBQW21LGc54?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>This, compared to how I felt when I first got here: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/uyuQuO8rp94?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>So long, Afghanistan...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-MavWZ5xNrj9qIfE44MA6UaXi5T-sklMzvhmOYAuelhFI_vhuWY24kPJgArBQvHfuVNpIz0h-0DSW1F9OnBvzymszCX8drqwsOOnq62vZis33SMBwlQvxyhBnNKge9YJgzEN7dJ6xJU/s1600/DSCF3843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-MavWZ5xNrj9qIfE44MA6UaXi5T-sklMzvhmOYAuelhFI_vhuWY24kPJgArBQvHfuVNpIz0h-0DSW1F9OnBvzymszCX8drqwsOOnq62vZis33SMBwlQvxyhBnNKge9YJgzEN7dJ6xJU/s400/DSCF3843.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJgoZRRsZ7dr9Fm75RxiDaarbdKURl7OuYWIXfK4KH03u0sxuZqrJp0eKrDBxbqTLByvgkLysyPhjqlH_axfdj47kd9ThQ0QE1hXd_S1qqqltHfGZI_xCT3EstlmZacqWyM5TWd0X5EY/s1600/DSCF3856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJgoZRRsZ7dr9Fm75RxiDaarbdKURl7OuYWIXfK4KH03u0sxuZqrJp0eKrDBxbqTLByvgkLysyPhjqlH_axfdj47kd9ThQ0QE1hXd_S1qqqltHfGZI_xCT3EstlmZacqWyM5TWd0X5EY/s400/DSCF3856.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnKfpFpDgxhja60phlLeYyYS58YcsqaAzT10eyiKxPMd9vj-GxfR4wD35RM38k_iBKhTVrR69LsXWOTd2n5uGUMeL1eFYSu5D8ruqltPatIIMPDlj3sSrXpeLaY_XvT7coUd62WDWxJk/s1600/DSCF3859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnKfpFpDgxhja60phlLeYyYS58YcsqaAzT10eyiKxPMd9vj-GxfR4wD35RM38k_iBKhTVrR69LsXWOTd2n5uGUMeL1eFYSu5D8ruqltPatIIMPDlj3sSrXpeLaY_XvT7coUd62WDWxJk/s400/DSCF3859.JPG" width="300" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b__voMPjkFooJ9Gufr4HGGYXeIyZdcqNx_9MoSVG0_K97I85PIGoyatuR_vvpkx8VNMh914oAPA6yPT0VwanWMU6COxX5TW-AIjEryrECbxwUAhh0WSiVGs8zhSisH7ZznSLU_tfQ_s/s1600/DSCF3854.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b__voMPjkFooJ9Gufr4HGGYXeIyZdcqNx_9MoSVG0_K97I85PIGoyatuR_vvpkx8VNMh914oAPA6yPT0VwanWMU6COxX5TW-AIjEryrECbxwUAhh0WSiVGs8zhSisH7ZznSLU_tfQ_s/s400/DSCF3854.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been fun. </div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-40308705290008127032012-02-25T07:06:00.001+03:302012-02-25T17:18:25.258+03:30Rocket Attack Part 31/12/2012<br />
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There was a rocket attack earlier this week, the same night as <a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2012/01/trivia-night.html">trivia night</a> at the British coffee place. It took place early enough in the day that it didn't conflict at all with attending trivia night. On the walk back to our rooms from the British compound, one of the people I was walking with said they had been relieved when trivia night wasn't interrupted at all by the rocket alarm. I had to think, "was that today?". I had been so unconcerned by the rocket attack, that I had forgotten that it even took place.<br />
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That's definitely the strangest part about the rockets. Not the fact that they exist, or the sound of explosions in the distance, not the physical danger, but how used to them we all become. I'm rereading what I wrote about rocket attacks back in September/October and it's as though someone else wrote those words.<br />
<br />
At Shabbat dinner this past Friday, the alarm went off and <i>nobody even ducked to the ground</i>, (I usually do, but since nobody else was doing it I didn't want to look like a <u><i>loser</i></u>). As it turned out the explosion sounded to us louder than average and people regretted not having ducked. They resolved then to always duck, but who knows if they'll stick to it or not?<br />
<br />
I don't want to scare people <i>too</i> much so I'll clarify - an explosion can sound extra loud even if it's a mile or more away, especially on a cool clear day as last Friday was.<br />
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2/2/2012 <br />
<br />
Today I and someone else who works at the Education Center happen to be at the COMKAF (basically KAF headquarters) getting approval for some flyers to be put up on the boardwalk. While she was in the office getting these flyers approved I heard from a nearby office the sound of someone over a radio saying "Incoming! Incoming! Incoming!". I figured, hey, wow! I'm right next to where some mission is being carried out over the radio! It wasn't until when we were leaving the building that the rocket alarm went off and I realized that what I was hearing was the process that leads <i>up to</i> the alarm going off. That was a pretty fascinating coincidence.<br />
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2/20/2012<br />
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A while back, while driving somewhere or another on base we came across some of the more interesting pieces of graffiti art on KAF. It's one of the bunkers painted to look like a quaint little house. Inspecting it more closely led to the discovery of more and more decorations. Apparently someone had gotten bored of staring at the plain concrete inside of the bunker several hours per week and had done something about it. There's plenty of art, a table and benches to sit on inside, and a light switch rigged for night hours spent in the bunker. Enjoy:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dbXnDz07IqngwUDOSSa65kf-UN5IRgcD43Ftgji5w5RHrx9B7Ir90qgIm_BnXIHBRkXzv1vrUH69v-adhdJpCtI1rII9tHB0dj00XwfPOV00UjNXisPBTFWeGDrZQWFlI498Hpat7BA/s1600/DSCF3679.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dbXnDz07IqngwUDOSSa65kf-UN5IRgcD43Ftgji5w5RHrx9B7Ir90qgIm_BnXIHBRkXzv1vrUH69v-adhdJpCtI1rII9tHB0dj00XwfPOV00UjNXisPBTFWeGDrZQWFlI498Hpat7BA/s400/DSCF3679.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwgqsAx_xZW8Zp2rWvtl5Rvxe4RelTXn3gLaYfomItdCUztrnAV9WM8EmTg5LM0s8O8qbOYemKJpMcXxwx34H35WO_GgtIUY-UpVGtZJMM07gIkvyVU3r54jsZjGDivAfT6ddt6RMEvA/s1600/DSCF3673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwgqsAx_xZW8Zp2rWvtl5Rvxe4RelTXn3gLaYfomItdCUztrnAV9WM8EmTg5LM0s8O8qbOYemKJpMcXxwx34H35WO_GgtIUY-UpVGtZJMM07gIkvyVU3r54jsZjGDivAfT6ddt6RMEvA/s400/DSCF3673.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib-wCf_NpmzbnmSvFRVNa_jTn8AuL142fMzOFtKbB4xl-XvMro177r4UEdkjXxcfS7l0Vgi9PLQQUb_KnVsSMVwTv14fQkAP0sTenNvtYgQs-WjjUIEFJvi8eujm4RP8dtoMr0vEBmH8/s1600/DSCF3674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib-wCf_NpmzbnmSvFRVNa_jTn8AuL142fMzOFtKbB4xl-XvMro177r4UEdkjXxcfS7l0Vgi9PLQQUb_KnVsSMVwTv14fQkAP0sTenNvtYgQs-WjjUIEFJvi8eujm4RP8dtoMr0vEBmH8/s400/DSCF3674.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6ylr0ofCeMgCk41U_EAHfLtmH0gk0SBtmgEHCa5OvEiKLs64n53EyUVcfeh_1UnfOFQ916H-3bSw8YRMzJp4FMu7tMSQ-S6xrv51HjfPykz6NQGUZLKBv4ofAcwSOnMs0N4uufNSLnQ/s1600/DSCF3675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6ylr0ofCeMgCk41U_EAHfLtmH0gk0SBtmgEHCa5OvEiKLs64n53EyUVcfeh_1UnfOFQ916H-3bSw8YRMzJp4FMu7tMSQ-S6xrv51HjfPykz6NQGUZLKBv4ofAcwSOnMs0N4uufNSLnQ/s400/DSCF3675.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKJIT7DInuC2fhTkYPiLo8uG_59u_xYAiHFIpPfcUsQlXSi6h-zct1UUc1UWYDH3559RgF-J_yljUzMVn3kFO7zy2Kc6EJUvT8c4Q-NaMpllCbULJgh6oRFyJjp3AugWfkQ-BLTsiut4/s1600/DSCF3676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKJIT7DInuC2fhTkYPiLo8uG_59u_xYAiHFIpPfcUsQlXSi6h-zct1UUc1UWYDH3559RgF-J_yljUzMVn3kFO7zy2Kc6EJUvT8c4Q-NaMpllCbULJgh6oRFyJjp3AugWfkQ-BLTsiut4/s400/DSCF3676.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUqInrN7zf-yHb4SAKUpag1sShxQucj6btsPeKz4sYmScBBfo6WCURXtUaWWrIR0zmVQRP8ynoDg7-H502QzcRgXCaKM_-dkBqsUcZ7H93zQ0Le3SuQOFks5s64qJqTY93PGWYtVA8lk/s1600/DSCF3677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUqInrN7zf-yHb4SAKUpag1sShxQucj6btsPeKz4sYmScBBfo6WCURXtUaWWrIR0zmVQRP8ynoDg7-H502QzcRgXCaKM_-dkBqsUcZ7H93zQ0Le3SuQOFks5s64qJqTY93PGWYtVA8lk/s400/DSCF3677.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjf6qogjANmHRrnC4IHY5_6-MD3qr7Fe-0IWxNaZoybqgJ4ZSQ7KPyhlbWWpISCCeAlKU3c8RbRNQaj3Ayvk58QsFXAoqROphEL30P4ni4AWBvLHaYCAlJa0V16IW4D-bTHKnhUzJuo1A/s1600/DSCF3678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjf6qogjANmHRrnC4IHY5_6-MD3qr7Fe-0IWxNaZoybqgJ4ZSQ7KPyhlbWWpISCCeAlKU3c8RbRNQaj3Ayvk58QsFXAoqROphEL30P4ni4AWBvLHaYCAlJa0V16IW4D-bTHKnhUzJuo1A/s400/DSCF3678.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally! A NAME I can put to <i>some</i> of the artwork around KAF.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>For a few more visuals involving the rocket attacks, click <a href="http://chrisiniraq.blogspot.com/2009/11/112009-kandahar-rocket-attack.html">HERE</a>.JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-53711450350126080722012-02-22T17:13:00.003+03:302012-02-22T19:59:03.178+03:30Rocket Attack Part 29/11/2011<br />
<br />
Last night there was a <a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2011/09/911.html">USO show</a>. The show was pretty good... meh it was alright. Anyway, I was there to see the comedian. He was doing pretty well up until the wail of the rocket attack alarm went off about 3/4th of the way through his set. Then he bombed... Haha! Zing!<br />
<br />
Obviously he wasn't used to the threat of a rocket being aimed at the compound he's visiting so the sight of the 800 or so attendees of the show sprawled out in front of him all hitting the deck surprised him a bit. With the microphone still at his mouth we all hear him say, "Oh, Shit!" over the speakers. One audience member yelled out, "every damned time!" in frustration.<br />
<br />
The evacuation plan for the boardwalk went steadily and smoothly with us all being ushered to rise at the same time and head towards the exits, when another rocket attack is signaled and we lay flat once more. Finally we all get out and headed towards the bunkers.<br />
<br />
10/19/2011<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I was skyping with a friend of mine and the rocket attack alarm went off. It was the first time that the alarm has gone off while I've been skyping with someone back home. I felt bad that someone saw me duck down to kneel while maneuvering the computer mouse to hang up on her for the couple minutes before I could call her back. I hate to worry people - especially as watching me crouch down is not by any means a representation of our level of physical danger here, which is actually quite small.<br />
<br />
10/20/2011<br />
<br />
I find myself thinking a lot about the short story <a href="http://www.americanliterature.com/Jackson/SS/TheLottery.html">"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson</a>. <i>SPOILER ALERT: </i>if you do not wish to have the surprise ending ruined for you do not continue with this blog post until you read the short story (click the link to get to it - it's not very long). In it, a small American town draws lots to determine who will be the one member of the community stoned to death to ensure a good harvest for the year. The character who is selected in the end has the final line of the story and it's this: "It isn't fair, it isn't right."<br />
<br />
I don't actually think of my decision to come here in this way, nor do I believe in human sacrifice to ensure a prosperous harvest, but I keep coming back to the idea that living here on KAF is like putting your name down for a lottery. It's morbid, and to talk about life in these terms to anyone who lives here would some sort of breach in etiquette, but we are all in a lottery of sorts.<br />
<br />
11/6/2011<br />
<br />
Amid a period during which there have been relatively few rocket attacks, one went off while I was in the gym a few days back. I'm hardly fazed anymore, but there was something different about this one. It's very rare to be huffing and puffing doing cardio - and then suddenly be lying motionless on the ground - it felt weird, and you're supposed to do a cool-down and I can't <i>believe </i>the taliban would be so inconsiderate to my leg muscles...JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-90306886168909398092012-02-19T19:25:00.000+03:302012-02-19T19:25:31.318+03:30Rocket Attack Part 1Pre-post apology: I'm sorry I kept the subject of the following few posts a secret from pretty much everyone I know. I asked for friends and family to not keep secrets from me while I was away, and I was keeping my own and that's not fair. I was trying to protect people from stress thereby protecting myself from the added stress of other people stressing.<br />
<br />
Most of this post was written in September, 2011.<br />
<br />
"Rocket Attack. Rocket Attack." So says the cool, calm, and collected British lady's voice over the loudspeakers strategically placed all over the base as a wavering siren blares. People say they get used to and disregard the warnings earnestly being thrust upon us by the powers that be. They even see the alarms as a nuisance to be ignored, rather than the way I see them: an instant jump in heart rate - followed by an intense suppression of a freakout-reflex that I was hardly even aware that I had before I got here.<br />
<br />
When this happens, a thought always runs through my mind: "What the hell am I doing here?!" <br />
<br />
In truth, the periodic rocket attacks here aren't anything to be really afraid of, not if you have any faith in statistics. If there are 30,000 people who live and work on the base, and you have an equal chance of being harmed by them as everyone else does, you're probably more likely to die in a car crash in the states than in a rocket explosion in Kandahar... and that's what's going through my mind as I turn on my iPod to pass the time spent in the concrete bunker we are meant to stay in until we are given the signal to head back to whatever it is we were doing before Taliban insurgents decided to interrupt our day... how rude.<br />
<br />
I've had some hilarious conversations in the bunker. It's like a mixer due to unfortunate circumstances. Most conversations limit themselves to small-talk. Sometimes they evolve into philosophical or shared-interest discussions. One time with the service members who live in my mod building with me, we discussed what would be an incredible irony: if a rocket attack actually hit one of the Muslim prayer centers on KAF. Not that we wished harm on anyone inside any of these centers - but the very idea of the supreme irony tickled us.<br />
<br />
I imagine the rockets launched towards KAF can most easily be compared to the rockets launched from Gaza into Southern Israel over the last few years. In sophistication, and method of detection and protection from danger, the situations are a alike.<br />
<br />
There are plenty of youtube videos out there relating to the Kandahar rocket attacks and here are some of them:<br />
<br />
These guys happen to be outside of KAF at the same time as rockets were falling exactly where they were, <i>and</i> they had a video camera rolling.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/w5yJsvja6OY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>In another group, someone had the presence of mind to grab a video camera to document the evacuation to the bunker when the rocket alarm sounded.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wq9gVOQFhek?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Some people have a sense of humor about the whole thing:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/SYucRqyGHcg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Here's what it sounds like when the rocket alarm goes off (this was a test).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/8M3Rf_gH6FM/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8M3Rf_gH6FM&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8M3Rf_gH6FM&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>And here's what the all clear sounds like when the danger has passed.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NQkzvfgyC58?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Someone even created a KAF rocket attack alarm remix:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rb0RsLPxOuQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-90640451306209041752012-02-15T18:15:00.002+03:302012-02-19T12:16:53.407+03:30Philosophical Discussions at the Kandahar Auto-Shop"People are the same wherever you go" is a line from Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder's "Ebony and Ivory". Observe:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TZtiJN6yiik?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>As ridiculous as that video may be, I've found that one line to hold true in most cases. The best example of this I encountered at the<a href="http://ahacsc.com/about_us"> Al Hadi</a> Auto Repair shop on KAF. A quick word about Al Hadi - it's a group of Afghans and TCNs (Third Country Nationals) who are incredible workers. Most efficient group on KAF as far as I'm concerned.<br />
<br />
Last time I went to bring the Ed. Center's vehicle for maintenance I was greeted warmly (as is always the case) with many handshakes and small pleasantries, but this time I was going to be in there for a while - needed an oil chance, rotating the tires, radiator needed replacing etc. I really got down to talking with one of the interpreters for the Al Hadi workers.<br />
<br />
His name is Mahmoud and he's from Eastern India. He's a few years older than me, has many sisters (although a few more than the number of sisters I have, which is three) all of them married, all living all over this side of the world. There the similarities start, my sisters each live in a different city and are all each in a wide variety of fields and situations. He is single, albeit waiting for a semi-arranged marriage by his parents (there's a difference, but if my parents had there way it probably wouldn't be), and says he's unencumbered by the responsibilities of having a family and so he is free to seek out an adventurous opportunity like coming to Afghanistan - now I'm reeling and break down and tell him, "we are the same".<br />
<br />
Without my beard, I suspect we'd even look alike. The similarities just kept on coming. His parents wanted him first to be a doctor of some kind followed by a lawyer or some other profession requiring lots of extra schooling, which he still may pursue some day. I'm practically speechless.<br />
<br />
Neither of us breach the topic of religion (I'm fairly certain based on several things that he comes from a Muslim family), but I'm sure we'd find further similarities there as well. The song Ebony and Ivory gets stuck in my head when he starts talking about how hard it is to get his whole family together at a given point when this one lives there and that one lives there. I'd try to rewrite the lyrics but I guess I would just replace the title words to "Mahogany and Cherryyyyyyyy" continuing on the theme of nice furniture building materials and skin colors...<br />
<br />
People really are the same wherever you go.JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-2006291043617793162012-02-15T18:13:00.001+03:302012-02-16T17:08:00.647+03:30DexterI've come across a few people here whose personalities make it a surprise for me to find them here. Not wanting to use any real names I've chosen to use the euphemism "Dexter". <br />
<br />
If you bring a (large) set of matching luggage filled with mostly clothing that needs to be dry cleaned- you might be a Dexter.<br />
<br />
If you can't stand to have your living quarters inspected/electrical work done in your corner of a shared room... you <i>might</i> be a Dexter... (see below)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xN61URVmIQc/TvcEHzpoTeI/AAAAAAAABoo/oSp6R5g0kuE/s1600/DSCF3601.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xN61URVmIQc/TvcEHzpoTeI/AAAAAAAABoo/oSp6R5g0kuE/s400/DSCF3601.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently the Dexter in <i>this</i> case couldn't handle the idea of his area being violated in order to install internet in the room...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1CspYOl-qi4/TvcEDY9p3PI/AAAAAAAABog/8UvpMaCW6Zs/s1600/DSCF3600.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1CspYOl-qi4/TvcEDY9p3PI/AAAAAAAABog/8UvpMaCW6Zs/s400/DSCF3600.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... so he made these feelings clear by spelling them out with sticky notes on his walls. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>If you make more or less a speech about how much you've grown in your experience in Afghanistan especially in your teamwork skills, and then not more than a half an hour later say that you don't care what the majority opinion is, or the fact the no one else wants it - for movie night we are watching an artsy french movie that my girlfriend sent me because it's <i>my </i>choice and <i>only </i>mine... you might be a Dexter...<br />
<br />
If you are so passive-aggressive, that one might call you <i>aggressively </i>passive-aggressive... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7E-isbgwpk">you might be a Dexter</a>.<br />
<br />
I guess it's not too surprising that personalities like these crop up downrange. You have to be a little wacky to even <i>consider</i> doing something that takes you to Afghanistan for 4-6 months at a time and the people who are a little wacky in one way may spill over in their wackiness into several other categories of wackiness. <br />
<br />
That having been said, to successfully traverse a situation in which you may be both working 12 hours/day with the same people AND sharing living quarters with the <i>same</i> people, one must have impeccable compromising and accommodating skills. Skills that I've found are <i>not</i> possessed by everyone.JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-66962750548746177342012-02-08T15:42:00.001+03:302012-09-30T08:17:35.398+03:30Six Month ContractversaryWow, It flew by! I'm not quite finished - I extended my tour by about three weeks in order to make my travel plans afterwards easier, but it's been whole six months since I started out for Kandahar!<br />
<br />
<b>The Continued <a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2011/09/tales-of-beardle-beard.html">Tales of Beardle the Beard</a></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJ0b67HbB5DcIyIlWWtVAAuY3SkAJ8zmARm7C90Q4wsY-YmLnMgRRZqVFKOKnG79NumIPGTXiMfTdlvwqb-UkeIJQHpQrJPW2SwfRZv74be-K641pdQ5sZpsFF6U6jIIgLFasP3tCx4Q/s1600/Picture+of+me+4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJ0b67HbB5DcIyIlWWtVAAuY3SkAJ8zmARm7C90Q4wsY-YmLnMgRRZqVFKOKnG79NumIPGTXiMfTdlvwqb-UkeIJQHpQrJPW2SwfRZv74be-K641pdQ5sZpsFF6U6jIIgLFasP3tCx4Q/s400/Picture+of+me+4.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1dPBriHdEUYmPlvOJIXqczbAIAQEW1WF6KM5BZLuuqGI269O-mJGAQhfTEl_dsKdejL0t2p9GaJcVQWcmRydusVic59agDzaohJXC-EIRcyHwppmVO4xXP0S67m_atK6VF5PtHNjwUk/s1600/Picture+of+me+5.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1dPBriHdEUYmPlvOJIXqczbAIAQEW1WF6KM5BZLuuqGI269O-mJGAQhfTEl_dsKdejL0t2p9GaJcVQWcmRydusVic59agDzaohJXC-EIRcyHwppmVO4xXP0S67m_atK6VF5PtHNjwUk/s400/Picture+of+me+5.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDo2uUqOnQ7FIYW9fmiLGWDQ6sifn-Nvo0MgT9rE6MFSSLiFGp1_axEKWlfiT3cE4LE6oAV76HENBrMl5sISj2mc8pzKuf7lEzFerdbf5mOdmi9MlIs_y7Jy6oPFYcxOWu1HLxbjQAiw/s1600/Picture+of+me+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDo2uUqOnQ7FIYW9fmiLGWDQ6sifn-Nvo0MgT9rE6MFSSLiFGp1_axEKWlfiT3cE4LE6oAV76HENBrMl5sISj2mc8pzKuf7lEzFerdbf5mOdmi9MlIs_y7Jy6oPFYcxOWu1HLxbjQAiw/s400/Picture+of+me+1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">End</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've discovered that having a great big bushy beard has at least one completely ridiculous perk <i>aside</i> from inadvertently storing food that I was trying to eat for later and that is it can be used as storage space for writing utensils and other similarly shaped objects.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAdd_VSAA0rPr8VRQIyYnIi9mWl1_hfHTThsIHse8j5_FLQ_NaCOODkF_7P9vzIYMyNJWcVGG0I4Gbz96v7-XfCP30SEpnww_gst2a7eA0uXMIGWhjEfAPzWnljjR09nbN5_yMhpZDBY/s1600/DSCF3827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAdd_VSAA0rPr8VRQIyYnIi9mWl1_hfHTThsIHse8j5_FLQ_NaCOODkF_7P9vzIYMyNJWcVGG0I4Gbz96v7-XfCP30SEpnww_gst2a7eA0uXMIGWhjEfAPzWnljjR09nbN5_yMhpZDBY/s400/DSCF3827.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JUbFAdaQW9TCXTckwb39bvKrmLQBwqmuO3d8iE5O647PQmWjN2TETT7DpAllaKaguFvmlIiERN6CafCs_XdKyzcW1bUT9_F4H5jyZdTLmYagnldhmEPiZFXtrcgQBJ6CquuFoiAN06o/s1600/DSCF3828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JUbFAdaQW9TCXTckwb39bvKrmLQBwqmuO3d8iE5O647PQmWjN2TETT7DpAllaKaguFvmlIiERN6CafCs_XdKyzcW1bUT9_F4H5jyZdTLmYagnldhmEPiZFXtrcgQBJ6CquuFoiAN06o/s400/DSCF3828.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0LB7hyphenhyphenXUrx7DWcS3vaF6U5a5wIwo73hX__AEUvWEpLaxUmM8VtQlBPmIgW2rgiqgSYVEOdI8lhhLYT8Fk8Hn3DnjKqMY1WcdClBCZxae8e9OnyldZUzp6_0DJc3J1V0EjDIlo2D1WhQ/s1600/DSCF3829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0LB7hyphenhyphenXUrx7DWcS3vaF6U5a5wIwo73hX__AEUvWEpLaxUmM8VtQlBPmIgW2rgiqgSYVEOdI8lhhLYT8Fk8Hn3DnjKqMY1WcdClBCZxae8e9OnyldZUzp6_0DJc3J1V0EjDIlo2D1WhQ/s400/DSCF3829.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_bvk_yCI4G3A14AbDi3H9cuX7kRAcG-HtJ6V27JWxlxt5nOs__VGmYrOY3kEtUTjHkopse65IafszTPIVFbP2DIK6UUdm_v5t7vJEViAlss953EGaftysrfxcervinDwoZ4-GXNw5So/s1600/DSCF3830.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_bvk_yCI4G3A14AbDi3H9cuX7kRAcG-HtJ6V27JWxlxt5nOs__VGmYrOY3kEtUTjHkopse65IafszTPIVFbP2DIK6UUdm_v5t7vJEViAlss953EGaftysrfxcervinDwoZ4-GXNw5So/s400/DSCF3830.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twenty total pens and other such objects! And yes, that IS a candy cane!</td></tr>
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Another set of before and after pictures:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMx_CXXvj4mZ6i2hTDlKDIHdr1zcyBlklajUIvHkm1oOstlqvh6jppTWijqQQ0-rfvWdeu6o7QfYGrXxho7Kqy6Q-BMB7lWBBVfjtZvDzzdnXVecl5avqvQbQOWJnZJKQ3Y8d-z4SSSg/s1600/DSCF3659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMx_CXXvj4mZ6i2hTDlKDIHdr1zcyBlklajUIvHkm1oOstlqvh6jppTWijqQQ0-rfvWdeu6o7QfYGrXxho7Kqy6Q-BMB7lWBBVfjtZvDzzdnXVecl5avqvQbQOWJnZJKQ3Y8d-z4SSSg/s400/DSCF3659.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJgC-l5mCbCXM6-LTt4NbvWQVb9wqBKx0ZgCp6aaGZOphji0Zkqp7S9JsvG7vwmG3WlRFyjv5k68sKZHmYctrJq2pVAJN_8qCIAhiZhgI6k6sxfugRDPqxczQWwngYeSC-sTmGHHxBBU/s1600/DSCF3839.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJgC-l5mCbCXM6-LTt4NbvWQVb9wqBKx0ZgCp6aaGZOphji0Zkqp7S9JsvG7vwmG3WlRFyjv5k68sKZHmYctrJq2pVAJN_8qCIAhiZhgI6k6sxfugRDPqxczQWwngYeSC-sTmGHHxBBU/s400/DSCF3839.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/x-all-the-y">I have ALLL the permissions!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of my many accolades for growing an awesome beard:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm-h-T3mBBBNDLgEZxI6bWDS-TPRSSLqhAEDszjzmmyT3yC-2bOGV-IQkj0oJOHYCkr1tqcsyafcUy0O9285GKcYKS_PhvDzSl6LHv0T_CaokXSRklTenvOd78C0YsfZlO53uBvWbV4k/s1600/DSCF3840.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm-h-T3mBBBNDLgEZxI6bWDS-TPRSSLqhAEDszjzmmyT3yC-2bOGV-IQkj0oJOHYCkr1tqcsyafcUy0O9285GKcYKS_PhvDzSl6LHv0T_CaokXSRklTenvOd78C0YsfZlO53uBvWbV4k/s320/DSCF3840.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, this is a joke from a friend - but can you imagine?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2011/09/graffiti-and-zombies.html"><b>Graffiti</b></a><br />
Seemingly, there is no end to the found art splayed across Kandahar Airfield.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBOORO-iSoIO7uTDHVJMuYNAAkpN7v5kgOKoM-N5ds6jPbK9cKUyuiBI5xto9wzCNAiuqz982xfOqtrMD9p_urJvGH0nmi64FJl20CXMTy_cPu2K0U0y7FerHNy1U4es4OXEs1mvM5fg/s1600/DSCF3672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBOORO-iSoIO7uTDHVJMuYNAAkpN7v5kgOKoM-N5ds6jPbK9cKUyuiBI5xto9wzCNAiuqz982xfOqtrMD9p_urJvGH0nmi64FJl20CXMTy_cPu2K0U0y7FerHNy1U4es4OXEs1mvM5fg/s400/DSCF3672.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's your patriotic duty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGUqurMh2B25Ai0Ub77IFqNvTrLcHh0JvMUGCehkQEJUTBnsLkpkwgfO5sfZKPxyjtBIjEPOjdFZ8AfUgYvAzSlEH8QBHm9BSvB9ZyxlGbJn5j8QfOYQ-RC20Bhp-tGAad8TZPCdibjo/s1600/DSCF3710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGUqurMh2B25Ai0Ub77IFqNvTrLcHh0JvMUGCehkQEJUTBnsLkpkwgfO5sfZKPxyjtBIjEPOjdFZ8AfUgYvAzSlEH8QBHm9BSvB9ZyxlGbJn5j8QfOYQ-RC20Bhp-tGAad8TZPCdibjo/s400/DSCF3710.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being protective concrete wall can be very rewarding.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://transcredibleexploits.blogspot.com/2011/10/poo-pond.html"><b>Poo Pond</b></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYpqONz5zKUAlibPzxV4EN5TVS0cg6opAcHq7Rl6scDzR-_-CUQ_hHkAXoi6F8Gzvh3eB5oSyyGDg79yudMVw3idJlCiQwGXV6bqVgXkCLRaBPDxcKq3O9wZ3NSCC3wmyEdpnPGt0Xh4/s1600/DSCF3731.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYpqONz5zKUAlibPzxV4EN5TVS0cg6opAcHq7Rl6scDzR-_-CUQ_hHkAXoi6F8Gzvh3eB5oSyyGDg79yudMVw3idJlCiQwGXV6bqVgXkCLRaBPDxcKq3O9wZ3NSCC3wmyEdpnPGt0Xh4/s400/DSCF3731.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now there's a <i>third</i> major gym on KAF.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Countdown Mode</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGPH2bXO0wKiC0CeC0l-OuPaOl3tO7SBBJXgdPhPzrooMNZqJglY4rCLmavp0SuiViE5pMbjgMFljGtZV6HFVrfge90a8lI0qIn07QaNY9pm6qFj_CYDbFr-C8Q3-iKgfl1ddVP20FYA/s1600/DSCF3724.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGPH2bXO0wKiC0CeC0l-OuPaOl3tO7SBBJXgdPhPzrooMNZqJglY4rCLmavp0SuiViE5pMbjgMFljGtZV6HFVrfge90a8lI0qIn07QaNY9pm6qFj_CYDbFr-C8Q3-iKgfl1ddVP20FYA/s400/DSCF3724.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm clearly not the only one excited to leave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, Kandahar, it's been a good run, but now it's nearly time to say goodbye. It's been real. I'll mostly think of you fondly. <br />
<br />
Whenever I'm counting down to a big change, I get the song "one day more" from Les Miserables stuck in my head. Enjoy:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IddP8AAIGTQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-84626403442726969912012-02-01T20:36:00.000+03:302012-09-30T08:17:38.595+03:30Alien LandscapeOver the months, I've collected a lot of pictures that wouldn't fit into any individual post, so I mushed them all together into <i>this</i> post. Although, I've gotten pretty used to the locale that is Kandahar, I'm still struck sometimes by how strange what I'm looking at <i>should</i> seem, so I'll snap a picture of that thing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrw2ur2HuSiMZPWXBLTNqjqBOpLsZadB9GdDjP3tUJPM3gJ5tAeE_0eGdWBWc0cdt7SGfhz-j_b5iDz4gFindQ5HQa53dXffwGUFbDcGNwRAPFdW0BmsUE-LwKxsswhGjFQUfQNWS_KA8/s1600/DSCF3569.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrw2ur2HuSiMZPWXBLTNqjqBOpLsZadB9GdDjP3tUJPM3gJ5tAeE_0eGdWBWc0cdt7SGfhz-j_b5iDz4gFindQ5HQa53dXffwGUFbDcGNwRAPFdW0BmsUE-LwKxsswhGjFQUfQNWS_KA8/s400/DSCF3569.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMeGT6-pUU_Y7jk2DO0lTge7YQom75uSVWdSSgsWDoBAzxZPkIXAL-BotC6pQ5gEgHM5QcYlEi9j6bmw91ieVoIDVubnRgumVi6bIYIdWWTq-L1JjETV_OGh1cA1jvUvRfD0RzGFoAPs/s1600/DSCF3603.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMeGT6-pUU_Y7jk2DO0lTge7YQom75uSVWdSSgsWDoBAzxZPkIXAL-BotC6pQ5gEgHM5QcYlEi9j6bmw91ieVoIDVubnRgumVi6bIYIdWWTq-L1JjETV_OGh1cA1jvUvRfD0RzGFoAPs/s400/DSCF3603.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Power cables don't really make KAF unique, but sometimes they strike me as picture-worthy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF07t0M4PHruVgOgEiu-cXEATai_mN5_eFPk3aJF-EK8xOXP9IHBQ4ClfDItmfH8ZqjEyDJu9hu_cD3Vm5ExjVX0ebN-rJgaYNEnLuSICkexvwov5VrxZJ6cx44kY9uNRfl3EyNW3wfJc/s1600/DSCF3602.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF07t0M4PHruVgOgEiu-cXEATai_mN5_eFPk3aJF-EK8xOXP9IHBQ4ClfDItmfH8ZqjEyDJu9hu_cD3Vm5ExjVX0ebN-rJgaYNEnLuSICkexvwov5VrxZJ6cx44kY9uNRfl3EyNW3wfJc/s400/DSCF3602.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wouldn't be surprised if this was once a watering hole for the area wildlife, now it's a driving range every once in a while for those who love golf enough to get clubs and balls shipped here. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3SrlkhgQQomkwYbLeFGGt0VEI6cv1kavsKGtiLmhwskbvsxx1L_BkchfGgENhWkRE4pcvihxRTwfhF3gSVAmov8ySxdcA76oIEoombRqIGs2-fTS5muKdXSsyMHL-bpfueVtev818Z8/s1600/DSCF3736.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3SrlkhgQQomkwYbLeFGGt0VEI6cv1kavsKGtiLmhwskbvsxx1L_BkchfGgENhWkRE4pcvihxRTwfhF3gSVAmov8ySxdcA76oIEoombRqIGs2-fTS5muKdXSsyMHL-bpfueVtev818Z8/s400/DSCF3736.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some things look like they actually<i> are</i> from an alien landscape.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BoKVdziRLI89LHXZbadEHeOP9L4jPyQQRbw8sp6uv6SDNsjNU4nzSYADH7S-9chFY_7H6tkIN65gUqYA2J6TUm_X3lRCi_VJEhtpTJGmKXT9un37KrKZoN13TDf2WHj2om9e3j4ekl4/s1600/DSCF3735.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BoKVdziRLI89LHXZbadEHeOP9L4jPyQQRbw8sp6uv6SDNsjNU4nzSYADH7S-9chFY_7H6tkIN65gUqYA2J6TUm_X3lRCi_VJEhtpTJGmKXT9un37KrKZoN13TDf2WHj2om9e3j4ekl4/s400/DSCF3735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the sun. Some days, it's so dusty you can look right at it without even a trace of glare.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoMdUanH-DD5NVzeX6k0na_RZw1_OhVYJWKa0tgThJPhW1FE9vqd1L8TP-DluYkVU6DRh7IgOEzse3MBU94TSu2sOEdd9-b3nFK9-AoRrphUaIOajdVKyH9OnGFBb-xSzVEAYuUR9IEQ/s1600/404414_10150543214493326_793218325_8765203_1529579646_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoMdUanH-DD5NVzeX6k0na_RZw1_OhVYJWKa0tgThJPhW1FE9vqd1L8TP-DluYkVU6DRh7IgOEzse3MBU94TSu2sOEdd9-b3nFK9-AoRrphUaIOajdVKyH9OnGFBb-xSzVEAYuUR9IEQ/s400/404414_10150543214493326_793218325_8765203_1529579646_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The roads can be treacherous when wet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNsPIFyu81w_f6KBFlCY2eckQyCujXH4ZvULyxHMtWhZaddlqTaIVd4yx71FArtsoziKrDqu8bs1rKuZ6eEQ_eFsLiWbXA33aDfqGgl-JMuq_AkLTWwgFVIgNzV0-wwyABu3WMneYP6g/s1600/DSCF3819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNsPIFyu81w_f6KBFlCY2eckQyCujXH4ZvULyxHMtWhZaddlqTaIVd4yx71FArtsoziKrDqu8bs1rKuZ6eEQ_eFsLiWbXA33aDfqGgl-JMuq_AkLTWwgFVIgNzV0-wwyABu3WMneYP6g/s400/DSCF3819.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It snowed for a few minutes the other day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7T5hWieDRAoDGtz2x2xJjTWFdFptPcIIw_e_CJgdL8BPUrs8OYyjbOHqbpYZJ7QUyhrw818rUoQ2LLLefd-kYijpP2irLf1hQ0gHSnJ80_B2dClxedD4s2NX8utWr8oXKY4TiXZJIrw/s1600/DSCF3822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7T5hWieDRAoDGtz2x2xJjTWFdFptPcIIw_e_CJgdL8BPUrs8OYyjbOHqbpYZJ7QUyhrw818rUoQ2LLLefd-kYijpP2irLf1hQ0gHSnJ80_B2dClxedD4s2NX8utWr8oXKY4TiXZJIrw/s400/DSCF3822.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...of course it was all melted an hour later, but still - snow!</td></tr>
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JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-89618004798164164292012-01-29T18:06:00.001+03:302012-09-30T08:17:30.206+03:30Trivia NightI love trivia night. If the pub-trivia-nights of the world had a joint ad campaign, I'd be on the poster. So when I had the opportunity to go to one of the British coffee houses on post for their weekly trivia night with a few friends, I took it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MDBxkT8PRRwoCsz4gRwIKAP4hiJglp1zn8Loz1FeHV8ZpLnuleK9ng-bfHKuoC4ipk1SkFMol3jMnHEx9Y2BhPHt38Xo7qDTW3mYOMvLZrTjqir9ejC7mWM6ZGoogXgopSufBLZQlpc/s1600/DSCF3768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MDBxkT8PRRwoCsz4gRwIKAP4hiJglp1zn8Loz1FeHV8ZpLnuleK9ng-bfHKuoC4ipk1SkFMol3jMnHEx9Y2BhPHt38Xo7qDTW3mYOMvLZrTjqir9ejC7mWM6ZGoogXgopSufBLZQlpc/s400/DSCF3768.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard at work proving who knows the must trivial pieces of knowledge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The trivia night here went faster than most places I've been. I suspect this is because the proprietors aren't too concerned with trying to get their patrons to purchase more alcohol as there is no alcohol!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulEh_hnSrbxiR_OB1vStFNYH7z74bP-5E-sYGoBd-5OhBT32pqa8Ed3xlfAvw8ceVXQenhE-65nn_m9ww5R1_wPKxEvjP5jyC3KmvHNcGdwwdgiVrNx2Yy_Gz98P1PN9t0aey3hQa7AI/s1600/DSCF3770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulEh_hnSrbxiR_OB1vStFNYH7z74bP-5E-sYGoBd-5OhBT32pqa8Ed3xlfAvw8ceVXQenhE-65nn_m9ww5R1_wPKxEvjP5jyC3KmvHNcGdwwdgiVrNx2Yy_Gz98P1PN9t0aey3hQa7AI/s400/DSCF3770.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://socialmediahansolo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hoth-echo-base-han-solo-repairs-millenium-falcon.jpg">No! No! No! THIS answer goes HERE, THAT answer goes THERE. Got it??</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We lost in the end, but playing with people from so many different countries made it a little interesting. It seemed like there were representatives from every English speaking place represented here on KAF. At one point the host asked a question about what the top of a nail was called and he pronounced nail "nowl" - and people were joking about it the rest of the night. <br />
<br />
I'm very much looking forward to my next pub-trivia-like event, wherever it may be.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlpNZfs0xAM1wkzLEgs87LxI1Njumb317dYG5Mwb-JGDI9SuxE59wmFJV6RUsXU-_8AlzK_h9vUuf7D4YMzJ2v2UnoGKODgdhsfRP5opk3O31ThrnV9JGiGJkqTek6IpN6cZuwit8XHQ/s1600/DSCF3771.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlpNZfs0xAM1wkzLEgs87LxI1Njumb317dYG5Mwb-JGDI9SuxE59wmFJV6RUsXU-_8AlzK_h9vUuf7D4YMzJ2v2UnoGKODgdhsfRP5opk3O31ThrnV9JGiGJkqTek6IpN6cZuwit8XHQ/s400/DSCF3771.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Better luck next time...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408117493214628303.post-74692580033371723622012-01-27T16:10:00.001+03:302012-01-27T16:12:34.082+03:30Cigar NightA few weeks ago we had a cigar night after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havdalah">Havdalah</a> at our friends over at the US Army Corps of Engineers compound's cigar porch. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-QsjcCoJTc1xyejwAHb_lhRYBwjYyiCeg3L2IDkWcP52-FNkuqaouy8yMSMts8nOZx5lhhCmIu1HKS65-fv5hEKdSTKnrGrvTTUdyA7PIc4h3sINXfWZ6XkL5K5cS-DwpNEiHRTa9d8/s1600/DSCF3709.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-QsjcCoJTc1xyejwAHb_lhRYBwjYyiCeg3L2IDkWcP52-FNkuqaouy8yMSMts8nOZx5lhhCmIu1HKS65-fv5hEKdSTKnrGrvTTUdyA7PIc4h3sINXfWZ6XkL5K5cS-DwpNEiHRTa9d8/s400/DSCF3709.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to The USACE compound!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm not an expert in virtually any vice, but the peer pressure got to me and I'm told they were very good cigars. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGm3ZNBTuPc9IikXPez4NbutK7N3zX6oMKl0HDzk8c0v05laN3fTMdS7jPa_2vWgu5mYt4glIa-SoQAfbXla0J66zxUahLV5_kLGJeTB6u8K_N3yB68XuO4KP9KghW0RoegAI3Bd4o1k/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGm3ZNBTuPc9IikXPez4NbutK7N3zX6oMKl0HDzk8c0v05laN3fTMdS7jPa_2vWgu5mYt4glIa-SoQAfbXla0J66zxUahLV5_kLGJeTB6u8K_N3yB68XuO4KP9KghW0RoegAI3Bd4o1k/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the porch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pDxljCmBRIRuaEaGFU7eo2yGSQ_2sMR_fi5NcX6eAoJtbJa-sR9Q8iwoaP6-LXMtMBaHrklyHlwtal9NvHhx3PBD4kYjP4K-RdvBEPhqIWBMqD8cmr8K-dO1K6RT-DJ02MW0-OyD-f8/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pDxljCmBRIRuaEaGFU7eo2yGSQ_2sMR_fi5NcX6eAoJtbJa-sR9Q8iwoaP6-LXMtMBaHrklyHlwtal9NvHhx3PBD4kYjP4K-RdvBEPhqIWBMqD8cmr8K-dO1K6RT-DJ02MW0-OyD-f8/s400/DSC_0006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank is a phantom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPtlTZSs9l7dnDUbLNpKkPqARSLQEFAzT5lv0bjFsJVwYKpnQXvxTL09BQCFQeIER8eG43wU41TVZrGZZrY_rONZahtto70WNWas3kOVV9KGuQmOUw7uVDZdeRnRnC0pYH20VYK0UTLs/s1600/DSCF3704.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPtlTZSs9l7dnDUbLNpKkPqARSLQEFAzT5lv0bjFsJVwYKpnQXvxTL09BQCFQeIER8eG43wU41TVZrGZZrY_rONZahtto70WNWas3kOVV9KGuQmOUw7uVDZdeRnRnC0pYH20VYK0UTLs/s400/DSCF3704.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tobacco is basically the only permissible vice on KAF.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8LoHZgV4HrDvXgz-mp1JKO2GCzxtJfDkL8KYEDghCT1XukFq-4lt7n-GxH50hVdBJaYbcLh0aYmwMupHE0ROka7n-e7gHZz4oH2ogas3SoHzGbNjVhCy9jOZJc02OT7_KruD3KBLh5g/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8LoHZgV4HrDvXgz-mp1JKO2GCzxtJfDkL8KYEDghCT1XukFq-4lt7n-GxH50hVdBJaYbcLh0aYmwMupHE0ROka7n-e7gHZz4oH2ogas3SoHzGbNjVhCy9jOZJc02OT7_KruD3KBLh5g/s400/DSC_0008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_w6E5ozIHfA7YGx7qzOOME094SNkIfvvtWvEeNltKA6wYU6977v_SWjfG9fg-rfBXDSudVwcnoESAK4iWAksprKoNWfZ3SX2RKnxIiEaxoEnr4xI9WG_WGxEw-rTXkmyuUthaQMIU8o/s1600/DSCF3705.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_w6E5ozIHfA7YGx7qzOOME094SNkIfvvtWvEeNltKA6wYU6977v_SWjfG9fg-rfBXDSudVwcnoESAK4iWAksprKoNWfZ3SX2RKnxIiEaxoEnr4xI9WG_WGxEw-rTXkmyuUthaQMIU8o/s400/DSCF3705.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> I realize the irony of my making comments about Mike Self way back in the day and how he looked like Fidel Castro. I am fully aware that in these pictures, with the big beard, and especially with the cigar, I resemble Fidel Castro. Just wanted to get this out there in the open, so nobody else thought they could point it out to me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2FIdMq3y-iFy0ooArULGGWmJ-qlJsPokFGZkWPfVyYfL0lEpK1ji7qnUbEHL6KV75J0uZtmU4RlSc2ot_hsMEtHud9I7RQNS5qx_qX9OcNaPyzJ81SYuL4ffUK9JfeOdgTRvMitx2oc/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2FIdMq3y-iFy0ooArULGGWmJ-qlJsPokFGZkWPfVyYfL0lEpK1ji7qnUbEHL6KV75J0uZtmU4RlSc2ot_hsMEtHud9I7RQNS5qx_qX9OcNaPyzJ81SYuL4ffUK9JfeOdgTRvMitx2oc/s400/DSC_0010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ThIfrCGAJuB9EG2K1LfPjqPF6RQWIUf-zEfWwN8hno_fbfeahjwHDbilkNtnGDGQLaz_lKZgxAaFhYnrhsOBK3D65Y09AYvVpAQPcs_G9607TpSG1mNcgcs27B6ykGoX2sPI2w3qdy4/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ThIfrCGAJuB9EG2K1LfPjqPF6RQWIUf-zEfWwN8hno_fbfeahjwHDbilkNtnGDGQLaz_lKZgxAaFhYnrhsOBK3D65Y09AYvVpAQPcs_G9607TpSG1mNcgcs27B6ykGoX2sPI2w3qdy4/s400/DSC_0011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm telling everyone about this glorious revolution I once led.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4srD-RJxnGFf8V8wAhrOahhtz7lnvGK27jeGCeme7Y5swbcg2tM2JH7JZmw4y0w6erPbIBahdbYMOwOO96q5dmZSZze9mBs-evTKiUQ6-AyfX71xcN8XLUd2K_Y28KS3Opb5JYmRagE0/s1600/DSCF3708.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4srD-RJxnGFf8V8wAhrOahhtz7lnvGK27jeGCeme7Y5swbcg2tM2JH7JZmw4y0w6erPbIBahdbYMOwOO96q5dmZSZze9mBs-evTKiUQ6-AyfX71xcN8XLUd2K_Y28KS3Opb5JYmRagE0/s400/DSCF3708.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curse the infamous glare off of reflector belts!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cigar night was also a good opportunity for some great looking pictures of good deeds being done. Benari had lots of comic books, and Avi knew of lots of people who had little time on their hands. Supply and demand at their finest. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPTLMuj5YFt9mK-DU33p9jZXvf9xI9UxCo7eIxK96Q6y8bNh3myPf8hZuFwsbD3j-87vdC31SPKqo9fYqQYnq9-YD8Nj58sYf4sYHZebck_hrik9UbAfHQn-T4x5O_UOoemwNcc_lRrk/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPTLMuj5YFt9mK-DU33p9jZXvf9xI9UxCo7eIxK96Q6y8bNh3myPf8hZuFwsbD3j-87vdC31SPKqo9fYqQYnq9-YD8Nj58sYf4sYHZebck_hrik9UbAfHQn-T4x5O_UOoemwNcc_lRrk/s400/DSC_0024.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transaction complete.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245747722537895720noreply@blogger.com1