Sunday

Oct, 14, 2001

Random Tourist

I start off when I feel like it. The city is quieter on Sunday.

I make my way to the Piazza di San Marco after wandering a bit of a wrong way. There I go through the monastery with the decorations of Fra Angelico. If you walked quickly from one cell to another it appeared as a flip book of Christ's life. In one cell, a bit of the floor was cut away and glass set in. Below about eight feet was a fragment of a Roman painting.

Then I queued to get into the Accademia. Since I was alone, I rented an audio tour thing and enjoyed the dialog. The real David is there, of course, but lots of other important ancient works, too.

By the time I've finished the museums my back and feet hurt. I cover ground when alone. Going fast. No waiting for others, no conversation.

I wander about and see Asian couples getting wedding pictures in the Piazza del Duomo.

I go back to my hotel and then out to eat some lunch at a table on the sidewalk. I have a crepe and some wine. A bottle of water. Some cheese. A double espresso. And I watch the people go by. The accordian player in the funny hat entertain. I watch the performance of a woman 'unparking' and a man quickly taking the spot. Both giving the little car behind a couple of knocks on its bumper. I enjoy sitting and watching. This street is near the train station. People come and go from hotels. A group of girls relaxes with food and drink while sending out scouts to check out lodging. Six women come up, speaking English with the waitresses. I can't figure out what they are speaking among themselves. I ask. Swedish.

I wander around a bit more, looking in shop windows. Finally, I rest a bit and nap.

I head out to find a place for dinner. I don't know really where I'm going. Then I see my friend and her husband up ahead. They are looking for a place, too. We find a place in an alley and have a small meal. I drink a glass of wine.

I bid my friends goodbye. They are taking a couple of days in Rome, leaving by train tomorrow. I have a day by myself tomorrow and then the day of flying.

wedding in the Piazza del Duomo

got the backdrop, get you lookin' good

"Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace..."

John Lennon, "Imagine"

Meta:
We'll just be keeping Lennon's radical lyrics here indefinitely. I'm updating this after the fact. Which means, of course, that I forget even more than usual.

JUST TYPING
Alone.
Touring.
One goes too fast.
Until, feet and back aching.
One just stops.
Drinks wine and water.
Eats a couple of courses.
And watches people going by.