We arrived in Rome last Monday. I took a shower in the evening and used the shampoo that I found in the bathroom. Some of it got into my right eye and it became red!
Vile stuff…
My eye has been quite sore and so I haven’t done as much here in Rome as I had planned. But I’m recovering.
The trouble has also been the heat. There is no point in going out until in the late afternoon. By then, some things, such as the Colosseum, are closed. The Colosseum closes at six, which is way too early.
But Rome is an amazing city! Ruins of temples etc. all around.
I was less impressed by the Vatican. The whole of the Catholic Church just irritates me. However the Vatican may be beautiful, I dislike what it stands for. Rome is forever trying to dominate the world. First by force, then by religion.
In a sense, we still have an emperor here. His name is Benedict XVI.
As Philip K. Dick would have it: The Empire never ended. It merely changed its face.
(Dick’s theory was actually that an enormous false memory had been inserted into mankind. He maintained that we have been brainwashed by the Roman Empire to live in a false world. What we perceive as reality is not real - neither the present, nor the last 2000 years. See Dick’s VALIS).
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July 25th, 2008 at 1:23 am
You must see the Matrix trilogy. But, yes, most of the industrial World is brainwashed into believing in something other than the Truth: “Market economy”, “military intelligence”, “national superiority”, need I go on? Yet, wasn’t it St. Augustine who said, “The Truth, wherever it’s found, must be avidly accepted.” Bruno di Nola tried to speak truths and was burnt at the stake in Rome’s Campo di Fiori, a scientist who became the last heretic thus immolated. All roads lead to Rome, but luckily they all lead out, too.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Why you Icelanders have to criticize religion ?
As for the soap ; “put soap in my eye make it red so I look Ra” (M.I.A.
July 25th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Romain, I suppose because we’re “blessedly” heathen…
I left out the Vatican when I went to Rome, last year, I see I didn’t miss much. But Rome is a great city, I can’t understand why I haven’t been there before!
July 25th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I think calling Benedict XVI. an emperor is a far stretch and a bit unsavory to be honest. I am no Christian myself but religion (as well as politics) is a delicate subject, which is why I for one choose to keep my opinion to myself.
Anyway, Rome is a beautiful city (not as beautiful as Florence though) and I think you guys were really in need of a bit of sun after all that raining at the Melt!, am I right?
July 25th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Sorry to hear about your eye, I hate when that happens…it seems the stuff tested on lab bunnies hurts the worst! Oh the Vatican art collection! I wish I could see all the Caravaggios and Michaelangelo works, the Laocoön, the Belvedere Torso. When I think of Vatican Politics, though low brow of me, I cannot help think of the incredibly funny Southpark episode “Red Hot Catholic Love.”
The VALIS link was interesting. Thanks.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:44 am
Rome is by far one of my favourite cities on earth. I love it all. The people, the nightlife, the food, the evening lights, the history and even the Vatican. It all holds an incredibly intense energy of where we come from… the good the bad and the ugly but I love all of its colours all the same.
I sat in the Forum with an older gentleman when I was there and we sat on a toppled column while I listened to him tell stories of Roman history. Before we knew it, the sun went down and then we headed off to a local cafe to enjoy a glass of wine. I never saw that man again so he will never know what a special place he holds in my heart for making his city come alive for me that night.
Kayleigh
July 30th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Rome always seems cool and while I disagree with the Vatican on most things I have always liked the art and symbols that the Church uses, but they become a bit hollow when I start to think of them. Any way I hope you had a lot of wonderful food and your eye feels better. Also kudos on the Philip K. Dick reference his short stories alone blow my mind.