Roma, Italia

Behind me is the Basilica of St. Peter. This is the view from the Egypt and Mesopotamia wing of the Vatican Museum. It's the only section that is not filled to the brim with people. I saw endless statues and sculptures of heads, torsos, naked and robed. I must say this place is a bit much. Every conceivable space is filled with a painting, a frescoe, a mosaic, a scultpure, a tapestry. Those Romans, they were consumed by depicting the drape of cloth as a work of art. You could almost tell how important a sculpture was by how complicated the drape of the cloth was on the subject.

Rome is crazy and chaotic and old and beautiful. Narrow, cobbled streets lead to expansive piazzas that swallow you in.

The trees look like broccoli. They are skinny and tall and then a cloud of green on top. Smart cars make my Volkswagen Beetle feel like a Hummer in these parts. Wish you were here with me to take it all in.