Wandering Surprises

These past couple of days have been free days, and in that free time I have been wandering the corners of the city. For the amount of time I have walked around, I have seen an great amount. Usually by accident, though, so I do not know the historical importance and gravity of what I've seen, but I am impressed nonetheless. Beauty is literally everywhere, and every building and corner is unique. You just have to concentrate on a building for a little while, pick it apart with your eyes and you discover layers and layers of history... with a layer of graffiti bordering its base.

Here is a little taste...



...eating pizza bianca. I have a slightly disgusted look on my face, but that is just because I am trying to listen, eat, and take a picture at the same time. Apparently it takes a lot out of me. I am really thinking "wow, this is fantastic!"




Me in front of a water fountain. There are water fountains in just about every square, and tucked into odd little corners.



A street shrine to the madonna-- these are also prolific throughout Rome.



This is the Ponte Sisto over the Tiber River. There is a night market alongside the Tiber River that opens as soon as it is dark. It's a little carnivalesque, and geared towards tourists, but fun nonetheless.



This is the rooftop view from the Rome Center (not my room, from my room all I see is a water heater).



This morning I tried to go to Piazza Novana. Instead I found the Italian National Museum (which literally stopped me in my tracks from sheer awesomeness), a dozen magnificent churches, and this elephant obelisk!



This is what sheer awesomness looks like. See the tiny people?




This was taken on a bridge over the Tiber river. Couples put locks on the bridge's facades for good luck... to symbolize their eternal love.



This is what clothing shops in the campo look like. Erin, I took this picture just for you... so drink it in.

Right now an anti-religion rally is going on in the Campo de Fiori around the statute of Giordano Bruno. It's noisy, and I wish I understood Italian, but I am going to go watch! Buona sera!