Tidbits from the Roman Forum.

Flowers on the mound.

 I've been putting off my blogging. I was going to get "serious" and write about my writing process.

But I wasn't ready to leave Italy behind! Back to Rome for an exploration of death and rebirth.

The mound to the right is the altar of the Temple of Caesar. Augustus began construction of the temple in 42 BC after Julius was assassinated. All that remains is the mound above.

Below is the entrance to the Umbilicus Urbis (Navel of the City). I found myself fascinated by the small, unassuming structure. It had been used as a reference point for center point of the city and was considered an entrance to the Underworld.

The sign at the Umbilicus Urbis.

Augustus Caesar as the Pontifex Maximus.

The remains of a colossus of Constantine.

The Roman emphasis on realism in their portraiture proves that you don't need to be a big, brawny guy to rule the world.

The statue from the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, originally built around 509 BC. Wow!

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Photo Blast of Rome

How can I describe the massive experience that is Rome? I can't. So here are a bunch of photographs.

The impossibly blue sky over the Colosseum.

Umbrella Pines at the Imperial Palace

The Boxer of Quirinal, a bronze of 330 BC.

A sarcophagus. Check that crazy detail!

The center of Rome, in the Forum.

Trajan's column.

The Pantheon. Appropriately a busker was playing Stairway to Heaven in the courtyard!

The enormity of the Colosseum.

Athena will mess you up!

Augustus as the Pontifex Maximus.

The head and hand of Constantine.

Reclining Dionysus.

A dramatic corner of the Baths of Caracalla.

The only photograph of Florence you will ever need.

You cannot go to Florence without seeing Michelangelo's David. 

It's hard to describe how truly epic this sculpture is. No photograph can truly capture it's emotion and passion.

Except, maybe this one:

From the Women's Restroom at the Accademia.

More Florence

While we were in Florence, we also visited the Piazza del Duomo. Wikipedia says this is one of the most visited places in Europe, and boy, I can believe it. 

Exterior shot, including the lines to get in.

The whole thing is flipping gorgeous!

I did the best I could with my little iPhone.

Magnificent! 

On the way to the altar.

A beautiful, peace side chapel.

You get the altar, then look up, and Wow!

God and Jesus being awe-inspiring.

The Bapististery, with the famous Gates of Paradise by Ghiberti. MAGNIFICENT!

Welcome to Florence, Italy!

Have some stairs.

Yes, it is true, Italy is full of stairs. Tall stairs, endless stairs, curving stairs, and marble stairs.

Fortunately, the views are worth all the stairs!

Our first stop in Florence was the Pallazo Medici Riccardi.

Euripedes.

Caracalla. You can really get a feel for how brutal he was.

This one was labeled Sovrano Ellenistico.

I really loved the expression on this guy. He is the Atleta Riccardi.

Meeting rooms with massive frescoes.

The world's coolest ostrich painting.