Back in Rome

Tiff’s just figured out how to get to the Appian Way. Since we’re in Rome, that’s probably a good thing. Mary, Tiff’s mom, is snoring again. It’s been her typical status whenever given half a chance, but she hasn’t exactly been on a normal sleep schedule for the past three days. Tiff and I drug her quite a few kilometers, up and down 3 of the 7 hills of Rome (as best I can tell, anyway). We saw quite a few gorgeous churches, mostly named after St. Mary.
Haha, Bush campaign officials got in trouble for CGI extras added to a GI crowd on their commercial. I’m not sure how I feel about “No Surrender” being Kerry’s current “theme song.” That seems a little pessimistic. Maybe it’s just meant to be aggressive. Don’t read too hard, I’m not going to put in a plug for either of them.
Yes, I’m watching CNN for the first time in 2 months. I’d watch Fox to balance it out, but they don’t bother with Fox here. I’ve got Tiff here to balance it out. Besides, this is CNN Asia (I don’t know why not CNN Europe), so maybe the reputation doesn’t apply.
Lets not talk politics here.
Asian TV has really cool commercials. And it’s in English. English Asian CNN. With Brittish photojournalists. Odd.
Well, maybe a little more politics.
EU’s constitution is getting signed here today. I know, you’d think something that’s been around for over 15 years now would have a constitution that they signed, right? Well, they do, but it’s written for 6 countries, not 25. I’m watching the story now and it seems that the general purpose of this constitution is to declare plans for the new, larger EU. It includes a 5-year presidency, rather than 6 months at a time, a slimmed down commission, a new voting system, etc. So far all but 10 countries have signed. Unfortunately, there’s doubts on some of those countries, and if they don’t sign this little piece of paper is worth about as much as the one in your bathroom.
What’s having the entire EU in Rome doing to our trip? What do you think? We had to completely circumvent most of central Rome, and will have to again tomorrow as well. With any luck we’ll get into most of the old city, but we may have to take a convoluted way around the city to get there. Today I probably walked by a thousand different police officers, in the navy blue of the local Romans, the greens of the Italian Army, and the grays of the rent-a-cops the EU uses (they’re really much more professional, r.-a-c. is just an easy way to put it).
Phillips has made “peripheral television,” a wrap around screen for your tv. How bizarre.
The Rome I’m seeing today is not the same Rome I saw 4 years ago. Like all cities in Europe, and maybe even more than most, this town is alive. It’s a thriving hub of activity, and it’s exciting to be swept up in the current. Amusingly enough, with Mary we are moving through this lively flood of people at the slowest pace I’ve taken anywhere in Europe. I’m not complaining too much. I’ve been here before, I’ve seen the tourist track already. This trip I’m seeing it more from the inside. We're wandering most everywhere, getting lost occasionally. Tiff didn’t want to buy a city pass at the time, but to get to the Vatican and to the old city we’re going to have to. The slow pace was relaxing for the first day, especially after a painfully bumpy overnight train ride, but if we spent all 4 days here we wouldn’t get everything done.
Still, it’s really nice to be able to take in the city, not just the sights.
Tiff changed it to BBC, and all they’re doing is whining about W. I hope she’s getting the hint of the look I'm shooting the screen.
Look at that, she did.