Donna's Art: Rome Day 2 part 2 Campa di Fiore and Parthenon

After we leave the cafe of the heavenly lasagna, I am looking at my pictures, as I am reviewing to see which ones to delete I learn the first lesson of international travel. Do NOT touch whatever a street vendor comes up to you with. I am accosted by a vendor of scarves. The scarf is sheer with velvet and I do love scarves. I love the jewel tones on this one he holds it out and I touch it. He immediately starts in 10 euro. No I say, he offers 5 euro and I buy. Then he offers another and another, and then I am surrounded by 2 more scarf vendors. I end up buying scarves until I run out of money. I end up with 6 at 5 euros each. Not really too bad I find out later. I find these scarves where we go next Campa di Fiore-the open air market and they are 12 euro each.

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In order to get to the Campa di Fiore we take the metro. I suppose Rome metro and bus system is like most big cities, but I'm not used to it. When the doors to the metro train open people shove off and everyone shoves on and packs in literally. People move about and it's not too badly crowded. The bus we take after this though IS crowded and I wonder how on earth everyone fits in. But we end up at the right spot and take a 10 min. walk to the market.

I love, love, love the Campa di Fiore with it's open air flea market atmosphere. People and vendors and produce and everything except meat that one could want. The first stall I come to is a fruit and Veg. stall. I take these pictures there.

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I wander the market enjoying the sounds of people talking in Italian. The smell of the flowers and vegetables, the sounds of the street musicians. There are sax players, guitar players and a clarinet player. I am reminded of home and Dan as I listen to this guitar player. He's really good. I take his picture and drop some change in his guitar case.

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My friends and I go to the venetian murano glass sellars stall where I and some of them purchase many glass necklaces for 3 euro each. A really good price. Galye also gets a bottle stopper for the same price.

I take more pictures of fruits, vegetables, this vendor and the wonderful pecorino cheese which is the cheese of the heavenly lasagna. It's not cheap, I consider buying some and remember customs and don't but oh how I want some to make lasagna with and promise to find some at home.

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We gather where the tour director Chris is waiting at the fountain. The market is closing down, the men are taking down the stalls, the vendors are packing up, the garbage trucks are picking up garbage. A heated discussion between this vendor, another, and the guys taking down the tents develops. I don't know what they are saying but Chris is laughing and tells us they are cussing and in an argument. The argument part was evident even with language barriers.

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While waiting for all the kids I spot these lovers at a cafe and snap this picture.

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We meet up with our group and I'm walking with the girls from our group. I snap these photos of the flowers and the flower vendor as we leave the piazza. On Monday when we return here there will be very few vendors open and no flower vendor. But he was there this day and his wares were so gorgeous and sweet smelling.

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We walk to the Parthenon. They are restoring the outside of the Parthenon. Hannah, the teacher who arranged the trip laughs. The last time she was here they were restoring the other half and it had scaffolding. This time it's this half. Maybe next time she comes the whole thing will be done she says.

Here is the front and a detail of one of the supporting columns.

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There is a man there dressed in Centurion garb and I snap his photo. I don't realize till hours later that he is "selling" photos of himself dressed this way. There are many street actors and mimes who sell pictures and performances in Rome.

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The Parthenon is so very crowded on this day before Easter. It seems all of Italy wants to get in. We squeeze in as others are squeezing out. Still I am NOT prepared for the beauty inside. The light comes from the hole in the dome and there are statues and paintings everywhere.

Here is the opening in the dome and the main altar. The Parthenon is used as a church now. There were chairs there too set up for Easter.

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There is a painting of the Annunciation of Mary that I KNOW I have studied, but I can't remember who it is by. I take two pictures, one of the full painting and one of the detail that I remember from college art history class.

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Here is one of the many sculptures that are in front of the tombs at the Parthenon.

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Raphael is buried here. Here is Raphael's tomb altar and the two bronze angels in relief at each side of his tomb. I feel like I really am in the presence of greatness.