As soon as I read the invitation to write about my favourite Italian experience, a single image filled my mind. I tried to push it away, to sideline and sidestep it, searching my brain for a more unusual, more off the beaten track, more individual (let’s face it, more cool) Italian moment, but the unexpected thrill of an outstretched hand refused to fade.
So, to hell with it. I’m going to write about an icon, about something that sits smack, bang in the middle of the beaten track: the hand of God giving life to Adam in the Sistine Chapel.
I have to admit, I had fairly low hopes as I joined the queues that meandered and shuffled through the opulent corridors of the Vatican. Leaving religion to one side (you can choose which side), the postcard racks, bookshops, aprons, boxer shorts and all manner of tourist paraphernalia en route to Vatican City had almost smothered my curiosity.
Legend has it that Michelangelo himself wasn’t too pleased with the project, as he negotiated terms and conditions with the warrior Pope Julius II. Michelangelo regarded himself as more of a sculptor than a painter and felt dismayed at the scope of the assignment.
Painting the ceiling, a space of 12 000 square feet, took four years of backbreaking labour on self-designed scaffolding. By the end, a rainbow-bright fresco featuring prophets, the Garden of Eden and muscular, naked bodies caused a scandal at the time.
Today, it creates a human traffic jam.
Yet, no matter how many times you look at glossy books or high-res computer screens, nothing compares to seeing the Sistine Chapel with your own eyes.
At the centre, the fragile importance of someone giving life to another by reaching out to touch them describes a very human experience. One that extends beyond the borders of the Vatican or the rules of religion.
Perhaps that’s why four million people visit it each year – and why I’ve chosen it for this guest post. Even though it’s going to make me look so miserably uncool.
Howard County Crime Watch
The Washington Post January 3, 2002 The following were among crime reports recently received by the Howard County Police Department. For more information call 410-313- 2236.
REWARDS FOR INFORMATION Metro Crime Stoppers, a nonprofit organization, will pay up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in connection with these and any other felonies. Call the 24-hour hot line at 410-276-8888. Callers may remain anonymous. web site 2000 honda accord
ROBBERIES CLARKSVILLE PIKE, 12200 block, 8:41 p.m. Dec. 23. Two men robbed a pizza-restaurant employee of a cash-deposit bag at gunpoint.
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS CLARKSVILLE PIKE, 12100 block, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 20. A 1986 black Chevrolet Camaro was stolen.
INDECENT EXPOSURE HARPERS FARM RD., 5400 block, 8:19 p.m. Dec. 29. A man wearing a blue T-shirt and copper athletic shorts exposed himself.
LITTLE PATUXENT PKWAY AND CEDAR LANE, 9:45 a.m. Dec. 14. A man dropped his pants near a woman walking her dog.
ROBBERIES COLUMBIA RD., 5700 block, 10:28 p.m. Dec. 24. Two men stopped a woman at her vehicle in a convenience-store parking lot and demanded her purse.
CRADLEROCK WAY, 7200 block, 8:45 p.m. Dec. 23. A man pushed a woman to the ground near a gas-station pay booth and stole her purse.
THEFTS/BREAK-INS BEAVERKILL RD., 5400 block, 6:31 to 6:41 p.m. Dec. 22. A wallet was stolen from one of several lockers that were broken into at an athletic club.
COLUMBIA RD., 5000 block, 4:30 to 9:45 p.m. Dec. 19. Two televisions, stereo equipment and a computer were taken from a home. There was no sign of forced entry.
COLUMBIA GATWAY DR., 7100 block, 7:30 to 8:58 p.m. Dec. 24. Computer equipment was stolen from a company entered by smashing glass in a door.
DEVON DR., 6100 block, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 19. Property was taken from a home that also was ransacked. Entry was gained by breaking a basement window.
MANORDALE RD., 9000 block, 7:30 to 8:50 p.m. Dec. 20. Loud noises were heard in a home. About an hour later, a resident discovered that a rear sliding-glass door had been shattered. Nothing was reported missing.
MILLET SEED HILL, 10600 block, 5:22 a.m. Dec. 21. A purse was stolen from a residence. Entry was gained by breaking glass in a door with a brick.
MIDDLEWATER CT., 6000 block, 1:11 p.m. Dec. 19. A home was entered by breaking a rear window. Nothing was reported missing.
MORNING TIME LANE, 6300 block, 11 p.m. Dec. 21 to 9:30 a.m. Dec. 22. A purse containing cash and a cell phone was taken from a home. There was no sign of forced entry.
RIVER RUN, 6500 block, 5:46 a.m. Dec. 26. A man entered a home and fled when confronted by a resident.
TAMAR DR., 5900 block, 6 p.m. Dec. 23 to 9:30 a.m. Dec. 24. An attempt was made to enter a condominium office by tampering with a barred window.
TWIN KNOLLS, 5400 block, 8:35 P.M. Dec. 20. A laptop computer was stolen from a hotel room entered by using a key.
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS BROOK WAY, 5300 block, 11:57 p.m.
Dec. 24. A gray 1996 Dodge Stratus was stolen.
DEVON DR., 6200 block, 11:30 p.m. Dec. 24 to 7:07 a.m. Dec. 25. A 2000 Honda Accord was stolen.
DOBBIN CENTER WAY, 6400 BLOCK, 5 p.m. Dec. 21 to 8 a.m. Dec. 22. A 1989 Honda CRX was stolen.
HICKORY RIDGE RD., 7:41 a.m. Dec. 20. A 1995 Jeep Wrangler was stolen.
LITTLE PATUXENT PKWY., 10900 block, 3:38 p.m. Dec. 19. A 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass was stolen.
STANFORD BLVD., 8800 block, Dec. 23 to Dec. 24. A black 2001 Lincoln Town Car and a red 2002 Ford Explorer were stolen. 2000hondaaccordnow.net 2000 honda accord
WINCOPIN CIRCLE, 10200 block, 9:21 to 11:25 p.m. Dec. 19. A red 2002 Dodge Stratus was stolen.
THEFTS/BREAK-INS AUTUMN BRANCH, 3000 block, 10:30 a.m. to 1:06 p.m. Dec. 20. A television was taken from a residence entered by breaking a rear bedroom window.
AUTUMN BRANCH, 3000 block, 10:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 20. Money was stolen from a home.
HALFLIGHT GARTH, 5400 block, 6:10 p.m. Dec. 19. A resident heard noises and found a screwdriver lodged in the lock of the back door. Nothing was reported missing.
ST. JOHNS LANE, 3100 block, 3:34 a.m. Dec. 24. Police responding to an alarm found the front door to a home kicked in and the bedrooms ransacked. The occupants were not at home during the incident and an investigation was continuing.
TUSCANY RD., 10200 block, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. A home was entered by breaking a kitchen window. Nothing was reported missing.
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, 10100 block, 5:34 p.m. Dec. 20. A Jeep was stolen.
THEFTS/BREAK-INS HUNTSHIRE DR., 6500 block, 11 p.m. Dec. 22 to 11 a.m. Dec. 23. Cash and electronics were stolen from a store entered by removing glass from the front door.
KIT KAT RD., 7100 block, 5 p.m. Dec. 19 to 7 a.m. Dec. 20. Electrical wire and tools were stolen from a trailer entered by cutting a lock.
OLD WASHINGTON RD., 6100 block, 7:42 a.m. Dec. 24. Construction equipment and a school undergoing renovations were vandalized.
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS ROUTE 1, 9900 block, 9:30 p.m. Dec. 24 to 6 a.m. Dec. 25. A blue 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 was stolen.
ROBBERIES POCOMOKE DR., 7800 block, 8 to 8:30 a.m., Dec. 22. Two men with a gun got into a rental truck and forced two people to drive away. After several miles, the victims were put in the cargo area of the truck, which then was driven to Prince George’s County. They were able to escape and call police, who arrested one man.
THEFTS/BREAK-INS IRON BRIDGE RD., 10600 block, 5 p.m. Dec. 18 to 6 a.m. Dec. 19. Two people were seen taking two laptop computers from a learning center.
WASHINGTON BLVD., 7700 block, 7:10 p.m. Dec. 20. Money was stolen from a home entered through a rear bedroom window.
THEFTS/BREAK-INS TIPTON DR., 8400 block, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 21. Jewelry was stolen from a home entered by prying open a rear sliding door.
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS RIVER ISLAND, 8900 block, 8:29 a.m. Dec. 19. A 1993 Oldsmobile was stolen.
THEFTS/BREAK-INS MCKENDREE RD., 2200 block, 12:55 a.m. Dec. 22. Cell phone equipment was stolen from an office in a nursery entered by breaking glass in a rear sliding door.
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS FREDERICK RD., 13000 block, Dec. 21 to Dec. 22. A 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier was stolen.
THEFTS/BREAK-INS DAISY RD., 3000 block, 4:59 p.m., Dec. 19. A tool chest was stolen from an open garage.
– Alicia Cypress
There is nothing “uncool” about this work of art!
I agree with you! Plus the travel writing was so darn good!
.-= nyc/caribbean ragazza´s last blog ..SAID…A place in Rome for lovers of chocolate =-.
[Reply]
I loved this post. You haven’t lost any coolness factor in my eyes, Abigail!
Agreed!
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You’re still cool in my eyes, too!
Ditto!
.-= regina´s last blog ..Ryan Air To Install Pay Toilets =-.
[Reply]
Phew! So far, so good then.
Dodged a bullet there, eh?
.-= Abi´s last blog ..The Reluctant Tuscan =-.
[Reply]
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