The Rome Connection Photo Album
These pictures were taken in Rome between January and April of 1998.
Just before I had snapped this picture of Castel Sant'Angelo, there was a torential downpour of rain with lots of lightning and thunder. I had stood cowaring under one of the big beautiful (this would be a good place for me to mention what type of tree they are) trees that line up along Lungo Tevere in (this would be a good place for me to mention the name of the area) that area. The rain let up slightly and a made a dash for a cafe on the other side of the street, from whence I took this picture.
Edificio Ministero della Difesa - Same rainy day. This is a magnificent building - Ministry of Defense.
Can't see me very well in the first one but you can see La Bocca (somewhat). The second one is adjusted (not very well) so you can see me a little better but La Bocca is a little more obscure. Terrible picture, yes, but the only one I have of me at La Bocca della Verita' - The Mouth of Truth. Because I'm an honest man, my hand is still on the end of my arm.
This is a tweaked and somewhat cartoon-like (actually, not a bad effect, although I took such horrible pictures that I had to change the color settings on some of them to make them seeable) photo of my dog, Sandy at the Piazza di San Pietro - Saint Peter's Plaza. Is this a sacrilege? (-: Sandy was born in West Virginia but adapted well to Rome. As you can see, the Y2K preparations and restorations of St. Peter's facade and basilica were well underway by that time (March, 1998).
Fontana Tritone - The Tritone fountain at Piazza Barberrini - One of my favorite fountains. For several weeks previous to the taking of this photo, the fountain had been completely encased in a plywood structure, presumably for restoration purposes. The first day I was again able to see the fountain, I snapped this picture, even though the water was still off. When this picture was taken, there was still a crew of workers under the street performing some kind of maintenance on the waterworks of the fountain. This is just at the foot of the via Veneto. About 250 meters northeast, near the top of via Veneto is the American Embassy where my wife Daniela worked for 15 years.
I was standing in the atrium of La Chiesa della Santa Maria in Minerva - The Church of St. Mary in Minerva which houses the Bocca della Verita', when I snapped this one of the Piazza Bocca Della Verita'. The round temple in this picture, the temple of Hercules, is often improperly referred to as the temple of Vesta. This is due to it's resemblence to the ruins of the Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum.
This is Piazza Flaminio, across from Piazza del Popolo. This is close to the beautiful apartment of Maria Troilo and Franco Liso. (They're husband and wife - in Italy, wives commonly keep their own last name instead of adopting the last name of the husband.) Maria and Franco were two of my private American language students. Yes, I taught "American" while in Rome, not only to my private students, but was also employeed with The Rome Language Center at Castro Pretorio.
This is one of a series of forbidden pictures. In years past, the building which is now used as the American Embassy in Rome was a possession of Rome's royal family. This odd set of stairs was used to allow elephats to walk from a lower area to an entertainment area where the royalty and guests enjoyed their various lavish diversions. In this photo, atop the scala d'eleffante stands my wife Daniela. Is she fully clothed? Of course! Then why is this a forbidden picture? Because it was taken from inside the American Embassy compound where items such as cameras and recording devices are strictly prohibited. But that's nothing... compared to... *the escape* (coming to this site soon)!
Daniela and I inside the Colusseum - Dani hate's this picture. "Che brutta!", she says.
I didn't know lodging this close to the Roman Forum could be so cheap! This woman has several cats who board with her here. She has posted a couple of informational signs and a warning: "Non toccare niente".
Me and La Sirenetta - The Little Merdaid - via Veneto
Another in the series of forbidden photos, this of a great ancient olive tree in the giardino of the American Embassy.
Yup, another forbidden picture - this Gianbologna sculpture inside one of the buildings of the Embassy is reported to be the "most valuable item of art currently owned by the U.S. government."
Fontana del Tritone - one of my favorites.
Sandy's best friend in Rome was Prince. Here they are on the portico of our flat in Zona Talenti, Rome. Cats are to Rome what squirrels are to the States - ABUNDANT and FREE! Prince was an offspring of one of the thousands of stray cats that inhabit Rome and live off of whatever the land and it's citizens will offer. Prince was domesticated for a time but he always had that urge to roam. Now he's doing just that. When Dani and I moved back to the States, Prince was allowed to join his friends "in the wild" and now he roams Rome for his living.
