Shaede (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} shaede) wrote,@ 2007-10-27 10:30:00 |
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Monte Cassino
The weather was starting to turn sour as we arrived in Monte Cassino, the oldest church in Christendom. The church sat atop a mountain which overlooked the surrounding area for miles. There we toured the museum and attended mass.
Several Germans were sitting behind me during mass and they wouldn't shut up. They just kept talking and talking throughout the entire procession. It was quite aggravating. Here I am, the rude American, respecting what is going around me and two Germans are being rude. But even worse, part way through the mass a gaggle of tourists emerged and began taking pictures using their flash. Pictures of frescoes. Using their flash. My eyebrow twitched as I noticed that they weren't ordinary tourists... they were all nuns! I couldn't believe it. Anyway, I don't feel a great amount of respect for the Catholic church, but I'll at least act decently. if an atheist can do that, a German can and a nun can.
The view from the path up to the church.
The cloister you step into as you enter.
The steps leading up to the church. There's a lot of build up to it.
A garden on the way to the church doors. I guess now would be a good time to admit that I didn't get any actual pictures of the church itself. Oops.
A book inside the church. This looks like one of those old hymns they would sing. Notice how simplistic the musical language was in the middle ages.
This was a surprise. A Botticelli of the nativity scene. How lovely!
Before leaving I picked up some grappa made at Monte Cassino. Grappa is a potent alcohol that kind of tastes like a cross between rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover. But supposedly this is the best place to get it. So I did.
By the time we were done in Monte Cassino the weather had become too ugly to continue, so we returned back to Orvieto. I only have one more trip left, and it's a day trip to Rome. We're hitting one museum and ten left free for the afternoon. The remaining days will be in class in Orvieto. Then Jenn comes up and the adventure truly begins. I can't wait. Hopefully she'll help me with the grappa.
The weather was starting to turn sour as we arrived in Monte Cassino, the oldest church in Christendom. The church sat atop a mountain which overlooked the surrounding area for miles. There we toured the museum and attended mass.
Several Germans were sitting behind me during mass and they wouldn't shut up. They just kept talking and talking throughout the entire procession. It was quite aggravating. Here I am, the rude American, respecting what is going around me and two Germans are being rude. But even worse, part way through the mass a gaggle of tourists emerged and began taking pictures using their flash. Pictures of frescoes. Using their flash. My eyebrow twitched as I noticed that they weren't ordinary tourists... they were all nuns! I couldn't believe it. Anyway, I don't feel a great amount of respect for the Catholic church, but I'll at least act decently. if an atheist can do that, a German can and a nun can.
The view from the path up to the church.
The cloister you step into as you enter.
The steps leading up to the church. There's a lot of build up to it.
A garden on the way to the church doors. I guess now would be a good time to admit that I didn't get any actual pictures of the church itself. Oops.
A book inside the church. This looks like one of those old hymns they would sing. Notice how simplistic the musical language was in the middle ages.
This was a surprise. A Botticelli of the nativity scene. How lovely!
Before leaving I picked up some grappa made at Monte Cassino. Grappa is a potent alcohol that kind of tastes like a cross between rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover. But supposedly this is the best place to get it. So I did.
By the time we were done in Monte Cassino the weather had become too ugly to continue, so we returned back to Orvieto. I only have one more trip left, and it's a day trip to Rome. We're hitting one museum and ten left free for the afternoon. The remaining days will be in class in Orvieto. Then Jenn comes up and the adventure truly begins. I can't wait. Hopefully she'll help me with the grappa.
