We are on our way to Roma for the Grape Escape thanks to Cynthia at Muse Swings and Lavinia Ladyslipper at the Birdbath Chronicles. We at Blicky Kitty Mousing Around Tours take your cultural enlightment very seriously, so we have scanned the blickosphere for our humble contribution. All you'll need for the tour is an updated version of Quicktime and your Mouse. Oh sorry, could you wait here while I give the servants instructions for my absence (feel free to use your mouse to enjoy the view)?
Here you can see the great travails suffered by armchair travelers of yore; destined to squint into a small device for hours on end, only to emerge cross-eyed and tripping over the ottoman or the children. We, gentle readers, now have the advantage of miraculous mousing technology at our fingertips. Let us start our tour in the Vatican Square where we see the stunning scale and measured elegance of Bernini's colonnades. Be sure to press the green turning arrows then click where you want to view so you can have a good look around. Mmmm... I can almost smell those roasted chestnuts and the soft rustle as a flight of pigeons takes wing.
OK back on the bus. Lavinia, Cynthia stop teasing each other. Did Willow wander off to the opera? Stevie, oh no, she's being swarmed by a crowd hoping to see the sketches she's just made. Anna's being hounded by a tall dark stranger who thinks mustaches are hot. Next stop? Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, OK move your mice on the image to look around. This was built between 1658 and 1678 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Giovanni de' Rossi and is one of the finest examples of Roman Baroque architecture. Here we see a masterful fusion of architectural form and sculptural detail.
Walking Along the Tiber, Rome
OK I think we've lost half the group. They've wandered into a local bar... Oh good Deb, Kat, Queenie you're still here right? Well let's just poke our heads inside of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, shall we? Designed by Francesco Borromini, this masterpiece of Baroque architecture was constructed between 1638 and 1641. Want some more classical antiquity? I'm just going to step into my new time machine sponsored by Google, just click the play button.
The Villa Doria Pamphili, Rome
On the way home we'll just stop in Florence to see the 15th century Pazzi Chapel in Santa Croce designed by Brunelleschi. I love it for it's utter simplicity. Last time I was there I was too busy ogling the Giotto frescos and finding the tombs of Rossini, Alberti, Galileo, Michelangelo and Dante (whose mortal coil resides in Ravenna) to appreciate this space.
OK that's about it! Hope you enjoyed your tour. Feel free to email Blickykitty@comcast.net if you've experienced any mouse-related or technical difficulties on our tour. For those of you whose flights connected in France, you might want to make a quick pit stop in Amiens to see the cathedral architecture (click on any of the bulls eye shapes to view). Or if you've always wanted to soar through the clouds like Daedalus into the apse of a gothic cathedral while a wicked smart English dude provides a personal tour but never knew how, click here.
9 comments:
Bellisimo! I have just walked my feet off. Perhaps I should have worn walking shoes instead of these strappy little jobs.
What a wonderful tour, Blicky! Now lets just pop over there and tour that wine cellar the rest of the group has just dashed into. I'm a bit parched and its HOURS until lunch!
I love your links!!! Worked perfectly.....I loved going around and around in these amazing interiors. Thank goodness they survived down through the centuries and we moderns can enjoy, appreciate, and revel in the unsurpassed beauty of the ancients. So much to see, at every level...the intricate floors, the decoration on the walls, the dome ceilings...fantastic, utterly fantastic.
Thank you for taking our Italian adventure to new cultural, scholarly, and historical heights!
Oh good I'm so happy those sites work for you! I love going to them.
OMGosh, how did you know I've always wanted to do this..."Or if you've always wanted to soar through the clouds like Daedalus into the apse of a gothic cathedral while a wicked smart English dude provides a personal tour but never knew how, click here." I'm off for some rocking sky views of Italy with my own wickedly smart guide. See ya!
Lavinia has just sent an SOS - she's lost in my wine cellar. So grap Father G. (as IF that would be a problem) and help us find her! She's somewhere between the 1968 and 1972 Muserino casks. She didn't leave a trail of wine crakers like I told her to.
envy i think is the feeling i am getting! cool travels!
Well I think the day was a success even though all the *guests* were all over my agent ~Pierce. He'll need to go back to Basic Training tomorrow. Since you'll be on your on until the next mission I will leave you with the following information decide to accept a position on our next detail:
As an Agent of Cha Cha Security, you must work under these guidelines to be an effective operative:
Protect your identity at all costs, never de-mask during a mission, don't get followed home or to identifying vehicles, do not wear any clothing or items that may aid in identifying you.
Stay cool. Stay cool, especially when harassed. You are an ambassador of Anonymous. Although individuals trying to disrupt your mission will get on your nerves, you must not lose your temper. Doing so will threaten the mission and tarnish the reputation of Anonymous.
Always be across the street from the object being protested.
In the absence of a road, find another natural barrier between yourself and the target of the protest. Doing so will make it more difficult for individuals hostile to your cause to come and harass you.
Stay on public property. You may be charged for trespassing if you do not.
No violence, our missions are not "hot".
No weapons. This is a psy-op mission; you will not need weapons to complete your objectives. Play with their minds!
Anonymous is legion. Never be alone. Isolation during a mission marks you as a target for handlers who wish to provoke an angry reaction from you and other friendlies.
Bring water. A dehydrated, thirsty Agent is not a useful Agent.
Wear good shoes. You know, those cute strapy ones you bought today in Italy will be puuuuurfect! Following these rules will assure your comfort during the mission.
Document the mission. Videos and pictures of the event may be used to corroborate your side of the story if law enforcement should get involved. Furthermore, posting images and videos of your heroic actions all over the internet is bound to generate win, exhorting other Agents to follow your glorious example. Intelligence gathered during this mission will be extremely helpful for future engagements.
If you are captured or identified, Headquarters will deny knowledge of your existence.
If enemy operatives identify you, stay calm and call a lawyer. Document any confrontations as soon as possible for legal proceedings.
The enemy is everywhere. MOLES are among our ranks so trust no one.
Now go snuggle up with your secret agent and enjoy the crackling fire and more of Museswings vintage vino!
Commander of Headquarters
ChaChaNeen
Thank you for that tour of roma! I haven't been there since 2005. And incidentally, we were at the Vatican the day the Pope died. (Not on purpose)
OMG, my moustache has always wanted to go to It-ly! (Tall stranger, hmmm? Heh, heh, heh)
"Blickosphere"...* snort *
Lady, you are the BOMB.
XO
Anna
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