Italy 2007 Day 8 Rome-the Vatican

So I am back on day 8 in March of 2007. We always have a big day for the first one in Rome. We usually get an early start at the Vatican. We start at the Vatican Museums and this time, we had to hire a guide to get through the masses of people. Groups have priority and we we let in before single tourists. We walked right to the Sistine Chapel and wouldn't you know it, we were in the Sistine Chapel by ourselves! I had my whisper system going (or "Billpod" as some of the students call it) and was able to give a brief art lecture in the Sistine Chapel. There was no one else there! We continued through the maze again and went to the Raphael rooms and met up with Pete and Rika. Eventually we went through the classical sculpture and paintings.

I gave everyone some free time and time to go through St. Peters in small groups. Standing in front of St. Peter's like in this picture, you can fully appreciate the grandeur of Rome.

Italy 2007 Day 7 On to Rome

This picture picks up an art army trip I had started documenting before the New York trip. It was spring break of 2007. We are in Rome. This particular picture is looking out of the Pantheon. It shows how much the Roman Empire still overshadows modern Rome. There is a crowd that is cut off from the photo and there is a McDonald's right behind the fountain. Our group usually used it for the rest room and maybe a quick snack. I usually frown on going to a McDonald's but once in a while you give in.

New York City 2008 MoMa Death and Art

Museum of Modern Art
Bethany Lutheran College Field trip
October 2008

I can't remember the artist's name or the title, and maybe someone will tell me. But the image of death and a dog and the spike touching the skeleton becomes more meaningful when you are an old guy. You do think about mortality and how many works of art you have left to create.... it seems closer now than it did.....

New York City 2008 MoMa self portrait

This is a self portrait in the reflection of a work of art in the MoMa in New York. It was a mob scene at the museum. Crowds literally push you through the upper floors. Most people look for a few seconds and then take a picture and then shuffle along.
In the old days, you could practically be alone in a room full of great art. The old days were the late seventies in nearly any museum in the country.

It is really a disturbing phenomenon that the crushing crowds don't really allow any time for contemplation or reflection in the museum.

New York City 2008 Empire State Building

One of the great views in New York City is the view from the Empire State Building. How can you get tired of a view like this? A saxophone player played Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust as our group took pictures. It was cold from some sides of the building but you can see why Cary Grant used it for a meeting place in An Affair to Remember. It was late and we had already gone to the opera and when a driver offered us a ride back to the hotel in a limo. It was the best five bucks I spent on the trip.

New York City 2008 Ray's and Luke

One of the great things about New York is Ray's Pizza. It is reasonably cheap and really tastes good after walking around and seeing the city lights. It gives you a little more fuel so you can keep on going.

Another bonus of this trip was meeting up with nephew Luke and his girlfriend Lilly. We were taking in the MoMa and he goes to Columbia ( and on a "study break") so we could as least say hi. In a city of so many million, it is nice to see a familiar face and also Luke laughed at all of my jokes which was an added benefit for me.