Of course Rome has been overrun by barbarians in the past.  Sadly it is happening again though this time it is ... high school students.  They are everywhere in large marauding groups centered around a lone adult futility seeking to impart some knowledge to a chattering mob.  They can be seen frequently sacking Pizza places and storming and inadvertently overrunning museums, churches and historical sites all to then detriment of your more refined tourist.  In this they are aided by an unaffiliated but noisy cavalry arm who attack from everywhere

Even Moses is displeased

E

So I have had to go native with new headgear

Ok, well, as I got no answers to my questions about famous people from my 3 chillen, I can see that I wasted about $300k+ on their collective educations.  I would have thought they could at least have identified the fellow in the blue coat in front of St. Peters square.

Visited Ostia on Saturday.  It is a lot like Pompeii, as I recall Pompeii anyway, but a lot closer to Rome (45 minutes total) and not at all crowded.  Like many Roman towns, they had extensive public baths.  And adjacent to the baths, they had public toilets where privacy was evidently not a big concern-

I think the best you could hope for was an end seat.  Looks like a scuptor captured this fellow look while he was standing in line-

They say that they used sponges (hanging below where the waterr was constantly piped in) instead of TP.  Thankfully none have been recovered from the archeological dig yet.

There is also a well preserved tavern/bar in Ostia.  Could see myself ordering a beer here and taking it out into the courtyard-

Visited the Capitoline museum the next day.  Quite a few statues from Ancient Rome, including the famous Dying Gaul (no sense asking you people to identify)-

Visited the Vatican yesterday.  While I am sure I am longshot in any case, I am hoping that the security line at the pearly gates are more efficient than those at Peters earthly domain.  Now I know why Bernini built that circle of columns- to give the crowd something to lean against while they wait to enter St. Peters.

So, let us check who has a good liberal arts education.  Who can identify these famous people-

1.

 2

3.

4.

5.

 Some hints in no particular order- a tutor (of whom?), sculptor, painter, politician, academic, and travel writer.  

The Italian police and ceremonial military certainly have very nice uniforms- high polished boots, etc.  But I have never actually seen them chase down a pick pocket- mostly they just seem to talk to their fellow, stylishly dressed carbineri. And the military has not been much feared since Roman times, but they do look gorgeous in their uniforms.

Of course, lots of churches in Rome from different eras, including an outdoor one apparently dedicated to the ubiquitous Roman motor scooter-

Visited the Pantheon today.  Never knew that it was so perfectly round- as tall as it is wide.  Has to be my favorite Roman building with its beautiful dome.  I have always liked coffered ceilings (Pantheons was just cleaned), but never had the Emperor Hadrian"s budget or labor force.

Anyway, it was good to know that some Roman legionairres are still on the job-

Sorry to have left Assisi.  Just a terrific little town if you want to spend a little time in the 13th century without fear of catching the bubonic plague or small pox.  Hiked a local mountain today called Mt. Subasio, which overlooks Assisi and the Umbrian countryside.  Not an easy or short hike, but worth it-

Anyway, came back and took the train to Rome.  I have been impressed with the Italian trains- they are pretty cheap (about $11 for the 2+ hour trip to Rome) and on time.  Of course, at Rome they dump you out about 5 miles from the station in some Roman suburb and you have to walk the rest of the way.  Maybe they just stop when the hit arrival time so as to keep their on time record intact (or it saves on the cost and explains why the trains are so cheap).  This would have been a strategy the old Soviets would have admired, as they were big on statistics.  While 5 miles might be a bit of hyperbole, they did stop about 1km from the station and I was not amused after having already hiked 14 miles or so today.

A few more from Assisi-

if they will load, a few pictures of Assisi, both day and night.    The basilica of San Franchesco

 My hotel, which was not easy to find in this medieval town with similar architecture-

The hotel is 0n the right before the arch.  Speaking of whch, much 0f
medieval Assisi was built on top of and with the remains of Roman buildings.  I think that is pretty much the Italian way- sit on the plaza drinkng nice wine and emjoying life and wait f0r the Romans to build grand stuff and then disappear and then slowly loot their buildings for your own purposes.  I guess it works.

In medieval times, evidentlty people advertised  their distinctive family toilets.  Uncle Andy might wish to take note...

Assisi is a beautiful medieval city.  Best medieval city I have ever seen.  Of course,, the basilica and other parts are dedicated to the paragon of the virtue of simplicity and native son- St. Francis of Assisi.  I was particularly impressed with the expensive shops selling luxury goods emblazoned with images or the name of St. Francis.

Ok, I have relocated to Italy from South American somehow.  One day I was in Santiago, Chile and next thing I knew I woke up in Assisi, Italy in some sort of medieval time warp with churches and monks everywhere.  Except that there seem to cars here too nearly running you over as you walk the medieval wide streets.  Beautiful place, though.  The best preserved medieval city I can ever recall visiting.  Will have some pictures later.