064 numero dieci

The new coaches poll is out.  Auburn breaks the top 10 for the first time in club history, but inexplicably trails division rival JMU (that we beat 16-3) by a spot. 

#9 JMU
#10 AU
#11 W&M

We eliminated JMU from winning the division.  Only Auburn and William and Mary remain, and all will be decided in a show-down on July 25th.

063 capi di pesci

Today marks the exact midpoint of my trip. Although it's been a lot of fun so far, there's still a lot of stuff to look forward to in the second half. For example, Jason found a cheap ticket, so he booked a trip in the 2nd week in August. Kate will be here in the same time period, and now there's a chance that Lou and Cath will arrive in about two weeks.

Steve and Sara will be in Innsbruck in a week, so I could potentially travel to see them one of these weekends and I also would like to get down to Sicily to see Flavia, Daniele and new baby Giacomo.

Above all that... there's still the snow festival at Santa Maria Maggiore in July, Ferragosto on August 15, the famous late-July Rome clothing sales, and I still haven't been to the beach! Oh, yeah, and I want to get to Pompeii too. So there's lots to do.

Yesterday I added a little counter to my blog. Today it reads that I had 18 hits yesterday, which is surprising but nice. Of course, it could be just one person who visited 18 times.

Things are slowly settling down after Sunday's World Cup victory. Monday night was the craziest to date, with the triumphant heroes flying back to Rome, and escorted into the Centro by fans in a slow procession in their open-air bus. There were ceremonies with the Italian P.M. and President and then more speeches and celebrations at Circo Massimo. I was too tired of the crowds and honking horns to attend this, but yesterday it was broadcast in its entirety on TV, so I got caught up over my dinner of sauteed eggplant, bread, salad, and beer.

Thanks again for the comments, it's nice to know there are people out there interested in what I'm up to.

062 fontana di tritone

Triton sits on his seashell supported by four fish-dragons or something. I'm not too pleased with this sketch, but in the interest of accuracy in reporting, here it is. I do like the fish head detail, which I put above. :)

This fountain is relatively new - from the Baroque period, designed by Bernini and funded by the Barberini, one of the historical rich and powerful families in Rome. The Barberini symbol is the bee, which is why three bees are wandering around on the statue.

061 arco di constantino

Dating from around 315 AD, the Arch of Constantine is the most recent of all the triumphal arches in Rome.