Thursday 19 March 2009

Postcards from Rome: Ancient Stones and Cream Puffs


Papaveri
The scarlet petals
of Red Poppy flowers
reach towards the sky
in the archeological area
around Teatro Marcello
in downtown Rome.

The Quadriga atop
the Victor Emmanuel Monument
in the background sits high
over Rome's Campidoglio,
the original "Capitol Hill".

Foot path
leading from the Portico of Octavia
down to the last remaining arches
of the Teatro di Marcello.

The Theater of Marcellus was built
under the Roman Emperors
Julius Caesar and Augustus.
The later named it in honor of his nephew Marcellus.

Ancient Corinthian columns
have withstood the ravages of time and man.

These theatre arcades
have seen almost 2000 years of history,
times of peace and prosperity,
and periods of local upheaval and despair,
invasions by barbarians from the North
and threats from the Carthaginian warriors
under Hannibal from the South.

Its walls have been built over again and again,
serving among others as base for a fortress
and a beautiful Renaissance palazzo and
for various apartment buildings.

It seems a miracle
that anything has been left standing.
Rome's archeological areas
have been used for centuries as ready quarry,
where anyone could haul off
the most precious remnants of ancient glory
as if they were common building materials.

Who knows,
the costum of using the open meadows
throughout centuries as cow pastures
may have saved some of these treasures!
Cows at least are not in the habit
of demolishing ancient temples
and whatever they left behind
may have caused the grass to grow faster
and cover the marble witnesses
to human history.

Can you picture a monument
to the cow as patron saviour
of archeologically rich areas?

Oh yes, I hear you!
I apologize,
I got carried away by history.
Please sit down and enjoy a cappuccino at the pleasant
"Antico Caffè del Teatro di Marcello"
where oldfashioned good service
and great coffee wait for you.

Romans celebrate St. Joseph's Day today with special sweets:
I got busy in the kitchen and baked
"Sfinge di San Giuseppe" -
St. Joseph's cream puffs -
for you.
Buon appetito!

*

My Rome
Photographed
March
2009

*


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51 comments:

  1. The sights you share are spectacular. What a joy to see these. And the treats below equally so. Especially the Kaffe.

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  2. Merisi, I swear if my boss finds out that I'm taking a break every now and then to check beautiful blogs like yours..I am going to be in trouble!
    But I can't resist!...I can hear your postcards whisper my name!...
    And how I love that first image!
    And that cappuccino...a virtual treat...

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  3. Wonderful pictures from a country I love .-))

    Nice weekend soon.

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  4. QUIET PATHS,
    thank you, my pleasure! :-)

    THE GIRL FROM CHERRY BLOSSOM STREET -
    have you ever thought of forwarding your boss a postcard or two, so s/he can take a breather too? ;-)

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  5. ANEMONE,
    thank you!
    A great weekend to you too! :-)

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  6. I enjoyed this post so much and great shots!

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  7. All are fantastic pics, I love your photography, keep up the great work.

    Have a great weekend!
    Guy
    Regina In Pictures

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  8. Thanks for the invite! My cappuccino is delicious! Wonderful photos as usual!

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  9. thanks for sharing beautiful photographs of a perfect Roman holiday! All photos are really amazing.

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  10. Thank you all for your kind comments!

    Did you see that clicking on the last picture will produce another serving of sweets? ,-)

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  11. Rome sure is a gorgeous city!

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  12. Beautiful pictures of those ancient columns still standing and that is a pretty plate the cream puff is sitting on.

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  13. Your photos are all like postcards. Wonderful job. I'm in awe!

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  14. I have never been to Rome - you have shown me what I have missed. Thank you for sharing!

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  15. YOUR EG TOUR GUIDE,
    I agree! :-)))

    DIANE C,
    one of my favorite plates and I thought it is fitting for a SkyWatch post. ;-)

    B SQUARED,
    thank you! :-)

    RuneE,
    Rome is definitely worth a (long!) visit - possibly out of tourist season.

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  16. Your photos and words really do the ancient monuments justice! Was it a quiet time of the day or did you wait for any people to move out of your viewfinder?

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  17. What fabulous shots!! Wow! I've traveled in Italy, but didn't make it to Rome and I did so want to! Now I feel as though I've seen some of the best places! Happy SWF! Oh, and thanks for the coffee!!

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  18. So much to photograph in urbs aeterna. I'm having coffee but the cream puff look good enougf to eat. 8D Thank you for sharing this wiew to eternal city. Happy SWF!

    prkl, Finland

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  19. Fabulous ... and I was in the mood for a latte...

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  20. KITTY,
    I spent time there early Sunday morning with few people around yet. Generally, the Teatro Marcello is less crowded than other archeological zones in Rome.

    SYLVIA K,
    Italy is so full of beauty,
    missing Rome means you saw other magnificent places instead!
    Glad you enjoyed the coffee break. ;-)

    PRKL,
    thank you, you are welcome! :-)

    DARYL,
    oopsie - I am sure the kind waiter will hurry to serve you a perfect latte! ;-)

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  21. Everything about that place says "art." It found a worthy photographer in you. Thanks for this taste of Italy.

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  22. Thanks for the tour! I'd be hard pressed to choose a favorite from this lot, but if you twisted my arm I'm thinking the first one. I love the depth of field and the way it makes the poppies almost three-dimensional.

    Beautiful shots, worthy of the subject!

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  23. Fabulous virtual tour. I'm with Mojo that first one is a very classy image.

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  24. How lovely to visit Rome.
    It reminds me that though I've been t Milan and Florence pretty recently, I haven't been to Rome for AGES.
    Super pictures.

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  25. The photo of the "Sfinge di San Giuseppe" inspires such a strong desire in me to eat one that I feel almost brave enough to try baking some!

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  26. Very beautiful photos from a city I would love to visit!

    Thanks for your nice comment on Leituras & Imagens.

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  27. Always a wonder here. Thank you.

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  28. wish i could have a cappuccino!!! now i'm seriously freaking out on that picture...
    cheers!

    martina

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  29. Thankyou so much for this travel tour through the ancient parts of Rome. I have seen those many many years ago and I was so taken in by that wonderful city. I thoroughly enjoyed this retour.

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  30. That is why I love cities - old buildings! Part of my love of art, is seeing the periods of architechture (which go together with the periods in art).
    I lived in Berlin, much too short :( and then the cream puffs - aaah, save me one (I ccould eat them every day)!
    PS don't know if you know, but both of your comments arrived at my blog -thanks, i love it!

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  31. Thanks for sharing Rome with us. It brings back memories of 47 years ago! Have a great weekend.

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  32. beautiful. again. :-)


    it is not likely that we will ever visit Rome in person, but thanks to you we have had a little taste of it. . . . cream puffs? aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!!! we are SO hungry! :-0

    thak you,

    ..
    .ero

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  33. Merisi: I loved your sky and column photos, They are truly beautiful.

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  34. I love the second photo with the footpath.

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  35. These are wonderful. I've always loved Rome. I particularly like the second photo with the foot path. Lovely!

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  36. After so much antiquity coffee and cream puffs are definitely in order. Lovelu ruins and poppies. Last time I saw poppies among ruins was on May day in Micinae in Greece, with posing donkeys as well.

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  37. Those are all beautiful... wish I were there! I especially love that first one with the red flowers.

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  38. Very nice post on Rome. I have enjoyed a lot this sequence of pictures!
    About your question, the fire of the Brazier was burning just during the Olympics period.

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  39. If you hadn't dropped by my blog and commented on my 'sagging skin' I would never have found you! So glad I did - your photos/postcards are beautiful!! Will drop in again and will tell my sister in law to have a look - she is Italian (born and bred in Southern Africa but Italian at heart!) and would enjoy your postcards

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  40. Merisi! Your photos are astounding. Honestly. I love your blog - it makes me feel like I'm there. ;-)

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  41. WOW!
    I want to go!

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  42. Beautiful set of photos...I can't choose a fave as everything here is so marvelous.

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  43. I wonder why there is something so incredibly beautiful about ruins. Lovely.

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  44. i love those columns! and the food is making me hungry. :)

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  45. Wonderful pictures!
    Thanks for visiting my Live Journal.

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  46. Great SWF pictures. Rome has such history and culture. Thanks for sharing.

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  47. Exquisite photos of the ancient buildings and columns! And then that divine cup of coffee with pastry as a reward after. Sigh.

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  48. I would like to thank you all for your visit and kind comments!

    See you at your blog,
    Merisi

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