Tomorrow I take wing for Rome. I shall be resident in the Eternal City, not for eternity, but for approximately eight days, until September 22nd or thereabouts. Since I am not paying, I am staying in an especially grand and elegant hotel. It is the sort of fantastically expensive establishment where liveried attendants are employed to whisper "Remember you are mortal" in guest's ears as we travel upwards in the gleaming elevator from marbled lobby to the sumptuous suite divine, much as ancient slaves did while accompanying victorious Caesar in his chariot during the celebration of Triumphs.
My favorite trattoria in Rome is the Burga Rex in Piazza Graffito where the chef, Dottore Crippini, makes double cheese whoppers out of oil infused she-wolf bladders. Dinner is followed by a brisk stroll around the square and its infamous yellow fountain. There is a popular tradition that if you are sick three times in the Heavi fountain, then you will definitely return to the Capuchin hospital you passed by on your way in. They believe in prescribing a course of leeches for every ailment.
Of course, no trip to Rome is complete without going to see the changeable Pope Climate, better known to his friends as "The German Shepherd."
If you are lucky, his Hooliganess might grant you an audience, but it will probably be just a bunch of old timers from the sticks who have already seen "Mamma Mia" over forty times. Where he finds these people is beyond me.
Anyway, the whole point of this post is that there won't be another one until next Thursday.
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but you can't just leave us alone in the world without a romantic poet disguised as a wiseguy,.. bring back some memorable souvenirs.
Posted by: rorosen | September 12, 2006 at 19:38
Your phrase, "better known to his friends as "The German Shepherd." "
How have I not heard that before? Oh, yeah. I forgot. Stopped attending mass in the dyas of John Paul I, the Bart Giamatti of popes.
Posted by: DarkoV | September 13, 2006 at 08:00
rorosen
You will just have read my blog, The All-Poetry Notebook, while he is away. I am a wiseguy disguised as a romantic poet.
Posted by: Edward Williams | September 14, 2006 at 01:34
was very happy to hear you for the 1st time on TODAY. Your comments re: Bono were very pointed. I am praying for you & your wife, looking forward to reading your book. Need a jolt back into more radical belief.
Posted by: Charla | September 20, 2006 at 12:45
charla, i don't believe our stephen is THAT baldwin, at least I don't believe he is,...
by the way, can someone get my hand out of this bag of chocolate covered expresso beans?
Posted by: bono | September 21, 2006 at 14:49