The view of Rome from the top of St. Peter's Basilica. That's St. Peter's Square below (only it's not a square, it's a circle). By the way, getting up to the top of the dome is an adventure itself. You climb perilous steps that twist this way and that, and duck, lean and squeeze yourself through tiny passageways that curve with the shape of the dome. I'm a very skinny guy and even I found it a bit tight.
The interior of the dome in St. Peter's Basilica. Note the light streaming through the windows (I'm glad the camera caught that). If you ever visit the basilica, you'll gasp upon entering. You feel like an ant, walking through marble and gold halls that must be six stories high, all meticulously carved and painted. It's the most extravagant building I've ever been in, and you'll be uber-impressed by the wealth and power of the Catholic Church; I don't know if that's a compliment or not.
Above the entrance of the basilica. I just like this picture because it looks less flat than most photos taken with a point-&-shoot.
I lucked out and framed this carriage perfectly in front of St. Peter's
Basilica. Never mind that a horse carriage of this variety has no
place in Italy; someone should return it to Central Park.
By the way, Rome looks better in these pictures than it does in real
life. In actuality, it's a dirty, smelly pit and many of its streets
are an eyesore (especially when compared to Venice, Florence and Paris).
I don't know what's so appealing about old Roman debris (the Colisseum
excepted). And Rome's subway carts are a travesty; I've never seen
so much graffiti in my life. I met a few nice locals, but the majority
of Romans I encountered were rude, exploitative, and they'll run you down
cold in the street. My advice when visiting Rome: hit the major sights,
then make like a tree and leave!
Another shot of the "Square Coliseum" (Palazzo della Civilita). I just think it's a delightfully frightening building. If Classical Rome had not fallen and the Empire had lived to see today, this is the type of architecture they might have built. Very surreal and imposing.
Funny story about this picture. Some crappy guidebook I was using told me to go to Gianicolo Hill to catch a breathtaking sunset over Rome. Since I'm a sunset whore, I made the confusing trek up to Gianicolo Hill only to find that the sun doesn't actually set over central Rome. While you watch Rome darken, the sun actually sets behind you, away from Rome and instead behind some boring hills, while you get chased by mosquitoes. Disappointed, I took some pictures of the silhouetted trees instead.
Page 1: London, Amsterdam
Page 2: Brussels, Bruges
Page 3a: Paris (I)
Page 3b: Paris (II)
Page 4: Venice, Rome
Page 5: Florence
Page 6: Nice, Montpellier, Bordeaux
Page 7: Bilbao, San Sebastian, Chartres
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9: More Paris
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10: Even more Paris
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11: The Eiffel Tower Page
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12: More Venice and Rome
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13: More Rome
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14: More Florence
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15: More Nice, Montpellier, Bordeaux and Bilbao