GREAT Art

Viewing Michelangelo's sculpture was breathtaking experience. It is hard to imagine how he was able to visualize let alone execute these works. They are so fine, so soft in appearance that one wants to touch them to make certain they are actually stone. Sadly the Pietà is behind glass since the vandalism some year ago, and Moses, like David in Florence, is behind a barrier.

While viewing Moses, which is in a small church away from the larger cathedrals and art galleries, the guard approached us and in very loud and forceful Italian, told Elliott to stop taking pictures because no professional photography is allowed! His new camera is really, really nice and he takes a good shot. A nice fellow to whom E had previously spoken and lent his tripod approached and explained that "in Italia, no does not mean no. In France and Switzerland and Germany, it means no, but here, just take off your jacket, put on your cap and you are a different person! Take all the photos you want!" It was worth the unpleasantness just for the story!