Today is Sunday and I thought that after going to the COOP to buy some groceries I would just take a walk along the Tiber:

What is more lovely and inspiring than crossing Ponte Sant'Angelo and marveling at the beauty of angels carved by various students of Bernini, each angel carrying instruments of the Passione:

I think this is the angel with the sponge, ... referring to the sponge with vinegar..

I just kept walking toward the Vatican.  I knew that today was a big day because Pope Francis was going to canonize 10 new saints and that was something I wasn't sure I wanted to attend.  So as I neared the long avenue toward Saint Peter's, I just got sucked in to a VORTEX OF GLORY.... sucked in.  I just kept walking and before I knew it, some fabulous Italian polizia was going through my purse and corralling me through the metal detector, then before I knew it I was like some kind of migratory bird in a gaggle of nuns taken in by some force, and then before I knew it, the crowd was roaring Sand I saw in the distance the Pope Mobile!  I took a picture, which is not very good because as he neared, I got a bit overwhelmed.  

I just kept walking toward the Vatican.  I knew that today was a big day because Pope Francis was going to canonize 10 new saints and that was something I wasn't sure I wanted to attend.  So as I neared the long avenue toward Saint Peter's, I just got sucked in to a VORTEX OF GLORY.... sucked in.  I just kept walking and before I knew it, some fabulous Italian polizia was going through my purse and corralling me through the metal detector, then before I knew it I was like some kind of migratory bird in a gaggle of nuns taken in by some force, and then before I knew it, the crowd was roaring Sand I saw in the distance the Pope Mobile!  I took a picture, which is not very good because as he neared, I got a bit overwhelmed.  

I couldn't help it and I just started crying.  I thought, "Am I crying?"  And I couldn't stop.  Then I thought, "Wait, am I sweating or crying?"  I was crying and sweating.  The only thing that redeemed me was an enormous Spanish family next to me that was ALSO crying and giving each other high fives. There was nothing else to do but go into one of the nearby stores and buy a bunch of rosaries, holy water and various medals blessed by the pope.  Molto fantastico!

As I made my way toward home, I happened upon the Museum of Napoleon.  Stupendo!  It features endless marble busts and paintings of this egomaniac.  Molto bello.  Including many famous paintings of him and his family by David!!

And some outrageous gowns:

By the time I got home, I had sweated and cried and spent molti soldi and the only thing left to do was:

A presto!