yogi: April 2005

The Pope's Funeral From the Office

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Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

Piazza del Popolo

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Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

This is a shot from the office during Pope John Paul II's funeral today.

Sad Day in the Office

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Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

Pope's Funeral on the Big Screen

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Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

Welcome to Norchia

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

Brunella and I drove about an hour north of Rome on April 2, a Saturday, to visit the Etruscan necropolis of the now ghost town of Norchia. It was populated as long ago as 700 B.C. and survived until about 1800 A.D. Now only the tombs carved into the surrounding canyons, and the walls of a medieval castle and church remain.

The Necropolis

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

This is the view from Norchia of the Etruscan tombs on the other side of the small canyon. The tombs weren't carved into the walls surrounding the city, but instead were carved into the tufa in the surrounding hillsides. The necropolis was like a separate city of the dead that looked after the city of the living.

The Drawing

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

This drawing shows the original appearance of the tombs. A religious rite or offering was conducted on the top, and to this day there are stairs carved in the soft tufa stone so that you can climb on top. The actual grave was dug under the ceremonial tomb.

The Pi-Shaped Symbol

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

Most of the tombs are square and said to be built like dice. They are inscribed with a symbol similar to the Greek letter Pi. These are the tombs next to the two brothers.

Etruscan Tombs

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

These Etruscan tombs apparently were built for two brothers, one of whose names is still inscribed on one of the rocks. Probably built between in about 400 B.C., they were looted long ago.

Spring Bush

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

I'm not sure the name of this bush. There were large groupings of them buzzing with the sound of hundreds of bees collecting nectar.

The Biedano

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

Brunella and I bushwhacked in search of Greek tombs that we never found. This is the river west of the ancient town of Norchia -- the Biedano.

12th Century

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

Norchia was a city for thousands of years, first with the Etruscans, then the Greek, the Romans, and then later the Italic peoples who built this Medieval church. It's now an abandoned plateau standing between two creeks and a river, lashed by the wind and sun.

Norchia's Ruined Church

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

There's something sad yet dignified about a church in ruin.

St. Peter's

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

Later this day, on April 2, Pope John Paul II died. Brunella and I learned of his death when we heard the churchbells ringing at 10 p.m. on a Saturday evening. This church also had been known as St. Peter's.

This doorway was cut into the tufa. It may have been there for 2,600 years.

The Olympic Village

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

This is a shot from my balcony one evening after the rain. The building is part of the Olympic Village complex built for Rome's hosting of the games in the 1960s. They're now basically low-rent housing.

Pass in Parking Lot

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

A spring evening after the rain. Kids passed the soccer ball and played with remote-controlled cars in the parking lot across the street.

Via Pretoria, Potenza on Easter

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

This is Potenza's main drag. Potenza is in the arch of the boot, and it's where Brunella grew up. We spent Easter weekend there with her family.

Brunella and Stefano

Pictures from a KODAK Picture CD
Originally uploaded by yogi2005.

During our walk on Via Pretoria, we ran into Stefano. There's no such thing as a quick stroll down this street. Brunella meets one old friend after another...