Originally posted on July 18, 2011 by Canicus

Today’s quest via the Metro to St. Peter’s was more successful. The plaza in front is most impressive.

The big thing in Rome these days seems to be the Beatification of John Paul II. Since the line to get into the church went more than halfway around the plaza, I attempted to enter on the side away from the line. That took me through a display detailing the Pope’s life along with many artifacts (which I assume will become relics). Elaborate copes and skis were on exhibit. I assume that he did not wear both at the same time.

But the exhibit led back out to the plaza. So I got in line. The whole point of the line was simply to get through security scanners and metal detectors. After you got through security there was another checkpoint at which those who did not meet the dress code women with bare shoulders were shunted aside and (I suppose) if they could not remedy the problem, shown the nearby exit.

I had worn a pair of convertible pants with the long legs installed, so I experienced no difficulty. But it seemed to me that men wearing shorts were allowed in. I didn’t see any guys with tank tops. When I actually entered the basilica, one of the guards (not the Swiss variety) stopped the kid in front of me who was wearing shorts; but his misdemeanor seems to have been talking on his cell phone.

I guess in many ways I am a gothic northern European. The great Gothic cathedrals impress me, but the baroque flowering of the Renaissance is too much for my taste. Yes, St. Peter’s is big. But it seems bigger on television on Christmas Eve.

I am really, really coming to hate Photoshop Elements 9. It’s stupid “Organizer” wants to “organize” everything on my hard disk. There are now nearly 1,000 pictures. It will not let me confine its searches to a specific folder. It will not forget what it has seen in the past. It will not let me choose what I want to go into an album or delete what I don’t want. It makes it impossible to add captions to just those particular picture I want in my album which is why there are no captions for today’s pictures.

The last picture really does need a comment. I shot myself in the foot. John Carter, that is a sinister foot!