IF YOU COULD GET CLOSER

I rarely use two pictures in the same post but today’s topic deserves it. Yesterday I complained about the Old Courthouse having no plans to reopen the second and third level circular balconies under the dome. The staff told me it was a safety concern but I suspect it was a matter of budget. These pictures were taken from the first balcony. The next two were open before the recent restoration, making it easy to admire the historical and allegorical paintings.

                  

UNDER THE DOME

The copper clad dome of the Old Courthouse stands out in the exterior views seen the last couple of days. The inside, however, is richly decorated. It’s a shame that you can’t get close enough to see the paintings. There are three levels of circular galleries above the ground floor and, sadly, only the first has been reopened (with a chest-high glass barrier, at that). I asked a staff member if there were plans to reopen the next two. No, safety. It’s absurd.                       

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - THE HEAVENS

Last day of leg wearying, joint aching tourism. We do okay walking around on vacation but Tuscany is full of settled mini-mountains, built that way, I suppose, for defensive purposes. 10,500 step day yesterday, which may be a modern personal record. What the health app on my phone does not record without consulting the altimeter is the hill climbing, many days 300 - 400 feet / 90 - 120 meters. We've had enough.

On our final day here we visited the Siena Duomo, which is an architectural and artistic spectacle. The central dome over the nave invites visitors with a supple enough neck to contemplate heaven. I got the shot because my camera has an articulating LED screen.

Drive back to Bologna today and spend the night at an airport hotel. Tomorrow it's BLQ - LHR - ORD - STL, 11 hours of flying and 5 hours of airport transfers, gods of the air willing. We are ready to go home.       

A Touch of France

I am so low on material that I have to resort to phone cam shots from my office window. This one got some interest on Flickr. It looks north on Broadway and I 70 during a thunderstorm. The domed stadium without a football team is on the left and the Four Seasons Hotel on the right.

The hotel has a strange LED system on that brick fin that sticks out of it. It's usually illuminated at night but this was midday. This was taken on July 7 so why is it, so to speak, flying the French flag a week before le quatorze Juillet? I dunno. Maybe it's a test.

The next two weeks at work are awful. I'll post as often as I can.