Peter Kun Frary, Professor of Music • University of Hawaii, Leeward
Peter Kun Frary, Professor of Music • University of Hawaii, Leeward
Photo by Peter Kun Frary • Canon EOS 40D and EF-s 17-55 2.8 IS USM • Next Image
The Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Plaza) sits at the base of the Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti (Spanish Steps). The fountain in the foreground is La Fontana della Barcaccia ("Fountain of the Old Boat"), built in 1627-29 and probably designed by Pietro Bernini. Barcaccia's simple design has a timeless quality, and appears more contemporary in conception than the pompous and ornate designs typical of the Baroque. The Scalinata is known as the longest and widest staircase in Europe. Bob Dylan sings of its glories in "When I Paint My Masterpiece" (1971). Although the 138 steps aren't particularly numerous, the steps are so wide near the base they appear to be terraces.
To my my chagrin, I found the Scalinata infested with thousands of tourists and about as photogenic as a swap-meet. So I turned my lens to the Piazza di Spagna and found it more appealing photographically.
I walked to the Piazza di Spagna from the Pantheon and, after a terrible lunch of Margarita (Italian style cheese pizza), lost the group of students I was with. Hell, I was lost most of the afternoon. Probably was looking at the map backwards. A quiet afternoon of cafés and shopping was the plan but, instead, God gave me rain. A torrential downpour to be exact. Scurrying like a drenched river rat I sought shelter in Via Condotti's designer shops. I tried in vain to hail a cab--all were full--and ended up riding a packed and sweltering bus back to Hotel Nizza.
You don't hear much discussion about Italian beer. And there's a good reason for that. I auditioned a few brews that day and can unequivocally state their best efforts go into producing wine. The specimens I sampled were feeble, expensive and tasted like bitter mellon intermingled with piss. A perfect complement to my day as a scampering river rat. I could hardly wait to get to Belgium and Germany, lands of heavenly brew...
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