CAPPUCHIAN CRYPT

OK so this was one of the WEIRDEST things that I've ever made Carol do- We went to the infamous Cappuchian Crypt today in Rome. It is the most macabre thing I've ever seen in my life! Basically it is the skeletal remains of about 4,000 Cappuchian monks and friars who have been entombed in the basement of this church in 6 different 'cells'. There are bones EVERYWHERE! And they have made art designs out of them! They have even made CHANDELIERS out of them!! WORKING ones with electric lights! (I kid you not). Here's a picture that I got from the internet because you are definitely NOT allowed to take pictures. And there's something so gruesome about it you just want to for some reason-

There was a very 'personable' woman working the 'welcome desk'. You walk in and she says something in Italian- and of course you don't answer because you don't know what she says and then she bellows, "OK- WHICH EESE IT? INGLEESH? SWEEDISH?? GERMAN??? WHAT WHAT? JUST SAY IT?????" Carol meekly replies, "English"- "OK THEN! NOW WE PROCEED! NO PEECTURES, and NO CELLPHONE-- there is NO charge but a donation of 1 EURO is reQUY-ERD!" I drop in 2 euros- "OK NOW YOU GO" and she points down this dark hall where all you can see are tomb entrances and bones----

So there were six rooms in all- FORTUNATELY you can't go into them-- you stand at this gate behind iron bars and you look in at this scene your eyes just continuing to gaze at these bones that are put together in the most intricate of artistic designs. Like Carol said, "If you didn't know what it was- you'd almost think it was pretty". BUT YOU DO KNOW!!

As we left I bought a postcard for .50 Euro- and I gave her a whole Euro- and waved like to keep the rest, she gave me an assured look and bellowed, "GOOOTD BOY!"

and I was out on the street! NEVER so happy to see green trees and buzzing cars and Vespas!!