Capuchin Crypts - Rome, Italy

Last week I visited Rome for the first time. So much history! Needless to say I was in awe, but nothing surpassed my visit to the Capuchin Crypts.

My only disappointment was that I was not allowed to take photos (the mean girl at the ticket desk made me put my camera into my bag before heading inside), so all the images you see in this post will have been grabbed from Google Images.

When I first walked into the crypt area I knew I was in the right place because of the putrid smell. I didn't realize that these beautiful bone designs and mummified remains would be out in the open - no glass enclosure to come between me and these beauties. If you go, keep in mind that the smell was so bad to my travel companion that she immediately left and waited for me outside. I, on the other hand, walked through each chamber twice just so I could retain the glorious images in my mind.

As you approach the first chamber you will see the ornately decorated hallway. I may have audibly gasped in delight (I know, I know.) Jawbones lined the arched doorways! Each chamber (I believe there were six) had its own "theme" but each was glorious and beautiful unto itself. And the mummies! Did I mention the mummies still in their monk's robes? So gruesome! So gross! So ghoulish! SO GREAT!

There is an admission fee of 6 euro to enter. They've added a new museum to the attraction where you can see objects created and/or owned by the monks. That was okay, but the treat here are the crypts. If you find yourself in Rome, you might want to check it out!

Happy Halloween, my friends!
-L

GODZILLA 2014

Well, it was bound to happen. I've fallen in love with someone who loathes scary movies and things that go bump in the night. This explains my blogging hiatus (he and I met in late October last year). Would you believe that seeing GODZILLA is the first "scary" film I've seen in seven months?! Yeesh. That confession is pretty scary in and of itself!

I'm back and and ready to get the cobwebs off of my Scare-O-Meter! This review may contain spoilers, so consider yourself warned.

I was able to catch a sneak preview of GODZILLA in IMAX 3D. This is the only way that this movie should be seen. I'm not a fan of 3D films because I think they're too campy. I know, I know. How ridiculous coming from the person who loves campy horror flicks. Maybe "gimmicky" is a better word. But this movie wasn't made in that "things flying at you from the screen" fashion - the 3D just makes the images clearer, especially on the jumbo IMAX screen.

The story actually delved deeper into the creation and research of the monsters which brought a nice synergy between this and the original Godzilla films from Japan (did I see a guy in a rubber Godzilla suit?). In fact, a lot of the plot points went back to the original versions where The King Of The Monsters is seen as a hero. In this case, he saves the Pacific from a male and female Muto who are breeding with the hopes of taking over our planet! The special effects were great and the casting was spot on. Bryan Cranston and Ken Watanabe were terrific as the scientific geniuses. The underlying subplot, questioning the use of an atomic bomb today, wasn't too "in your face," but it definitely made you think.

This movie was intense! Halfway through the film I realized that my fists were clenched, as were my teeth, my calves were tight, and I was sitting forward. The family sitting next to me only enhanced my movie-going experience by having to remind their 10-year-old daughter, "It's only a movie..." while the mother was jumping every five minutes. I remember only jumping once myself, but it was a good one!

It's a fun movie, but leave your little ones at home. I'm thrilled that they've obviously left room for more GODZILLA films where our hero will, no doubt, be reunited with some of his kaiju friends from the past. On a scale of one to four jumpers, I'm giving this four - mostly for the jumpy mom seated next to me - and for its intensity. Go and see this film!

Until next time (and hopefully it won't be another seven months...)
-L