OT - Grumpy Old Man Thread

[SFBadger96]

Similarly had a really good guided experience at the Vatican. Impressive collection of art, and interesting history, besides.

I "get" Van Gogh, I think. I tend to trend darker in what speaks to me. I found Guernica powerful. Part of that is understanding what Picasso was reflecting on--the history matters to me. Most Picasso doesn't interest me. A lot of impressionism is "pretty," but not very interesting.

Good marble statues impress me. The craftsmanship of making stone look supple is impressive. 

Some "modern" art is really cool; a lot of it is completely meaningless. What makes one vs. the other is probably impossible to describe.

[betarhoalphadelta]

BTW I'm joking about the Vatican. It's impressive. 

It's just the running joke my wife and I have about being there. "Oh look, another Madonna and child!"

Kinda like European Vacation: "look kids, Parliament/Big Ben"...

[847badgerfan]

A few years later we had the same Docent company give us the Colosseum and Palatine Hill tour.

Again, just 3 of us, for two days. That was awesome.

I really appreciated those places as an engineer.

[Cincydawg]

We lucked into an excellent guide through the Vatican, it was a group tour, but well done.  We're staying next door this time out so I'll try another tour for the wife.

Who is this Madonna person?  I didn't know she was around back then.

[betarhoalphadelta]

We didn't tour the catacombs, as we didn't even realize it was an option. But then when we heard about it, my wife said that if we ever go back, we want to add that in.

https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/products/the-necropolis

[FearlessF]

this person makes me grumpy

[Riffraft]

Loved the Vatican, louvre, British.  Orsay was nice.  Could have spent more hours in those 3.  Favorite is the British museum mainly because of the Rosetta stone which is my holy grail.

[SFBadger96]

this person makes me grumpy

Talk about someone who has had a ton of work done and now really shows it in all the worst ways.