May 15, 2006
A VIEW FROM THE TOP.. OF ST. PETER'S
OH THOSE STAIRS. THE TOP OF ST. PETE'S DOME IS SOME 520 STEPS ABOVE A HORRENDOUS LINEUP. YOU CAN CHEAT THOUGH, AND TAKE THE ELEVATOR UP THE FIRST 200 STEPS - COSTS MONEY BUT IT IS WORTH IT. THEN 320 STEPS TO THE TOP AND I COUNTED EVERYONE. THE ELDERLY POLISH LADIES, IN WHO'S MIDST I FOUND MYSELF, MADE ME FEEL THAT ANYTHING LESS THAN THE SUMMIT WAS AN ADMISSION OF WEAKNESS, SO ..UP I TRUDGED. I AM STILL AROUND TO WRITE ABOUT IT SO OBVIOUSLY I SURVIVED. WE THEN WALKED DOWN ALL 520 STEPS - PIECE OF CAKE!
THE VIEW WAS PRETTY SPECTACULAR, BUT THE SPACE AT THE TOP IS PRETTY LIMITED AND VERY CROWDED. I THINK EVERYONE HAS TO REST FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE THEY VENTURE DOWN.
I HAVE NEVER WALKED UP STEPS THAT FORCE YOU TO LEAN SIDEWAYS AS YOU CLIMB. YOU ARE CLIMBING A DOME AFTERALL.
WALKING DOWN IS ALSO INTERESTING AS MANY OF THE STEPS HAVE A DOWNWARD TILT TO THEM - A LITTLE EXTRA MOMENTUM.
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