I imagine your old stomping grounds have changed a lot, apart from the obvious historical sites. I'm actually on the inside of Vatican City, and going in even deeper, not religiously, but rather for living and surviving the coming perfect storm. I know, sounds odd, but the alternative to going off grid is finding a fairly safe environment, if such a thing exists!
RE: Never Underestimate The People You Are At War With
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Never Underestimate The People You Are At War With
What do you mean "inside" the Vatican City? You got an apartment inside the walls!? The area around the Vatican is also still connected to many Vatican services, such as water etc. I worked briefly on the Viale della Conciliazione, but even that is technically outside the Vatican.
I haven't been there in maybe a decade, but all the buildings and monuments are so solid, nothing much had changed, just different shops and a Metro station.
I did a search and, yeah, agents trying to sell "Vatican apartments" around Piazza Risorgimento - where I went to school!
Yeah, two tactics here: get as far away as possible or lie inside the beast. ;-)
I pass through Piazza Risorgimento every day on the way to Metro Ottaviano. 😉
I just had to have a quick look on Goeggel walkthroughs - hasn't changed much, except they concreted over what used to be gardens in the centre. And that giornalaio has been there for 50 plus years - was probably there 80 years ago!
Good for you - hope it works out!
I actually miscalculated there! Didn't remember how long Francis has been in power. Pre-Francis was so different. Way less security here. You could just walk up the steps and walk into the Basilica. At most, security might ask you to take your hat off. 🤣 Now they have the steps blocked off, and airport security scanners. And on Sunday, when Francis speaks, there are bus loads of Polizia & Carabinieri encircling the square!
I started reading up on why they redesigned Piazza Risorgimento, and for all the waffle, it looks more like a "security op". Yes, it was a dangerous piazza - my school was like 200m away yet had to cross 5 very busy roads! Now, looks like a good place for a rally - or a hangin! oops! No protection from either the sun or the rain. Most of the area looks the same but some palazzi have been rebuilt to be shorter - which is also odd given it's prime real estate.
Not sure how it is during the night, but during the day it is always empty, with only the tourists passing through all day to get to the Vatican. They tell that at night it fills up with the homeless because of the wide marble sitting areas.
Maybe they should erect a big circus tent in the middle!
Let just say I'm inside the walls; other details I'll keep out of the public.
Viale della Conciliazione, and wherever the Vatican flag is flown is sovereign territory, but I'm not trying to escape Italy or anything like that. I'm in an area with extremely high security ever since Pope Francis came to power. Far, far more than what you would have seen a decade ago.
Yes, from within I also stay close to an entity (The Church) that has eyes and ears all over the world, and is keenly aware of how and where suffering people move. I anticipate an overwhelming wave of refugees in the winter, and the rerouting of resources into the City. I would have preferred going off grid, but life has given me the challenge of surviving this Crisis Season in the urban jungle, and I have accepted!