I'm off to Pompeii this summer with a friend of mine (Jamie; 'Celt' on the forums) and there's that part of me which wants to take soft-kit with me and see what its like to wear it down the Pompeian streets. I've worn soft kit in some very Roman places, but that would beat them all.
I've been once before, and I know what its like (ie busy). We may be able to get written permission beforehand (in fact I don't think I'll even attempt it otherwise), but even then I'm wondering if it would be worth the effort.
I imagine we'd end up being a walking photo op.
We'll also be visiting Rome to see the Colosseum, forum, palatine hill and anything else we can find. No intentions of kit there!
I don't suppose anyone's done this before have they?
Some friends of mine once got to Ostia antica in civilian dress (toga and the like) and got permission to enter to take pictures. Not that easy though, but Ostia is a (relative) quite place, so it was good to do.
In Rome I wouldn't try, as you possibly get a fight with those 'plastic romans', and I think in Pompeii it will be to populated to walk there 'normally' without have to stop for pictures to be taken every other moment. Better to go for Herculaneum then. (but yeah, asking permission beforehand sounds like a good idea, anyway)
When I got to Pompeii I remember heading straight for the ampitheatre. When I got there there was almost nobody around and at one point I was alone in there. I sat on the banked area and stared into the arena musing about two things: firstly, what it would have been like to fight out there; and secondly, remembering the brilliantly wacky Pink Floyd film of them playing Echoes to nobody other than the ghosts of Pompeii (oh, and the sound crew). On the one hand the sound of gladius on shield, and on the other two millennia later - the sound of Roger Waters bashing that big gong...
I too have wanted to go and take pictures of myself in full kit BUT my uncle who lives in Rome mentioned the possibility of having some confrontation with the "plastic romans".
On the other hand, you could take pictures on the Palatine by carrying your kit there in a suitcase and getting dressed on the premesis. It may be a little incovenient but it could be done. This way, there should be no conflict since to my recollection, I have not seen any of these "plastic Romans" on the Palatine and I have been there several times.
Generally, to avoid any conflict anywhere you could do the noble thing and tell people that you will not take photos with them and explain that you are a tourist just as they are and it would be wrong to take away from the "Plastic Romans" their living. I am quite sure that people would be understanding. As a matter of fact, this is precisely what my uncle also mentioned to me. He also said that if someone in their kit wants to take pictures where those "plastic Romans" are, it would be good to ask them permission for a few minutes just to be polite. If they say no, then walk away, otherwise take a few quick shots and be gone.
I think that dressing in civilian clothes in Pompeii is a good idea and more realistic. I do not see any problem at all even if there is crowding. It could be difficult to take pictures because there are too many people walking about. Then again, you could go to open areas where the crowds are sparse and take a picture. You could crop the tourists out of your pictures at a later time.
Writing and asking for permission is also viable so at least you can get some feedback as to what the situation is. Please let us know what the response is as well.
Paolo.
I just love the new Avatar looking good.
I went to Pompeii in October 2007 as part of an guided tour, the photo is taken within the Arena, one of many pieces I've painted for shows.I also gave a talk to the other member of the party I was with.
[attachment=167]MeandbanneratPompeii.jpg[/attachment]
I went to Pompeii in October 2007 as part of an guided tour, the photo is taken within the Arena, one of many pieces I've painted for shows.I also gave a talk to the other member of the party I was with.
[attachment=168]MeandbanneratPompeii.jpg[/attachment]
You must have itched to stage a fight there ... of all places.
Hi Paul,
I live very close to Rome and walk often near the Colosseum.
If you want to do this I suggest to be very careful ... the "plastic romans" can create many problems at you :evil:
These 'plastic romans' sound like a formidable bunch! I will keep that in mind :o
My experience of the 'Legio Plastica' was that they were quite a friendly bunch. The only time I ever met them was on a day when hundreds of us were parading through Rome back in 2004 and so they may have been cowed somewhat by the sight of so many armoured men marching past. However, a short time later I passed back by the colosseum on my own, still fully kitted up, and all of them were very keen to talk to me and some actually wanted to have their photos taken with me. Of course, they may have acted differently towards me if I has started charging tourists 5 euros for a photograph as they were doing, but as it was, the only word of warning they gave me was to advise me not to draw my sword at all whilst in the square, as it might excite the authorities' attention a little too much.
I would concur though with Jurjen about being stopped by tourists every thirty seconds so they can have their photos taken with you. It can seriously dent your enjoyment of a place.
Crispvs
I attended the same parade as Crispvs in 2004 in Rome with my group.
We had no problems at all walking around in kit. We took the metro/tram in full kit on several occasions, visited several monuments, ate icecream and drank something in a café.
Several people also walked a good deal along the Apian way to enter Rome.
We split up on several occasions so it wasn't always big groups. I do not think any of us met the fake Romans when in small groups or alone, though.
Soft kit I see no problems in, you can dress how you like. Weapons you should indeed be careful with. The authorities might be more forgiving during the days around the founding celebrations...
Yip looking forward to the trip over. Writing and asking for permission seems a good idea Paul. It would be a shame for us to have to change clothes, though at least the hotel is only 300yards away from the entrance. If you can handle the pressure of photos being taken and people wanting to talk to you in a weird un-Yorkshire accent, I’m up for the dressing up. We could always go back again the next day in normal clothes. By the way Paul – all my willy symbols will be out on a proud showing – just to warn you in advance :lol:
I envy you guys, I hav e long a dream of visiting a Roman site in kit. I guess I have this hope of being ale to imagine what it was like 2000 years ago, to touch the same stones, stand on the same earth, it would be just an amazing expriance.
I wish you guys luck, and encourage yo uto try it.
avete omnes
dear friends the situation of the gestion of the archeological sites in Italy id drammatic...and this expecially for the burocracy and for the "head" of the italians!
For have some permission for do one photo in full or not full kit in some archeological site here is like prove to speack whit the president of the republic.......
everibody know what was huppened in Pompei...and in what condition is ostia antica...mosaics destroied under the run..everywhere the vegetation grown up whitout controll.
if you whant to do a concert of music in the teatrum in ostia is possible...if you whant to do some photo in roman dress...is rader impossible.
In Rome the situation is different...if you go in roman dress near the colusseum or near some other archeological sites the risk is that you can have o knife in the stomac because there is a real mafia of the centurion's pics where some very rude persons whit orrible costums take a lot of maney for the photo!!
I love Italy and I love Rome but the italians should learn from germans,english,holland etc etc how to live!