"Let Rome in Tiber melt..."
Rome did melt into the Tiber. The place was invaded by barbarians...the population sank from over a million to under 100,000. And when the city was "rediscovered" by tourists with a sense of history in the 17th century...there were goats grazing amid the ruins of the ancient city.
There are people who believe that power, progress, and wealth are always on a rising slope. Let them come to Rome!
Roman property was a sell for a period of probably a thousand years...from the peak of Roman power, around 100 AD, down to its nadir, sometime after the Renaissance.
We have come to Rome on your behalf, dear reader. We poke through its dusty ruins looking for the future. There are more ruins to come, we think...
(Oh, the labors we undertake for your sake, dear reader. Last night, trying to get in the spirit of the place, we drank nearly a whole bottle of wine from Abruzzo. Today, we will go with a Tuscan variety...)
"I love coming to Rome," said Elizabeth. "Everywhere you go, there's something to see. Right around the corner is the church of St. Agnes. You know, they martyred her because she refused to marry one of the Roman aristocracy...who was pagan. The church is built on the site, it is said, where she was exposed. They stripped her naked and chained her on the spot. It was supposed to be a humiliating way to kill her, I guess. But her hair hung down and preserved her modesty. At least, that is what it says in the Christian legends. And so they tried to burn her...but the fire wouldn't touch her. In any event, she died...and the street here, St. Agnes 'Agone,' records the place and the pain of it.
"I've booked a tour of the Vatican...and then a tour of the Vatican's art collection. There's a group of Americans who organize these things...it looks like a very good service."
"How long are these tours?" we wanted to know.
"Well, each one is about 4 hours. But don't worry. I know what a Philistine you are...I only booked it for myself."
Bill Bonner
The Daily Reckoning Australia
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About the Author
Best-selling investment author Bill Bonner is the founder and president of Agora Publishing, one of the world's most successful consumer newsletter companies. Owner of both Fleet Street Publications and MoneyWeek magazine in the UK, he is also author of the free daily e-mail The Daily Reckoning.
Comment by Smack MacDougal on 26 April 2008:
Dear Reader should come to see that Bill Bonner has nothing to write about so he relies on his hack phrase "dear reader" as he tries to soften you.
Too bad about Bill. Sometimes, he has something to say.
Comment by christina on 26 April 2008:
Gee smack, I reckon you're on smack. What a stupid thing you just said. We love our Editor, he can say whatever he wants. What a horible person you are. I bet you're broke
Comment by Pete on 26 April 2008:
/ignore Christina
erm, *wink*
Comment by Diggin it! on 28 April 2008:
It would be humbling to see a collapsed empire, don`t go to hard on the red Bill we understand your pain [not]!