How many nuns can you fit on a zebra crossing? 36 and counting, if you happen to be in Rome.
The theme for Tara’s ‘The Gallery’ this week is a number and this photo immediately came to mind. I took it when we visited Italy’s capital a few years ago. Not a technically good photo: a point and shoot through the window of the Hotel Forty Seven (ooh another number) but one that never fails to make me smile.
We adored Rome (must do a Mum’s Gone to post about it actually) but I was fearful of crossing the roads on account of the sadistic drivers who paid no heed to pedestrians. After seeing this glorious sight I made a note to only cross roads when under the protection of nuns or priests: the cars always stopped for them.
The photo also takes me back to my childhood. My secondary school was a Catholic Convent Grammar school so a fair few of the teachers were nuns. I have fond memories of our form teacher with her jolly sayings, “If a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well” and one nun who had a very stubbly beard. Very naive girls that we were, we had no understanding of the poor woman’s probable hormonal imbalance and were convinced it was a man in drag. She played the guitar very well, nonetheless…
What a fantastic photo, I've never been to Rome but it's a place I'd like to visit.
Rome is on my to do list as well. Fab picture and lovely memories. xx
Love that photo! I have never been to italy, its the one place I am DESPERATE to visit.
Love the point and shoot aspect of the photo too, its great 😀
I actually started counting them! What am I doing?!? Great photo & great tip. If/when I go to Rome will remember..Only cross the road under cover of nuns…
I need to find me some nuns round here to help me cross the road. This photo did make me smile! Thanks xx
lol! Is that why they make the crossings so wide? To accommodate the Nuns who Lunch 🙂
I am resisting the urge to count them.
I am resisting….
That nun… you know, the only at your school. Not Sister Josephine, was it?
Fabulous! I too started counting them then saw MrsW and BMTA comments so resisted. . . .
But really, what a fabulous sight. Only in rome I guess
Great photo! Bet the trafic stopped for them. Rome is definitely on my "to do" list.
Thanks for your great comments. Don't count too closely…I reckon on 36 nuns (on and off the crossing) with a handful of non-nuns, making about 42 in total!
The Dotterel – blimey, a Jake Thackray fan! I've just put my old CD on: "Oh Sister Josephine, what a bloody funny nun you are!".
No car was ever not going to stop at that crossing…can you imagine the driver's journey to hell for wiping out that lot!
a drag guitar playing nun – sounds wonderfully exotic to me and my boring high school experiences.
I adore Rome and I love your photo.
As for the drivers, they really couldn't have a run over nun on their conscience could they? They'd have their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, neighbours and the pope on their backs!
Doesn't bare thinking about.
This reminded me of when we had a child free weekend in Rome a few years ago. We joked how it was like a huge Stag/Hen do in Blackpool at times, with everyone dressed as nuns & priests. You would feel a lot safer crossing with all those nuns though wouldn't you. I wonder what the collective term is for a group of nuns?
Apparently it's a "superfluity" – according to the dictionary of collective nouns and group terms http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301511.html
I always thought it would be a flock.
A flock of frocked nuns . . .
I thought only a non-Catholic would come up with that term for a group of nuns, but looks like it was a Catholic (maybe a bitter one?) as it comes from the Book of St. Alban's, the majority of which has been attributed to an English Nun.
I just love looking up obscure facts – can you tell.
Meanwhile, lovely photo and I too would cross with the nuns!
What a fab photo. And yep, crossing with the nuns sounds very wise. My parents are off to Rome this weekend. I will pass on the advice. ;D
Mummeee and marisworld – eternity in purgatory for nun-running-over offences
Heather – something surreal about a hirsuit guitar player in a habit playing Kum ba Yah!
Carafreckles – haha! You're spot on: it does look like fancy dress.
Readily as a parent – "Superfluity" indeed? Didn't know that. Thank you so much for the references. Brilliant!
Jo – can I come with them? They will love it: history,culture and fab food all in one city.
Oooh I wasn't keen on Rome but love your pic 🙂
Great photo – I like the rebel nun near the front wearing a denim jacket!
Great shot. I've been to Sorrento and would have loved it had I not been 6 months into a ghastly pregnancy and trailing round a poorly as soon as we got there toddler.
Maybe we should try Rome.
This is a fabulous photo! It's so ordinary – and yet absolutely not!
Oh My God all those nuns in one spot in the middle of the road! How many points for that? I would have sped up. THAT's for making me wipe my bum with tiny squares of newspaper at Brownies you evil psychos!!! It's what FIAT was founded for.
Yes it is a good photo, and a lovely place to visit, not that I have been!
CJ xx