At the Duomo in Siena we got the ticket that included the tour that would take us into the roof of the fabulous Gothic/Romanesque Cathedral. Even the name of the tour was thrilling - "The Gates of Heaven".
To enter the cathedral, I wrapped a scarf around my shoulders. Others in vest tops were being stopped and forced to velcro themselves into a sort of human dust sheet to preserve their modesty in front of Jesus and his mum and Dad.
Carenza was wearing a shortish skirt and Pascoe and Perran shorts, but the focus of the cover-up operation was definitely shoulders - the custodians were not so bothered about legs.
Once inside, we barely had time to utter our over-awed Oohs and Aaahs when it was time to start our Gates of Heaven Tour.
We marched up the spiral stair, then tip-toed along stone-bounded balconies both inside and outside the cathedral building. Outside, we spotted that the stone angels' wings were fastened to their backs with strips of bronze. We saw how the high lantern window above the Chapel of St John the Baptist looked from outside. And for once, we were on eye-level with the thrill-seeking swifts who patrol the architecture.
We marched up the spiral stair, then tip-toed along stone-bounded balconies both inside and outside the cathedral building. Outside, we spotted that the stone angels' wings were fastened to their backs with strips of bronze. We saw how the high lantern window above the Chapel of St John the Baptist looked from outside. And for once, we were on eye-level with the thrill-seeking swifts who patrol the architecture.
Inside the interior of the Cathedral, unremarked by those below, we traversed high, dusty marble walkways. Nobody looked up at us. We stared into the well of the pulpit, onto the top of the high altar. We watched the the ant-like tourists below.
And that was when I realised that the custodians on duty at the entrance knew exactly what they were doing.
The reason they weren't covering up people's legs was because all God could see from above was their heads and shoulders.
And that was when I realised that the custodians on duty at the entrance knew exactly what they were doing.
The reason they weren't covering up people's legs was because all God could see from above was their heads and shoulders.
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