Hello Everyone!
I'm several days behind, since we just finished day four of Rome today and I'm on the first, but it will be alright.
As a real time update- we arrived in Venice safely and smoothly this evening and are relaxing in the nice apartment we have here.
So, on our first day in Rome we visited the Colosseum first.
I have a few pictures of it to post here, but truthfully if you want to see a astounding photo of the Colosseum, google "Astounding Photo of the Colosseum." The place looks exactly the same in pictures and person. It wasn't breathtaking, except to think about all that happened there in the past while being there. Which was honestly more horrible and heartbreaking than moving. We did learn some very interesting facts and pieces of history, but the entire place reeks of the blood of innocents and lower classes, it was nearly too much to take.
The previous ancient wooden floor where the fights took place had collapsed now, exposing the tunnel systems where the animals and slaves were enclosed underneath.
Fun fact: Women were forced to sit in the very highest seats, a long way up many flights of stairs. Granted that was how almost all shows with raised seating were positioned. Hmm.
Just outside the Colosseum is the Arc of Constantine.
The view from the Colosseum.
The closer view. The Arc has very ornate engraving.
There is, of course, a ridiculous amount of symbolism in all of these figures and inscriptions. However, it doesn't interest me enough to tire my fingers typing it out, so it probably won't interest any of you much either..
We then went to the Forum.
Now the Forum is incredible. This is where the ancient city was. I have a few pictures to share from this location. (Yay)
Looking down. Don't worry if it doesn't look exciting, it will.
This green door has been swinging on this temple for around 1500 years. You can touch it still, it's completely secure.
City view from the Main Street.
A very well preserved temple of, Juno, I believe.
Julius Caesar's grave. Obviously well visited by tourists.
All that remains of yet another temple.
The courtyard and Palace of the Vestal Virgins.
More temples from the town square: the building with the tower is not ancient. (If you couldn't tell)
It was ridiculously hot and we were completely exhausted, so that's all the pictures I took, after dragging myself around the whole thing.
It was really interesting to be in such a well preserved place of history.
It feels odd to spend that much time dwelling on things in the past though.
Next we went to the Pantheon.
The size of this building is pretty awesome for the era it was constructed in.
The done inside is breathtaking.
This is a panoramic photo of the Pantheon all the way around it.
Raphael's Grave is here. The great artist helped design and sculpt so much of Rome that when he requested to be buried here, the powers that be granted it.
I had a wonderful little gelato shop behind the building recommended to me, and it was incredible! I love gelato, I will miss it back in the States.
My fountain/Pantheon double feature photo.
Our last stop was the Trevi Fountain.
I. Love. The Trevi Fountain!
My artsy sunbeam picture.
Coins sparkling from wishes being made.
And to finish it all off, we stopped in a toy factory on the way home.
I found this particularly creepy.
I hope you're not going to bed yet.
However, it is time for me to.
Goodnight! Expect Day 2+3 (Borghese Gallery, Vatican, and Sistine Chapel included!) to come shortly..
Bonjourno!
