On Thursday we got up early to get in line to tour the Colosseum. We braved the Metro, something many warned us about though we found it to be a piece of cake. After waiting in a long line with fake gladiators everywhere trying to entice naive tourists into taking pictures with them (and then paying them many Euros), we finally made it past the ticket gates, walked through a long tunnel with fallen pillars (more ruins), and saw this:
Here's a little video as well
It was stunning. The floor is gone revealing the many paths and secret doors that the gladiators and animals took before fighting. Emperor Nero was in charge of this mass structure after possibly burning down Rome (a whole other loonngg story). Upstairs is a little museum filled with statues, bones from animals :(, and some of the "burning of Rome" history.Next we went to Palantine Hill and the Roman Forum. It was a lot of walking with so much history right before our eyes and below our feet.
Vatican in the distance
Roman Forum
Archeologists - I would guess this is a dream job for them
Julius Caesar statue
After a quick lunch and break to rest our feet, we were at it again. We took the metro to catch a bus that took us outside the city walls and down Appia Way. Where were we going? The catacombs! Now, being a nervous Nelly, this wasn't my top choice, but I humored the hubby and went along with it, preparing myself to be creeped out. Creeped out I was, but grateful I went because this was an amazing sight to see filled with (you guessed it) so much history.
After the tour, a long siesta was in order. We napped until 8PM and decided to give our poor feet a rest by eating dinner just across the street from our hotel. Caprese, Pizza, some wine and back to bed it was before another big day.
You know the phrase, Rome wasn't built in a day? Well, the stories and pictures from Rome will not be finished in a day (or two really) either. Check back later for (full) day 3 of Roma!
No comments:
Post a Comment