We had pre-purchased tickets for the underground Colloseum tour (where you get to go under the Colloseum and see where the prisoners were held, the animals were kept, the gladiators prepared, etc.). as we were walking to the train station to take it to the Colloseum, it started raining (and by raining I mean torrential downpour). We decided to grab a cab over instead.
When we got there it was still raining but soon cleared up. I had my first Colloseum sighting.
And the church bells were ringing out at the church to the right.
When we got there we met our tour guide Manola.
We started walking around the outside and seeing the building up close and learned that, above each arch was a number indicating the section to enter in.
Except this one that was for the senators to enter since they were special.
And now for the sad part, when Manola went to check us in, they informed us that the underground was closed. It had rained all night and, as it happens apparently, the underground floods. But we could still do the normal tour so into the Colloseum we went!
Now what you are about to see is about 100 pictures of inside.
The underground we weren’t able to go into but could look in from the top.
Some of the original stairs (I’m pretty sure the Romans had thighs of steel; the stairs we had to go up were super tall and extremely steep)
One of the original bathrooms. People sat around it (groups of people) iand people walking by could just look in....talk about lack of privacy!
Once we left the Colloseum we headed over to the Forum. Again, here’s a ton of pictures.
The temple of Antonino and Favstina
Ceser’s Alter
Manola said we’re going to end the tour at the top balcony where all these people are
Temple of Romulus
The Labrynth
The view from the top
Once the tour was done, we decided to grab thetrain back to the hotel to put on dry shoes. It again started downpouring with hail this time
So change of plans we decided to head into a restaurant and have a nice lunch. We had our firstbottle of wine in Italy.
I had the seafood antipasto and the cacio e Pepe
Grover was happy to end the meal with a cappuccino!
We decided to grab and hoho bus for sunset. Thought it would be a good way to see all the sites; and it was!
Saint Peters Basilica at night is stunning!
Once the tour was over we hopped in a bus and headed to the Pantheon. Amazing!
Then we walked over to the Trevi Fountain. I threw in 2 coins as the 3rd would guarantee marriage and who the heck needs that!?!?
A few other things from the day.
I explained to Cheryl that just because it looks flat on a map doesn’t mean it is. A map is just on a piece of paper. Oh and east is east and west is west.
Cheryl is better at drinking bad drinks than me. Got some really bad spritz’ and she was able to finish (she’s no quitter)!
Manny had asked me to try McDonalds while I’m here. While I still refuse to eat it, I did walk in and just take pics of the menu for him. The guy behind the counter had no idea what to make of me.
So here you go Manny:
Tomorrrow the Vatican and onto Florence. Hope the pipes ready for me!
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