Rome

The accommodation we rented is about 15 minutes by train from the center of Rome. We chose this as it had good reviews and it was more within our "already over" budget. 

This morning we went for our included breakfast and the 2 brothers running the place were there to greet us. Picture this.... 30 something, tall, handsome, rugged swarthy half-beard wearing Armani suits and ties. OMG !!! And besides them being drop dead gorgeous they are really nice...Fabrizio who Ron had nicknamed Fabulous Fabrizio and his brother Sexy Stefano. Great start for the day !!

Can hardly wait for tomorrow morning... 

And then we went to see the ruins.. 

First stop the site of the Trajan markets, said to be the world's oldest shopping mall. The shops and stores were built multi-level in 100 AD. 

and across the street the columns from the palace of Caesar from 75BC.

The Colosseum .WOW!! 

2000 years old with an exterior of 3.5 million cubic feet of travertine stone. It took 200 ox-drawn wagons going back and forth 4 years just to bring the stone .

The building would hold 60,000 people.

The first gladiator fight was 72AD. One of the emperors had 1000 gladiators and 1100 animals slaughtered in fights in 100 days. I was struck by the ingenuity needed to build this amazing structure soooo long ago but couldn't help but think about the purpose and what it was used for.  People of all classes gathered to watch and cheer the battle to the death of animals and gladiators and the burning and slaughter of the condemned.  l was awe inspired and sad at the same time and I am sure everyone who has been here feels the same.

Next the Roman Forum.

This was the center for public life where the economic and judicial business took place. 

That's Ron in the bottom of the picture to give an idea of the size 

The stadium 

The site where Caesar's ashes are said to be buried.

I couldn't resist getting my photo taken in the area where the Vestal Virgins resided.

6 virgins were chosen before they were 10 years old. They were honored and revered. They took a vow of chastity for 30 years. If they remained faithful for 30 years they were given a dowry and allowed to marry. But if they didn't they were paraded through the streets, taken to a crypt, given a loaf of bread and a lamp and buried alive..  Yikes !!

My best virginal look ... lol

The Trevi Fountain

A huge fountain completed in 1762 that took advantage of the abundance of water brought by the aqueducts. There are over 24 spouts gushing water. 

The story goes that if you toss a coin over your head into the fountain you'll come back. Thought I'd give it a go ;)

The Pantheon is still the world's largest unreinforced circular dome with the height and diameter both 142'. The amazing aspect is that in the structure the oculist hole at the top is open but yet the structure holds itself. The mathematical engineering had to be perfect and it still remains today.

You can see the size of the columns of solid granite 40' tall

And last but not least the site of the Circus Maximus. It is now a park but I could visualize the chariots racing around the long oval where we were walking.

At the end of a hot.. equally interesting and tiring day...walking about  9 hrs... we stopped for a break. Our first rip off on our trip.. 2 beers and 2 tiny panini type sandwiches $ 36!!!! Lesson learned ... ask prices before you order no matter how tired and thirsty you are.