Day 2 - Part 1 - Ancient Rome

Our hotel was conveniently located about 2 blocks from The Colosseum.  So that was our first stop on our tour of ancient Rome.  Some of the more interesting facts about the Colosseum include: In ancient times admission was free, but there was reserved seating and you had to have a ticket (a seat number written on a broken piece of pottery.)  In modern times admission is decidedly not free.  

Also, after it was no longer en vogue to have bloody battles to the death (around the 6th century), the Colosseum was used for storage, a market, a quarry and housing.  Finally, in 1749 Pope Benedict the XIV decided that because of all the Christians who had been martyred here, the site should be protected and preserved due to its historical significance.  The irony?  There is no record of any Christians ever being fed to the lions here, despite the endless Hollywood portrayals.

An 8 shot Panorama of the interior.

Standing on the second level of the Colosseum, you can look out and see the Arch of Constantine.  Interesting fact about this particular arch: Much of the work was stolen recycled from other works and reassembled here to create this ode to Constantine.

 Here is a shot of Miranda sitting in front of the Arch with the Colosseum behind her.

And finally a shot of me.  Miranda was determined that she not end up in every photo.  There needed to be some documentation that I was there.  You can see how close the Arch and the Colosseum are in this photo.

This is a rather unassuming photo, but the foundations and columns in this photo are what's left of the Roman Forum.  The political and cultural center of the world for hundreds of years.  Now there are just rocks and rubble.

Miranda listens to an audio guide with some huge building behind her.  I have no idea what that building is.  That's how amazing Rome is.  You have incredible buildings like this on every corner, and while they would be the centerpiece of many other towns, here they are "just another big building".

Miranda waiting patiently, while I stop to take another photo.  Again.

We finally made it out of the Forum and climbed Capitoline Hill.  This is the Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland).  The men you see in the photo below are guarding Italy's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The polished marble around the buildings was incredibly slick in the rain.  Also, Miranda looked really good with those ancient domes behind her.  Also, she was sick of me taking her picture.

And that takes us to lunch on Day 2.