Rome

We started our first day at the Colosseum.  After skipping the line with the Roma Pass that we bought in the morning, we decided to pay for a guided tour so we could learn a little bit more about the history. 

The cross that you see ahead is where the Roman Emperor would sit during shows in the Colosseum.  Usually he was up on a throne where all of the people in attendance could see him.

This is a picture of the underground tunnels that our tour took us to.  They were my favorite part because our guide told us about the stories of Gladiators standing there and walking through the tunnels before being put on stage.  Pictured above is a hole for the pole that was part of the elevator shaft that would have lifted the actors and gladiators to the stage.  They believe that the number  VIII inscribed in it is how the show was controlled, having people call out the elevator number as they were to be lifted to the stage. 

This is a picture of our tour guide.  She was really great and knew a ton about the history and structure.  It was hard to get a picture of her with her eyes open though without being too creepy :)

We then made our way over to the Roman Forum and wandered around there, essentially walking through history.

Within the forum we ascended the Palatine  Hill for a better view.

Next we hopped on the subway and made our way back to the area where our hostel was located for lunch.  Everything in Rome is tagged with graffiti, including the subway cars!

Returning back to our neighborhood, we decided to have lunch which turned out to be our worst meal of the trip.  I ordered ravioli and got 5 small pieces for 7 Euros, and pictured above is Rob with his "prosciutto pizza" which essentially looked and tasted like frozen pizza with bologna on it!

After freshening up at the hostel, we decided to follow the guide book on a walk around the city..

This is a picture of the Piazza Navona which was full of street performers and artists.

We then made our way over to the Pantheon.  Unfortunately it was closed so we decided to go back the next day to see the inside.

Our walk also took us to the Trevi Fountain.  

Of course we all threw in a penny so that we could return to Rome some day!

We stuck around long enough for the sun to set and the lights to be turned on.  The fountain was very beautiful at night!

We then climbed the Spanish steps.

This was the amazing view from the top!

The next day we started at Vatican City.  In order to get to the Sistine Chapel, they have you wind through at least 12 different art exhibits!

Everyone in the Chapel was taking pictures!  I had heard that you couldn't, but if everyone else was I was definitely going to take the opportunity to snag a picture!

We then explored Saint Peter's Square, which still had the flowers and decorations from Easter Sunday.

Next, we tried to use our Roma Pass to see the Castel Sant'Angelo but it was closed.  So we decided to walk through the market next to it instead.

Of course I couldn't help but buy candied fruit from this stand.  The melon was delicious!

Next we went inside the Pantheon to see the inside.  It was incredible to see, and according to the guidebook a miracle that it was built with the tools and knowledge that they had at the time.

We then crossed the Tiber River to go the the neighborhood of Trastevere.  We got caccio e pepe, a famous Roman dish, at a restaurant we saw on Anthony Bourdain's new show The Layover. 

We finished the night with a walk back to the train by the Colosseum again.