Wow - another amazing day in Rome! It was a full-day walking tour of ancient Rome today. We started at the Forum, which we ended up viewing from the outside, instead of walking through the ruins. The main event of the day was the Colosseum. Nicky was nervous about going to the Colosseum, because he was not sure how he could enjoy a building that had seen so much suffering.
In the end, Nicky and the rest of us were awestruck by the Colosseum. We were intrigued by the sheer will as well as the capacity to build such an enormous venue. The use of the stadium for distracting the public from the real problems of the day sounded all too familiar. And as we do today, the Romans likewise enjoyed the easy entertainment and gave little thought to a government run for the benefit of those in power. The entertainment served to remind Roman's of their greatness, of the battles won and the territory captured.
The size of the Colosseum impresses from the moment it comes into view. The intricacies of the design, particularly of the underground portion, amaze. There were a number of restorations and displays that helped us to imagine the Colosseum as it would have looked 2,000 years ago. From the Colosseum, we could look out onto the ruins of the Roman Forum.
We enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the pedestrian district, filled with vendors and street artists and arches and columns in various stages of ruin. The bright sun and the warm air enhanced our sidewalk cafe lunch.
We peaked in at a number of old churches and temples and eventually wound up at the Vittoriano - a massive structure dedicated to Victor Emanuel, one of the leaders who helped to unite Italy.
The building stands out in a city filled with giant structures vying for attention. We went up to the midpoint of the building for a breathtaking panoramic vista.
It was great to point out the various sights we had seen in our wanderings over the past two days - a fun way to end our time in Rome.
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