After our fabulous dinner, we headed to our Airbnb, which was just about three blocks away from the restaurant and the Colosseum. This particular apartment is a two-story with the living room and kitchen on the main level, and then downstairs is the bedroom and bathroom. Michelle had elected to always take the sofa sleeper and Molly and I would share a queen bed this way we always saved money at our Airbnb‘s not having to have to rent a two or three bedroom apartment.
Interesting thing in European accommodations is the lack of anyone providing wash cloths, and I mean NONE, in Italy or France. But you would have a bidet, guaranteed🤭
We were so exhausted from our travel, and not sleeping for almost 24 hours we collapsed in our beds and set the alarm early so we could make the most of the following day. With the time difference of Rome being 7 hours ahead, we were going to have quite the adjustment!🥱
The next day, we planned to visit the Colosseum but first was a stop for breakfast. We sat at a local outdoor cafe having cappuccino for Michelle, caffe Americano for me and Molly, a sparkling lemon soda. Of course, we ate pastries and fruit but we tried not to overindulge since we knew lunch and dinner would be another tasty affair😋
It was already beginning to be a very hot, steamy day, and we made our way over to the Colosseum. Luckily, we had brought umbrellas and knew our wait was going to be very long in the sun, There was an extremely long line for tickets for the tour but while we were standing there, someone approached me and offered us an opportunity to purchase tour tickets without waiting in line. They cost just a little bit more but you didn’t have to stand in line. I was skeptical at first, but when I went over to where he was signing us up for the tour, there were many people there already with other tour guides, and it was legit!! The tickets included the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Palatine Hill. Yay! But the tour would not be until 5 o’clock. We decided to take advantage of the time to have a quick lunch, and then take a taxi to the Pantheon.
A short taxi ride brought us to the Pantheon. From architectural researchers and historians, the first structure was built by Marcus Agrippa under the first Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, in 27-25 B.C. but had burnt down 100 years later. There were subsequent rebuildings which also had burnt to the ground until finally the structure was wisely built of stone in A.D. 125-128.
Walking around, we came upon this incredibly astounding building.
This building is called Altare della Patria, “Alter of the Fatherland”, built in 1885 to honor the first king of newly unified Italy, Victor Emmanuel.
So it’s time to get back to the Colosseum. We joined the tour that was English-speaking, and put on our headphones to hear the history of the Colosseum.
The Colosseum is one of those places that you really cannot appreciate unless you see it. It’s kind of like when you go to the Grand Canyon after you’ve seen many pictures, but the vastness of it is something to behold in person.
Our tour guide was very informative and paused for any questions people might ask.
The Colosseum was built in A.D. 70-72. The amphitheater hosted gladiator combats and fights with wild animals. Interesting fun fact , there were a few female gladiators also! 💪 and there was seating for 50,000 spectators!
After four centuries, the arena fell to neglect and natural disasters so 2/3 of the original Colosseum was destroyed or the marble was quarried for other projects like St. Peter’s cathedral.
As we were at the end of our tour, the guide let us know it was getting late to go to the Forum and Palatine Hill tours since there is quite a bit of acreage to cover. This was fine with us because we could return the next day but I felt bad for anybody who was planning to do all the tours that day. So buyer beware of your tour time!!
Next blog, the Forum, Palatine Hill and the Vatican Museum/ Sistine Chapel.
**** oh, by the way, we were there the day somebody decided to carve their initials into the Colosseum. We did not witness it, but we heard about it in the news😓
Traveling Rose in St. John 