Day 2 in Rome

It’s morning, and we are ready to visit the Forum, Palatine Hill, the Sistine Chapel, the Basilica and the Vatican museum.

After our breakfast of delicious coffees and pastries, we head straight for the Forum and Palatine Hill, which is the closest. It’s another blazing hot day but this time we are prepared with our hats, sundresses and refillable water bottles since there are water stations with fresh spring water😃

The Colosseum and the Forum (“Foro” meaning center within an urban area) were built by Jewish slaves, directed by Roman dictators and architectural designers. Buildings in the Forum included banks, temples, markets and public baths. Mostly used by Rome’s elite from about 800 B.C. to 600 A.D. Most of what is left of the structures were built by Julius Caesar and his successor, Augustus.

Excavations on Palatine Hill date back to the 10th century B.C. estimating the origins of Rome started there. It was pretty surreal to be standing on ground that the ancients had walked on! Think about it.

Looking out at the Forum from Palatine Hill:

Yet, as interesting and compelling this area was, the day was getting hotter and later so we needed to get over to the Sistine Chapel, Basilica and the Vatican museum.

We took the metro to the Vatican City.

Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take pictures inside the Sistine chapel😓

But you are allowed to take pictures in the Basilica and the Vatican museum so get ready, here they come….

After our tours, the girls wanted to do a little shopping at the local street vendors. I chose to sit with a glass of wine and watched fashionable Italians walk by…