Rome

Sorry it has taken so long to finish the Italy travels blog…I blame the baby for eating my brain. (It is scientifically proven that you lose brain power during pregnancy- look it up.) Rome was great! It was really neat to learn about all the sights: the Coliseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Pantheon, Vatican City, various museums, etc. The best thing we did in Rome was find a tour guide. Yes, cheesy, but it was way more informative to have someone guide you through the ruins, telling stories and giving pertinent information…and we got to skip waiting in line, which was worth it in itself. The ruins and history were awesome, but my favorite activity was a Night walk Through Rome. Thanks to Rick Steves…check out his book on Italy- it was great! Basically we walked the main plazas of Rome one night. We started with dinner at Camino de Flores, where various street musicians serenaded us…and then tried to steal our money. We then walked to a plaza with the Four Rivers Fountain- lit up at night, it was amazing! This plaza was my favorite. It was full of locals just hanging out, tap dancers, violin players, street artists, guitar players…you name it. We stopped for a recommended dessert called “Death by Chocolate,” which I must say was the most delicious chocolate anything I’ve ever, ever eaten. When we finished overloading on chocolate, I heard strains of West Side Story on the other side of the plaza…There was a stage set-up and some kind of talent show going on. The first act was a group of dancers who were doing a choreographed dance to the overture of West Side Story- fully costumed! It was great! They stayed for an encore before being cut off by the sound technicians. The next several acts where Opera singers in Tuxes; one sang the favorite “Figaro, Figaro, Fiiiiiiiiiiiigaro…” We decided to tear ourselves away after the third act because it was getting a bit late and we still had most of our walk to go. Next we passed fortune tellers and tarot card readers in an alley (accurately described by Rick Steves…literally in his book…”Continue down so-n-so avenue, past the fortune tellers and tarot card readers”…it was hilarious!) The next plaza was quiet and just had an Egyptian obelisk in the middle. Good ‘ol Rick Steves told us that the Romans, when they conquered various lands, would always bring back a “memento” of victory. So, what was their memento of Egypt? You guessed it…Augustus brings back a GIANT 108 foot, 400 ton obelisk. (If you don’t know was an obelisk is, don’t worry, I didn’t either- check out pictures online…we didn’t get any because it was too dark.) We rounded out our walking tour with the Trevi Foutain, also incredible at night, and the Spanish steps. Vatican City was also pretty amazing…they have their own postal system! We learned a lot about Michealanglelo and the painting of the Sistine chapel, but there just isn’t room to write about it. Suffice it to say, Michaelangelo was treated as a slave by a not so holy Pope (had 17 illegitimate children) and thus got his revenge in many parts of the Sistine Chapel. Okay, time for one factoid. Michaelangelo found out where the Pope would be sitting most of the time in the Chapel and painted a man mooning (yes, buttocks exposed) the Pope. HA! Are you serious Michaelangelo!?! There was another dude that didn’t like his work very much, so he painted that guy as the devil with horns and all. Double HA!! Anyway, very interesting…. The food in Rome wasn’t that great, but at least it wasn’t that expensive. Most of the places that were recommended to us were closed- August is holiday month in Italy. Okay, enough of Rome, next up: Pompeii.

The Four Rivers Fountain and Death by Chocolate

Ben being a tourist and throwing money into Trevi Foutain. Apparently it is supposed to ensure a return trip to Rome.

The Pantheon...HUGE!

Ben outside the Pantheon.

Ben took this illegal picture of the Sistine Chapel. Japan own the rights to the Sistine Chapel, but that didn't stop everyone from taking pictures, so Ben swiped one too.

One of the galleris at the Vatican Museum. See how crowded it is? This was a "low attendance" day.

Vatican Museum- most of the marble in the museum was stripped from the Coloseum. The Vatican calls it "recycling," most people would call it "stealing." But raiders probably would've taken it if the Vatican didn't, so...

Rome at night- West Side Story dancers and Trevi Fountain.

Palatine Hill.

Getting threatened by a Roman soldier...these guys did a pretty good job of looking tough...definately wouldn't want to find myself alone with one of these guys in a dark alley...or in a light alley...or really anywhere.

The inside of the Coloseum.

Ben- the perfect discus thrower.

Interesting pizza and the Four Rivers Fountain.