Roamin' in Rome

Final Stop in Italy?

ROMA

I LOVED the Colosseum. 

What can I say? I'm a gladiator fan.

Well, I am a fan of Russell Crowe in The Gladiator.

(T.V. Edited version only people!)

It was absolutely incredible to see one of the greatest architectural 

creations in Italy. 

Did you know they used to have mock sea battles inside the Colosseum?

Or that they would have animal hunts?

Executions?

Re-enact famous battles?

Perform classic theater?

I didn't think it was possible for it to become even more spectacular

but I am more than happy to be surprised. :)

I was REALLY happy to be inside the Colosseum.

Jenna got to experience my excitement. Ha.

There would sometimes be a covering over the bottom where they would 

have performances.

Those tunnels are where they kept slaves, animals,

or they would flood it for boat battles.

AWESOME.

Oh, hey there Arch of Constantine. 

Congratulations on being a triumphal arch built by the Roman Senate 

to commemorate the defeat of Maxentius in 312.

P.S. I think you're pretty. :)

Italy had some WILD fashion. 

The women were all stunning and ridiculously fashionable.

I guess I would never have thought that tie-dye and 

polka dot tentacles would be a hit.

Boy, was I wrong!

Italy knows best.

What is the smallest country in the world?

Vatican City.

Did I go there?

Yep. 

Did I kiss the sphinx inside the museum?

Yep.

The Vatican museum is like a rat maze with no clear way out.

It forces you to see outstanding artistic masterpieces before

getting to the Sistine Chapel.

Darn it! :)

But luckily we did make it to the Sistine Chapel.

It says no pictures...

Oops!

:)

Did you know it took Michelangelo over 4 YEARS to paint this ceiling?

Most of that time he spent on his back on a scaffold painting it.

Not bad, not bad at all Michelangelo!

Some of my favorite pictures aren't from any of the ancient cathedrals, 

or bridges, etc. but are from the people that I saw in Italy.

My brother asked me if I had seen a monkey with an accordion yet.

No, but I did see an adorable father-son duo rocking out on the streets of Rome.

Close enough!

Ever wonder where the apostle Peter was buried?

No?

Me neither!

But I got to see his tomb anyways!

 

Um....WOW was all I could say. 

Breathtaking, illuminating, big, shiny, neat-o.

I am running out of adjectives to describe the detail work and awe-inspiring

architecture in Italy.

 

I wish I may 

I wish I might 

wish the wish I wish...

in the TREVI FOUNTAIN!

I make wishes on everything.

Birthday candles,

eyelashes, 

highway tunnels,

shooting stars,

ANY fountain 

(excluding drinking fountains).

But I am pretty sure that my wish HAS to come true if I made it in 

the largest and most famous Baroque fountain in Italy right?

Right!

Fresh cut coconut.

One euro.

Sweet, sweet goodness!

Well, everyone it is time...

This was my very last adventure in Italy.

The Pantheon!

Julia and I were SO happy to find out that this was in Rome and not 

in Greece.

 (The Parthenon is in Greece for those slightly confused people. 

Now you don't have to Google it like I did.)

Well, that's all folks! My trip to Italy has come to a happy end.

It was incredible, outstanding, inspiring, beautiful, delicious, and any

other compliment you can think up!

But ya know what? 

My adventures are not over because now I am in ROMANIA!

Posts about Romania, the orphanage, 

my awesome new roommates, learning a new language,

and gypsies can now BEGIN!

P.S.--Sorry this post was so long but it's pretty hard to sum up Rome in a paragraph and have pictures!