Day 7: The Roma, Sweet Roma

Let me first say something about the breakfast I briefly mentioned in the last post. As the website had said, it was "scrummy". Very amazing for a free breakfast (well it actually cost us each a euro, but that is basically free in Europe) Breakfast was in a little restaurant across the street from the hotel. The idea of being in Italy got me out of bed in the mornings, but if it wasn't for that, it would have been for the breakfast!

We started our day at the Colosseum (again, Italy is very similar to Disney World because you have to get to the most exciting places as early as early as possible so you can avoid lines and tons of people). I purchased an audioguide before entering (which was also an adventure because one of the guys that worked there told me to go to the front of the line since I didn't need a ticket and I got screamed at in another language. I'm sure the man was only saying nice things though). I think I am more fascinated with the Colosseum and Rome because of my three years of Latin in highschool (hmmm, I finally found a use for it). Besides the obvious, the Colosseum is unique because of the great power of the building. The gladiator fights were sponsored by the wealthy and the politicians as a status symbol. At least the wealthy back in the time of the Romans truly gave back to the community in a way. The museum in the Colosseum really embodied power as it explained about Nero and his selfishness and extreme self-love.

We spent quite awhile trying to find the entrance to the Forum. If any of you go, it is NOT up the big hill that we climbed twice. This is the one and only time that following Bailey did not lead us to our destination. We did however find a couple taking wedding pictures AND a wedding actually leaving at the chapel at the top of the hill.

Hmm the Forum. If you are reading this and you know the porta-potty incident. I have decided to leave it out. I feel as though the parties involved feel bad enough and although it is now finally a funny story, taken out of context it will just be mean and cruel and not at all humorous. The end.

At the forum I followed several other English speaking tours. I think if you go you really must go on a tour, or get an audioguide, or read a book about it before you go. It is hard to look at ruins and imagine what it once was. The tour really paints a pictures of the magnificent elite "Beverly-hills" of the time. This place also shows the power. The marble and the plants are from civilizations that the Roman Empire concured. The Romans brough it back to Rome to demonstrate their domination.


We went to the Jewish Ghetto because I wanted to see it during the day time and walk by the temple in the light. The whole place was mainly closed and I realized that it was Saturday and thus the area was observing Shabbat. We had lazy pizzas and wine in a random restaurant in the area (surprise) and then strolled the area and the shops. We even saw a group of young boys playing soccer "futball" in the street.

We headed back the hotel for a nap and then headed out to find a hole in the wall for dinner. Just about the time we were about to give up finding something unique and local we found the most amazing Sicilian restaurant. I know it was local because we were the only people in the place speaking english. I would feel silly calling the meal dinner because it was more of a feast, a smorgage-board of food. We ordered the Sicilian appetizer which consisted of 15 different plates of food. This was soon followed by our first course and then our second. We concluded with splitting three desserts between the six of us. Our wine came in Aztec looking pitchers. It was an evening of extreme gluttony and a perfect farewell dinner to Italy.