Day 1 was B-U-S-Y!
After a scrumptious European breakfast and cappuccinos, we started walking ... kind of surreal when you're walking down the street and then you see the Colosseum!
The inside was so cool! Here you can see the area below where the arena floor was - they would pop up different animals, gladiators, etc. to surprise the current fighters with all sorts of pulley systems, trap doors, etc.
They have put a mock floor down to help visualize where the floor would be:
Closer to the lower levels:
I was getting tired (we actually saw the Colosseum at the very end of the day) - so I popped a squat on an OLD column :)
It looked like it needed a statue so I obliged:
Michael doing his CrossFit handstand in front of the Colosseum:
The Colosseum towards sunset (you can tell where they have cleaned the smog and grime off the stones):
From Palatine Hill looking down at the Roman Forum (the grassy area is the Vestal Virgins area):
Also from Palatine Hill, looking at the other side of the Roman Forum:
Michael with 'his' ruins :)
Arch of Titus:
Basilica of Constantine - these are only the side naves (1/3 of the church)!!
Looking up at Palatine Hill from the Roman Forum:
Looking at the heart of the forum, with the Arch of Severus in the middle:
This is where Julius Caesar's body was burned:
The Temple of Vesta: where the Vestal Virgins kept the sacred flame burning:
House of the Vestal Virgins - the two story building surrounding this courtyard is where the Vestal Virgins lived:
Another view of the Vestal Virgins courtyard:
An ancient street sign:
Arch of Severus (getting tired of taking pictures ... and my Asian roots coming out):
The Forum Square with the Temple of Saturn ruins:
Michael in front of the Arch of Constantine while inside the Colosseum :)
Trajan's Column with the Victor Emmanuel Monument in the background:
Trajan's Column:
Trajan's Market:
Trajan's Forum:
'Ol boy tried to scam us out of money ... no bueno. He got nothin' from us!!
Victor Emmanuel Monument (The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier memorial with an eternal flame is housed here):
Street artists:
Michael with the statue of Trajan:
Beautiful fruit stands!!
Palatine Hill - where the Roman Emperor lived in his palace for 3 centuries (~150,000 square feet): The octagon shape was a sunken fountain when this was part of the gigantic courtyard!
The Stadium (500 feet long), the raised are on the opposite side was the emperor's box:
