Rome #2

Ok, today was a very hectic, tiring, overwhelming, crammed in day. We basically got a shortened version of a 2 or 3 day stay in Rome in just a few hours and even then, did not see alot of sights I would have wanted to see, but we got in most of the major things. We started out at the Colosseum because I knew that it had to be getting crowded. Since we had prepurchased our tickets, we went right in.

The Colosseum

Above: They had about 1/3 of if covered with a floor top. I think they are trying to re-create what it would look like with the flooring.

A model to show how the pulleys and trapdoors were used for the wild animals, etc.

It had been a LONG day for Ty. Poor boy.....and worse was still to come....

One of the inner hallways

Above: A section of the colosseum where it has broken off. It is a great way to see the dissection showing the inner corridors of the Colosseum. There was an outer shell, and an inner shell to it

Above: The outer unbroken part

Ty by the Arc of Constantine, right across from the Colosseum

Long story short: Went to take the metro, WAY WAY too crowded, wasn't going to  put Tyler through pushing and shoving strangers to get on a train. Plus, I didn't want to risk our safety or risk being seperated...some things are just not worth it. So we ended up walking....long walk, but got to see alot of bonus sights we wouldn't have been able to see! Ty was NOT happy because it made the day longer getting to places. I lost our map and kind of got lost, so that took some time getting oriented too. Fun times.

Above: Piazza Venezia

Above: San Marcello al Corso, a church located near the Piazza Venezia

Trevi Fountain. It was really hard to get it all in one shot. There are buildings right across from it on all sides, and tons of people around, so it was really hard to get it all in frame.

Piazza Navona:

We went all the way out of our way to Piazza Navona just to see the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini (as seen in Angels and Demons, etc) and was SUPER sad and frustrated to go all the way there (we ended up missing our train out of Rome in the process), and it being completely blocked off being refurbished. The top was visible, but all of the statues and lower half were all barricaded off by a big wall. :(

Below: I managed to get a glimpse of it through a hole in the wall, but it was also surrounded by a clear plastic window as well so it had alot of reflection. :(

Above: The other side of the street at Piazza Navona

Below: the Parthenon

Tyler at the Parthenon. I was also a little sad that its whole right side was being refurbished. I guess I should be happy that it wasn't the WHOLE thing!

Above: Surrounding area around the Parthenon

Below: The inside of the Parthenon with its Devil's Hole

The inside of it was very impressive and massive.

The tomb of Raphael

The beautiful (and crowded) Spanish Steps. Last time I was here, it was pretty empty and bare because it was wintertime. Although there are more people on the steps, it was beautiful to see all of the flowers in bloom this time!

Long story short, we missed our ticketed train back to Civitavecchia (finally found the right train just as it was pulling away) but was able to catch the next one. Ty was NOT happy. Waited and waited for the port shuttle that never came so we had to walk a LONG distance from the port entrance back to our boat. It was a long day with alot of long walks!! I was just thankful that we didn't miss the boat, but we were some of the last people on.