Roma!!!

So, picture this:
Eating pizza in an Italian café across the street from the Coliseum, sitting on the balcony with a perfect view, a cool breeze makes for perfect weather, surrounded by good friends, and suddenly, over the speakers…Michael Buble!!!
This was my Sunday lunch experience in Rome!


(At the café with the Coliseum in the background!)

Beautiful Roma! Absolutely spectacular! The Coliseum, Roman Forum, Palatine, Capitoline Museum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo…completely and totally awesome! I can’t even begin to describe my experience at the Coliseum. We waited in line for tickets and I looked around thinking, “How many people walked right here for the last time? How many people took their last breath here?” It was pretty surreal. I’m always amazed by things like the Coliseum…huge, amazingly elaborate structures, created at a time with no technology for such things. It sends me into some sort of meditative state. It reminds me why I love history.

(In the Coliseum with the girls - me, Colleen, Caitlin, Lauren.)

Did you know I have my own Basilica? Oh yeah, it’s called Basilica Julia. It’s in the Roman Forum. Or rather, its remains are in the Roman Forum. Julia was Augustus’s daughter who was eventually banished from Rome because of her promiscuity. Hehehe!

(Me with my Basilica remnants!)

The Capitoline was awesome! We got to see the famous bronze statue of Romulus and Remus, which was exciting!

(Romulus and Remus.)

I made my wish at the Trevi Fountain, then proceeded to enjoy some gelato while sitting in front of it in all its glory!

(Making a wish at the Trevi Fountain!)

The Spanish Steps were crowded. Cool, but crowded, so we didn’t spend much time there.

(Spanish Steps.)

The Piazza del Popolo was fascinating to me because the Egyptian obelisk that Augustus stole was prominently displayed in the center. I’m glad I got to see it, because I love Egyptian history, but at the same time, it made me mad because I’m a firm believer that structures and structural artifacts should be left where they are found…and don’t even get me started on the fact that he placed a cross at the top of it. Completely and utterly disrespectful to ancient Egyptian culture, but I suppose if you’re going to steal something, you don’t have much respect for the people you’re stealing from anyway. Sorry, tangent…but the obelisk was really cool!

(Piazza del Popolo.)

We’re going back to Rome on Friday to tour the Vatican and such things as St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel! I’m beyond excited!
Speaking of this weekend, we’re headed on Saturday to Pompeii, somewhere I’ve wanted to go for a very long time! Then it’s off to Capri for a beach weekend! Ah, Italy, where will your adventures end?!

I've had some great experiences in the field this week! I will post about them asap after I upload pictures onto my computer!