Well this is probably the last little note from me before leaving tomorrow morning. Bethany just left a few minutes ago. She has a crazy 12 hour layover in Dublin... can't say I envy that one! I'm sure she's happy about a final trip to the Guiness headquaters though ;)
Roma
Our first night in Rome we busted out a Rick Steve's self-guided walking tour (Bethany and I refer to him as Ol' Ricky). It was a nightime stroll through several of the Piazzas, including the Pantheon. It was so beautiful to see all the insanely old structures lit up.
The next day we started in the Roman Forum, outside of the Coliseum. I decided that I would have remembered a lot more information from world history class if we had taken a little field trip to the Roman Forum instead of spending so much time on pointless homework.
We saw things that were built before AD, which totally blew my mind. There was even an original door that was over 2000 years old. All the of the structures were huge, but most were only a third of their original size. Like I said, I also brushed up on my Roman history that I either never learned or had been long forgotten.
Coliseum
The Coliseum was so impressive. I don't really know quite what to say about it. The shows that were put on in there just seemed out of a Harry Potter story. They imported animals from all over the world and brought them below stage level. It took 200 men to lift the animals through the floor using a system of pulleys, and the gladiators (prisoners) had no idea where their attackers would appear from. They also elaborately decorated the stage area to reflect anything from a south american jungle to a african plain.
Bethany couldn't believe that the blood of the slain gladiators was bottled and given to the people. They believed it helped cure all kinds of conditions. I saw the bone of a Griffon, which honestly and embarassingly, I didn't think was a real creature. I was thinking they were like mythical birds... but apparently they existed and were some of the many animals brought into the coliseum to fight.
Hopefully that little history lesson will get me some props from mom.
Eating Out
I may have touched on this before, but the wine here is SO GOOD. and SO CHEAP. We've been getting the house wine at each restuarant and its hard not to drink it like water. Every dish I've had in Italy has been so good, even just the little sandwhiches along the way. We found a death-by-chocolate gelato ice cream that Ol' Ricky had recommened and it was so good that Bethany and I re-found it today. It's going to be a shock for my system going back to water and oatmeal :)
Saturday night we went to a quiet little place off the main path. There was a guitar player there was was entertaining some Spanish tourists. He played all kinds of songs, Italian, Spanish and John Denver. At one point the whole place was singing. It was a great way to spend the evening.
Vatican/St Peter's
This morning Stivo and Jess got up really early go to see the Vatican. You will have to ask them how it was since Bethany and I didn't go. Stivo did say that St. Peters was much more impressive not only because of the massive size, but also because the people weren't so picky about talking like they were in the Sistine Chapel. Bethany and I wandered down to Vatican City a little less early and watched the church service in St. Peter's square. We checked out the St. Peters museum and then headed back to town for lunch.
Roma
Our first night in Rome we busted out a Rick Steve's self-guided walking tour (Bethany and I refer to him as Ol' Ricky). It was a nightime stroll through several of the Piazzas, including the Pantheon. It was so beautiful to see all the insanely old structures lit up.
The next day we started in the Roman Forum, outside of the Coliseum. I decided that I would have remembered a lot more information from world history class if we had taken a little field trip to the Roman Forum instead of spending so much time on pointless homework.
We saw things that were built before AD, which totally blew my mind. There was even an original door that was over 2000 years old. All the of the structures were huge, but most were only a third of their original size. Like I said, I also brushed up on my Roman history that I either never learned or had been long forgotten.
Coliseum
The Coliseum was so impressive. I don't really know quite what to say about it. The shows that were put on in there just seemed out of a Harry Potter story. They imported animals from all over the world and brought them below stage level. It took 200 men to lift the animals through the floor using a system of pulleys, and the gladiators (prisoners) had no idea where their attackers would appear from. They also elaborately decorated the stage area to reflect anything from a south american jungle to a african plain.
Bethany couldn't believe that the blood of the slain gladiators was bottled and given to the people. They believed it helped cure all kinds of conditions. I saw the bone of a Griffon, which honestly and embarassingly, I didn't think was a real creature. I was thinking they were like mythical birds... but apparently they existed and were some of the many animals brought into the coliseum to fight.
Hopefully that little history lesson will get me some props from mom.
Eating Out
I may have touched on this before, but the wine here is SO GOOD. and SO CHEAP. We've been getting the house wine at each restuarant and its hard not to drink it like water. Every dish I've had in Italy has been so good, even just the little sandwhiches along the way. We found a death-by-chocolate gelato ice cream that Ol' Ricky had recommened and it was so good that Bethany and I re-found it today. It's going to be a shock for my system going back to water and oatmeal :)
Saturday night we went to a quiet little place off the main path. There was a guitar player there was was entertaining some Spanish tourists. He played all kinds of songs, Italian, Spanish and John Denver. At one point the whole place was singing. It was a great way to spend the evening.
Vatican/St Peter's
This morning Stivo and Jess got up really early go to see the Vatican. You will have to ask them how it was since Bethany and I didn't go. Stivo did say that St. Peters was much more impressive not only because of the massive size, but also because the people weren't so picky about talking like they were in the Sistine Chapel. Bethany and I wandered down to Vatican City a little less early and watched the church service in St. Peter's square. We checked out the St. Peters museum and then headed back to town for lunch.
Well I was going to upload some pictures... Me and Bethany at a little lunch table in a Piazza, the pantheon all lit up at night, a coliseum group picture... but you know, this computer isn't up for it right now, so you'll just have to imagine. Anyway, see you all soon!
I don't want to be baaack!!
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