Rome's history is bigger than its walls

Sunday morning in Rome is very quite..........The Pope is in Florence, otherwise i would have gone to see him.....i am told he holds a mass every sunday whenever he is in town.......no biggie.........since my hostel is closest to the Colosseo (Colosseum ) i decided to start my tour from there......the thing was built in 72 A.D. and it is still standing above ground! alot of stones are unmoved from the time they were laid........the battle ground where the gladiators fought is all removed/destroyed and you can see the underground tunnels that the fighter and beasts used to enter from (very similar to the images shown from the movie Gladiator).......it is also very high.....it was built to fit 50,000 people, so you can imagine how big the amphitheater is!  there are four different levels of seating....for senators, upper class, lower class and women........it is sad to see the Colosseum falling apart.........i vote for bringing gladiator games back ;)

very next to the Colosseum is the site where Ceaser's tomb is, the Senate discussed the Empire's future, different temples and so many ancient buildings.......the site was of course buried underground but they started the excavation in the late 19th century......oh, also where St.Peter and St.Paul were imprisoned before they were executed........it was a very very neat experience......i also saw the column on which the distance to each country is recorded (hence, all the roads lead to Rome)......very neat.....basically, to see that was the purpose of my Eurotrip! i can go home now (actually, one more stop and i wouldn't mind going home = Vatican City)

If only Ceaser knew what they have done to his city

after that, i walked to Momumento a Vittorio Emanuele II.......another huge building.......it does look like a wedding cake.....it is a museum but its most famous icon is the brass sculpture of of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of unified Italy.....the sculpture weighs 50 tonnes!!! also, there is the tomb of the unknown soldier and eternal flame.........symbols adopted after the first world war......not much art to see inside, and i didnt mind........the building focuses on WWI befores and afters........i then walked along the Via Degli Annibaldi, the shopping street in Rome......it has all the brand names and other stores.....it is not as big as Paris or London though...........i walked toward the Fontana Di Trevi.........you know, that most photographed fountain in Rome.....it is pretty.......good place to sit and relax.......i grabbed a pizza and a drink and then followed it with yet another Gilato....ymmm

a short distance from there is Trinita Dei Monti where the famous spanish steps are..........i give that 0 out of 10.....i didnt even sit, or go up the stairs......they are just stairs leading to some old Spanish dude's palace.......they have become a meeting place for travelers though......lots of tourists.......after that i walked toward Piazza Del Popolo.......they have set of staircase that lead to a high place where you can overlook all of Rome........i dont see why these stairs didnt get recognized!!! the view is nice................you see, the thing about Rome is it is not as glorious as it was (obviously).......but really, there are only few monuments to see and places to visit......the city only has 2 subway lines!! even Milan had more like 4! but still, it is an ancient place with some sacred leftovers......i chilled around the Piazza, got back to my hostel ( a different and better one)......took a shower because i havent had one in a certain number of days ;) i then went out for another walk......ate and i am ready to end my day

Tomorrow: Vatican City.......that should be interesting :)

3 more nights in rome and i fly back home...YAY