So today was a rough start. I went to bed at 1:30am and was wide awake at 4am. Not ideal. I got up and made sleepy time tea– did nothing. I literally laid in bed for 4 hours hoping at some point to fall asleep and it never happened. 😫

So, eventually I got up showered, put eye drops in my stinging eyes and left for a quick latte & croissant from a cafe in the square and headed for my “Best of Rome” tour via City Wonders. Latte was 👌🏽, cup was ineffective–as it burned my fingers every time I held it the first 3 mins. Lol Staying steps away from the square has been the biggest positive. If I ever need anything it’s not far off (Food, Pharmacy, Fountain (explaining that soon)).

This tour goes all day, so I was prepared with snacks and water. Cuz you know I need the snacks. Fun note–the fountains throughout the city were built to provide drinking water 24/7 to Roman citizens from aquifers and natural springs around the area and still work present day! Big to small–they are meant to fill your water bottle. I filled mine today and it actually tastes better than the water I purchased. I will no longer be purchasing water in this city. #Score

Once with the tour we did the beginning pleasantries and were off to the colosseum entrance. I was with mostly Americans which was a bummer. Lol There is a group entrance and security check, so be prepared for a couple lines even if you go through a tour. Considering others wait hours to get in–our wait was definitely tolerable. This is a pic of the sun shining through the colosseum as we waited.

Once inside the colosseum we learned a lot about what the arena was used for, how it had been destroyed and “recycled” over the centuries and just how wrong the Gladiator movie really is. Disclaimer–It’s super faulty. Replace Russel Crowe with Danny Devito and that’s a decent attempt at starting corrections. Apparently Gladiators in that day were 4ft tall and had huge belly’s because they were fed an all carb diet so they could get large stomachs as a layer of protection for attack (they didn’t get full armor), and more blood shed for the Roman spectators if they lost. Yeahhhh. Here come the non-unique photos of the colosseum you have seen a million times before. I will say, like everything–being here is just so much more than the pictures give perspective to.

Another cool fact is the steps between floors are suuuuper steep. This was done purposefully so if there is an evacuation you naturally feel as if you are being pushed down the stairs. This design element was able to get 60k people out of there in 15 minutes!

Last fun fact for the day–Majority of the original colosseum was made out of Marble and Travertine stone–even the spectator seats (except the nose bleeds). This was intentional as previous versions throughout the city normally burned down or were destroyed eventually due to natural causes. After the fall of one particular emperor I can’t recall, the colosseum was pillaged for all its marble and travertine to use for other moments/projects. You can see the only surviving original seats in the first photo above on the far right of the photo.

From there we took in the arch of Constantine. It is beautiful. I didn’t realize Arches were built to celebrate wins. This one was no exception.

Palestine hill was full of good stuff as well. This is where the empower lived. Below is the remains of his personal circus! The circle towards to top of the photo is where the animals were housed. Chariot races occurred in that lane you can see on the sides. Emperor and friends sat on the left where that break in the wall is.

More of the grounds in this video.

Lunch happened near the Spanish steps and the next part of the tour started there as well. Spanish steps below-covered by all the humans. Lol it’s always like that, day and night hahaha

Next was Trevi Fountain in the day time. Fun fact the building behind it belonged to a family that the pope who commissioned it didn’t like. It annoyed them forever until they later realized the Trevi Fountain was technically built on their property and the city of Roma had to buy it from them at a much later time. I’m sure none of them were worried about retirement after that.

You can see the names of the three different popes who were part of this completion on the photo below (it obvs took a while). The first one is at the top (Clemens the 13th) and it goes down.

Next was the Pantheon 🏛. The obelisk depicted below and in front of the Pantheon was from Egypt and is the oldest artifact in Roma apparently! It was during the time of Ramses the second and his symbol is at the very bottom of the hieroglyph‘s (Moses was parting water at the same time, for context). When Roma concurred Egypt they took tons of stuff back to show their power and influence–this was one of those things. Also, the pillars of the Pantheon were made in Egypt and shipped back for the construction. That is WILD to me.

Once you are inside it’s super cool. One interesting thing is there is no cover on the whole in the ceiling because that’s how they lit the building back then. When you are inside you notice the slope on the floor and it’s for drainage. Still works today!

Here is some pics of the holes.

Lastly, the view from when you look up. So beautiful.

Gelato of course happened today. Happy times.

After all that traveling around I of course had all the energy to go shopping. 🛍 Bought nothing so I am proud of myself, but all the little shops and boutiques, as well as high fashion stores were really cool to meander around. Also, I love the women’s SHOES here!! I will be back to buy some of those at some point. Then I took myself to dinner at a 500 year old restaurant. No pics because I was tired and hungry. Hahaha then walked myself home to pass out. I took the pic below before I walked the half mile home. Phew!

Video from a portion my walk home, it is unedited so just quit when you are done. Lol

Randoms:

-“Mama Mia!” Is a true phrase used here often by locals and I can’t get enough

-When you are in the sun you are sweating and as soon as you are in the shade you need a sweater.