Viva Roma!

---

The Italian Soccer Championship
I've never lived in a city that won a major sports championship, like the Super Bowl or World Series; but I've seen the celebrations on TV. Usually, a there are huge, almost riotous celebrations in the streets all night long. The next day, the city sends people out to clean up; and it's all over. Well, two full weeks before we arrived in Rome, the Rome soccer team won the Italian championship earning them the right to compete for the European championship. Even though their victory was two weeks old, there were still huge, unorganized human parades celebrating in the streets every night. They drank wine, sang Italian soccer fight songs, and waved huge soccer flags. This was so remarkable to Chris and I that we decided to join them. We sang songs that we didn’t understand and waved flags honoring the Roman team. We even stayed an extra day to go to a huge, organized celebration that they were holding in the Circus Maximus. It was great!

History and Art
There’s a ton of amazing art and history to be found in this city. The Sistine Chapel is, in my opinion, the most remarkable work of human art on this planet. It’s amazing. St. Peter’s Basilica is also breath taking. Then there’s the Coliseum, the Pantheon, and so much more. There’s even a “secret” key hole in a certain gate through which you can look and see three countries at the same time.

Advice For Rome
Go to all the touristy things early - especially the Sistine Chapel.
No tank tops or shorts are allowed in St. Peter’s.

---