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Published: October 13th 2007
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Roma Part Deux!
Okay, I've recharged with some french toast, tea and OJ, so let the blogging begin!
Where were we? Ah, yes, enjoying a cheeseburger at the McMuseum...ha! After refueling we felt ready to do a bit more walking to the Pantheon. Yes, one of the oldest standing structures in Rome. It was built around 125 AD. I would love to see anything in the States still standing in 2000 years! The Pantheon was built as an homage to all Roman gods and today, ironically, is a Christian church that still holds regular services year round. It is a phenomenal structure full of all those good Roman things: columns, domes, incredible detail work and of course it's very practical. There is a hole in the top to allow the sun to shine in and illuminate all the works of art. If any rain makes it through, there are 22 holes in the floor to allow the rainwater to drain. Those Romans, they thought of everything!
Next we made the short walk to the Trevi Fountain. It was a complete mad house! I don't recall quite this many tourists the last time I was here. We wove our
way through the crowd to toss a coin into the fountain. Legend has it that if you toss a coin into the fountain, you are ensured a return trip to the Eternal City. The fountain is spectacular (I know, I really need to get a thesaurus), but that is really the only way to describe it. The detail work is astounding as is the craftsmanship - I mean, how is something that is nearly 400 years old still functioning and unchanged by weather, use or acts of mankind?
Gus made an interesting observation that I had never thought of. He noted that it is incredible that all these ancient buildings, ruins and monuments sit right in the midst of modern day Rome. It isn't like you need to drive 20 miles outside the city to see them, they are right next to the Prada store or your favorite Enoteca. It must be something to live your daily life surrounded by such history, and possibly a bit humbling.
We made our way to the Colosseum via the Palatine Hill. These are some of the oldest ruins in the city - people lived there in 1000 BC! What?! And they
are still standing (ish) today! I highly doubt our home will be there in 3000 years! The ruins are fascinating, there are temples and homes and forums and retaining walls - a full city BENEATH modern day Rome. Excavation actually continues to this day to find even more treasures. What is also interesting is how some parts are so much better preserved than others. It makes you wonder why? But, we have no time for a history or geology lesson right now - our train leaves in 2 hours! Off to the Colosseum!
Um, so have you noticed that we haven't gotten back on our tour bus? Yeah, that's because we are faster on foot once you get to ancient Rome. We don't have to deal with traffic - just jay-walking!
We make it to the Colosseum at about 5 o'clock, just in time to catch the last English-guided tour of the day. We don our little walkie talkies and follow the guide through the maze of hallways and up some incredibly steep stairs - did I mention I'm pregnant? 😊 Thought so.
We hadn't heard this before, but the Colosseum used to be completely covered in
marble. Yep, the brick we see today is just the bone structure that held it all together. You can only imagine what it must of looked like in it's day reseplendent in white marble with statues in each archway and covered with a retractable canvas roof. Man, those Roman engineers really outdid themselves! Of course, the marble and statues were pilfered during the Middle Ages when people clearly had no respect for history. 😉 Thanks alot pilferers! Again, this structure has been standing for nearly 2000 years! Phenomenal! It's pretty interesting when you run your hand over brickwork that was laid so long ago and wonder how many hands have touched it. Who created the brick, who laid it carefully into place, how many other people in the past 2000 years have laid their hand on it? Incredible.
And on that note, we have just 30 minutes to get to the train station. Now, we can't take our bus because it only runs in one direction around the city and would take us nearly 2 hours to get back to the train station, and we're not taking a cab because it's like 25 Euro (nearly 40 bucks!). So, in
our infinite wisdom, we decide to hoof it. Yeah, did I mention I'm pregnant? Thought so. Now we have been using maps during our whole trip and are pretty good at judgint time, distance, etc. Enter Rome...map not to scale. Our intention was to do as little walking as possible and make use of our bus and other modes of transportation. You know all about good intentions. We ended up walking over 12 miles in Rome. Yes, pregnant...and married to said pregnant lady. Let's just say that when we arrived at the train station and boarded our train, it departed about 5 minutes later - way to cut it close!
We had done it - Rome (the highlights anyway) in ONE day! We were very proud of ourselves, completey exhausted, but proud. We took over 300 pictures between the two of us and noted that we tend to take more pictures the less time we spend in a place. We think it's so we can review them later and say "Oh, yeah, we did see that."
Rome was spectacular, larger-than-life and completely breath-taking! We loved every minute of it (well, maybe not the sprint back to the station,
but the rest for sure)! The proximity and integration of new with old and old with ancient is incredible. (yes, the thesaurus is on order) The history we came in contact with is something we will remember for a lifetime.
E tutti per oggi!
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Mom Schmitz
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Pantheon
If I remember our tour, that hole in the roof that lets in the sun was there to let out the smoke from the animal sacrifices that went on there, at least, I think it was "animal." Love you, Mom Schmitz