So today we got up super early to get to the Colosseum at 8am before it opened so we could join a smallish queue and not a massive one. They have a limit of 3000 people allowed in there at once. We had to go through security, then we hired audioguides so we could walk around and learn more about what we were looking at. Apparently back when the gladiator games were on they were recruited at the age of 16-17years, they fought about twice a year and lived in army style barracks, then if they won a few times they were allowed to retire with fame & glory.
Also in the games were slaves trying to seek their freedom, and criminals, some of who had been sentenced to death by wild animal (being ripped to shreds) - they were often sent into the arena unarmed. Other times just the gladiators would fight each other, or sometimes they would have hunting parties where all the gladiators would go up against the animals. Seeing pictures of what it would have looked like 2,000yrs ago was quite staggering - when it stopped being used, it just became a scavengers mecca - people would come and help themselves to the marble and stones there -some of which was taken away & used in other projects such as at St Peters Basilica.
Next we went next door to the Roman forum (the original ancient Rome). Its mostly just ruins, but lovely ruins, with columns, arches, water features, blocks & old buildings. I went up on top of this balcony which had some insanely amazing views. I was blown away by it.
After lunch & gloriously cheap gelatto dessert we got a bus to the Pantheon, which we went to yesterday but couldnt get inside. At the top is a dome with a 30ft diameter circular hole, which lets in water when it rains but is also the buildings only light source - and they have holes in the floor to let any water drain out. Rafael the painter is buried in there. I liked it, but not as much as I liked the Sistine chapel. Next we got a bus-metro up to Piazza del Popola (the peoples place). It has a fountain on either side, one in the middle for good measure and two twin churches which looked nearly identical except that one was gloriously white and the other was very dirty. It was full of people - one dressed up as the Statue of liberty, buskers, someone blowing bubbles and a magician who was somehow standing 2 ft above the ground - I couldnt figure out how he did it, I thought there must be some kind of trick. Also guys handing out (selling) roses - ie they shove it at you, won't take it back and insist that you give them money for it (I'd heard about it before I came). Also guys selling selfie sticks - there must be dozens of them all over the city, I dont know how any of them can make a living from it. They should sell useful things, like water on a hot day (everyday has been hot so far).
Home with some pizza for dinner, and just now in the computer room in the hostel there was quite a ruckus and I was a bit scared I might get caught in the middle of some violence. This girl was talking really loudly (I think probably her voice is naturally loud) & this guy asked her a few times to talk quieter -she ignored him & even did the fingers to him at one stage (which he didn't see), then they started arguing because she said if he had a problem he should leave and he said she should talk quieter... you leave... no you leave.. yelling at each other getting louder and louder... then she swore at him, which just set him off, he jumped up then he threw his chair back against the wall & went like he was going to punch her then she started freaking out, then the staff came down & she went all silly helpless female "Im so scared he was gonna hit me, I didnt even do anything he just started going off at me" blah blah blah, whatever stupid woman. Poor guy, english is not his first language so he was having trouble explaining himself. As soon as she was gone I explained to the staff what really happened. Im sorry, but people like that just give americans a bad name, egocentric, arrogant, the world revolves around me types. Annoying.
Tomorrow we are off to Venice, just for a few hours then on a 7 day cruise to Greece & back yay! We got a free upgrade too, from a window room to a balcony room, which is awesome!! We go to Santorini, Athens, Olympus and Corfu. I'm particularly excited to see Corfu because my 4th great grandparents were married there in the 1800s.
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