Last couple days of Rome

Yesterday was a great day for us here in Rome. Our first stop was the Roman Coliseum. Built almost 2000 years ago much of it has fallen, but the little that remains is still quite impressive. On our long walk back to the hotel a small rainstorm hit and we sought shelter in the Piazza Venezia. It’s very strange to be in a city where you just swing into a “minor” monument built for the first King Emmanuel (The first king of Italy) and realized that it is larger and more impressive than just about anything you would see in Knoxville, or much of the United States, but in Rome it’s usually just something you walk past to get to the “major” attractions.

After a little shopping in and eating in our little neighborhood of Campo de Fiori we stopped by the Mamarmtime prison, where the Apostle Paul was held while in Rome, walked around the ruins of the Roman Forum and Palantine Hill, where the city began. After getting a little turned around we got to our tour of Nero’s Golden Palace and finally we’re able to stop by the Spanish steps. To get to the Spanish Steps we took the Rome Metro. After visiting the Paris and Munich Metro’s this metro was very different. We did teach the kids how to buy their tickets and then led them down into the metro system. The first train we entered was absolutely filthy and you could barely see out any of the windows because of all the graffiti. After we changed trains our second train was brand new, perfectly clean and even had videos on it warning to be aware of pickpockets. It is very interesting to see all the differences between all the metros.

Before the Spanish Steps though we stopped by what was once the largest McDonald’s in the world. Now only third or fourth largest, it was still good to get a little American food. Once we got to the top of the steps many of the kids had portraits and caricatures of themselves drawn. You must ask your child to see the caricatures if they had one done, but lets just say that some embellishment taking place.

Our final stop was Trevi Fountain. Tradition says that if you toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain you will return to Rome some day. Parents, this means that all your kids will someday return. Hope your up for that!

Today we went to the catacombs along the Appian Way, and then stopped by the Peter-in-Chains Church. The church happened to be closed for lunch when we stopped by so we weren’t able to see the “Moses” sculpture done by Michelangelo, but we did get to see a picture of in at the entrance!

Right now the girls are off buying knockoff purses and the boys are “napping”, but this evening we will go back to the Piazza Nuevona for some more caricatures and food. Tomorrow we will be out of the hotel and on our way to the train station by 7:00am. Not sure how the internet will go, so again don’t be worried if you don’t here from us for a couple days. By this time tomorrow we will be in Venice!!! The scary part is this is where Christa has been saving her money for! Yikes!!