OK, I know you want to see it so here is the Colosseum. It's a tourist must in Rome so the place is thick with hawkers, tour toutes and thousands of air headed tourists doing funny poses in front of it while getting their pictures taken. If you value your wallet it's a good idea to keep your hand on it too.
In the same precinct is the triumphal arch of the emperor Constantine, the only emperor who was a Christian. He later built the city of Constantinople as his capital, now Istanbul of course.
Just to the west are the current archaeological digs around what was then the Forum. We saw some dedicated students still digging with very small trowels so as not to damage any thing they may uncover. In the heat it could not have been a comfortable job.
Next stop was the monument to Victor Emmanuel who I know nothing about. It is also the location of Italy's variation of the tomb of the unknown soldier. Even by Italian standards you would have to say this building is way over the top. Snowy white marble, frescoes of daring battles, brave warriors in warlike poses, VE himself atop a prancing charger and all set out in a tiered arrangement of progressive degrees of ornate. It's small wonder the locals here refer to the place as the "Wedding Cake".
We were pretty much done in by now so the stroll home resembled a Gelati crawl from shop to shop. We promise, no more church pictures for a while.
Click here for pictures of the Colosseum, etc.
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