Day FIFTEEN: All over Rome

Day FIFTEEN- FRIDAY: All over  Rome

Despite the late night, the Go Ahead group was up, cheerful and in good spirits and ready to go at 8am.  We were all looking forward to our first stop which was a tour of the Colosseum.  This incredible work of engineering is both awesome and beautiful to behold. How in the world did humans build this gigantic structure? 

Willie makes a new friend...

I have to say Willie and I enjoyed roaming around inside and out and didn’t pay much attention to the special tour guide, but Bill did as he eats this history stuff up.

Here’s what he had to say:  The colosseum was constructed in the first century, around 70 AD and took approximately 9 years to complete.  Given the fact that the structure is massive, and seated 50,000 people, this time frame completion must be some ancient world record! The guide was very responsive to all our questions, which included “ Where did the emperor

sit? (answer: Wherever he wanted) “Where did the lions enter? (answer: they were brought in from the street in cages and were housed underneath the floor and then brought out within 2 or 3 days as by that time they were ferocious and ready for battle!).  Speaking of the floor, it was made of wood and had all kinds of rooms underneath.  Because wood can be slippery it was covered with many layers of sand.  The Latin word for sand is arena…and that is why site of sporting events today got the name arena! The colosseum was in active use for well over 200 years and depending upon the period was the home to a broad variety of entertainment, including naval battles, gladiators, and lions eating Christians.

Our delightful Go Ahead tour guide Allesandra

Mama Mia it gets hot in the mid-day.  I loved visiting the Colosseum, but I also really loved returning to our air conditioned bus!  We had a quick lunch of more outstanding pasta (prepared al dente over here) and after some quiet time, we ventured out just the 3 of us – Willie, Bill, and I – to see some more of the sites in Rome.  First stop the Trevi Fountain “Three coins in the fountain…” I can just hear Pat singing the tune.  Good news as this ancient fountain is all clean and bright white, with sparkling water spouting out everywhere!  Very very crowded with masses of people but no big deal as it was such a gorgeous site to behold. 

Willie and now Bill, make a few new friends...

Among other sites we took in in the area included  the store Zara, which is 6 stories high! Bill and Willie were mumbling something like, “What part of Roman history is this place?” but I paid them no mind as up the escalator I went.

Willie was insistent on returning to visit a building we had driven by on the tour bus, so in our quest to do as much of what everyone wanted to do, we taxied over to Palazzo delle Esposizioni.  This memorial was erected in honor of Victor Emanuel who unified Italy in the late 1800’s. Because the building looks like it was constructed in layers, it is nicknamed "The birthday cake".

I had to add this photo ...wish I could have gotten a close up photo - these fellas
were all over Rome. How do they do that?

As we ambled along our way, we happened upon a building which Bill recognized as Collegio Internazionale Del Gesu, or International College of Jesus. It was a poignant moment, as the last time Bill was in Rome was with his father whose foundation, The William E. Simon Foundation, supported and continues to support this College. Their mission is as follows:
International College of Jesus is a house of formation for the Jesuits who come four continents (Asia, Africa, America, European Union). We are gathered in the same vocation inspired by the charism of St. Ignatius Loyola to work together under the banner of Christ.
Everyone in our company works to receive the name of Jesus, serve the Lord alone and the Roman Pontiff His Vicar on earth, assumes a solemn vow of chastity, and is persuaded deeply to be part of a community established for the specific purpose of dealing in the progress of souls in Christian life and doctrine, and the propagation of the faith.

Admittedly I was getting a little cranky as I was hot (despite a nice breeze), and now hungry. One of our Go Ahead friends had said a visit to Piazza Novona was an absolute must…apparently when in Rome everyone says, “Let’s get together – I’ll meet you at the Piazza Novona” so that is where we went for dinner.  It is a huge oval city square with three fountains, one at each end of the plaza and one in the middle.  The one in the middle is called The Fountain of Four Rivers, and was built in 1651 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Interspersed amongst the square were possibly 50+ artists who had set up their little stands and were busy at work – some sold watercolor paintings, some oil, some photography, some jewelry, and some were “Get your portrait done in charcoal for 10 Euro.” Tempting…maybe tomorrow. It was really fun to browse around all the art work, and some of it was pretty good.  It put me in a better mood, and after my meal of spaghetti bolognese I was in an even better mood.

Tomorrow: The Vatican

God bless, and Good night.