Rome

Friday 10/11/2019 - We left Orvieto and took an early train to Rome.  As with most of our travel days this was a free day with nothing on our schedule once we arrived in Rome.


Rome is a modern city mixed with amazing history.  One minute you are in a modern airport.  The next minute there
is an excavation site where they are
uncovering history over a thousand years old.












As you can see the
weather was great.
While walking we
came across the
Altare della Patria




Of course we made sure we visited Trevi Fountain.  We threw our coins in and made a wish.


Our AirBnB was just down the street from the Roman Forum.


 Walking through this area reminded me of why I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was a kid.







This courtyard with the fountain is a great example of the types of little neighborhoods you can find while walking through the city.




















The next morning we went to St. Peter's Basilica.  This is a must see while in Rome.  Even with all the commercialization there was still an awe inspiring Holiness.







While my parents visited the Vatican Museum my wife & I went on a "scouting mission" to decide where we would go next.  We found the best roof top bar above a hotel.  The views from this roof top were great!












We had a snack, took some pictures and made a reservation for lunch.


















Next was Castel Sant'Angelo.  It is crazy to think this was built in 123 AD and is still standing today.






We didn't
have this
on our
agenda,
but the
lines were
not that
long.  So
we walked
through
the museum.









After Castel Saint'Angelo we took a taxi back to our apartment and relaxed until dinner.  We had an evening tour booked at the Colosseum.



As evening set in the moon came out and the evening turned the city into a whole new world.









Before heading to the Colosseum our tour guide walked us through the Roman Forum and gave us a history lesson of the place and the city.






We had been on a night Colosseum tour last year and loved it so much that we wanted to do it again.  Surprisingly it was very different tour than last year.  Even the Roman Forum had changed.  There are a number of archaeological digs in the area.  So there were new areas that were blocked off.  Other buildings were being restored and some of last year's restorations were now finished.


Before we knew it vacation was over and we were on our way home.  The great weather gave us great pictures right to the very end.


If you want to see more pictures of our time in Rome please feel free to look through our Rome Album.