When in Rome... (part 1)

Bonjourno yall!

On the way to Rome we stopped in Pisa to switch trains and had three hours of layover so we visited the Leaning Tower. It was pretty cool :) We arrived in Rome, Italy on Saturday June 18. We are staying in the outskirts of Rome at Tiber Hostel & Campground on the Tiber River. Our "room" is literally a shed-like trailer with two single beds and a bookshelf crammed in. It's hilariously tiny and yet awesome! But the riverview is beautiful and we have free internet, hot showers, and a free shuttle into downtown Rome.

On Sunday, we spent all day at the Colosseum. It was beyond amazing! We learned so much information! Not only was it the main venue of gladiatorial games but it was also used for executions, ritual ceremonies, and numerous shows... really fun fact: the floor of the Colosseum was originally made of wooden planks so that it could be easily removed and the basin underneath filled with water for aquatic shows... actors would perform famous mythological sea battles using live sea creatures brought in. Atop the wooden floor, they would perform tragedies and circus-type shows with lots of exotic animals. The lower section of marble seats (closest to the action) was where senators and their families sat. The higher up your seat, the lower your status...  We saw lots of cool etchings in the rocks made by spectators, usually of their favorite gladiator. The whole place was so intense and so rich in history!

Today, Monday, we went to the Palatine, which is right next to the Colosseum. Its where Marc Antony and Octavian were both born. Octavian eventually became the king of all of Rome after he defeated Marc Antony & Cleopatra in a famous battle. The Palatine is the oldest ruins in all of rome so we saw lots of archaeological facts and sites. Then we visited the Pantheon, which was first built as a temple to all the gods of Rome, but some centuries ago, the Roman Catholic church decided to turn it into a church for the one true God. It was really neat too. Lastly, we saw the Trevi Fountain which is famous because its believed to be lucky if you throw in a euro. We're on a tight budget so we didn't throw one in, lol... we're counting on God more than luck anyway :)

Tomorrow we'll visit the Vatican including the Sistene Chapel, St Peter's Cathedral, and more! So,stay tuned for When in Rome... part 2.

Love you all,
Tyler & Carmel