Rome

We're so happy to be able to share our trip with you.  Hope you're enjoying viewing it as much as we are experiencing it!

Wednesday we took the train from Florence to Rome.  Wasn't a long train ride, only about an hour and a half.  Below is the train station in Florence.

The Tiber River in Rome:

There are many small bridges over the Tiber - there seems to be a guitar player on every one....this bridge was called Ponte Fabricio (constructed in 62 BC) and is Rome's oldest remaining bridge.

Another shot of the Tiber:

Dinner our first night was at Sora Lella on Tiberina Island.  Quaint old Italian restaurant that has been there for generations.  If you look close enough you can see the matriarch "Mama Lella" etched in the front door.  :)  The homemade gnocchi and Eggplant Parmigiana was to die for.

You don't want to mess with these guys:

The Arco di Costantino - just outside the Colosseum (AD 315):

No need to tell you what the next few pics are of.  It was a bit rainy but not torrential and the crowds were less because of it.  All in all, a great day - a birthday I will never forget!

This was our tour guide, Eduardo.  Lovely old man who has been doing this for years.  He was quite the character and had us smiling all afternoon.

 The sun kept trying to come out!!

If you look close enough in the top center of the picture there is a cross.  Just below the cross is where the Emperor and other Roman dignitaries would sit to watch the exhibitions:

View of the the Arco di Costantino from inside the Colosseum:

This is the lower level, where they kept all the animals.  Try to picture a floor covering it - they have a makeshift floor in the back of the pic - this floor would've covered the lower level.  They would lift the animals up through doors in the floor - almost like an elevator.  (Poor things!)

Following the Colosseum tour we viewed the Roman Forum - for those who don't know, it was a commerce mart, political playground and a place where justice was dispensed during the days of the Republic and Empire (509 BC to AD 476).

 This is actually one of the newer buildings in Rome - can't remember exactly what it was but the sculpture on the top was pretty cool:

Another Forum pic:

 This is the tomb (temple) where Julius Caesar was cremated, the next pic is of the temple from the outside:

 After viewing the Forum we trekked up the Palatine hills, this was at one time a king's home - I just loved the doors!

Olive trees:

At the top of the Palatine Hills, these were at one time homes for the wealthy of Roman Society:

A view of St. Peter's Square in the distance: