Rome - The Eternal City
With great efficiency the Italian rail system whisked us from Florence to Rome in a little over an hour and a quarter. Smooth and fast at another 250 kph.
The weather is hot (32C) and the walking in narrow streets of cobblestone can take its toll. However, our fellow travelers from NZ in the wheelchair continue to inspire us. So on we go!
First stop was the Coliseum. It looked a little smaller than we expected from the outside and it is really only when you enter the building that you begin to appreciate the amazing engineering feat that this building represents. It is not simply in the use of materials that balance the weight across the structure, but also in the drainage and infrastructure that was needs to support a crowd of 86,000 who attended the games.
Needless to say this was not a happy place if you were part of the spectacle designed to entertain such a crowd. Untold numbers of Christians went to their deaths to satisfy the blood list of the mob. Gladiators also fought but not often to the death as they were valuable commodities. Not so the Christians. Phenomenal engineering is all we can say - makes Etihad look positively primitave.
We then went with our lovely guide Elena on a walking tour of some of the memorable Roman sites. Unfortunately the Trevi Fountain, scene of so many classic movies, was closed for renovations - disappointing - but we tossed our coins in the proper way so that if our wish comes true we will return another time to Rome.
 |
| Caught in mid throw! |
 |
| Well nearly caught it!
Possibly one of the highlights of Rome was our visit to the Pantheon, a former pagan temple dating back 2000 years which was later converted to a church. But again what a great feat of engineering.
The Pantheon
The perfectly symmetrical dome with its central portal which is open to the elements.
It was very impressive.
The guide warned us that at this stage of the tour we may suffer from " monument fatigue" and this may be the case. To see so much of Roman history at every turn does make you a little blaze. So we will leave it there and he head to bed. Oh? Did we mention another wonderful dinner with wine, great food, music and dancing under a perfect sky? No I suppose some readers are suffering "blog fatigue" by now. Take heart - only one more week to go!!!
We do love you all and miss you. Tomorrow Head Office and we will offer prayers for you in St.Peter's Basilica - even if you don't believe in it.
All our love
Poss and Pop
The Circus Maximus
The ornate column of Marcus Aurelius
What's this one Poss? I give up.
|
Some awesome photos. Hope kobes and I get to visit these places at some time!!
ReplyDeleteAhh... Roma... Easily the best place I went whilst on my OS sojourn. Sounds like you guys got lucky though, it was 40deg when B and I were there, but hey... at least it kept the crowds to a manageable level.
ReplyDeleteBut what a place, and now we get to swap tales with an appreciation of what it's about. Good to see you're coming around on importance of appropriate drainage infrastructure! I can assure you the stuff that goes under the MCG in nothing to sneeze at either, and I doubt the Romans had to deal with Unions, high voltage services, OH&S, Environmental Impacts, Heritage listings, traffic management, and all the "trivial" things that make building such places these days so expensive. Back then, just sign up the slaves and away you go! :)
Look forward to seeing the full catalogue of Rome pictures indeed!
Love
The Marshians