It is our first day in Rome!

ROME!

But before we began sight-seeing we got Roma passes (a metro pass for three days, including two free sites, and all other sights 30 percent off).  We also bought Max and Julian some new clothes. Max especially! He  is not the most carefull when it comes to clothing preservation! When we finished shopping, we grabbed some fast food pizza for lunch, then got on the metro and headed for the Colosseo (Colosseum).

The Roman Metro cars are so, so, much cooler than the Dallas Dart, or even the New York subway. Why? Because most of the cars are completely covered in colorful Italian graffiti!

Roma

Roma

We saw the Colosseum just as we walked up out of the Metro station.

Seeing the Colosseum for the first time, then turning around and seeing the Arch of Constantine, Palatine Hill, and all the other sights that we have only seen in history books was breathtaking!  Thanks to our Roma passes we skipped the long lines, and got into the Colosseum for free. We saw the Colosseum from every angle, and we were able to ponder all of the history, martyrs, emperors, gladiators, and Romans who had walked those same steps 2000 years ago.

After the Colosseum we walked by the Arch of Constantine, the Forum, Palatine hill, and the Victor Emmanuel monument.

Nearby these sights are plazas with fancy apartments, shops, restaurants, gelaterrias, and Romans with their famous Vespas.

Towards evening we took the metro over to the Spanish Steps.  At the steps, people watching and shopping are the main activities.  Around the steps are people selling roses, light up slingshot/parachutes and all kinds of curiosities.  I also saw stores that I wanted to check out…Gucci, Prada and other designer clothing stores.  There were Mercedes Taxis zooming about, ushering people to fancy restaurants.

We had forgotten to make reservations, but thankfully one pasta restaurant still had room. After dinner, we got gelato and sat on the Spanish Steps, and  just soaked  in Rome!