When in Rome........

To get back on track i will finish yesterday afternoon and today together.  After checking in, we were both starving and went out looking for lunch, for which we didn't have to go far.  A couple of blocks away, we found a piazza and had a lovely lazy lunch.

This is what Paul had, the crust was really crispy and flaky,,,,which meant he ate the lot.

This is what i had, and it tasted every bit as good as it looked.  I hate to sound like Matt Preston and  go on about the acidity of the raspberries etc, but a mouthful of the tomato, anchovy and mozzarella cheese, well it was just a gorgeous combo of sweet, salty and creamy, Delicious.

At this eatery, we bumped into two Australian couples, one from MUrray Bridge, who gave us a few good tips.  It was also a chance to catch up on the footy and politics etc.

After we finished, we went for a walk down to the Coliseum and Roman Forum.

This arena was built in 72 AD and finished in 82 AD.  Amazing what a lot of slaves can do.  It was a place of games, blood thirsty games, where animal fighters and gladiators, in hope of money, freedom and fame, fought against animals such as lions, and themselves, to the death.  The recreated floor you can see was built for Mussolini for him to "exchange ideas" with the people.

There are many examples to show what remarkable engineers the Romans were.  They engineered the Arch which was able to carry a huge amount of weight.  They also perfected the use of bricks, and they made concrete which was able to be used in under water situations.

The next visit was to the Forum.  This was a place where commerce, politics and public speeches  beginning  in the 6th Century BC, was done.  Unfortunately it is not well preserved, and has been plundered and destroyed over the years, when the Church became more powerful than Roman power.  The churches took precious marble from the pagan buildings for their own monuments.  This is one of the very impressive temples left standing.

 

Other buildings are not as easy to tell what they are.

So that was yesterday finished.

Today we used the Metro underground system to make our way to the Vatican.  The Metro was easy to navigate and very much like the English underground.  What can I say about the Vatican?

A lot of people visit there daily, this was the queue, but it moved quickly, we waited about 15 minutes.  You go through airport style security, and there is a dress code with no bare shoulders or knees.  This is St Paul Basilica.

Very impressive domes.

The Altar.

So much beautiful artwork.

Then there is the Vatican Museum.

Once you are in, it is hard to know where to look, there is so much to see. Do you look at this on the ceiling?

Or do you look at this on the floor?

Or what about the walls?

Let alone what is in the rooms...

This reminded us of someone at home.  No wonder they turned it into a separate country, it is really another world. 

We are now having a rest, sore feet and sore necks!  I know, poor Us!!