It has been a while since I last posted about our time in Rome. Suffice it to say that I am still very much in awe of this place. On this day, we were with our English relatives and decided to spend the day at the Colosseum and the Forum. These were (are?) extremely impressive places. It literally took us all day to see these two areas and was well worth the price of admission, although, as it turns out, if you are an archaeology student, with the proper ID, you get in free. Gloating is allowed.
I really don’t have much to say. The places are well-known, and pictures don’t particularly do them justice, so I’ll just post them with minimal discussion.
The exterior view of the Colosseum. It is impossibly large.
The inside is crazy. You can see the corridors and galleries that were once covered with the arena floor.
The Arch of Constantine which stands next to the Colosseum.
You have probably seen the vendors who sell these brutal excuses for umbrellas, and probably wonder who on Earth would buy them. I happen to know 2 people who have indeed purchased these works of rip off art.
The Arch of Titus on the Forum grounds.
The Forum grounds are dotted with structures such as this.
Imagine what this looked likes a couple of thousand years ago.
Throughout the site is many examples of Roman art and statuary.
Once we were done, our friends headed back to their hotel and we set out to do something that was featured in a movie, Bocca della Verita, the mouth of truth, Rome’s ancient lie detector. Legend has it that you stick your arm in its mouth and tell a lie, it bites off your hand. It is found at the Santa Maria in Cosmedi church. There is usually a lineup and it costs a donation to the church to have your picture taken.
In hindsight, I should have used my left hand, but it all worked out. I survived.
Is It Possible To See It All 