We checked into our Hotel and unpacked. After a brief rest, we set out for the Colosseum. We did a self-guided tour & enjoyed seeing the ruins. Back at our hotel (Serena), we freshened up & had a wonderful Italian dinner at a nearby restaurant. We are all exhausted but are so excited to be in Rome! Rich & Brian got a kick out of the shop that was next to the cafe...see photos to see what I'm talking about. Guys!!
Things I remembered I dislike about Europe:

Smoking. OMG. Not as bad as it was but still bad.

Persistent & aggressive beggars. EVERYWHERE. Even when you're eating. So annoying.

Toilets. Always a challenge to figure out how to flush. And this time, there were several where you couldn't flush the paper--had to throw it into a trashcan. Can you say disgusting?