Captains log 13/06/13 it's time! After going to bed in a huff because of the retarded bar and wifi set up at the hotel, I woke up with a smile on my face! Finally one of my life long goals would get checked off the bucket list, the mighty coliseum!!! We rushed though breakfast which for the first time in a while was semi decent, and got on the metro train line to go there. Let me just say, you don't understand how good the London Underground is until you get on the s***hole that is European transport system. Everything's dirty and old and just gross. Never mind I was seeing the coliseum. We got there, and it is amazing. Just amazing.... We saw it the night before lit up which was unbelievable, so I couldn't wait to get inside! We had a guided tour and she was great explaining so much and getting us to use our minds to try think what is was like. It was coated in marble! So the sad ruins that lays there today can't do it justice. Everything marble and art work. It was originally built in a natural valley and was a 38 feet deep lake that held ships battles for entertainment. Thus the coliseum foundations go 38 feet deep. It was built by 100000 Jewish slaves in only 8 years! It was called colliso because there was a 120 foot gold statue of Nero at the front, referring to a colossal statue. 80 arches on 3 layers and 40 giant windows in the top level. 80 arches meant 80 entrance, 76 for common folk and 4 for VIP holding about 65/70000 people. They also had a 5 meter tall mable statue in each of the arches on the second and third floor. It's also said that they could empty the place in 2 minutes. Makes the mcg look sad to be honest. It also shows how well organized the Roman Empire was, every ticket was free with labelled arch numbers and seat numbers. It was a giant proper gander machine keeping the masses happy and always trying to win votes for the senators that were trying to keep or win a seat. No one knows how many people were killed in it, they just know that animals such as elephants, lions, tigers were brought from all over the empire for fights and killings. Executions in the morning, beast battles during midday and then the most popular gladiator fights in the afternoon. Hearing stores of great gladiators such as Spartacus fighting as a slave, and becoming truly rich and famous. It wasn't uncommon for a poor and free man to go to gladiator schools and try fight his way to power and glory. Small catch, gotta survive 20 battles before you could get your freedom back! Ok, while I sit here foaming from the mouth I must stop or the blog won't ever end. After that we did a tour around the roman forum, which is the biggest preserved ancient area, there's many temples and one of the three surviving arches in there. Other amazing things like a shrine to Caesar. It was extremely hot hitting 40 degrees and with little, to no shade, people were getting restless. So we didn't get to see as much as I would have liked. We got back on the metro system and headed off for the Vatican tour. A quick stop off for some lunch a very simple pizza Bianca style and a pint. After expecting millions of people fighting though there it wasn't so bad, never the less we skipped the queue. It was ok, but more of a art museum, but lots of marble sculptures and art work, lovely drinking fountains. How ever it was disappointing knowing that most of it was stolen or should we say "acquire " by popes though out the ages. We got to the Sistine chapel. It was out of control. The art work was breathe taking, so was the guards every 2 meters to stop talking and any attempt to take photos. Little intense, but still quite a buzz in the room. After sitting there quietly for 10 minutes and almost blacking out from broader line exhaustion it was time to get into saint peters and get home for a rest! Saint peters was awesome like all other churches! I was excited because you could take photos inside which is always nice. It's the largest church in the world with the biggest unsupportive dome inside. I wanted to climb it but Bella was getting gruffy, so Lara watch out!!! You're gonna be climbing with me in 1 month!! We got outside and got our first look at the Swiss guard, the personal guards of the pope. Their beasts, with strict regulations on them. 18-35 years old and need to be strict catholic and get a hand written letter from there priest before they will even be short listed for training. Most of all the guy unlike the queens guards weren't walking around with scary machine guns, this bad boy had a 10 foot poleaxe. It was menacing looking and also had a huge long sword. For some reason it's a lot more scary looking then the guns. 1 tourist stepped a meter over the line and they were straight to it, walking forward and demanding he step back.... Serious business. After that my Bear Grills skills were called into action as we missioned though the crowds back to the metro system, not going to lie I'm a beast navigator! We got back to the main train station and waited for it to take off when a little old nonna who was about 80 was carting a small granny trolley and a walking stick and was struggling to get up the stairs. I stood up and tried to help her offering my hand and trying to carry her trolley for her. Bad mistake. I was then abused and yelled at in Italian. I think she thought I would steal her stuff, shrug nice guys finish last. We got to our hotel quickly and caught up on some wifi and had a quick beer. We freshened up and headed out to dinner with jade,josh,Sheldon, Sarah, Elise and Georgia. We got a cab and went to the little local street that Liz told us about, it was local central and a bit ghetto but we trust Lis's judgement. I had ox tail and the rest had steaks and pastas. The ox tail was very tender and very nice. Here comes the point in my extremely long blog where I get to throw some shots at Bella! Feeling a bit healthy she ordered a sea bass. The thing come out completely whole, only gutted. Head, tail, bones, skin the lot. Her face dropped, and she turned almost white with shocked horror. Poor thing all she wanted was a nice piece of fish. Being the nice guy I am I did my best to fillet the bass and get all the bones out, however there was a few left in there. She crunch away like a soldier but it was all to much and couldn't finish it. Lucky the human dumpster that is Sheldon was more then happy to finish it. We headed of to campa Di fiora ( I now know where the boss stole the name from) which is the local bar and club scene with just Elise and Georgia. Bella grumpy at this point and painfully hungry had a second dinner of ravioli at a place called sloppy Sams. I love there moto which was classy at the front sloppy at the back, classy. The girls shared a pitcher (1.5l ) jug of sloppy sams cocktail and I had a pitcher of beer. Good chat took place. We got a cab back to the hotel and noticed everyone out at the bar next door having a great time, we joined feeling quite merry after our pitchers. Beers, wines and many laughed followed, really now enjoying a friendly chat with Liz. Bit of bonding being done. She's convincing Bella to give a history discussion when we get to Greece, she also mentioned that she knows she makes a history mistake when I look at her funny :p I find it quite amusing. The bed was calling and we slipped away into the night for a early wake up for Capri in the morning!!!