Well it's our last day in this amazing (and sometime overbearing) city and it was a hard decision to make what to see so we asked ourselves what sight was our number 1 must see and thankfully they were next to each other - the mighty Flavian amphitheater known to the modern world as The Colosseum and the centre of the known universe 2,000 years ago the Roman Forum.
So it was back for another jaunt on the metro but before that we got what is called a Roma Pass which essentially is a way to see several sights cheaply and includes travel for 3 days all for €25 but best of all it allows you to bypass the lines which in the case of the Colosseum was about a 2 hour wait so even though we may have lost a few euro as the Colosseum and Forum are one sight and is €17 to get in the fact we had toured the Colosseum and had lunch in the time it would have taken to clear the line (of predominantly American tourists) it was a bargain in our eyes.
The Colosseum is just startling and whilst the exterior is more worn than some photos will have you believe the interior is purely breathtaking in a scary sort of way. You can imagine this joint packed with 75,000 blood thirsty Romans baying for some poor b*****s blood. I am pretty sure the Romans wish it was still functional and they could substitute the ever present and in your face (and pockets) Bangladeshi hawkers for the Christians who were the traditional dinner menu for the lions.
These hawkers flog anything from balloons filled with flour to the tackiest Panama hats you've seen and it seems no means ask me at least 10 more times in Bangladeshi. I even told one bloke selling purple paper parasols to #%*# off after it was apparent after Mr Sir (that's what they call you) had declined the offer to purchase one of his poxy violet umbrellas made out of what looked like paper place mats from Grimace's birthday party on at least a dozen instantaneous occasions - he came back cutting a euro of the price. These blokes are up with Eddie McGuire on the paininthearseometer.
But I digress the place must have been something in it's heyday and it takes the merest amount of imagination to see why Rome ruled the known world.
Just up the road about 200m is the Palatine Hill and imperial Roman Forum. This has to be my highlight. Studying this as a kid and seeing a plethora of Roman themed movies and TV series you can place every piece of the puzzle and considering it was under about 8 foot of dirt prior to the excavation the condition of some of the items is astounding. The highlight was the site of the senate where Julius Caeser met his demise and to be standing on that same spot sent shivers up my spine.
It really is a weird feeling trying to take these 2,000 year old sites in given we are from a country with a history of only just over 200 years.
Well off to Florence tomorrow morning and hoping we have left the foot murdering cobbles behind. 2,000 year old Roman roads are amazing that they are still in use but all of Nikes technology in foot comfort has been sorely tested and has failed miserably .
Will keep the updates coming wifi permitted.