Today were off to see all the big stuff in Rome - for the untraveled that means The Vatican and the Colosseum. We set of early in the morning to see the Basilica and the Sistine chapel. We arrived at 8am, no queue and we were dressed appropriately unlike 25 yrs ago when I was refused entry because I was wearing a pair of shorts that didn't cover my knees. So as we approach the security I see a sign that shows a list of items that are not permitted, unfortunately my swiss army knife was on the list. So I declare it up front and ask the security guard if I could leave it nearby and pick it up on the way out - no surprise to there answer really, my option was to leave in in the square somewhere or throw it away - which just wasn't an option as I got it 25 years ago in Switzerland and I wasn't about to part with it. So I thought I would skulk off to an obscure corner and hide it behind some building works but security was onto me, and although I was nowhere near the security zone, they had followed me and refuse to let me hide it - apparently know it was the bin or nothing! No matter, I opted to walk back to the apartment, drop it off and come back - a mere 15 min return walk.
Well, by the time I returned the non existent queue grew to be a 30 min wait. Still, could be worse.
once in, the Basilica it is huge and awe inspiring. Very hard to describe and I'm not about to try. Have included some pics instead. It was first built back in 324 AD and later demolished after it was abandoned when the papacy relocated to Avignon. The present day Basilica was started in 1506 and took 120 years to compete. On exiting we see these quaint jester like fellows standing guard. The kids thought they were part of the entertainment. the Vatican security and protection is provided by the Swiss Guard, and although these fellows looked harmless, they are some of the best trained in the world. Next we set off to see the Sistine chapel and the famous Michelangelo ceiling painting. It was now 9:30 and the queue to enter the Vatican Museum was nearly 3 hours long, so we opted to leave it till the next morning and go early to miss the queues. We didn't realize it at time, but the next day was Sunday and the museum was closed and we were out of Rome early Monday morning. b*****, that's twice I've been to Rome and not seen the Sistine Chapel, maybe my one coin wish at Trevi will work and I'll finally get to see it.
Ater a short lunch break, we were off to see the Colosseum, another massive structure with some interesting history behind it.
Building started in 70AD on a marshy patch of land on the outskirts of the centre of old Rome, and took 10 years to complete and was used as an amphitheater to house upto 70,000 spectators, of which 40,000 had reserved seating (inscribed in stone) with the other 30,000 standing, with free admission for all. The amphitheater was used for mostly gladiator battles, that is man v man or man v wild beast. Occaisonally they would flood the arena and use it for naval battles as well. The floor in the centre was a matrix of timber hatches and elevators that could be used to hoist various props, animals and performers to the arena floor from the catacombs below ( see pic)
It has been renovated several times over the century's due to severe fires and earthquakes, and also stone robbers. In fact, some of the stones from the colosseum were used to start the building of St Peters Basilica.

On our way home, saw an interesting couple of street performers and had to add this pic of an innovative park in Rome to add to my collection.