ROME

Day 1
-We arrive and walk a short distance to hostel near the train station. Walk around while our room is being prepared. Our first 3 nights were in a different hostel altogether because there was a massive group of 12 people staying in our room. It worked out well because we ended up getting a private shower and bathroom in a brand new apartment complex. We were able to catch up on news back home with the nice satellite connected flat screen in our room. I also had problems connecting the computer to the hostel's wi-fi, so we ended up getting another night added on. We walked a bit around the northern part of the city, near our hostel and wandered into the Trevi fountain. It was an amazing sight in the dark, even if it was completely overrun by tourists.

Day 2
The ruins, and Colosseum. Just want it says. Walked from our hostel southwest through the park that houses the Domus Aurea (Nero's Golden House), and straight into the Colosseum. It was glorious seeing such a massive ancient structure rising out of the grit and noise of modern day Rome. We saw the forum from the outside of the Colosseum, went by the circus maximus. We were looking for the entrance into the forum and had lunch near an old church and arch. We went inside the massive “wedding cake” monument to Italy's first king and saw some great panoramic views. Then walked out into the Capotoline hill square. Looked for the forum entrance and ended up seeing all the ruins just outside the forum including Julius Caesar's temple, Trajan's market and column, and other stuff. Then we finally found the entrance. The forum is impressive obviously, but I think seeing it in person helped me understand how normal of a city it was. Not some mythical place of antiquity. Next we finished up our afternoon walking around the different levels of the Colosseum. They had a nice display of artifacts found in and around the Colosseum and a history of the Flavian emperors who presided over it's construction. That it for day 2

Day 3
Palatine Hill. Palatine and only Palatine hill. The ticket we bought for the Colosseum and the forum also covered Palatine hill – where the emperor's built their homes. We saw the massive flavian palace, the exterior of emperor Augustus's home and some recently unearthed remains of the inside of his home. It had some well preserved frescoes and mosaic floors. We then walked around the rest of the hill and finished up in the forum once more. Next we walked back towards the Trevi fountain, this time for a glimpse during the day. After we walked over to the Pantheon (but it was closed), and found ourselves in the midst of a big protest complete with cops, military police, tear gas, music and helicopters. Fortunately, there were no surprises, minus the flare guns.

Day 4
The Vatican – Saw basilica, st. peter's square, Bernini. Went inside basilica, saw Michelangelo's statue. Waited in line to touch gold cross, see picture. Saw the alter that used bronze from Pantheon (boo). Walked around Vatican city walls to find museum. But the “free” signs mislead us. Found out entrance was closed, just missed it. So then walked back towards square. Then left Vatican and walked around caste san Angelo. Then saw piazza popolo. Took funny pictures. Saw Spanish steps and it started to pour. So we ducked inside and drank coffee. Then walked home in the rain (with umbrella, but still soaked). Also, guys try and sell umbrellas when it rains.

Day 5
Piazza Navonna, Vatican and Pantheon early. We stopped before museum to see inside of pantheon and saw Raphael's tomb. Also saw Piazza Navona and Bernini fountains. Then went to museum with no lines (yay!). We saw some great roman and Greek statues and art, saw the Laocoon statue (3000 years old). Raphael's frescoes (school of Athens), some Dali paintings, cute fat cardinal painting, Sistine chapel (Hallelujah. Lots of people, everyone is loud and everyone shushing), then left the area and saw some final paintings by other greats such as Caravaggio, Leonardo, and a few more famous Raphael paintings. Then we walked back to hostel.

Day 6
Appian way – took subway down south and walked the Appian way (0ld Roman road leading out of Rome). On the way, we saw the supposed footprints of Jesus at the Domine Quo Vadis church. Then attempted to walk the Appian way. Lots of traffic and no sidewalks. Hopped a bus for free for a couple miles then walked the rest of the way. No traffic. Saw the Circus of Maxentius, and a suburban bath complex. Kept walking along original Roman paved roads with numerous tombs and mausoleum from ancient times. Very nice day, warm and sunny. Then wind picked up and it started to rain. Nice to be out of the city and all its noises. Thought about seeing old Christian catacombs but didn't go because of huge Spanish school groups. So we walked through the massive park around the Appian way. Saw a Sheppard grazing his sheep. Walked back, found a market and bought some jewelry. Then we took the subway back home.

Day 7
Walked to the Borghese museum. Along the way walked along a very nice strip of restaurants and hotels. Stopped at a beautiful church where Bernini's Ecstacy of St. Theresa sculpture resides (also mentioned in Dan Brown's Angels and Demons). Walked around the Borghese park. Bought tickets for the museum but had to wait 3 hours before going in. Fought off the intermittent rain and finally enjoyed the museum. More Bernini statues. We werent aware of the daylight savings time so we lost an hour on our tour without knowing it. We explained to the staff and they let us stay for another hour. Borghese took all day, so we just went home.

Day 8
Trastevere and Police.

Police!!
we were awoken by the sound of police banging on the door of the reception. And obnoxious door buzzing

Ask for our passports and how much we paid for the room.

Worried we would never see the Asian ladies again...how would we get back into room?

But they did and they gave us our breakfast. They said they were late on something and that is way the police was here.

And after dinner they surprised us with oranges and yogurt and apologized again for the trouble this morning.

Went to Trastevere neighborhood, walked up a big hill and saw great view of Rome. Then walked back down to central area and went to Aventine hill. Saw some more great views.