bluerain

(03.03.07/05.50)

now that we have finally mastered (or so it seemed) the lay out of the city (or what looks like a scattered pieces of a puzzle that is rome), we ventured around on foot.  initially taking the metro B to the south of the city, we went to see the coloseo.  magnificent ancient structure built to amuse the people of rome with gladiator fights and beasts fights.  physically ravaged by time, but not it’s beauty and splendor, the coloseo showed how advanced the romans were even in putting up shows, with lifts and underground rooms, etc., they put an E to entertainment, that’s it!

the coloseo

then the long walk from the ruins of the roman forum, and of course, what i believe could be the most beautiful structure i have ever seen - the vitorrio monument/museum in almost the heart of the city.  not considering the amazing sistine chapel and michaelangelo’s paintings, the vittorio museum is the most majestic structure (or building or piece of architecture, etc.,) i have ever seen - a large, imposing roman architecture, built in the 1800’s and continued on until the early 1900, houses the altar and tomb of unknown soldiers (guarded by two fully-uniformed roman soldiers), with the huge sculpted image of their hero vittorio emmanuel at the top most part of the building.  the building (which is a museum, a monument, a tomb for unknown soldiers, and a sacred roman altar) is so huge, with ornaments of marbles and stones and roman columns, that it made me think of the movie benhur - and of roman gladiators and emperor, etc., - you just can’t get enough of its splendor, and that is for loss of words to describe it’s beauty.

vittorio emmanuel museum in rome

next stop was the piazza navona, where interesting mix of people can be seen lounging around, it has a warm feel of a town plaza with fountains and people doing some paintings, buskings, and selling fake prada and armani items, and also there’s a terrible mime actor (?).

we’ve met some filipinos along the way and they’re always kind enough to remind us to keep away from crowds, as there were some incidents of pickpockets in the metro and buses.  also, i noticed how graffiti flourish around the city - i think, even in the high streets, walls are blemished with too much graffiti (something i have not seen in high street dublin).  the metro B is airsprayed with grafitti, that it made me wonder whether they were done intentionally or  were they the works of vandals - whatever, i think it has become the charm of the city itself - i even bought a t-shirt with graffiti design with rome sprayed in big bold letters.

everywhere we go, just by walking around, eventually ends up in interesting nooks and corners - an ancient ruin, a magnificent basilica, a crowded piazza, majestic fountains - no time is lost in rome, there is always something to see, to hear and to smell.  truly, it is aptly called the eternal city.

the pantheon at night

next pit stop is - florence.  we will be taking the train to firenze (florence) at around 9 this morning, don’t know what to expect, but here goes.  ciao!

- bluerain