Part 3 | Colosseum - Roman Forums
Another day waking up in Rome! Our first Thanksgiving Day spent oversees alone together! We got an early start this morning so we can make it to the colosseum on time for our fast pass ticket. Knowing we needed to hop metro's we wanted to be early just incase we got mixed up. We ate our free breakfast, fresh pressed orange juice and nutella donuts and headed off to the metro with our umbrellas in tow. When in calls for rain in Italy you bring an umbrella. What I forgot to mention in Part 2, when we got back to the hotel from out visit to the Vatican City it began to pour rain. There was nothing then all of the sudden a downpour. So we knew we dodged being drenched and should definitely bring along out small travel umbrellas this time. The morning was overcast in the cool autumn weather.Â
We were about to walk down the steps to the metro and the need to pee hit me so hard I started panicking. I told Joe and we started searching for a restroom. I swore I used the restroom before we left but this felt like I drank a jug of water and needed to figure something out quickly! Across the street from the metro was a shoe shop. I thought I would try my odds there. I walked into the store and in my best Italian said, "dov'è il bagno?" After that ensued dialog I couldn't make out but luckily 1. Italians talk with their hands. 2. They are very expressive. 3. Italian is close to Spanish and I can pick up root words. So he was waving his hands and shaking his head at his store. There wasn't a restroom there for personal use and he was sorry but there is a public restroom on the other side of the street. He even had the courtesy to step outside his shop and point the way. I thanked him "Grazie!" and we rushed across the street. We had to take an escalator down to the underground part of the mall just to find that it was locked because the mall was not opened yet. We reluctantly decided to head back to the hotel. I had to go so bad I was almost in tears. I was muttering mantra's. "Please don't pee your pants in Rome. Please don't pee your pants in Rome!" As we were quickly walking down a different street to get back to the hotel I spotted a donut shop with a public restroom sign. I darted in that store so fast the employees probably didn't see me walk in. It's kind of poetic because when I was little I used to think about donuts to not go pee. You know when they tell you not to think about how bad you need to pee think about something else, I would always think about donuts. And here I was in a donut shop being saved from completely mortifying myself in Rome. Once relieved I washed my hands and threw 3 euros in their tip jar and thanked them with a "Grazie!" After this my husband stopped at restrooms to ensure I took care of business and something like this wouldn't happen again. I'm not even sorry for all this restroom talk this is a valuable lesson!
We bored the train. My husband gave me shit about my restroom fiasco. We were giggling like two love birds the whole way to the next train. Locals probably thought we were sooooo in love laughing and whispering to each other. Our smiles made other people smile. The signs to get on the next train were quite clear. We hopped on the train to the colosseum with ease. Once we came to surface level and saw light.. the very next thing you see is 6 acres of history. Built in 70 AD and opened in 80 AD, that's 1,950 years ago! The Colosseum, aka The Flavian Amphitheater, was breath-taking in the morning light. It was built from travertine limestone, tuff and brick-faced concrete and was the largest "stadium" of it's time holding 50,000 - 80,000 people. As we got closer the luminance of the moment started to fade with so many pan handlers and ticket salesmen trying to get our attention. We already had tickets so no need to waste their time.Â
The pan handlers were relentless approaching us with random things like glass molds of the colosseum, bracelets, ...selfie sticks.. Joe was constantly telling people no. My expertise living for 3 years in Las Vegas taught me out to avoid tourists traps and watch for pick pockets.Â
We walked up to the line entrance to be turned away for another half hour until our ticket matched the time slot. We we had a long walk around the colosseum taking it all in and taking a few pictures. Man came up to Joe and complimented his red beard and told him he was from Africa and loves Americans. He told him he would like to give him an elephant bracelet his people make as a gift, no charge. At this point I looked around us wondering what the gimmick was. In the near distance another man dressed similarly was beelining towards us so fast he was gently pushing through a tourist group with his eyes on Joe. I looked back over at the man in front of us as he was trying to shove an elephant bracelet in my hand I refused to take it and it dropped to the floor as I said, "No! We are done here. Whatever you are trying to do quit it now!" I grabbed Joe by the shoulder and blocked his wallet pocket with my body and shoved him off in a direction with no crowds. The man appeared again and asked for his bracelet back. It was on Joes wrist so tight he couldn't get it off himself. So I took his wrist and made quick work of freeing his wrist while keeping my eyes alert to the mans distance and possibilities to be pick pocketed. I gave Joe a tiny lecture about letting people do things like this will have us robbed blind and to not let this happen again. He admitted that he wasn't feeling well and needed to sit for a minute. (Later I google searched what their gimmick was to find that they slip a very tight bracelet on people for free, then show you pictures of their family then ask for money. When you do not give them money they ask for the bracelet back. When you cannot get the bracelet off they demand you pay them for it then.) He sat on a wall while I made a stop in a bathroom that costed one euro to use. To get in you drop your coin in a slot and the line mechanism lets you pass. It had a bathroom attendant, a very wet floor and no actual toilet seats but it smelled and looked clean. Afterward we walked to the entrance and people watched a safe distance away from pan handlers until our time to enter the colosseum came up.
Two minutes shy of our entry time we stepped into the fast lane taking us straight through to the xray machines. Where they searched our items and purse before entry like they did in the Vatican City. Immediately I was disappointed in the carvings and graffiti etched in the ancient architecture. Marking your territory on such a monumental piece of history is so disrespectful I couldn't believe my eyes. We made our way up the stairs for a better vantage point. There wasn't so much markings and graffiti out in the open, which was a relief to see. Also there were a lot of closed off areas and even caged-off areas protecting the building. Looking around us I felt so small compared to the massive stones and architecture. We stood a the center of the northern point holding hands and admiring how we were standing inside history. Once we circles the entire colosseum we headed over to the Roman Forums. Â
While standing in line to enter the Roman Forums it began to sprinkle. The sound of umbrellas opening was almost unanimous. Walking the grounds of the Roman Forums everything is pretty much outside that they let you have access too. The Roman Forum, is the ruins of ancient government buildings and market place in the center of Rome next to the Colosseum. It rained for about 10 minutes then let up. We walked around every stitch of the Forums and boy did I take a lot of pictures! I couldn't help myself. The detail of what was left behind was so beautiful I began taking pictures knowing that I will print them out for my home! I wore sneakers but that still didn't take away from the extreme fatigue I felt in my legs and feet especially after making our way up to the highest point of the forums to view everything from above. We walked through a beautiful garden and came across an ancient "jacuzzi". At certain points there are stands explaining what were looking at with a big of history. Once we circled back to where we began we headed back to the metro. I remember Joe hopping on and the doors actually closing on me as I hopped on after. He looked down at my arms smeared with black from the rubber on the metro doors. I shrugged. Once we got back to the hotel we both took a nap. My legs felt like sand bags I was completely done for the night. But we had to eat! I googled nearby restaurants and within a 5 minute walking distance was a little pizza place called... Pizza Max! lol For $6 both I were able to have a huge square slice of pizza and two cokes. This was the best pizza I have every tasted in my life and we had left overs! Satisfied we stopped at the store for beer and wine and went back to the hotel. We drank and talked about the things we enjoyed seeing while plotting out our last days adventure.