August 12
Today, was ancient Rome day. Ancient Rome was one of city's highlights -- all the history and symbols that demonstrate it is a central part of the foundation of our current day, Western society.
After breakfast, we walked from our hotel to Palatine Hill, one of seven hills in Rome and the birth of the original Rome. Palatine is rooted in the word 'palace' and is where palaces of old once stood including the home of Caesar Augustus.
Palatine flows into the Roman Forum, the main square and civic center of ancient Rome with ruins and grand archs.
Nearby is the Colosseum, a 2,000 year old stadium and classic example of Roman engineering, the site where gladiators, criminals, and wild animals fought to their death.
Like most big cities, we walked many miles and climbed many stairs by the day's end, crowning it with a climb up the renowned Spanish Steps, a busy, tourist spot filled with street vendors selling trinkets, college and young folk carousing with friends and romantic interests.
Built in front of the Spanish Embassy over 300 years ago (reason for its namesake), the Spanish Steps has been home to many famous writers and poets including Keats (was also the place of his death).
After a delicious dinner that we miraculously managed to complete by 8:30pm, we ended our fine, long day at the beautiful but bustling Trevi Fountain. We wished we could have vacated the vast number of tourists to make some of these sites more enjoyable.
As called for by tradition, we each took a coin and threw it over our shoulders while simultaneously making a wish.
Here, Colin had his first experience negotiating with a street vendor who attempted to sell him a dollar-store type lighted pen for 20 Euro (or about $30); Colin offered him 2 Euros but he didn't bite.
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