There's no place like ROME

DAY 3 - 

Thanks to the sky for letting the sun crash the party as we were met by the bluest of blue skies and amiable temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius (that's 75.2 in Fahrenheit for any of my American amigos that may be reading). 

The crowds at the Colosseo were not as great as I'd envisioned. We were lured onto an English speaking tour for 13 euros each, but not 3 minutes after we'd forked over our dosh we heard a broadcast from the Colosseum itself that tours were only 9! I'm a naive idiot, right? The only way of recognition that we were with this group was with a gold dot sticker which easily could have fallen off and not at any point did it dawn on them to take our names. I swear lots of extras snuck onto our tour group as originally there were only supposed to have been 15 of us but it expanded to nearer 50!!!! This made it nigh on imposs, to follow the leader. 

Our Italian female guide had a big booming voice with which to trumpet grandiose announcements through her rolled tongue and erratic emphasis and intonation on various words. It was hard to understand her dictation when she'd contribute interesting facts and moreso when her mic malfunctioned. Most of the 'tour' took place outside the old stomping ground of the combatants but a small, intricate carving of the face of Jesus above one of the arches was pointed out. Unless you knew it was there, you're unlikely to clap your eyes on it as it camouflages in. 

MY SOCKS WERE KNOCKED OFF: I won't put you to sleep with a narrative of this beloved and historic part of Ancient Rome but I cannot oversell the Flavian amphitheatre enough. Merely standing inside the most widely pictured open-air stadium in the world,  is a thrill in itself. Regardless of the ongoing $25 million clean up operation which covers various façades with scaffolding, it changes nothing. The significance of the structure remains unparalleled. Your jaw will drop round every bend at the architectural genius of Titus' magnum opus. ALL shall have a ball, acting the fool on a photo taking crawl from every angle imaginable. 

It's sad really that *this* slaughter passed for entertainment with an arena full of 50,000 spectators to watch slaves (who were imprisoned in the cages below) take on Gladiators. The multitudes would roar while the weak and unfortunate would meet their inevitable deaths when the kraken was released; against lions and the like, who'd tear them limb from limb. The ferocious beasts were starved for days so that they'd go to town feasting on human flesh. What a bloody and brutal way for a life to end! Competitors could weep and beg for mercy nevertheless the blood-thirsty crowd would decide through chants and signals to kill or to spare the life of the warriors. Dead bodies were savagely dropped through trap doors in the stage and victors championed and rewarded with Roman coins. 

Allegedly, Popes ordered that the original marble must be taken down for their churches but soon felt guilty when this caused much of the Colosseo to collapse. Some two thirds of the exterior has been destroyed by natural disasters but the Colosseum does not cave in entirely. Back in the ancient days, it was free to enter the gladiatorial arena; homeless sheltered on the lowest level, lighting fires to stay warm in the cold of night which has blackened the tops from the smoke fumes. 

FAIR WARNING: The toilet queues for females get cray to the Z! After 10 mins or so of restlessly crossing my legs in a very unlady-like manner; my mind was flipping out but it was not til we edged closer I could see that the disabled WC had been vacant all along. The lack of public toilets results in us having to drink very little or hold 'it' until we make it back to our B and B. Even then, I am repulsed as most of the tourist hotspots don't have seats!! 

We were handed over to a new guide in the form of a man, which Mum and I had thought to be quite hunky ... but then he took off his sunnies!! An instant admonition to be ultra cautious with our belongings did not allay concerns that the road in which we were to walk down to reach the site, was the very street a lad in one of his previous groups had been pick pocketed in broad daylight. 

Don't be duped into believing that you don't need to see The Roman Forum as it seems a snooze! There's no better way to while away the afternoon at this expanse of remarkable ruins centred within the political and financial hub of the founded Eternal City. 

PALANTINO HILL - Poorliness consumed me while tentatively tracing the supposed area where Romulus founded the Eternal City in 753 BC, after murdering his brother in cold blood!! Montigue, soldiered on after getting a grip but tears threatened to tumble down my cheeky cheeks as cold flurried around my head and my throat was afflicted with yucky, strep throaty torture!  Giddy heights do not have to be scaled atop one of Rome's 7 hills in order to reach the sweeping view. 

I approveth this place ======> Piazza Navona, a plaza of performers and opulence. The public buzz like social bees round a honey pot; some marvel at the marble of Bernini's homage to 4 Rivers, others dine at an open air cafe and the rest soak up ze ambiance! 

A Rastafarian singer who embodied the Marley spirit, drew in the largest and most participatory crowd. Strangely, even the birds suddenly seemed to be singing along as the audience grooved. It was all very deeply beautiful to have an assembly of strangers join in with rasta versions of his songs 'yaka yaka yaka yaka YO!!' His modern spin on John Lennon's Imagine, with lyrics such as 'Imagine there's no Facebook' etc. was humorously thought-provoking. It electrified me to see how the unifying power of music brought so many together with a message of love.  

IF I COULD DREAM MY PERFECT GELATO IT WOULDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE - I must impart knowledge of the best artisan gelati in the whole of Rome. It is to be revered. The (naughty) nocciola and (peppy) pistachio dipped in dark, molten chocolate made the vast line we waited in worth every bite. Grazi mille to Frigidarium Gelateria for bringing the gift of pudding to their happy customers. Other gelaterias are not worthy of comment once you get hopped up on this gelato goodness. LET ME DIE HERE!

The one minor quibble is how quick it is to drip all down the tub.  I left a trail wherever I walked like Hansel and Gretel's breadcrumbs indicating to Rome 'RIANNE WAS HERE!!' 

To cap off, what was otherwise a perfecto day we had to return earlier than we had the past two nights as I was hurting everywhere. It was difficult for me to swallow even water by this point and I felt sickly. I've gabbled on enough my little gems, the remainder of Rome will be featured in the not too distant future xx