When In Rome...

We are very close to leaving lovely Belgie, so we decided to take advantage of the kids Spring Break from school and go on one last big European adventure. Jess has been asking to go to Rome, Italy, since we got orders over here, so this was her lucky break. Rome it is. We stayed at the lovely Hotel Della Torre Argentina, and couldn't have been happier. It was amazing. If you've never been to Europe, you will find that all hotel rooms are pretty small, and limit 3 people per room. Having two teenagers means having to book two rooms over here (double the expenses), and they are never beside each other. The Hotel Della Torre Argentina had a suite with two bedrooms and a large bathroom. We had plenty of space and all got to stay together. Not only that, but it also had it's own private balcony. How fantastic is this? I know what you're thinking, it must be pretty pricey, but it really wasn't. It was actually cheaper than booking two rooms at other hotels in the city. Another plus for this Hotel was it's location. It was right in the heart of Rome, and close to lots of historic sites and restaurants. We were only staying a few days, so we couldn't wait to get started on our adventure. As soon as we checked in that night, we took off to see the Piazza Navona. The fountains were gorgeous at night! This one is called the Fountain of the Four Rivers, and was designed by Bernini. Not too far from there is the Pantheon. It was designed in 118-25 AD. The fountain in front of the Pantheon was built in 1575. The pictures don't do it justice. It was beautiful. After a good nights sleep, we met in the breakfast room for some fantastic food to recharge our bodies, then took off once again. This intersection was the most entertaining (and perhaps scary) in all of Rome. When you hear that people in Italy drive like maniacs, it's an huge understatement. Lines on the road are a luxury. Rules are ignored. If you think you can fit two cars in one lane, then they will fit three. Maybe four. This intersection was complete chaos. Cars came from every direction, forced their way in and then sped around and out again. During morning and evening rush hour, a round column rises out of the road and a police officer stand on it and directs the cars. You couldn't pay me enough to do that job. What a beautiful day to check out Rome. We couldn't have asked for better weather the entire trip. It was amazing. On our first full day in the city, we had tickets to check out the Colosseum. You can't go to Rome and not do this. I think it's the law. It's totally worth it, too. It was breathtaking. It was hard to believe that we were really there. The Colosseum was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater, and it's construction was started in 70 AD. It took 10 years to complete. It could hold around 70,000 people, who watched everything from gladiator combats to wild beast hunts. More than 100,000 cubic meters of travertine were used to build the Colosseum. Just beside the Colosseum is the Arch of Constantine. After touring the Colosseum and other neraby sites, we walked back to the Piazza Navona to check it out in the day time. It quickly became our favorite hang out spot. There are three fountains in the Piazza, and lots of restaurants (rather pricey) and shops. For cheap entertainment, we got some gelato and sat down to watch the painters and street performers do their thing. Occassionally someone played a saxaphone or guitar as well. But I liked listening to (and looking at) the fountains most of all.

Then we walked over to see the most famous fountain in all of Rome. Heck... all of Italy. Trevi Fountain. This is what I wanted to see most during our visit. The fountain was completed in 1762, and marks the end of an aqueduct. The aqueduct brings water from Salone Springs, and provides all of the water for the fountains in the historic center of Rome. Neptune, the God of the Sea, is at the center of the fountain. And it's gorgeous. And even more gorgeous at night. If you turn your back and toss a coin in the fountain, the legend says that you will return to Rome one day. Jess and I both tossed in a coin. The guys just relaxed and admired the view. We told them we'd send them a post card when we went back. This is the Piazza Venezia. It's also known as the Wedding Cake Building. Even I don't need to explain that one.

A new day brought more walking and exploring. This is the Castel Sant'Angelo. It was the papal castle for 1,000 years, and a viaduct connecting it to the Vatican lets the Pope head over here when things get a little crazy.

That's the Vatican in the background. This might be one of the most scenic spots in all of Rome.

And here's the Vatican up close. Is that the Pope? Everywhere you look is another beautiful building.

This is the site of the Circus Maximus. It was where they raced chariots.

*On a side note, while we were walking around Rome, we were looking for the pretty fountain that was in the movie When In Rome. Jess and I wanted to take pictures of it. We asked some locals, but no one knew where it was located. It turns out that it isn't located anywhere. It's all movie magic. Hundreds of statues and fountains in Rome, and they made one up for the movie. If you ever go to Rome, don't ask about the statue. They will just look at you like you are crazy. Trust me, we know.

Another famous site in Rome is the Spanish Steps. Apparently it is also a popular resting spot for tourists.

After exploring the city and enjoying the beautiful weather, we needed another gelato break. (OK, maybe we took a lot of gelato breaks during our Roman holiday, but who's counting.)

If I posted all 1,000 of the pictures I took in Rome, we'd be here all week, so I will stop at this point and just tell you... fly there and check it out yourself. It was amazing. Better yet, watch the movie When In Rome and see the sites virtually. It's a lot cheaper, but you don't get to eat the gelato. You choose. Personally, I think the gelato was worth the flight.