The Roman Forum, Sunday June 22

Here is the Roman Forum, the seat of the republic. These shots were taken from the Capitoline Hill and we're looking down on the places where Cicero, Seneca, Cataline and Caesar orated and where Caesar was assassinated.

Around the Coliseum, Sunday, June 22

Here are more views around the Coliseum.

This is a statue mime.  There were a lot of them around the area.  Some were quite good.  this one is not the best, but not the worst, either.

Another view of the coliseum.

We were hot and tired, so an outdoor restaurant with an arboretum seemed just the thing.  We had some wine and our first taste of Italian beer and a fungi (mushroom) pizza.  The beer was great.

Mary Fran, Mom and me outside the restaurant.

Palatine Hill

Rome is built on seven hills.  Our hotel was on the side of the Palatine Hill which is where Romulus and Remus were nurtured by the she-wolf.  It is also where the Roman emperors built their palaces.  Here are the ruins of the palaces.  The long oval field in front is the Circus Maximus where chariot races were held to entertain the citizens.  It is also where Christians were fed to the lions.  Joggers now workout on the chariot paths.

Hotel Kolbe Rome, Sunday June 22

Hotel Kolbe Rome on Via di San Teodoro is the tall building on the left.  On the right is the wall of the Roman Forum.

The Jacuzzi tub in our hotel room.

Our hotel room with stairs going to the loft bed.  The desk clerk said this was the nicest room in the hotel and we believe him.  Ann, Mike and Mom shared a smaller room.

A view of the crowded roofline as seen from our hotel room.