The Eternal city

Sunday was our first day in Rome, so as is our custom, we hopped a bus for the cheap tour. €1.50 buys 100 minutes of transportation. Our return trip ended back at Termini. All modern transportation in Rome leads to Termini train station. The two subway lines, trams, and buses all go through Termini. Across the street is the Museum of Rome. We finished day one there.

A couple favorites. Bronze casting using wax. An art lost for centuries.

Boxer at rest.

The Romans loved Greek art and had little original art of their own. Demand for Greek art was high so a large industry was created making knock-offs. I noticed a trend while reading the descriptions of many Roman busts. The dating of busts was done by the hair style. Romans changed hairstyles every decade or two.

Bust of Brutus, famous for stabbing Julius Caesar.

"Wounded Noibid" The contortions of the woman are her attempt to pull an arrow from her back

Starting early this morning we set out for the Colosseum. I rank this right up there with the Eiffel Tower tour. We were stopped by a tour rep. at the entrance and De Anne deferred the decision to me. I agreed to a tour in English and we joined a dozen other English speaking tourists as the only Americans in the group. We sailed past the long ticket line and got a great tour! 

The marble that covered the Colosseum, inside and out, was stripped in the Middle Ages, mostly for church building and especially for St. Peter's. the holes everywhere are where the lead pins holding the stones together were looted.

The tour also included the Roman Forum. 

De Anne was surprised when after only six and half hours of walking, stair climbing, and hill climbing I was tired. She reluctantly agreed to head back to the apartment. From Termini we take a tram to our apartment. At one point we were stopped in a line of trams and I feared some unplanned walking was about to happen. It was quite a relief when we began moving again after a short wait.

3 trams waiting under the ruins.