Home»Italy > Greece > Paris - Day 04

Two common sights in Rome are North Africans illegally selling knock-off designer bags on the sidewalk (we didn’t even learn the price) and €5 selfie-sticks!

Sunday morning found us early at the coliseum at opening time, busy already but still well ahead of the masses to follow.  Expecting Russell Crowe to appear from behind every pillar, we were amazed at how complex were the structure and the operation of the arena.  Below its wooden floor, and around the perimeter had been cages, doors, pulleys and ramps all combined with elaborate stage sets for the ‘shows’ that were presented starring gladiators and/or exotic wild animals.  Modern sports arenas and major theatres owe almost everything to the ingenuity of ancient Romans.

This afternoon we were back on the metro which was much more crowded now (to say the least), en route to St. Peter’s.  We had decided that one could not visit Rome without St. Peter’s, though we almost changed our mind when we saw the looooong line to enter the Basilica.  It was slow because of the security check on the way in, but after 103 minutes we made it.

Maybe it was the onset of a cold, or maybe our more northern upbringing, but other than with its sheer size, St. Peter’s did not “wow” us for all the coloured marble, cherubs and past popes.  The one exception to that was the window by Bellini displaying the dove of peace – gorgeous!  Truth be told, we were getting tired by then so that may have coloured our judgement of St. Peter’s.

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