Rome 2 Video

April 6/08 - Visit to the Colosseum (Amphitheatrum Flavium). It was fortunate that we had the Roma Pass, short queue compared to those buying tickets on the spot. Yes, the Colosseum is big and old... almost everything in Rome is old (except the people). We wandered around and went upstairs to visit the exhibits of statues and things Roman. The steps are big, wondered if people back then really had to "climb" up the stairs rather than walking... We did not know why but Eddie suddenly asked us to lean against the wall and took pictures of our faces using the Videocam. Then he showed us on the LCD screen - he had earlier taken pictures of all the heads of past Roman emperors (yes, most of the exhibited statues had no body). When the pictures were played back - it looked like Michael Jackson's "Black and White" video. We all had a great laugh!!

Outside the Colosseum, lots of hunky Italian men posing as gladiators. The tourists, especially elderly ladies loved them. If you want your picture taken with them, make sure you give tips. It was Sunday when we were there, the street infront of the Colosseum (Via dei Fori Imperiali) was closed to traffic. It had a festive air when people were walking on the street, buskers playing music by the side and posing as statues ... we saw the same Egyptian sarcophagus from Castel San Angelo two days earlier. It was just a short walk past the Roman Forum to the Vittorio Emmanuelle monument. This big "wedding cake" was covered with scaffolding - being cleaned and restored. We wanted to sit on the marble staircase but was prohibited by the policeman - no seating or eating here. After some photographs, we went round the corner up the Capitoline Hill to the Roman Museum. It was not because we love museums but it was drizzling and this looked a good place to wait out the rain, and also the entrance was covered by our Roma Pass.

A word of caution - beware of pickpockets especially in crowded buses and metro. Some teenagers were on the same train as we were. Two of them stood at the door, whilst the third tried to pick Wee's cargo pants pocket. This girl was holding a baby and had a big shawl draped over her. The shawl hid what she was doing with her hands - luckily Wee felt her trying to open the pocket and brushed her hands away. All of them quickly got off at the next station. The pocket had button closure and contained a camera. The camera may not worth a lot but the photos were irreplaceable. Fortunately, we still have our photos to share. So if you are traveling - do not be an easy target, don't kept valuables in pockets that are easily picked. Use hidden money pouches. If you have to use pockets - use those with zip/button which are not easy to open. Use a small backpack to carry camera and other essentials - and carry it infront - frontpack??