Rome III

Spagna Steps...

Barcaccia Fountain...

Barcaccia Fountain...

Grp...

Our last 'touring' day in Rome was more free and easy as we had completed most of the attractions we wanted to see. So it was shopping! For Kendrick, he attended a mass, conducted by Pope Benedict XXVI. Lucky him.

We went separate ways to shop and met before heading for Spagna Steps or Scanlinata, in Italian. It has the Barcaccia Fountain at the foot and leads to Trinita dei Monti, a church. It was completed in the early 18th century.

That marks the end of our Easter trip in Italy. Next up, it's Amsterdam and London...

Rome II

From left: Yanli, Kendrick, Xiaoli and Me...

Colosseum...

Colosseum...

Maze 1...

Maze 2...Maze 1 and 2 are the same maze taken from different angles...

Me inside the Colosseum...

Group shot in the Colosseum...

Kendrick and Baolai disturbing Yanli...

Revenge!!!

Palatino...

Palatino and me...

Hello spring...

Abercrombie and Fitch models...hahaha...like real...more like Apple crumble and Fish models...

Another Abercrombie & Fitch model...eligible guy by the wall...contact me if you want to know him...

Roman Forum and me...

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina...

Arch of Septimius Severus...

Arch of Septimius Severus and me...

What's beneath the Arch of Septimius Severus...

Silhouette shot of Temple of Saturn...

Temple of Saturn (from left: not me, not me, not me again and still not me)

Temple of Vespasian...probably Vespa got it's name from here...

Ground-zero view of the Roman Forum...click on the picture to see the names of the structures...

Overview of the Roman Forum...click on the picture to see the names of the structures...

Facade of Monuments a Vittorio Emanuele II...

Better view of Monuments a Vittorio Emanuele II despite being in the background of the Roman Forum...

Fontana di Trevi...

Closeup of Fontana di Trevi...

Fontana di Trevi and us...

Fontana di Trevi with me & others...

Fontana di Trevi by night...

Pantheon...

Facade of the Pantheon...

Inside the Pantheon...

Roman Forum was the place around which ancient Roman developed. It was there where communal and administration of justice took place. Some of the notable structures within the Roman Forum include Temple of Antioninus and Faustina, Temple of Castor and Pollux, Temple of Saturn, Temple of Vespasian and Arch of Septimius Severus.

To save you the trouble of finding out from wikipedia what all the structures represent, here is what I have copied. Temple of Antioninus was built by Emperor Antioninus Pius, initially dedicated to his decreased wife , Faustina the Elder. It was later renamed what it is today by Antoninus's successor, Marcus Aurelius after the former's death in 161.

Temple of Castor and Pollux was built originally in gratitude for victory at the Battle of Lake Regillus (495BC). Castor and Pollux were the Dioscuri, the twins of Gemini, or the twin sons of Zeus and Leda. During the battle, the Dioscuri appeared and helped the Romans. In return, dictator Aulus Postumius Albinus built a temple for them at the forum.

Temple of Saturn is a monument to the agricultural deity, Saturn. It is the oldest surviving structures in the forum believed to be built by King Tarquinius Superbus (Superbus???) between 501BC to 498BC. Temple of Vespasian built from AD79 to AD87 to honor the deified Vespasian and his son the deified Titus by Titus' brother, Domitian.

Arch of Septimius Severus is a white marble arch built in AD203 to commemorate the Parthian victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, in the two campaigns against the Parthians of 195 and 203. The Pantheon was a temple for all the gods in Ancient Rome.

The Colosseum is the largest colosseum ever built in the Roman Empire. It is an elliptical amphitheatre. It was built by Vespasian in AD70 and completed in AD80. The Colosseum serves as a venue for gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, mock sea battles, re-enactment of battles and dramas based on classical mythology.

Fontana di Trevi is a fountain. Duhz. Anyway, it is a very scenic fountain which draws alot of tourists, locals, pickpockets, police and the likes. Do not expect to take a nice picture without anyone trying to muscle you for your place. Do remember to toss a coin or two to make your wish. Whether it comes true is another matter.

We conquered so many places in our second day in Rome. Third day in Rome was more relaxing with shopping...till then

Rome I

...Roma...

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...belong to the Popes...

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...me...

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...as usual, i dropped something...i have this bad habit of dropping things from heights, especially in Duomos...dropped sth from this height in the Duomo in Florence too...

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...beautiful ppl...thx baolai for your photographic expertise...

...me small...

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...pieta...

...me...

...not me...

...me...

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For reasons unknown to the author of this blog as well, descriptions of places are unavailable for the time being. This post shall be concise without being too slipshod. Arrived in Rome. Went Macdonald's for dinner. First Mac meal since coming Denmark. Unfortunate to share room with a Milan dude who scolded us for being too noisy. Not very happy, quite bad start to Rome.

Forget about him. Next morning, woke up very early. Want to avoid long queue to Vatican Museum. Reached at 750am. Luckily only 50min queue. Museum very nice, but we don't know what's what inside, so pretended to be interested. Saw many Popes' stuff and paintings, rooms drawn or designed by this Raphael guy. Think he built many many buildings in the premises of Vatican, including the interiors.

Went to Basilica Di San Pietro thereafter. Again, paid money to climb up the Duomo. Was worth it as usual, nice view from top. Took many many beautiful pictures. Come down, went to see Popes' graves in this special building. Cannot snap snap inside so no proof. "Delighted" to finally see Pope John Paul II's grave. A few people praying in front of his grave. He was like a grandfather to the world.

Took some pictures outside at the square of Saint Peter's Basilica again. Saw Swiss Guards, uniform quite comical so gossiped abit about them and make small jokes. Impolite but we don't mean it. Left a satisfied tourist. Tired and apprehensive coz go back must face the Milan dude again...