More Rome pictures

I actually want to share many things with you guys but I am overwhelmed by work and home (work). Sounds like a stale stories but I am doing this for the benefit of my memories as well.

First day in Rome was pretty hectic. Conned by gladiators and nearly collapse while touring Colosseum + Palatine Hill + Forum... We went to Trevi Fountain and had a wonder in an archaeological museum near Trevi.. and did some window shopping. I was not in the mood to shop at this stage... Gayle was saying - "it's nice" "I can see that on you" or "That is so Hisham" every time I looked at something... I tell you... phrases like that actually didn't encourage me to shop... so I just pick and put it back almost everything (except for a fake Prada.. which later on I sold it to Gayle) - One shop - I got so close to buy this 'orange' handbag... Gayle was doing what she is best for ---- selling .. oh I should mention this - she is a very good salesperson. She once sold a painting for double the asked price.. and those gallery paintings ain't cheap...

The shop owner said to her, I like you - you have class (good taste) but your friend is 'cheap'!

-which was very true.. hahahah so we walked out without buying no-shit!
hahhaahhaaha

Inside archaeological museum near Trevi

First meal in Italy.. late lunch/early dinner (about 5 PM). Don't remember what I had but it was good (or maybe I was famished)

A view from our room. News-stand kiosk and a small fountain. At night this area was packed by people, so noisy. If you don't mind sleeping through the noise, this is otherwise a nice quaint spot for accommodation. Lively (noisily) night scene.

There are many drinking tap like this all over Italy really. Just carry an empty bottle and fill up when you need to.

Loved the cobbled stone road... I wonder how long ago this stones were laid...

Door knocker

Shell jewellery. Cameo. But I was still stingy.. no shitery shopping (yet)

Grape vine, ain't it awesome?

medieval window?

Saw this shop and it wasn't far from where we stayed.

Rome style pizza - ie thick based and whatever toppings you can imagine. I actually prefer this type of pizza than the proper pizza at the 'restorante'.

That lemone gelato that look pretty disgusting at first... but taste soooo good.

No shitery did I say? I did buy many fridge magnets n one Roman 'head' for Aladdin.

more shitery scene

I don't get it... lotsof people hanging out by Trevi.. all I remember was the 'smell' of stale sweats - euwwww

That's it... Fontana di Trevi

Graffiti every where.

Another interesting fact is that most public toilets in Italy doesn't have the 'seat' bit.. you kind of sit on the hard porcelain. At first I thought vandalism but it can't be vandalised almost every where.. including the toilets in St. Paul's Basilica in Vatican.

When in Rome...

.. dived into tourist traps right away!
We arrived Rome about 10 am the next day. (which was like 6 pm Tassie time) so you think we should just relax before start the tourist itinerary? NOPE.. by the time we got to the hotel, changed and had showers it's about mid day. Had lunch first?> NOPE... we hit Colosseum which was only a short distance walk from our hotel.

First trap.. Gladiators.

 Eat your heart out Hisham! Before we knew it they were asking for 50 euro for the pictures. I blamed Gayle for this one but apparently she made a promise with her husband that she want to enrol us in Gladiator School... (I know b.s! right.. but that's the honest truth) of course we didn't do the gladiator school, she just want to show her husband that, yes! we mingled with the gladiators (more like the con artists)

Right... now... I know we have to be extremely careful in Italy.. determined not to get into traps again.

Sad scene near Colosseum. Many beggars that I saw wore some sort of head scarf... (like nun). Gayle thought this lady is a Muslim (?). I was trying to figure out which way should I pray and Gayle pointed out that she saw one lady was praying this way... it was this beggar!

The entrance of Colosseum. It's real name is Flavius Amphitheatre. Colosseum is only a nick name. There used to be a big statue of Emperor Nero, it stood 35 meters high and that was "the Colossus". Nero was not a popular emperor, his statue was destroyed but the nick name stays. 

Marble rubble

Imagine doing a concert here....

I wondered how did it looked like at the height of it's glory

Used to be 'kiosk'

Skeleton of the amphitheatre. Tourists in every corner you look. 

From second floor looking down towards Forum

There were a mile long Q to enter Colosseum. The tickets were 12 euros. You can also hire a head set (not sure if it's included in the 12 euros. We went in with a guide. I think it's about 30 or 40 euros? [I can't remember] - they will take you through Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Forum. I didn't know much about Colosseum so I quite enjoy some of the guided tour. Some guides are not so good. After a while I got disinterested and the truck load of info just went through my ears! hahaha. I didn't like the first guy who took us through Colosseum but the second guide, a Canadian she was good. Full of information. Some of the tourists really know their Roman history and started to ask curly questions.

Best lemone gelato (maybe I was desperate?)