Well ! This trip will take a few separate postings to cover all the gorgeousness of Rome !
So here's the first instalment . . .

( * remember - click on the photo to see the full-size version )

One of the many ancient things in Rome (with Michael and the Colosseum too)

Michael: I don't think I was quite prepared for the scale of the Colosseum (actually the correct name for this structure is the Flavian Amphitheatre). There was a great little exhibition (Divus Vespasianus) detailing the life of the emperor Vespasian who had this built.

Michael: This is a photo of the Arch of Constantine, which was built to commemorate the Battle of Milvian Bridge in which Constantine defeated his co-emperor Maxentius. There is a great painting of this battle in the Raphael Rooms (The Vatican), designed by Raphael but executed by one of his students. The Battle of Milvian Bridge is historically significant because Constantine believed that the Christian God gave him this victory and following this, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Everywhere in Rome - you dont have to worry about getting a drink - it's running the whole time.

Michael: It is quite an incongruous sight in an otherwise dry region, to see potable water flowing straight into the sewer. In any case, it appears that there is plenty of water in Rome and none need go thirsty.

The legend of Rome's founding is that two brothers were brought up by a she-wolf on one of the 7 hills of Rome.

Michael: The brothers were Romulus and Remus fathered by Mars, of a Vestal Virgin, and they were brought up on the Palatine. The founding myth is that they grew up and established Rome. This beautiful statue is near the Campidoglio (Capitol) piazza, which was designed by Michelangelo. Photos of this later.

Fine chiseled features everywhere !

It didn't matter where we went - or what we paid - all the coffee was fantastic !

Michael: Above are Piazza della Repubblica and the Fontana delle Naiadi (Fountain of the Naiads) close to our hotel. Very beautiful at night, as you can see.

Michael: I took the photo above from a vantage point on the Capitoline. The rather ugly white thing to the right is Il Vittoriano, a monument to modern Italy's first king, Vittorio Emanuele II. The buildings in the distance are set around the Piazza Venezia.

Lovely coconut gelati !

There was this restaurant in Trastevere where we found such a great atmosphere. It's a rather bohemian area.

Michael: Unfortunately we both forgot to photograph the interior of the restaurant, which was charmingly decorated with Chianti bottles (like this one). (Ian: in fact there weren't many surfaces not supporting a bottle of wine.)

This is one of the Quattro Fontane, four fountains on each corner of a busy (but narrow) intersection in central Rome near the Quirinal hill. This particular fountain represents the River Arno, symbolising Florence.

and the Colosseum at night.


O O O

Back to Glasgow for a tick - We had Guy Fawkes nite here on November 5th.

Brought back memories of 'Cracker night' in Brisbane. Of course, fireworks in the hands of the public were banned in the 1980's in Australia.