Rome if You Want To... (Who Wouldn't?)

I traveled to Rome by night train. My first one ever. Little did I know it would be the best one... but thats another story for another day. :) In the morning, I got of the train and went and dropped my stuff at the hostel. Then first on the agenda...

THE COLOSSEUM!!!!

*Side note: Italy is hot. And sunny. And my hair got frizzy, fast. So every shot was not a glamor shot. But I was ridiculously excited to be there, and thats what's important! :)

I went for a walk through the past in the Roman Forum, joining up with a couple from South Africa who were listening to the Rick Steve's Audio tour I had been reading out of my book. (Thank heaven's for that book. Saved my life. Probably quite literally.)

Then I made my way up the Capitoline Hill and went to the Capitoline Museums, and saw all this stuff I'd studied in my Humanities classes...

Then I headed back over to take a tour of the Colosseum. It was way cool! I didn't pay for a guided tour or the audio tour, but it worked out fine because I just listened in on the 5,000 other tours that were going on. (Actually, I did that a lot. I figured it was okay since I'm just one person...)

Then on to the Victor Emmanuel Monument! I really didn't know anything about it, and actually, I still don't. But it was big! And white! And I saw it!

Then a whole bunch of walking over to THE PANTHEON!!! Ancient! Amazing! Something I've always wanted to see, and I wasn't disappointed!

Look at the courtyard of the Pantheon. So Italian. So touristy. Right behind that obelisk thing is a McDonald's. Really.

Then I went and ate some dinner. I thought it would be awkward eating alone, but it wasn't really, and I even talked to a sweet 70 year old Italian man who was eating by himself too. Oh, and by the way, it was DELICIOUS!!!!
As dusk set in, I set out on a "Night Walk Across Rome". It was absolutely amazing. I just kept saying, "I can't believe I'm here!!!" Beautiful. Magical. Oh yeah, and I got lost. Don't worry, I found some other American ladies who were using the Rick Steve's book and were lost too. We figured it out eventually. :)

I think the next part may have been the most magical part of this absolutely amazing day. Just look at the crowd gathered around!

THE TREVI FOUNTAIN!!!

I loved the Trevi Fountain. It may not be the most ancient thing in Rome, but it sure felt magical. I threw in a 2 Euro cent coin and wished to come back again with someone I love. :)

I walked past the Spanish Steps on my way home- they were crowded with thousands (it felt like) of German kids. They had been all around the city all day. I just couldn't get away from those crazy Germans, even in Italy!

Could it have been a more magical day? I don't think so. It was beautiful. I can't wait to go back!!!