We visited the Colosseum today with a tour of the underground where the gladiators waited to fight. The picture above is the hallway leading to the staircase that brought them into the arena. The underground is a series of tunnels and rooms where prisoners (involuntary gladiators), animals and hundreds of people worked to create the “shows” for the Roman elite. The arched areas below were animal cages. This is an elevator that has been reconstructed. It was used to move “sets” between shows. This corridor runs the length of the Colosseum underground and was used to move people and animals between shows. This is the staircase leading to the entrance to the arena of the Colosseum. It is dark and small. The opening to the arena is a suddenly bright, glaring experience. A view of the arena. The underground was covered with wood flooring that was covered in sand. The stomping noises of the crowd would have been overwhelming when hearing it from below. Surrounding the Colosseum are ruin...
We arrived in Amalfi today for three days of no schedule and swimming in the ocean. On our way we stopped in Positano for lunch and discovered wonderful shopping 🙂 It is high season here and swarms of people have descended upon Italy. It has been the only drawback on our timing for this vacation - post-Covid travel is insanely busy here. All the locals we have spoken with say it is a blessing after two years of very slow tourism, but they are overwhelmed. They are grateful we are trying to speak their language and kindness with patience goes a long way. Unfortunately, there are always rude Americanos who give the rest of us a bad name. We have learned a lot about where to go, what to do and what not to do in Italy so for anyone planning a trip we’re happy to share some good tips! Lemonade is served as fresh squeezed lemon juice with water and sugar packets to make your own. It is delicious!! The gardens are built on terraces above the homes and hotels. Lemon trees, olive tr...
With a few days between posts, I am at a loss for describing life in Florence. The food is exceptional exemplified by our farm fresh dinner this evening. The Gelato is divine and the people, shopping, and weather is worthy of the Greek Gods worshiped here. But the true heartbeat of this place for me is the art. The abundance of frescos, paintings, architecture, and history can be felt from the moment we step out of the hotel and standing at the feet of David was literally breathtaking!
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