I'm going to be honest

I really didn't put Ancient Rome up on any kind of pedestal. My dad (mostly probably my dad) and I made a wax figurine of the Colosseum in the 7th grade, really grade A material stuff. That is about where my true interest in Rome has held its roots,  a wax figurine and of course the one scene in the Epcot ball where Rome burns and everything smells like bbq. 

Good thing Kit is growing up and traveling

First, about traveling. Taking the metro to get to the Colosseum proved educational in that we witnessed a phone being stolen out of a tourist pocket literally one person over from us.  The culprits, a group of three youth's working as a group.  Shoving their way into the tightly packed tube, they push grabbed the phone and spread into the train.  Once our victim realized his loss, two of three culprits spent the whole 2 minute interlude arguing who had stolen the phone while member 3 remained silent, only to rejoin the pack safely on the platform after our tube shot off the next station.  Sad, educational, glad it wasn't us I guess? 

Now for Rome!

The Colosseum was a good start, walking in circles in mops of people staring at a very clever place to hold 118 day massacres while cheering. Massively terrifying for a history, pretty dang neat as a structural feat. 

Colosseo_romeHard to take in the amount of fore thought the romans had to put into murder

Looking through the archways, we got a hint of what was to come

Piazza_del_colosseoA view within a view

On to Palantine Hill!  Up the way, nice chance to stop to get a drink of the fresh clean water flowing throughout the city.  Yes, I did. No, it was not graceful.

Palatino_romeThe well spring of life was in every corner of the city, even at the top

On to the Forum.  Ok so here is when it really hit me, just what I was looking at.  A glimpse into a world that really existed and that brings life to the statement

All roads lead to Rome

foro_romano_romeA city within a city

I was taken back in all ways here.  It is just massive and the pictures don't do it justice.  I tried taking a detail shot up close that might make you feel a bit more like the ant one is while standing here.

foro_romano_detail_romeThere is no way to feel the size of this place unless you get close to the details.

Ok, two more to bring my point home

foro_romano_chunkUnder the rumble campidoglio_rome

Looking back at my own photos, I still don't feel like there is a way to show just what standing here felt like.  It really shifted my own perspective in a way, almost like weaving in my thoughts and experience into a past that I share with humanity. Cheese, I know.  But hey Italy sports some great formaggio.

Before jumping on the train to Florence, two more important things. Well three, if you count even more gelato.  

Seeing Michelangelo's Moses

Michaelangelo's_Moses_Rome"If you can't hear his heart beat or see the blood pulsing through his veins. Stand there until you do! Pay no attention to the crowd."
-Delayne Charvat

One of the people I respect most in this world gave me some great advice for my trip about this statue 

"If you can't hear his heart beat or see the blood pulsing through his veins. Stand there until you do! Pay no attention to the crowd."

The crowds came and went, I stayed. 

Lastly, some advice I also followed from my sister.

rome_groundingGrounding Kit to Italy Grounding myself to Rome, also proved staggeringly rewarding advice. 

These feet are off to Florence!