Roman Ruins

Again, after a solid night of sleep we awoke to a terrace breakfast under blue skies. Today’s agenda was to explore the Roman forum  (a massive area of uncovered ruins) and the grand Colosseum. We met up with another guide, also named Christina, who was just overflowing with historical facts and excitement over the ruins. These millennia-old ruins seemed to sprout up like weeds between the modern day buildings. 

Massive structures being unearthed every year and with great care to restore them to their former glory. We ambled through old Roman markets, political amphitheaters, and an average neighborhood complete with the foundations of lower class houses. It seemed like a massive graveyard of marble, brick, and stone.  Christina showed us overlay pictures of the landscape so we could further appreciate what Ancient Rome looked like when the ruins were intact.  Like sedimentary rocks there was history piled over and over on various sites. 

Visiting the Colosseum in Rome was an awe-inspiring experience. The colossal amphitheater, built in AD 70-80, stood as an enduring testament to ancient engineering prowess. Its grandeur evoked a sense of wonder, with colossal arches and weathered stone bearing witness to centuries of history.  As we stepped inside, we were transported back in time, imagining the roars of spectators and the epic battles that once unfolded in the arena. The atmosphere was palpable, a blend of reverence and excitement.  The sheer scale of the structure was humbling, and as we strolled through its echoing corridors, we couldn’t help but feel a profound connection to the past. 

Three and a half hours later we returned to our hotel to grab a quick bite before we set off for the train to Florence. We had pizza and wine on a rooftop and recounted our amazing visit to the colosseum. One last time our Italian stallion driver Mateo picked us up from the hotel and took us to the vibrant Rome train terminal. It was bustling with travelers darting in all directions. We got there 1 hour early and were anxiously awaiting our train to be assigned a platform.  There was more chaos than usual because a man had thrown himself on the tracks and died, this delayed nearly every train in and out of Rome. Our train was delayed by 50 minutes. So the Ecks and the Rosenfelds sat on the ground surrounded by our luggage and waited for our train.  More and more people filled the giant station and all of a sudden our train fell off the departure board!! Panicked, I rushed to the help desk where a throng of angry passengers had already collected. Our collaborator (trip manager) was… less than helpful. While I waited in the ever growing crowd of stranded passengers I lamented with several of them who had had the same experience. Finally I reached the front where frantic attendants were rapidly rebooking any and everyone on the VERY next trains. Sprinting back to our little encampment we gathered our gear and ran for the next departing train. What a rush, only to then sit on the train which was now delayed 50 minutes… the Rosenfeld travel luck struck again! But the fun didn’t stop there. When we arrived there was such a cluster of disrupted travelers that the car services were overwhelmed and we didn’t have anyone to pick us up. Our coordinator advised that we try to get a taxi and when we rounded the corner of the station there was a taxi line nearly a half mile long!!  Exasperated, I let Emily ‘talk’ to our coordinator to help ‘resolve’ the travel issues.  Needless to say, we had a driver within 10 minutes. 

Oh Florence! This is one of my favorite cities and it did not disappoint as we drove through picturesque narrow streets leading to unimaginable Italian structures and hidden gems. This late, the streets were crowded with vendors, tourists, and anyone with a desire for adventure. People were everywhere! It felt like driving through a sea of energetic people. And our hotel…. Wow. A boutique hotel tucked in a narrow back alley next to a lively street where jazz musicians serenaded passersby. 

After a much needed shower we wondered out into the night life and got swept up by the crowds and flocked to open squares with lighted fountains and marble statues. It was dreamlike on the streets. I felt like I was walking on a movie set.  We settled in a little hole in the wall restaurant ‘Da Lino’ where yet another charismatic waiter served us homemade pastas with rabbit ragú and shaved truffles. We talked about wine and sampled some of there homemade cured meats. As our chairs began to grown beneath us we threw in the towel and push out plates away. Fully satisfied, we were set to leave but our waiter, charmed by our party, offered us some house made limoncello as a night cap. It was delicious. We floated back to our hotel and called it a night. Tomorrow we wine!