Sight Seeing in Rome...

Well, it's about time we updated everyone back home about the wonderfulness that is our lives in Rome. Although we both have been some sort of sick over the last week or so (food poisoning and the stomach flu), we did manage to make it out a few times. We actually had a full day of site seeing the day before I was struck down with the flu.

Here is a good shot of Treva in Piazza Novona. It is a famous square where two of history's most renowned artists (and bitter rivals) come together. In the center is a fountain sculpted by Bernini, but the other main attraction of the square is a sprawling church designed by Borromini. (You can see the church in the background, but the fountain is not the Bernini). I have to admit, that so far this church is in the running for my favorite in Rome.

Later that night, we hit the town. And what better place to start a night out in Rome at than the Colosseum?
The Colosseum is beautiful at the night. It is lit up by the lights that show off how large this enormus building is, even by todays standards. As we were leaving, we caught a picture of the clouds above this former cathedral of carnage.

We need to start selling these pictures

After we left the Colosseum behind, we wondered the streets of Rome and finally wound at the party capital of the city: Campo di Fiore. It was fun, I guess. Treva summed it up best by saying that any long stay needs a trip to Campo di Fiore, but only one.

After a couple of sick days (from the stomach flu, not from partying...) I was finally feeling well enough to head out. Treva and I jumped on a bus and started hitting the tourist spots. We started at one of the first tourist traps ever made in Rome: the Spanish Steps.

View from the top of the Spanish Steps.

Treva and I enjoying people watching from the Steps.

We continued on our way through Rome. Right by the Spanish Steps is where all the Italian super-designers have their stores (Armani, Prada, D & G... you know the expensive stuff). As we were meandering through the streets we stumbled on something I thought was very odd, and definitely warranted a photo.

Yeah, it's a Cavali t-shirt vending machine. Just put in 50 Euro (like $75) and you can have a designer t-shirt without even going in a store. I don't know, but I think this is just kinda crazy.

Well our trip had taken it's toll on us, and we now had a mission... find gelato!! Actually many of our days descend into journeys for the creamy goodness that is gelato. Unfortunatly, on this day it was a bigger task than usual. We ended up over towards Largo Argentina, an excavated area of ruins where Julis Ceaser actually died. Today it is a cat sanctuary for the city. As we were aproaching, we found a perfect shot of the Roman streets...
I think this picture gives a good sense of what Rome is like. The streets are lined with people, there are a few crazy drivers on the road, and there is an amazing view to frame just about every moment of everyday...
We found our gelato and made our way to one of Rome's more deserving tourist spots: the Trevi Fountain. It is constantly overrun with tourists, vendors selling junky trinkets, pickpockets, and all sorts of other craziness, but it is utterly breathtaking, particularly at night. The fountain comes out of the side of a building, and is imposing and gorgeous all at once.

It is one of those sites where you have an idea about what is coming, and then when you get there you realize that, no, I had no idea what was coming.

Treva and I found a movie theater that played some movies in English. We had a choice between American Gangster and the new movie with Jack Nichelson and Morgan Freeman (it has a different name here, but even with ads I can't understand I know I don't want to see it...). So we bought tickets for American Gangster, but had some time to kill.

Now, had been experiencing an unusual problem. Clothes hangers in Italy are super expensive. Even in the markets we hadn't found a hanger for less than 2 or 3 euro, and we needed quite a few. As we were walking from the theater wondering what we were going to do for the next couple of hours before the movie started, an answer to our problem presented itself. We were still around the area with all of the fancy stores. These stores throw their garbage in front of their doors at night for it to be picked up. Many of these stores have only one kind of garbage... hangers! After discussing the pros and cons, we decided that no it wasn't stealing, and no it wasn't beyond either one of us to take hangers. So...



... we were finally able to put the rest of our clothes away and make the movie!! By the way, some helpful advise. When a preview for a scary movie is on, it always a good idea to make sure that you have a good grip on the popcorn bucket. You never know when your date is going to scream, jump out of her seat, and knock the entire thing that you just spent your last money on to the floor.....
Stay tuned for another post soon.