So this day, I woke up relatively early, because the other people in my hostel woke up early and due to their rustling about and such it just seemed like the inevitable thing to do. After awaking, I decided to travel down to the streets in the direction of the Colosseum (as good a place to start a day in Rome as any) and see what was there. It was rather neat, because as I was walking I saw tons of posts everywhere especially upon the gratings that said SPQR which stands of course for Senatus Populusque Romanus, or The Senate of the Roman People, which was an ancient symbol used by the Roman senate two millennia ago, and is still used today even though the Roman Republic and Empire fell well over 1,500 years ago. Anyway, as I was wandering, I just looked up from this one road and presto, there was the Colosseum right in front of me, it was incredible to constantly see pictures of this magnificent building and there it is suddenly before one’s very eyes. Anyway, I then thought it prudent to go and explore this great place as much as I could and so I did just that, I went in stupidly not taking a guided tour or anything, and just hung out in the Colosseum for a somewhat heavy price, but I felt it to be worth it, simply because this architectural feat was stunning to stand in, plus it was a great place to steep oneself in Roman culture, ancient culture.
Following the Colosseum, I walked around the forum which was right next to the Colosseum and found it to be very entertaining too. It was all in ruins of course, but it was great to behold, and there was just so much there, I really wish I had known better what I was looking at, but I just felt awesome to be standing in the midst of such greatness and so much history and importance to Western, and indeed to all society. I walked beneath triumphal arches, near pillars, basilicas, statues and so forth. I made my way up to the Vittorio Emanuelle II monument, which is this huge modern (only a century old) building made in the ancient Roman style, but huge and dominating over the Roman skyline, especially near the ancient Roman ruins where it is built. Anyway, this is where Italy’s tomb of the unknown soldier is, and I stumbled upon it right as they were doing the changing of the guard, which was pretty interesting, but not as impressive (in my humble opinion as the US’s version of the same thing). Anyway, it had an incredible view, from which I saw everything of significance, from St. Peter’s Basilica to the Parthenon, and every other conceivable dome or building as well. Anyway, after taking many pictures there, I decided to go back along the forum and up back to the hostel.
When I did return, I met a very nice Australian couple from Perth, named Damien and Vanessa, we talked a while, and then we decided to go to get some supper at a nearby restaurant, where I got some good Roman pizza, actually it was alright, and not too different from American, or rather not nearly as much as I had thought it would be. When we returned, Vanessa and Damien went to bed, and I met some very nice girls who were Americans, from Idaho (Kate and Molly I think) as well as California (Jayne), and some other place I can not at this time recall. Anyway, we all became fast friends so to speak, and I went out with them to get some food at a nearby grocery store, beneath the train station at Termini (the main train station in Rome). I got some biscuits (cookies) and they got some wine and the likes of that. We sat and talked a while and I was disappointed to learn they were leaving the next day to travel out the next day to go to Assisi. They recommended that I come out with them, and I was extremely tempted to do this, so they gave me their mobile (cell) number, they were only going to stop their briefly as they were studying out in Milan. Anyway, after that we went to bed, and that was the first full day, in Rome, a rather productive one I think.