Day 4 in Rome, and I woke up at exactly 6:00 am without an alarm clock. That was a big improvement compared to the last 2 mornings. It meant I was already recovering from the jet lag.
We had another long day ahead of us, visiting the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum and Castel Sant’Angelo. We also needed to drop by the Vatican City to get our tickets for the Papal Audience the next day.
Looking at my phone, there was no forecast of rain at all. The highest temperature we’d have for the day was 24 degrees Celsius, which was around the same temperature we had at Piazza del Popolo.
Andiamo al Colosseo!
That meant that I could opt for a button down black shirt, and a pair of khaki shorts. It will be warmer that day than yesterday.
We wanted to take advantage of the hop-on, hop off bus that also has a stop at the Colosseum. Our schedule to enter the Colosseum was at 10:00 am, thus we left the AirBnB at 9:20 am.
We had no idea what time the bus was supposed to depart, so we thought 20 minutes was enough.
Wind in our hair
The crowd around the Arch of Constantine
Close up of the Arch of Constantine
Good morning, Colosseo!
We were wrong.
We unfortunately had several stops along the way from Termini before we even reach the Colosseum. We unfortunately arrived at 9:55 am, and we still have to walk from Palatine Hill and figure out how to get inside.
The good thing about our Roma Pass was we just breezed through the lines, after flashing the card and the confirmation email. There was already a long line for those who still had to get their tickets, and another line for those entering with those.
The entrance, however, had a dedicated line for Roma Pass holders.
Mirror selfie before heading inside
Before the continuous walking ensued
After some security checks, we finally got inside the Colosseum.
The Colosseum needed no introduction. This historic monument is synonymous to Rome the same way the Eiffel Tower is synonymous to Paris. Iconic for iconic.
On the other hand, they differ in history: both temporal and the stories behind them. One could easily get lost in the various stories that happened in the Colosseum. With its close to 2000-year history, it had its fair share of bloodbaths.
Mon wore the same color as the stones
Colossal arch
It was frankly a bit eerie having to walk inside, thinking how many animals, rejects, gladiators and martyrs had to die inside this monument. And it was equally eerie how 50,000 spectators used to watch all these unfold as a form of entertainment.
That aside, I got to give it to Roman authorities and experts to bring all these artifacts for the public to view.
Granted it could be overwhelming with the amount of things on display, it was interesting to read and get lost at the description that we could squeeze in along the way.
Column remnants at the Colosseum
Mosaic artifact recovered from the Colosseum
Their best effort to show how the artifact would have looked like intact
After passing through the exhibit on the outer walls, it was time step inside.
Inside the Colosseum was a textbook example of how stadiums were made until the modern era. While it looked big from the outside, it was way vast once you are already inside.
Looking up at the bleachers, I can only imagine how small the peasant and slaves could see from the arena floor.
The seating arrangement reportedly reflected the social hierarchy of the time, with the emperor and the nobility at the bottom-most seats, to the dregs of the society at the very top.
It was literally the nosebleed section, with the gladiators looking nothing more than ants fighting over bread crumbs.
Just imagine the people who passed by here to watch a bloodbath
The grandeur
‘Are you not entertained?’
I realized that the tickets I got did not include the arena floor, which was not a big deal anyway.
Papa was, at that point, already tired having to walk through the few sections we were at, and I could not imagine how he would complain if we were to still go down at the arena floor. All was good.
It was also worth noting that the temperature was hotter so far than any other days we were in Rome. Perhaps it was because of the dry air or the Roman concrete emitting heat.
Thus within an hour and a half, we were already done with the Colosseum.
Mama and Papa craning their necks
One of the few times he had his photo taken inside
Selfie before we headed out of the Colosseum
We were supposed to eat lunch somewhere at the Colosseum then Palatine Hill and Roman Forum, but Mama and Papa wanted to rest in the AirBnB instead.
They got tired much quicker with all the walking plus the heat, that a good afternoon nap after lunch was too enticing to pass up.
We walked all the way again to the bus stop at the entrance Palatine Hill, to wait for the train back to Termini.
They had to momentarily rest their backs before we went home
The bus stop for several hop-on, hop-off buses near the Palatine Hill entrance
While in theory this was getting value for our money, we just spent one whole hour going around Rome because of the route of the hop-on, hop-off bus.
In hindsight, we could have just take the train from the Colosseo station, which would bring us back to Termini in no time. Yes, we did have some sightseeing done, but it also meant we almost took a nap because of the buzzing of the train.
We got to see Castel Sant’Angelo, though.
We eventually arrived at Termini at around 1:15 pm where we ate a quick lunch before heading back to our AirBnB. Mama and Papa took a nap, while Mon and I just rested.
Mama was too tired
Our bus stopped right in front of Il Vittoriano
Our first view of Castel Sant’Angelo
At 4:00 pm, we left the AirBnB to go to the Vatican City and collect our Papal Audience tickets of the following day.
We took the train from Termini to Ottaviano station, and walked all the way to the Vatican.
We also spotted the Jollibee in Rome, which we mentally took note of in case we were to eventually buy food there.
Jollibee in Rome
Walls of the Vatican City
As soon as we got inside the walls of the the Vatican City, I could see Mama and Papa’s excitement. We stood a good minute in St. Peter’s Square under the hot Roman sun, for both of them to take in the sights of finally being inside Vatican City. It was a dream come true for them.
I eventually hugged and kissed them, and muttered: “We’re finally here!” =’) That was a proud moment for me.
As I still had to collect our tickets for the Papal Audience, I left them at the right colonnade for a while. There was a long line for security, but I just asked if I still had to if I were to just collect tickets. I was allowed to go in front of the line to have my bag X-rayed.
Mon and I before entering Saint Peter’s Square
Perhaps the proudest moment of my life – my parents finally at St. Peter’s Square taking in the sights and the sounds
We were supposed to just get these tickets, then head straight to Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. Unfortunately, we failed to buy rosaries at the Vatican City for the Papal Audience.
While we looked at some stores around the area, they were not to Mon and especially Mama’s liking. I could tell they really wanted to get these, which meant we have to buy these somewhere else and forego Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum and Castel Sant’Angelo.
They suggested we return to the gift shop at Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, as they have seen some for sale there. I was honestly disappointed not visiting those planned ones, given it was so difficult to get those tickets a month before our trip.
Our first Swiss guard sighting
Vatican Obelisk and the crowd at St. Peter’s Square
On the other hand, I had to remind myself it was a trip more for them than us. And from the walls of Vatican City, we booked a FreeNow car to Santa Maria Maggiore, hoping we’d get there in time as it was already 5:15 pm.
We eventually reached Santa Maria Maggiore at around 5:45 pm, and they eventually got the rosaries to their liking.
From there, we walked to Termini to buy our dinner. Papa wanted to eat chicken biryani, while we got some gnocchi and cacio e pepe from Ristorante Al Fagianetto, which we ate in the AirBnB.
Waiting for Papa’s chicken biryani
After dinner, Mon and I decided we’d step out for the evening like the night before. I was looking at the map and noticed the Via Machiavelli, which almost sounded like the ‘Macchiavellian Way’.
To get there, we had to pass by Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, which I recall from one of our Italian classes. We had watched ‘Ladri di biciclette’ (The Bicycle Thief) back in the day, set in post-WWII Rome. The area was featured in one of the scenes in the movie.
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II
Via Machiavelli and some Bottega Veneta
After having my photo taken at Via Machiavelli, we realized that the Vittorio Emanuele station is a different line to Colosseo. That meant we had to take the train back to Termini, and change to the other line to go to the Colosseum.
While waiting for the train at Termini, I just took a photo of the train tracks. I was surprised when I was told off by one of the guards.
Perhaps it was due to privacy issues, so I just obliged. No use pressing for more info, anyway.
Taking the train from Termini to Colosseo Station
Colosseum again, but at dusk
By the time we got out of the Colosseo station, it was already 8:30 pm, and dusk was upon us. It also meant that the Colosseum will be beautifully lit, which more than made up for my disappointment for not visiting the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
We could always go back anyway, I thought. No use going through all the spots given how slowly Papa and Mama moved. And at the same time, it should not feel like an Amazing Race at all.
It was only around Day 4 when I finally embraced the fact that our itinerary would be more of a suggestion, not a concrete schedule.
Thank God for the timer
Praying it won’t rain
Mon and I spent time just walking around the Colosseum, taking some photos, and chatting over how thankful we were to get to experience that.
“We are in Rome!”, again, we exclaimed. It used to be the stuff of movies and series, and finally being there was a joy on its own.
From the Colosseum, we are walked towards the direction of Via Cavour to look for a gelateria. It was Day 4 already and we only had one gelato thus far.
Flor Gelato Italiano at Foro di Augusto
Gelato time!
Checking Google Maps, we found Flor Gelato Italiano, which was still open until midnight.
I forgot how much it was, but we got a cup each to eat as we walked towards Via dei Fori Imperiali. It was already cold at almost 9:00 pm with the wind blowing for the rain we hope not to come, yet we were still eating gelato.
We eventually stopped at Foro di Augusto to enjoy our gelato, and looked around the ruins lit at night.
Evening at Foro Traiano with Trajan’s Column and Chiesa Santa Maria di Loreto in the background
Lightshow – notice the EU flag colors
It was astounding to think how old everything was, yet we were walking in the same streets where notable men of Italy likely walked throughout its long history.
As soon as we reached Piazza Venezia, Mon immediately fell in love with Il Vittoriano at night. It was lit splendidly.
I forgot to take a photo but across the street where Mon was standing was the balcony where Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler once stood. It was also the very same place were the former made his famous speeches, especially the one declaring war against Britain and France.
So much history in one place that forever shaped global politics.
My favorite night shot of Mon with his favorite Il Vittoriano
From Piazza Venezia, we decided to make a final stop at Fontana di Trevi since we also planned to take the train at Barberini.
It was about a 10-minute walk punctuated with us loudly worrying whether or not it would rain.
We reached Trevi at 9:30 pm, yet it was still as crowded as the first day we were there. We just stayed for around 10 minutes to observe the fountain lit, and took some photos before we decided to go home.
Evening crowd at Trevi Fountain
Unfortunately for us again, the metro was already closed, which meant we’d have to take a FreeNow car back to the AirBnB from Piazza Barberini.
It had been a long day, and we’re headed again to Vatican City early morning the next day.
Steps: 19,323
