Ciao Mickey, This is NOT Disney. The real Europe visited...8/16 - Day 9.11 & 9.12

[dizneeat]

Lovely photos, Scott! Boo for the scaffolding and cranes. And ALL those people. Hope you didn't have to wait in a long line .........

 

[jenseib]

Catching up again. Rome looks to be exciting. I can't wait to see what you all do there.

 

[MEK]

Cool tour and pics. Too bad the scaffolding cluttered things up a bit. Can't wait to take a look inside.

 

[pas130]

I was LOL about the scaffolding and construction looking like Disney. Rome is still beautiful in your pics even with the scaffolding And your hotel looks great, glad they took care of you. I am in the mood to try the wine now

 

[scottny]

Lovely photos, Scott! Boo for the scaffolding and cranes. And ALL those people. Hope you didn't have to wait in a long line .........

Thanks. You will soon find out.

Catching up again. Rome looks to be exciting. I can't wait to see what you all do there.

I know the feeling, I have to do that this weekend before we got o Florida on Tuesday.
It was nice to see.

Cool tour and pics. Too bad the scaffolding cluttered things up a bit. Can't wait to take a look inside.

Thank you.

I was LOL about the scaffolding and construction looking like Disney. Rome is still beautiful in your pics even with the scaffolding And your hotel looks great, glad they took care of you. I am in the mood to try the wine now

LOL. So true.
The hotel was tied with the monastery in Venice for the nicest. The outdoor space here was the best part.

 

[scottny]

Day 8.4

Then we got inside and were waiting our turn to go in.

It didn’t take long for the line to move and were off to explore.

Thankfully they put English on the signs too.

Lets follow the masses. LOL.

Looking out into the coliseum. Not much to see yet.

Then we moved onto another area.

Looking up at the ceiling.

Then we had to wait a few minutes so I took a photo of the hallway.

Then they all just disappeared.

There was a staircase there but we did not go up.

Now we were able to move. We were waiting for an employee to come from the Coliseum because I booked us on a tour that lets into the middle and lower levels of the Coliseum and right now we were going to the middle level and something special happened here.

And with that I will stop here.

Up next,

More of our tour.

 

[pas130]

Where's that popcorn smilie? Thank you for taking all those pictures Scott, it's really like walking through the coliseum and so cool. I don't think I would be venturing up all those steps either lol

 

[scottny]

Where's that popcorn smilie? Thank you for taking all those pictures Scott, it's really like walking through the coliseum and so cool. I don't think I would be venturing up all those steps either lol

Thanks for reading along. I try to capture it as much as possible.
LOL

 

[scottny]

Day 8.5

Now we were entering the arena. I felt like a gladiator.

Here are some panoramas I took. You might have to click the photo to see it fully.

Here is the guide and Vinny sitting and relaxing.

Everyone just looking around.

Then back to the structure.

Then something happened that had not happened before in the Coliseum (we were told). A proposal.

She said yes.

After that excitement I went back to looking around. I looked down and saw this.

Then we saw the cross that is in the arena. I forget what the story was but here is a link to the history of the coliseum.
http://www.italyguides.it/en/lazio/rome/ancient-rome/colosseum

Looking down below again.

Then it was our turn for pics.

Jeffrey, Barbara and Vinny relaxing form the sun.

The gate we came in.

Vinny chatting the guides ear off. LOL.

Getting ready to move on. I think that is the couple in the back who got engaged.

Lorraine listening to the guide.

Little emptier.

Then a final group pic.

And then we had to leave here and move onto the next area.

Up next,

We go down...

 

[pas130]

Wow kinda scary looking down I bet! What a interesting proposal, so sweet!! Really neat Scott! I bet it felt like going back in time.

 

[MEK]

I love the pictures of the coliseum. It is really amazing that it has stayed that structurally sound all these years. I wonder how much work has to be done every year to keep it standing.

How fun to witness a proposal. I can honestly say that is something I have never observed. Fun to take part in such a happy moment.

 

[scottny]

Wow kinda scary looking down I bet! What a interesting proposal, so sweet!! Really neat Scott! I bet it felt like going back in time.

it was cool looking down. the proposal was nice to watch and glad she said yes. LOL. it did feel like it.

I love the pictures of the coliseum. It is really amazing that it has stayed that structurally sound all these years. I wonder how much work has to be done every year to keep it standing.

How fun to witness a proposal. I can honestly say that is something I have never observed. Fun to take part in such a happy moment.

Thanks. I am sure a lot of work is required to keep it going.
it was a surprise to see. I saw one in WDW on Main Street once too.

 

[scottny]

Day 8.6

Now we were to go down below. There was a staircase behind the levator and that is what we took.

It looked pretty with the lighting.

Doesn’t look like it will hold it up, but it did.

Then we moved along.

Then she had 3 people line up on the wall and Vinny was one. I honestly don’t remember why. LOl.

Then we walked over a bridge.

Now we were down below.

I can see people up there.

Do you think these rusty beams were there since the olden days? LOL.

There were chains up all over for us not to walk past.

Here is the walkway we walked in on.

The land of stone.

A different view of the cross.

I like the color on here.

The last pic of the lower levels of the Coliseum.

Then it was time to go back up.

Up next,

We go up higher in the Coliseum.

 

[Lesprivate]

The Coliseum is amazing, unbelievable that it is still there.

 

[jenseib]

Wow! So amazing. What was the lower level for back in the day?

 

[scrappinmom]

Confession...I am mostly a dis lurker. With one dd in college my travel of any kind (including Disney unfortunately)...But I am finally going back this summer after a 3 year forced drought.....Anyway I decided to peek at the trippies to just see what's been happening...& I found YOURS! I have sat here & read through every post tonight...& I absolutely am loving it! Thank you for sharing your trip. Europe is still on the life bucket list so for now I love living through others!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Catching up!

What a great hotel in Rome. It looks amazing and I love that terrace area. It looks so inviting and a great spot to relax in.
Isn't the Coliseum great? I'm sitting here with a great big smile on my face, enjoying your pictures.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[pas130]

Wow there were a lot of people there. I'm definitely enjoying the tour. Amazing how it is holding up! Maybe that's why so much was roped off, just in case Although it's held up this long, right?

 

[scottny]

The Coliseum is amazing, unbelievable that it is still there.

it really was amazing.

Wow! So amazing. What was the lower level for back in the day?

Yes it was.

Confession...I am mostly a dis lurker. With one dd in college my travel of any kind (including Disney unfortunately)...But I am finally going back this summer after a 3 year forced drought.....Anyway I decided to peek at the trippies to just see what's been happening...& I found YOURS! I have sat here & read through every post tonight...& I absolutely am loving it! Thank you for sharing your trip. Europe is still on the life bucket list so for now I love living through others!!

Thank you for reading along.
Glad to hear you are going back. It has been 16 months for me but I leave in 12 hours for Disney and house hunting.
I do hope you get to Europe, it is so worth the trip.

Catching up!

What a great hotel in Rome. It looks amazing and I love that terrace area. It looks so inviting and a great spot to relax in.
Isn't the Coliseum great? I'm sitting here with a great big smile on my face, enjoying your pictures.

Thanks for sharing!

I know the feeling.
The hotel was incredible.
Glad it made you smile.

Wow there were a lot of people there. I'm definitely enjoying the tour. Amazing how it is holding up! Maybe that's why so much was roped off, just in case Although it's held up this long, right?

They control the amount it seems and it seems to be working.

 

[scottny]

Let me apologize for not catching up on all the tr's I am reading. It has been a busy week and I also had back issue and still do a little. We are leaving in the morning for Florida and so I will not be catching up tonight either but will be when we return next week. If you are on Twitter follow me at mwt_scottencke and you will see live photo updates and of course if we are friends on FB than you will see them too. I hope everyone has a great week and see you real soon.

Day 8.7

Some used the elevator and others used the stairs to go back up. Here is blurry Vinny. LOL.

Our guide opening another area for us to go into.

We had to go upstairs to the top of the arena now. Some stayed down below.

Now we were on the top of the Coliseum.

I forget what this was.

That’s odd.

Looking at some of the arena below us.

Could be a potty.

I hate gates.

Looking down.

And with that I will stop here.

Up next,

We go further up.