Day 1 - Rome, Italy

We went to Rome back in March and it is now July. I am WAY behind in my blogging!! Sorry family and friends. Unfortunately since I am now four months behind, my memory isn't as good. But I am going to try my hardest to remember the events of each day for our family journaling purposes.
We both LOVED Rome. It was a place I thought would be fun to see but it was never on my top sight seeing lists. After being there, I would recommend putting it on a top sight seeing list. The people were VERY friendly and outgoing. They spoke English well and the food was DELICIOUS!!! I would very much like to explore the rest of Italy. Someday, someday.....

So after we got off the plane we checked into the hotel. Since it was so early in the morning I room wasn't ready yet. We dropped our bags off and went in search of a local market for some breakfast. We did finally find a super market but there wasn't too much in section for a quick meal. But on the way we saw this little car with it's steering wheel chained up, it made us laugh and think of Mr. Bean. So this was the very first photo we took in Rome:

After a quick snack we hopped on the metro and made our way to the heart of the city. There happend to be a Marathon that day and so most of the roads were blocked off and it took awhile to maneuver through the traffic.



But we made it and the ruins were beautiful!


Rome was built on top of itself several times. After wars and fires it was filled in and then rebuilt century after century. So all the ancient ruins are buried underneath the modern city. To build anything in Rome is a big ordeal because building sites must be examined for Roman ruins before construction is permitted. The inspection is carried out by digging trenches every 10 to 15 feet across the property! There will soon be in LDS temple built in Rome. I was hoping to visit the site but it was a ways outside of the city and the metro didn't go that far. But I read an article about how the church members in the area held a special fast the day the temple property was to be inspected. No ruins were found over the entire property, yet an old Roman village was discovered just 100 yards beyond the property boundary line. What a miracle. Here is the site if you want to read more: http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/rome/

Pictures of ruins beneath and in between main city street:

Statue of Romulus and Remus. This statue can be found all over the city.

Here is a brief desription of the Rmulus and Remus legend:

Rhea was married to Mars, the Roman god of war. Rhea had twin sons. She loved her boys, but there were plots afoot by other gods and goddesses to harm her father, herself, her husband, and her children. To protect the boys, she set them adrift on the river, hoping someone would find them. Who would not love such beautiful boys? Sure enough, first they were found by a she-wolf who fed them. Then a shepherd and his wife adopted the boys. As the twins grew older, they decided they did not want to take care of sheep. They wanted to be kings. They decided to build a city on the shores of the Tiber. They both wanted to be the only king. They quarreled. In a fit of rage, Romulus picked up a rock, killed his brother, and made himself king. That’s how Rome started.

The Capitoline Museum:
We didn't go in, I wish we would have But while we were there I had decided after visiting the Louvre in Paris, nothing would have compared. I am sure that is true but I still wish I would have taken the time to go in.

The Drinking Foundations in Rome:
It took us awhile to figure out what the were. And it is truly delicious water!

Mmmmm, a European sandwich and a coke. What a GREAT lunch!

Overlooking the Roman Forum:
This was the happening place during Julius Caesar's time, It was actually so busy that Julius built another Forum next to it.

The Temple of Vesta

Temple of the Dioscuri

House of the Vestal Virgins:

The Basilica of Maxentius:
Built in the 4th century and used as public law courts.

Looking down over the courtyard of the Vestal Virgins

Overview of the forum

Viewing the Colosseum in the distance:

Overlooking the Forum and the City

The Roman Colosseum!!
What an incredible site!

Jared contemplating the awe-ness of the place.

We ended our day here and headed back to the hotel to officially check in and attend the meet and great of Jared's conference. We had our first real Italian pasta in the hotel that night which was very yummy!