When in Rome (Part 2)

   On the second day, we explored historical section of the city.  This statement is misleading, because centuries of buildings in the city can be seen from nearly any vantage point.  From old roads, markers, monuments, buildings from the past bleed through to modern day as the city grows around it... well, I think pictures are appropriate in this scenario!

Walking to the Colosseum gave us the ability to witness the remains of different periods of history.  It was absolutely brilliant for a history nut like me to view the remnants of the aqueducts and marvel at the various remains.

First, we explored the Forum of Augustus which was built in 2 B.C.  It was the area for trials, arranged with a grand sections for Roman citizens and a smaller one for foreigners, the latter of which is ironically captured in the section directly below me in the photo.

The lines for the Colosseum was long, but I encountered two other exchange students from South Carolina!  It was USC, actually, but even though I grew up on the doorstep of Clemson University, I did not hold it against them.  Exchange students need a broad, accepting outlook on all people, no matter their preferred football team.

 After a bit of a wait, we finally procured our tickets and made out way into the Colosseum!  There were people available to help with directions and tickets in multiple languages, but we quickly discovered it was easier for the whole to take advantage of the exchange student with native English to handle appeals.  It was more difficult to find someone who spoke French, whereas the city had adapted to the many English-speaking tourists.  The reputation of English-speaking tourists is infamous, but I will propose that not all of the people speaking English are actually using their first language!  It seems to be a popular language to learn and use for travel.  I'll stop this tangent before it devolves into a chicken-or-the-egg debate of whether many people learn English as another language combined with native English lead to the frequent use of English for international tourism, or whether they chose to learn English because so many native English speakers traveled and places adapted.

Let's set the scene.  The weather is a clear, warm Italian day different than the bone-deep chilly days in Belgium for the past few weeks.  I'm standing in a historical location that has taken on mythical proportions in my mind.  We've finally entered through the overreaching arches and trekked up the stone stairs into the walled hall running around the standing portion of the Colosseum.  The featured exhibits are in English and Italian, but my host family allowed me to go through while they took pictures. The subject was the history of reading, specifically how it evolved to reading for pleasure and libraries in the ancient world, and libraries in the ancient world. My host family graciously let me geek out through the exhibit, possibly removing themselves from the situation and preserving the appearance of not being of any relation to me as I drooled obsessed giggled examined the artifacts.  If I have ever met you in person, then you know it was the perfect topic for my interests. It was surreal to be walking through a museum, examining the ancient tablets and scrolls in the protective cases, and know, if it was possible, the entire building deserved to be in one, too.

We made our way to the center of the Colosseum to view the interior.  With a little patience, we eventually made it to the railings to be able to regard the structure.

 The ground and third level were only accessible to people with an English or Italian tour group, but I enjoyed taking my time through the museum exhibit.

     Twice my host family was taken advantage of because we (alright, they, but I was trying!) were speaking French.  The first time occurred on the second day after the Colosseum.  We were trying to enter the gardens but it was clear admittance required a ticket.  I had not closely inspected my ticket after receiving it to get in the Colosseum, though the information was printed in small print English and Italian on the back.  At the ticket office, my host parents spoke French while I waited with my host sister, and we all were under the impression it required a separate ticket for admittance to get into the gardens based on the conversation with the person at the ticket counter.  We had stressed that we had already purchased our ticket for admittance for the Colosseum, but were instructed to buy a different ticket.  We bought the ticket from the teller, but realized it was exactly the same as our earlier ticket.  We called the teller again and my host parents explained and requested a refund in French while I waited with my host sister.  The woman asked us to follow her in French a few steps over from the office, but we had to go through the admittance.  She scanned the new tickets and we went through the bars while she stood behind them.  It was at this point she started talking in English saying the tickets had already been used.  I started carrying the conversation myself, and asked for a refund.  The teller explained (in English, not the French she had used earlier) that if the tickets hadn't been scanned for admittance, then they could have provided a refund, but because the serial number had been marked in the database, the tickets could not be resold and would not be refunded.  When my host parents tried to speak with the teller, she only responded in English from this point forward, though the teller became flustered when she realized I was fluent.  After the teller had viewed our original tickets, convinced my host parents to buy duplicates, and led us through the admittance when seeking help, we did not get a refund.  I would suggest to any future travelers booking tickets in advance through reputable websites and handing affairs in Italian or English when making arrangements in Rome.

    Despite our issues with the tickets, the ruins were striking and grand.

The birds, too, were willing to strike a pose.

Despite any troubles, it was a brilliant second day!  I am so incredibly thankful to have this opportunity thanks to Rotary and my generous host family!