Having purchased our €24 unlimited transport pass for 7 days, three days ago, we finally got off footing it and caught a 7.15am tram to the Colleseum (to beat the crowds!
The morning sun catching the top of this magnificent architectural structure. NO people at 7.30 as it doesn’t open until 8.30am! Time for a coffee and pretty much first (we were 10th in the queue) – Jaxon would be proud of us!
Janine and her family rocked in, on schedule, just a little after 8am and we decided to take an English (Italian tour) which included the Colosseum, the Roman Forem and Palentine hill ( all three sites) 
A great decision as our guide ‘Nico’ was a hive of information about the events of the Colosseum – The life and times (and battles) of animal (elephant, tigers, bears and many more), gladiators (teams and individuals). He was armed with a book (written by himself) with many pictures of how it used to be! (Which was very helpful to visualise how it all transpired!)
The inside of the now crumbling structure and
Through an archway on the upper level looking back at Palentine hill.
Alana, Janine and Luke waiting for the next part of the tour, the Roman Forem,
Jill and Russ taking a more leisurely approach to the interval!
Then off to the best part…The Roman Forem (the ancient Roman hub of the government, including Julius Caesar, and where the Roman Empire and its reaches were run from)
Aerial view of the city ruins from high up on the Palentine Hill lookout
The business street – shops and trade area
Remains of one of the basilica alters (and Russ)
Courtyard area lined with marble statues
Sue with one of the more intact statues (only an arm missing)
All that is left standing of another Basilica!
While a lot of this historical site looks like lots of broken bricks and marble, it is thanks to Napoleon and his team of architects restoring this, having been totally covered with silt, sewage water over many hundreds of years, that so much of the city is uncovered and one can see the layout and foundations of what was once a fantastic city!
A late lunch and by now a very hot afternoon! We left the other kiwi travellers and Jill, Sue and Russell headed to the Chariot race track
Maybe the first horse racing in history?
Enjoying a nice cool drink before we left Jill to go join another evening tour! She went one direction – Russ and Sue heading home and off to catch another tram!
Back to our local for a cool beer – Sue needing to use the bathroom
And this happened! Life is just full of surprises!
All who wander are not Lost girls 