Saturday, September 30, 2017

Rome - I


I traveled through Rome recently, and had a few hours to walk and take photos...
...my favorite pass-time !

A little different approach to this post, I asked Brenda to select her favorites among the photos, and these are her picks.



Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
I started on Saturday morning by taking a taxi from my hotel down to the Colosseum.  Had to get a few of the obligatory "standard tourist Rome photos" !


Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
Walking back to the hotel, you never know what you'll find, so I glance down every side street and alleyway.
Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
I call this post "Rome I" because Brenda and I will return next spring, to celebrate our 40th Anniversary (yes, she was only 4 years old when we got married...)  We'll stay here at the Forum Hotel.


Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
The view across from the hotel (which has a cool roof-level restaurant).  The Forum Area is amazing.  The people of Rome have excavated as much as 30 feet (10m) down to some of the earliest building remains, more than 2000 years of history !


Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
This is the base of a column erected to honor Trahan, a powerful guy who went on a big expedition up into Europe, about the years 110-115...yes, 1900 years ago.  If I remember correctly,, the figures in the relief are about a foot tall, the spiral-wrapped relief winds it's way up the column, telling the story of the journey.  At the bottom here, they are all pumped, marching straight, and heading out from Rome.  Look at the detail that remains, on a monument erected 1900 years ago !!


Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
One thing about Rome, when you build a new monument or building, 
...you pretty much gotta' go big.


Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
The statues way up on top...



Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
Just gotta look down every street and alleyway...
Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
Could you drive through there to park every day ?



Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
...just never know what you'll see...


Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
Ponte Sant' Angelo, originally built by Emperor Hadrian (in the year 135 !!).


Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
Then walking after dinner one evening, back in the same area.
Photo by Mark W. Laughlin


Bren asked me if she could just park this way when she goes to the mall...
...I just kept walking.
Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Y'all take care,
-Mark