After getting lots of good rest and maybe sleeping in a bit more than what we would have liked, we left to grab a bite to eat at a sidewalk cafe down the street from our hotel.  With full bellies and a big day ahead, we hopped on the Metro to the Colosseum.  

Using our Roma Passes, we skipped the long line for tickets, and headed right into the impressive Colosseum.  Making a last minute reservation, we were able to join a short tour, which gave us a quick overview of the history of the building, the gladiators, the ancient Roman emperors, and more.  Finished in 80 AD after 8 years of construction, it had amenities that rival even modern stadiums, including a floor that could be flooded to stage naval battles, a retractable roof (really!), seating for 50-75 thousand, and wine vendors!  Overall the Colosseum was very impressive, and was Arin's favorite part of the trip so far.  

We continued our day by heading across the street to the Roman Forum where we walked through the ruins of several temples and other important buildings from Ancient Rome's heyday.  Then we began a long wandering walk back to our hotel, stopping at Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon.  Of course, we also grabbed dinner at a sidewalk cafe (pizza and lasagna - what else?), and got some gelato for the rest of the walk back to the hotel.  

It was another exhausting but exciting day in Rome.  Tomorrow we're renting a car to take the drive up to Tuscany, assuming Peter can navigate through the crazy Roman traffic in a Fiat Panda!