Massive Colosseum Crowds

The Roman Colosseum held in access of 55,000 spectators. Some scholars believe that number may be low, and in the hay day of colosseum spectacles, it had capacity crowds of over 80,000. The structure has 80 arched entrances which allowed the massive crowds to fill the colosseum fully from empty in around 10 minutes. (Eyewitness Travel) Each entrance has a Roman numerals located above the archway which helped spectators find their seats. The numbers can still be seen today. Entrance to the colosseum was free to the citizens of Rome, but seating was most definitely assigned according to class. The upper ring of the colosseum was for standing room section located for peasants, while the emperor sat on a large terrace called the podium. The fact that the colosseum could be filled and evacuated in ten minutes blows my mind. Beaver Stadium at Penn State, holds 110,000 people and if everyone stays until the end of the game, it takes at least 30 minutes to get out of the stadium. The ancient Romans built with an extreme precision, that is un parallel to the modern buildings of today. The colosseum is a testament to the brilliant architects of the ancient Roman empire who’s buildings still boggle historians to this date.

Arriving in Paris Tour De Eiffel

This afternoon I left for Paris. The airline we chose to fly on (RyanAir), only flies out of the Ciampino airport, so it was kind of a hassle getting there. We had to take a cab, and the side of the city the airport was located on was congested with traffic all afternoon. Of course, we got stuck right in the middle of it, and it took us over an hour to get to the airport. On top of that, I was unaware that once we got to Paris we’d be an hour away from the city, so what I thought would be about three hours of travel turned into five. Regardless, the plane was on time, it was easy getting a bus into the city, and we pulled into our hostel at around 11.00 PM.Our hostel was located near Pigalle place. After arriving we figured out very quickly that we were located in the sex district. The last five minutes of our ride to our hostel took us by countless strip bars, and sex shops. It was really a site to see. I knew right away that the area we were staying in was going to be interesting. The first tourist site we passed was the Moulin Rouge. Although, it was located in the heart of all the flashing sex signs, it was not hard to spot. The letters were written in bright red lighting, and on top of the building was a huge windmill that spun a full 360 degrees. Everyone on our bus immediately began snapping pictures, and before I knew it we were at our hostel, a mere block away. 

I realized rather quickly that we were not very close to the Eiffel Tower. Fortunately, the metro was still running, so we quickly figured out which stop we needed and we headed to the heart of the city. We didn’t get to the Eiffel Tower until about midnight. As we loomed closer, the tower kept getting larger and larger. The lighting on the tower is very bright, and it made it glow a golden hue. The tower didn’t even look real when you got up close to it.

I didn’t realize that there was a light show every night at the Eiffel Tower. Hundreds of flashing lights cover the tower from the base to the top. There are three shows per night starting on the hour at 11:00 PM – 1:00 AM. The first two shows happen when the tower is still lit, the last show however begins after the main lights are turned off. This was my favorite of them all, it was incredible looking up at the 986 foot tower in complete blackness with hundreds of white flashes. It was almost mesmerizing standing close to the tower peering all the way up to the top. I couldn’t get a good picture of the actual lighting effect. The light show is really something you have to see in person to understand what it’s like. Luckily, I’ll have it in my mind for years to come.

Advertisement in Paris

Located throughout the city were numerous posters with Barrack Obama's picture on it. The poster read, Comment Il Change L'Amerique. I thought this was really interesting considering the overall French opinion of the United States. The fact that they display billboards around the city that have our presidential candidates located on them really showed me what I world power we are. Everyone that I have spoken to abroad has a very good understanding of our next election. It seems that every foreigner has an opinion about who would be the best candidate to be our next president.  I've always known that America has had a huge influence on the world, and now that I am studying abroad I am seeing it first hand. 

Hadrian's Villa

In a small group of students including Toni Conti, Carley Bria, Cole Kitchen, and Courtney Marshall, along with the help of Mike Tumolo, we mapped out the route to get to Hadrian’s Villa.

Go to the Termini train station in Rome. Enter the upper part of the station and locate ticket machines. Search for the train to Tivoli. Once you get to Tivoli Station, locate local bus number 4 which you can take to Hadrian’s Villa. These directions can also be found in the Eyewitness Guide of Rome on page 269.

One of the most striking and best preserved parts of the Villa is the pool and an artificial grotto which were named Canopus Serapeum (the Emperor’s dining table). The Maritime Theater is a circular building within Ionic marble peristyle. This was a private retreat for the Emperor. A circular moat encloses an island where the theater is located. Finally, be sure to visit the Small and Great Thermae (baths) which are well preserved areas for public and private bathing. The small ones were used more privately for the emperors while the larger baths were used for visitors to the Villa. Check out this website for a number of virtual walk throughs of the Villa:

http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/hadrian_s_villa/hadrian_s_villa.htm

The following are Sculptures of Hadrian and his lover Antinous. Hadrian is the older looking sculpture and Antinous is the other. There were many sculptures found on site of Antinous. I find the story of Antinous' death to be very interesting because I have yet to find out what exactly happened to him. "In October 130, according to Hadrian, "Antinous was drowned in Nilus." This is the only contemporaneous statement made — significantly by the one person in a position to "testify" at an inquaestio whose word was above reproach — and the sentence structure and meaning are very precise, whether translated from Latin or Greek. Speculation that Antinous drowned by accident, committed suicide or was "sacrificed" by Hadrian appeared later, and may have had a political agenda. It is not known whether his death was the result of accident, suicide, murder, or religious sacrifice. The speculation concerning suicide includes the possibility that Antinous sacrificed himself in an attempt to improve Hadrian's health. It seems very improbable that Hadrian would have consented to the death of his companion, given the depth of his grief following the loss, so if Antinous was murdered or committed suicide, Hadrian was taken by surprise." 

Images and quoted story courtesy of (www.Wikipedia.com)

The Spanish Steps from Centrale Roma Termini

Starting at the Centrale Roma Termini make a left on Via Cavour, and then make a right onto Via A. Depretis. Notice the Piazza Dell' Esquiline on your left. Follow down Via Depretis passing through the intersection with Via Nazionale. The street turns into Fontane, keep following it. On your right you will see Le Quattro Fontane before the intersection with Via XX Settembre. Continue through the intersection where Fontane turns into Vi A. Della Quatro, and on your right you will see Palazzo Barberini. Continue through the next intersection, where you will see Fontana Del Tritone on your right. After the intersection Via Del Quatro turns into Via Sistina. Follow that until you see V. Della Carrozze make a left onto that street. you will see Piazza Di Spagna on your left.  Finally, you have arrived at the Spanish Steps! Refresh with a cold Beera!

The Spanish Steps link the Trinita Dei Marti to the Piazza Di Spagna. Charles Dickens reported that the steps were a common meeting place for artists and models. The steps are currently a popular place to hang out with friends and to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Many people visit this site to flirt, relax, and write poetry. (Eyewitness Travel Guide)

Colosseum from the Centrale Roma Termini

Starting at the Station Centrale Roma Termini, turn left on Via Cavour. As you are walking notice the church that is located 4 blocks down on your right. This is the Santa Maria Maggiore. A picture of the interior of the church is shown in the picture to your right. Continue heading down Via Cavour and make a left on Via Eudosiana. Located on your right is the San Pietro in Vincoli. Inside of this church you will find the Chains which shackled St. Peter, and the Moses statue done by Michael Angelo. Continue down Via Eudosiana and notice Traianos Park and the Traianos Bathes. Make a right onto Via Terme Ditillo and the Colosseum will be located right in front of you.

The Roman Colosseum was built 

around 2000 years ago. It was known 

as Rome's ancient theater. There are numerous vendors and tourists that frequent this area daily. You will usually see Italians dressed up as gladiators that will pose with you for a picture. Of course, a small fee is required. The Roman Colosseum is one of most recognized structures in Rome. 

Roman Vs Amsterdam Advertisements

The advertisements that I saw in Amsterdam were completely different from the ones that I've gotten accustomed to in Rome. For instance, many of the ads in Amsterdam were neon lights, and they lit up the entire street. The amount of video boards in Amsterdam was astounding, it seemed as though every time you walked to a new block their was a 20 foot plasma screen TV flashing advertisements. The differences between Rome and Amsterdam were plentiful, but the thing that stood out the most was Rome's lapse in technology. Amsterdam was much more modern, and it wasn't just the advertisements that proved this. Amsterdam, as a whole was much cleaner than Rome. Although some places in Amsterdam looked very old, I felt like the architects that designed the city, meant to make newer buildings look that way. It was definitely a breath of fresh air visiting Amsterdam for the weekend. Even though Amsterdam is a city, its' characteristics never made it feel that way. I definitely enjoyed the escape from Rome!