When in Rome, do what the Romans do. Eat gelato.

It's kind of hard to put yourself in the kind of perspective required for Rome when your own country's still in its proverbial infancy. That said, we tried our best and Rome still blew us away.

The Colosseum
I remember reading somewhere once that entry into the Colosseum itself isn't allowed but that's apparently a huge mistake. We walked right up to the ticket sales, paid our 12€ each, and actually got prime access to the ancient relic. We're too poor for the audio guides, but once inside, it seemed it spoke its own history. Though the floor has since eroded away and most of the structures are wearing and tearing, it's easy to visualize the gladiators walking out onto the stage, fighting to the death. It was truly an intense experience. So rich in overwhelming history. We were absolutely blown away. Though they won't actually let you on the ground floor, the balconies are mostly all accessible. I really hate the cliché tourist hot spots, but this is one that was absolutely worthwhile - worth the flight to Rome, worth the two nights in the Roman hostel rooms with the two guys who snore way too loud, worth the 12€ ticket, and worth the hour it took to wait in line. Seeing history for ourselves was worth every penny.

The Gelato
Mmmm. Gelato. Real gelato. Because you can't go to Italy and not try its addicting ice cream, we had our share the second day there, when the weather was hot and sunny - prime climate to dig in gelato. After finishing our picnic lunches (grilled cheese and fries, cooked at the hostel the night before), we took our sacred gelatos and enjoyed them at the park, taking in the beautiful Roman weather, the Roman ruins surrounding us, and the Roman hobos.

The Food
When my parents visited us from the states and we all went to Pisa, we tried our very first authentic Italian food. Since then, Italian food has been our favorite in Europe. Rome is no different. We ate at this charming pizzaria our first day in Rome, and suffice it to say, Spanish food can't hold a candle to the bounty in Italy. Mmmm.

The Roman Ruins
Much like the Colosseum, the Roman Ruins were awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping and downright incredible. And, like the Colosseum, their history spoke for themselves. If we would have had the time, I would have spent hours perusing the ancient ruins, but our vacation was limited and we could only take a quick glance-over, snap a few photos and go. In all this, it still amazes me that when the Roman Empire had reached its peak, our own country (which, in a trio with China and Japan now headlines the global economy), was absolutely nothing.

The Vatican
We really only saw Saint Peter's Basilica, but that church alone put all the Spanish cathedrals to shame. Every inch of the church is covered with some intricate thing, whether it's alabaster figures protruding from the walls, ornate marble columns or solid gold trim. The density of the church, with all the decorations, just make other cathedrals seem so barren and empty. The entrance was free - nice for your average broke college kid - but we waited in line for well over an hour to get inside. We also went underground, where the papal tombs are, including the last pope. Seeing the Vatican guards in their interesting costumes was well worth it. Google it, and you'll see what I mean.

The Other Cool Stuff
The city itself is littered with blatant Roman architecture. You could be blindfolded and dropped from the sky and within a minute's time, you'd be able to tell you're not only in Italy, but in Rome. Various fountains (Trevi Fountain being a perfect example) are scattered through the city and all reflect the Roman mythological gods and goddesses.

Pictures
I've got lots of them (and I do mean lots of them) here. My parents gave me an amazing camera for Christmas before we left, and as cool as it is taking pictures everywhere we go, it means I've got about 2000 pictures to sort through, print out, and organize into a photo album once we get back. Whew! But, on a side note, I'm having so much fun taking pictures across the world that I may just drop everything and become a travel photographer. Better yet, a travel photojournalist! Thoughts? :)

All in all, Rome has something for the history buffs and gelato lovers alike. If you're both, like me, it's beyond amazing. And tasty.

Ciao, mi amigos.
-Bana