Hales Family Blog

Completed in 80 AD, the Flavian Ampitheater was used until 523 AD. Contrary to many popular stories, the Colosseum mostly was put out of service because of the military and economic problems that Rome was having in the Western part of the empire during the 500's. Along with the invasions from the North, no one could bear the colossal expense of putting on the day long shows.

Archeologist have found shards of pottery with the door number, row, and seat that a person would sit in. Just like modern day ticket stubs. The numbers on the doors are still visible from the outside.

During the middle ages houses and churches were built in the Colosseum! It was also used as a fortress.

During the Renaissance building materials were harvested from the structure. That is why a lot of the marble is gone from the facade and why you can see holes all over the front of the structure--they took out the iron that was inside and melted it down for other things.

We couldn't get over how there is still marble on the steps and on the floors even though hundred's of thousands of tourists walk on it every day!
Note: We are still wearing the same clothes we were wearing when we were on the plane!

The Colosseum BABY!! Can you believe it?! No really? Cause I can't. I get choked up each and every time I see the pictures. The word "arena" comes from the Latin "harena" which means sand or sandy place. The arena of the Colosseum had about 9" of sand on it as all times for the various hunts and combats that were held there--thus it was called an "arena" and that is where we get that word from today.

As soon as we checked into our hotel we got a cab to "Vastours" and off we went to our first tour. This is a pic. of our tour guide. I do not remember her name but she was really hard to hear. She was, however, a complete saint to the whiner's who were worried about all the walking--they must not have read the same brochure we had because ours warned us about 18 times to wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to climb a lot of steps.

Began in 72 AD and completed in 80 AD, the Flavian Ampitheater (Colosseum) was built by the Flavian Dynasty emperors of Vespasian, Titus, and Domition. It was built on top of the site where the much hated emperor Nero had built his home. Vespasian was the dad and Titus and Domition were his sons.

After our tour they made us sit through a really bad interactive movie, 3D type of thing. When we came out our group was getting back on to the tour bus. The driver was standing at the bus door asking each person where they were going after the tour. As we got up to the bus we told the driver "Capo d'Africa". "No bus" he told us. "What"?! After a 2-3 minute Italian-English verbal scuffle, we realized were were beat, lost, and without a ride back to the tour office. A brief moment of panic set in as the driver kept repeating that we should walk to the corner. We deciphered that he wanted us to take a regular city bus to our location and the city bus stop was on the corner. Neither one of us were very excited about this idea and we whispered to each other that we would walk around the corner (out of site of the driver, fellow tour passengers, and our humiliation) and then figure out what to do. Why wouldn't he let us one the bus? We had no idea--I asked Michele if she only bought us a one way pass or what? ;)

So we walked to the corner and decided to ask a waiter at a sidewalk cafe that was right there. He spoke about as much English as we did Italian! This was not looking good. Neither of us had working cell phones at this point so calling a taxi was not an option. Finally Michele said "Capo d'Africa" and the man pointed at the side of a building--a sign was there--a street sign--"Capo d'Africa"!!!! Apparently the bus driver didn't think we needed a ride to be delivered to our motel that was literally about 100 yards from the end of our tour. We very sheepishly walked up this little alley/street that we would come to recognize and affectionately call "Capo d'Africa"! :)))