Rome started out rushed.  We took an early train from Florence and arrived at Roma Termini station just before 10am.  From the train station we dropped our luggage off at the hotel and took a cab to the Vatican for our 11:15am Scavi Tour.  This is the same tour that Matt, Lyle, and I participated in last year.  Katie, Julie, and Alan toured the excavations of the Vatican without me, since I had already done it.

After the tour, we walked all the way from St. Peter’s Square to the Roman Forum (approx 2 miles).  At the Forum, we enjoyed Roman architecture from the height of the Republic and Empire.  The Forum served as a nucleus of government and public life for several centuries.  Sadly, very little remains of this ancient plaza.

We then headed to nearby Palatine Hill, this was the site (from myth) where Romulus and Remus descended to found Rome.  Now it’s just ruins, however we got some pretty good views of the Colosseum.