Sabrina Rome

... continues as to who won.

Rome is an amusing background for pop culture, a role it has played for 25 centuries. Spectacles in the Colloseum included wild animals and exotic, though unwilling, people from all parts of Europe and Africa. Mussolini made culture a key part of his political agenda, striking deals to save treasures even as he fled for his life at the end of the war. Berlusconi has managed to balance the most stable ...

... filming scenes for a new movie in the Piazza Navona.

The highlight was definitely Vatican City and the Colosseum. Ancient Romans spent lifetimes upon lifetimes creating the most awe inspiring architecture we've ever seen. It is definitely worth a visit at least once in life. Once you enter St Peter's Basilica you are transported to a different era where detail and pride in your work were paramount. Even though hundreds of people are crowded in the enormous space, there's a ...

... he was not the only Pope to do so either). So, here we are full of all of this knowledge, descending into the nightmare of 150 people squeezed into a bedroom. Shuffling was the order of the day and all we could do was keep moving. We were still trying to get to the Chapel. Go to the Museum late in the afternoon ...

... circus:-). Unfortunately, there are no ruins left as the stadium was destroyed in the same earthquake that destroyed the Coliseum. All that is left is a dirt track and some grass. I took a picture but there really isn't much to see. After driving around for awhile, our next stop was at the Pantheon. This is the oldest standing dome in Rome. While viewing the sites around the Pantheon, we also stopped and had an Espresso ...

... Kevin. It was very impressive though. It might be a good tactic. Those stupid Mormons wouldn't let me in to see their temple, so they are never getting my vote. Neither of us speaks the language at all, but everyone here speaks English, except for the Gypsies and I don't need to understand them. I don't hate Gypsies, for the record I just know that all they want from me is ice cream.

... much there was to see in the museum. The fact that the Vatican owns so much is funny to think about, but it was so powerful for so long that it obtained so much from all over the world. When we finally got into the Sistine, were were stunned by how large it was. The ceiling is incredible. We stared at it for at least 30 min. The Vatican as a whole is my favorite thing Ive seen so far on ...

... away from my would-be stalker. Also, being close to a US Navy base and having friends on the base, I get the added benefit of some US culture. This includes: the new Harry Potter movie in English (for when it comes out- which will be the same time as the States where as in Italy it's usually a few months later), peanut butter (I only found this once and it was exorbitantly expensive), M&Ms at a reasonable price, and a few other American ...

... and Italy by bus toYugoslavia. Leaving Italy meant that this was the end of my Eurailpass and as there were a couple of days left of the pass I thought I might be able to sell it to someone. When I told the hostel travellers about the ticket being first class I got looks of disbelief. Travelling first class was something that the average back packer would not do as it breached some unwritten rule about needing to mix with the 'real' people while travelling otherwise one did not absorb the ...

... no clue what happend but one minute I was with the group and the next minute I wasnt. I mean literally the WHOLE group disappeared. I saw this path that went up a hill nearby and thought Id head up it to see if I could see which direction they went in. It was a gorgeous view from the top, but still no group in site, so I kept following the path around. All of a sudden I see this man standing in the bushes. Weird ... Keep walking... He hears me and turns ...

... of a huge valley, dotted with towns and villages, farming and industry. At the back of the city of Assisi, Mount Subasio looms large. To get to Brigolante, you have to enter one of the gates in the city wall, at the eastern end. The street inside is tree lined, and winds up into the town. If you stay on it, as opposed to parking in a parking station to walk into the main town area, it eventually leaves the city walls by another gate (only wide enough for one ...