June 9, 2011 - Ancient Rome day

Laura not feeling good again, so stays home.  Mark goes to palatine hill and roman forum.  Can't even tell them apart - not very impressed overall.  Then heads to Colosseum.  Awesome - incredible how similar modern day arenas it is.  Could hold 60,000 people and fill/empty it in 15 minutes, free tickets.  Truly remarkable to see in person.  Heads back to hotel to rest a little before we both head to the Spanish steps.  We take a scenic route there from our hotel and pass by the US embassy - neat to see.  Then we arrive at the top of the steps.  We buy Rachel a fake Louis Voitton purse on the steps, then head to the bottom for a better look.  Then we went into several high end stores nearby before heading back to the hotel.  We head to dinner at a cafe near the campo de fiore area.  Rick Steves recommended it, but we were unimpressed.  The service was terrible, we were cramped, food was only mediocre at best and there was no good view, due to a plastic liner on the side of the patio.  We walk around the pantheon on our way home, then grab a bottle of wine to drink on our rooftop patio.