The Colosseum and the Roman Forum

The Romans…

Well, it was time to take the trek down to the Colosseum and the Forum.

This seems to surprise people, but I am not all that interested in ruins. Sometimes if you find them in place or expectantly they can weave a spell, but generally ruins are just that; ruins. They are disconnected. Their story, though fascinating, has ended. This is especially true for big celebrity ruins, like the Forum and the Colosseum.

So, I saw these mostly out of curiosity and to tick the boxes; hopefully the only time I do so on this trip.

Having said all that, I did just spend over five hours at these two sites. The Colosseum was exactly as expected; which is to say awe inspiring and horrifying at the same time. The real impact for me was looking at the under-stage area and trying to imagine what sort of hell hole that must’ve been.

The Forum was a bit more surprising. Or, should I say the Palatinate Hill was. I genuinely had a lot of fun climbing in and out of the palace complex and I found the curious mix of unkempt greenery and ancient masonry delightfully strange. But the Forum left me flat; though it is astonishing how much has been pieced together and re-erected, it is just too fragmented to hold together in the mind.

Now… all of the above is just a personal experience. The Roman Forum is an amazing place that has delighted, inspired and awed many for very good reasons. Anyone who goes to Rome should invest a decent block of time in seeing them if they can. They just aren’t for me.

I’m going to try to get to the Walls and the Appian Way on Sunday. That’s more my speed.

Opening time. The same market I have usually been having an espresso at. This time, I was out so early they hadn't opened.

Scale. Scale is probably the Colosseum's signature characteristic from which everything else that is amazing about this place flows. The best way to show scale, apart from being there, is to show people in context. This crowd is on a small segment of the second landing.

The new spectators. Before we judge the Romans, just how many of us would have been picking up free tickets to see the latest target group burned, eaten or tortured to death if it was all sanctioned by the state and considered the patriotic thing to do?

Exterior

Scale, take two. Shot from the Palatinate Hill.

Trying not to enjoy myself...

I loved the odd green spaces up on the Palatinate Hill. This is central Rome.

The Forum.

These columns sum up why the Forum just doesn't resonate with me. Aloof, fragmented and untouchable. Also, I can't figure out what is causing the weird vertical striations in these long exposures.

The Forum.

Off to a party. I spent some time on that mad roundabout north of that big white marble extravagance at the bottom of the Corso. that intersection is an incredible thing to watch. It's like a campfire; mesmerizing in its never ending and chaotic movement. The next few shots try to illustrate how incredibly calm most Romans appear to be navigating this apparent death trap. I say apparent... I stood there for about half an hour and there was not a single bingle, indeed, barely a snarl.

Mobile phone. It boggles the mind how many people you see texting on scooters. Texting! This is just a passenger on the phone... 

I had white knuckles just standing on the footpath watching this kid slurping on a drink while his mum gave him a telling off while death or serious injury sped by meters away. 

Choose your mode, I suppose.

Another perspective.