The Colosseum Is Everything It's Cracked Up To Be

For some reason, people like to sleep in while they're on vacation. And sure, I do that sometimes, too. But not while in Italy. When I was in Rome earlier this year, I made sure to wake up early enough to find The Colosseum at sunrise. And I'm glad I gave myself time.

I woke up and walked out of the hotel with a map. Usually, maps look like a preschooler's art project to me and I can never really make sense of the streets or direction. That was the case on my first morning in Rome. So, I stopped in local coffee shops along the way to get additional directions and found very little assistance. The language barrier was an obstacle.

Eventually, I found my way. And there it was. The Colosseum.

I used to teach middle school social studies and we'd go over Italy's greatness, the Roman Empire and The Colosseum. But nothing prepared me for its enormity. The place is everything it's cracked up to be and then some. You can feel the history surrounding it just by standing near it. I can't imagine what it's like to live there, seeing it every day, just lounging in the background.

When I arrived, I was pretty much alone. So, I had time to soak it all up. I actually didn't start shooting for awhile. It was still dark and I wanted more light. So, I waited in the cool morning for the sun to rise while sitting in front of The Colosseum. Not a bad way to start a day.

I returned to The Colosseum with a group of people (it was that good). There was even more to photograph when I went back. It was like traveling back in time. I mean, how often do you see this?

Here are some more photographs from inside and outside of The Colosseum.

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