Make a wish! The Trevi Fountain in Rome
I just made a wish here, but some believe that if you toss three coins with your right hand over your left shoulder- you are guaranteed to return to Rome some day!
Lots of coins are tossed in every day- this place was packed. The money is said to be collected and given to various catholic charities.
The labyrinth under the Colosseum
Below the Colosseum was a labyrinth of underground passages. These passages allowed animals, actors, and gladiators to suddenly appear in the middle of the arena. Pretty cool! They would use trap doors, as well, to add in special effects.
Categories: italy
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The Colosseum in Rome!
The Colosseum is massive! It was capable of seating as many as fifty thousand people. In it’s prime- animal hunts, battle reenactments, dramas, executions and gladiator battles took place here.
Interesting factoid: around five hundred thousand people and a million wild animals were killed as part of the games in the Colosseum during the time it was used as a place of entertainment.
Categories: italy
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The Mouth of Truth!
This huge marble disc is called the Mouth of Truth. There is a medieval legend associated with it that says the mouth of the marble face will close down if anyone puts his hand in it and tells a lie.
It was (supposedly) used for people accused of committing perjury or adultery. They had to swear under oath and then put their hand into the mouth then wait to see what happened! According to the legend it was even used during the Middle Ages. An executioner would hide behind the disc with a sharp sword ready to cut off the hand of a liar! Yikes!
Notice in the pictures who was scared to put their hand in all the way! Emerson admitted that she lies sometimes – she admitted this while waiting in line! Lennon said he doesn’t lie but the face kind of scared him.
Categories: italy
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Visiting more Bradley’s on our trip!
We were so excited to be in Rome and see Michael and Amanda! We also got to meet Baby Luca and their puppy Oliver. What a cute little family- Luca is such a happy baby (makes sense with who he has for parents.) After holding him, Jesse and I are thinking about having a fourth….. just kidding!
We walked to a restaurant in their neighborhood – I ate like I’ve never eaten before and talked Amanda’s ear off. Sorry about that! Thanks for a great night!
Categories: italy
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Tel Aviv Beach- playing in the Mediterranean Ocean!
We had a well deserved beach afternoon in Tel Aviv. The kids made sand donut holes and sand art.
Jesse and I took little naps then watched people. The first photo is of Muslim women- a grandmother, mother and daughter. From what I have learned – some Muslims believe that Muslim women should be fully covered starting when they reach puberty so as not to attract the attention of men. Sometimes this is the woman’s choice and sometimes a dominant male figure makes the decision for her. In some places we visited, women were completely covered- with not even the eyes showing. I don’t want to go off on a tangent with this, but this does make me think of women as being property in some instances. Are we suppose to believe that all men can’t control themselves when they see a woman’s hair, ankle or shoulder? What about when a father withholds the right to an education from his daughter in the name of religion? The more it’s in my face, the more I wonder how much power (if any) some of these women have to make their own decisions.
Categories: israel
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marschmadness 