Rome 08-05-12 - Page 2

Rome08-05-12b, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Palatino
Sketched from opposite the Colosseum, in a quiet place, up on a higher level. It wasn't quiet for long. I didn't notice the crowd forming until I reached into my bag to put my Lamy away and grab my paints...My sketchbook and I had become quite the attraction.

Rome 06-05-12 - Page 2

Rome06-05-12b, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

The Colesseum and rain!
The heavens opened as I sat outside to sketch the exterior and showed no sign of stopping! The 'hookie' men (as I call them) thrusted into action selling plastic macs and umbrellas, I imagine they earned a months wage in an hour and seemed to be the only ones enjoying the downpour!
We relented and purchased our own umbrella from them...after haggling, of course!

Rome 06-05-12 - Page 1

Rome06-05-12a, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

The Colosseum
What an amazing piece of architecture, the top section looks like it could just flop down any minute. LOL! It started to shower while I was inside so I found a place to sit with shelter and started this sketch......the rain got harder...EVERYONE joined me! Ah well, I managed something. I wanted to visit many spots in Rome for their treasures, their artists or their architecture but I had wanted to visit the Colesseum to 'feel' it, to have the hairs on my arms stand up at the sheer indulgence of man and the pain he is willing to inflict on his own. To then understand that thousands of 'spectators' came here to watch under the umbrella of 'entertainment' is just mind boggling to me. The actual arena was much smaller than I imagined....it must have been terrifying!