Our hotel was just down the street from the Forum and Colosseum. Each night when we walked back we could just sit next to the forum and look at the 2000 year old columns.
Trevi Fountain
The Pantheon is my new favorite building ever. This was built in 126 AD and is in near perfect condition. Standing inside, it seems inconceivable that the dome was constructed 1900 years ago and is still intact. It wasn't until 1300+ years later with the completion of Brunelleschi's Duomo in Florence that man was able to match the architectural skill of the ancient Romans. Amazing.
The Spanish Steps are one big old staircase. Nice place to sit and people watch. The most interesting thing we saw here was the Carabinieri's attempts to catch this Roma (gypsy) flower seller who had apparently stolen something. He jogged around the Steps for several minutes with increasing anxiety trying to outmaneuver the blue uniformed Carabinieri who were patiently walking (not running) after him. The whole crowd on the steps watched this slow motion drama unfold and some (including us) pointed out his whereabouts to the police as he kept ducking behind objects and people. They never did catch him.
The interesting thing about travelling is the things you don't expect to find. Everyone knows that Italy has the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower, but unless you've been there you wouldn't know that every single Piazza in Italy has Roma men selling flowers, and Senegalese immigrants selling knockoff Louis Vuitton purses and fake Rolex watches.
