April 2018: My 4th trip to Rome. I only had a day and a half in Rome, so I had to make the most of it. So, I had to do some monument hopping. Of course I started with the Colosseum.

This is the astounding Colosseum before dark.

This is a different angle of the Colosseum after dark. This fascinating monument has so much history. It was started by the emperor Vespasian around A.D. 70-72. His son Titus opened it with 100 days of games. Vespasian and Titus are from the Flavian dynasty. Therefore, the Flavian Amphitheater is the other name for it.

The next day my 1st stop was Trajan’s Marketplace. It’s the world’s 1st shopping mall. 6 floors full of history, stalls, and amazing views!

Here’s his column, which depicts the Dacian Wars in pictures. It’s the 1st graphic novel.

He built Trajan’s Basin in Portus, Ancient Rome’s 2nd port. He did so many great things.

Here is a bust of my favorite emperor.

I had never walked to the Theatre of Marcellus, so that was my next stop. Many people mistake this for the Colosseum. This monument has as many different types of architecture as it does stories.

Next stop: The Mighty Tiber. I wanted to cross Pons Fabricius, Rome’s oldest bridge. It brings you to Tiber Island.

The Mighty Tiber was high and rushing very fast.

Of course I squeezed in as much eating and shopping as possible. After all it is Rome. All in all, my 4th trip to Rome was as amazing as I knew it would be.