Do you like gladiator movies?

We have arrived in Rome, had an overly large meal, and settled into our adorable apartment on Via Claudia. From our apartment, we can step out onto the sidewalk and catch the bus to the Vatican. But even better, we can look down the street and see the Coliseum (how in hell do you spell that? It just looks wrong) about 200yds away. 

We spent most of the day in some form of transit, during which my sole objective was to force Cassie to choose some activities for Rome. Of course I wanted to avoid the pouting-brat situation that caused so much pain the other day. She dragged her feet on making a choice, until finally I said, "If you don't choose something, I'm gonna find every single dead-Jesus-person painting in Rome and drag your ass to stand in front of them. Every last one."

She rather efficiently made her choices. She chose the Trevi fountain and, in a moment of perfect irony, the Castel Sant' Angelo. You know...the prison. Which was also Nicky's choice, along with the Colosseo/forum area.

My kids want prison. Is there a message in this?

Meanwhile, I chose the Jewish ghetto. Because if you're gonna look at the Vatican (Greg's choice-- I think he secretly hopes the new pope will pull off an exorcism while we are here) and all the wonders that religion can bring, you have to look at the other side. 

Plus, I can't resist the idea of Italian-Jewish food, which the guidebook says is offered near the ghetto. I don't even know what that is, but I'm totally going for it.