.........ITALY , like so many other places around the world, is a country of great contrasts, in particular in the wonderful mix of OLD & NEW one finds here. And in Rome, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum are arguably the MOST FAMOUS of all the old ruins that still remain standing from the days of ANCIENT ROME. There's our daughter Sonia standing near part of the Forum, which by the way, we didn't enter this trip for lack of time ---and aching feet!! The sheer amount of ancient beauty in Italy is absolutely overwhelming.....but the modern world is also very much alive and kicking in Italy too, as we know! So amid it's rich history and ancient treasures we find......