Soccer Game and Roman Catacombs

This is the 3rd post of the day. If you're checking back for the first time today, make sure you check all the way back to the Disneyland post to make yourself fully up to date. The activities of this blog were from 10/23/07. I'll start off with the soccer game, which was actually the last thing I did, and I'll end with the Catacombs, which of course was the first thing I did. so, on with the soccer game. This "calcio" match was between our team "AS Roma" vs. Lisbon (Portugal).

AS Roma is in red. AS stands for Associazione Sportiva, and the team was founded in 1927. Here, a jerk from Portugal (the green guys) tackled one of our guys just outside the box. Nothing came of our free kick.

The free kick I mentioned. The ball was deflected around a bit, but never finished.

This was an action shot of the first goal scored in the game... by ROMA!!! Might I add that the fans are absolutely insane at these games. People bring flares and light them and wave them and/or throw them when goals are scored. There are also what seems to be hundreds of chants that every real fan memorizes and belts at the top of their lungs all throughout the game (especially when Portugal's fans try to chant their cheers... we can't have that). So, at this point, it was 1-0 ROMA!

A three-way aerial fight for possession.

AS Roma trying to recover the ball before it goes out of bounds for a goal kick for Lisbon.

AS Roma keeper makes a solid save.

Put these words in his mouth... "Heee-eeeeyyyyy" (with a lisp... even though there are no "S's"). What a great action shot, haha!

The final score of the game, after a lot of action and excitement... AS ROMA WINS!!!! 2-1. A great way to see the game end!

Stadio Olimpico... the site of the game; about an hour away by public transit and walking, but not too far distance-wise.

The Catacombs Di St. Calixtus, or as the Romans say, San Callisto. These are the grounds surrounding the Catacombs. Beautiful and scenic, Via Appia Antica is definitely a worthwhile stop in any visit to Rome!

More scenery around the Catacombs.

Sheep! Right next to the entrance to the underground Catacombs.

A building and some landscaping on the grounds.

The exit from the Catacombs. Pictures were not allowed inside, so the best I can say is to experience them yourself! The tour is great, and it is given in your native language by a real guide. These Catacombs are Rome's most popular, and go to a depth of 75 feet at their deepest. Over 500,000 people are buried in these Catacombs, and this is only 1 of about 60 ancient burial sites within Rome! Amazing! A sad fact is that they had to move the remains of the people buried here so that they are no longer viewed while taking the tour. This is because when the bones were out for people to see back in the day, people would actually have the nerve to STEAL the ancient remains... unbelievable.

That'll do it for this post. One more today... on my 10/24 day-trip to FLORENCE!