July 5, 2018. Rome, Italy. 3:00-4:30 am

Location: The Colosseum

I arrived in Rome late. I had flown from Vienna, Austria to Rome, and I only had one full day to explore.

Since it was late when I arrived, I ordered some food at a restaurant and then walked to my hotel, which was about a half mile from the Colosseum.

The hotel I stayed in that night was in the upper floor of a large building. The hotel was only one floor of the building, while the rest of the building was apartments. The building was old, wedged between a full street of buildings and cars. It had a massive door at the entrance that screeched loudly when I opened it. 

I got in my bed, and lied down. By this time, it was around midnight. After laying there for a while, I thought to myself, why lay here? I’m in Rome!

So I decided to venture out.

After my rooftop sketch ended around 3 am, I decided to continue my night by taking the 1/2 mile walk to the Colosseum. I was tired, but I didn't want to miss this chance. 

“An uneasy feeling took over my body as I stepped out onto the street. I had barely seen the city by day, was unfamiliar with the area, and was now walking it alone at night. Adrenaline was pumping through my veins as I envisioned how I would escape if someone approached me. ”

I carried only my sketchbook with me as I walked the narrow cobble stoned streets towards the Colosseum. Parked cars filled the streets and a few dimly lit lights paved the way. 

Fortunately no one too questionable crossed my path and I made it to the Colosseum just fine. I walked past a group of 4 high school age teens sitting on some stones and chatting just outside the enormous stone structure. They looked harmless, so I continued on... I stayed very alert and walked with my shoulders broad and a straight face, hoping to intimidate any would be thieves in the night...

From here: I circled the whole Colosseum, looking for the best place to sketch from. I worked my way all the way around before I finally found just the right view. 

“A stone ledge set approximately 25 feet away with a good view of one half side of the Colosseum.”

I sat down... now seeing a few small groups here and there of others off in the distance, looking to take in the views of the night I as was... The sounds of strangers from afar, chatting and laughing, and the occasional sound of footsteps from the street above me, broke the silence of the night. 

The Colosseum had lights propped up from the corners of the openings that cast an orange hue off the stones. It was gorgeous. 

As I sat there, I couldn’t help but think of all the history that happened in this building; all the fights to the death, the crowds that came to watch. I wondered what were the people like during this time, and what other people sat on this same ledge that I now sat on.

Mostly though, scenes from Gladiator just ran through my head as I could hear Russel Crowe shouting: "Are you not entertained!?" 

I sat in this position sketching from 3:00-4:30 am; just enough time to get a quick outline that I could work from later in the trip.