I kidded in a serious tone after I attended this soccer game in Rome between AS Roma and SS Lazio during my Eurosix trip.

The first video is 45 minutes before the game – BEFORE THE GAME. At the end you can see my buddy Matthew from Belgium. He loves to smoke. He also cussed at the opposing side in Italian during the entire game. He’s classic.

In the second video it gets nuts just before the game starts:

This was one of the greatest sporting events I ever attended – and I hate soccer.

A question I do not mind answering, but one that can consume too much time once I begin explaining and others begin asking questions.

Look to this map.

London, England was my starting point, then I worked south, going somewhat-counterclockwise to Paris, France… Bern, Switzerland… Florence, Italy… Torino, Italy… Pisa, Italy… Rome, Italy… Cortona, Italy… Venice, Italy… Vienna, Austria… Budapest, Hungary… Prague, Czech Republic… Berlin, Germany… Amsterdam, The Netherlands… Bruges, Belgium… and back to London, England.

Miles : 3,500 [approximately, point-to-point]

Number of Cities : 15

Number of Countries : 10

Favorite Small City : Bruges, Belgium

Favorite Large City : Berlin, Germany

Most of my photos from Rome are stored on my iPod… but I’ll dig ‘em up later.

Rome is amazing. History, literally around every corner. You can feel it in the air, and can touch it along the way.

Mass at St. Peter’s Bascilica, the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, and seeing the Pope himself kicked off the first 24 hours in Rome.

But there’s a whole lot more to Rome than old stuff and pointy-hats… I think.

Some favorite shots are here… here… here… and here.

Photos from Rome.

Words cannot describe the soccer match I sat through last night. I have a video of about 10 seconds from the start of the game, Italian laws force me to have to post it later.

Let’s just put it this way:

Rome has two major soccer teams. You live and die for one team or the other.

Take one part Alabama vs. Auburn.

Throw in some road flares.

Add a few miniature bombs (not joking).

Invite a few hundred (500) armed policemen with shields, sticks, and helmets.

Then, see a few fights brew, every 10-15 minutes, to which cops stand-by, and let the brawl take care of itself.

It. Was. Awesome.

Oh yeah, there was a soccer game too.

A quick wrap-up from Day 1 (Sunday) in Rome.

Visited Vatican City

Attended Mass at St. Peter’s Bascilia

Saw the Pope, heard him speak.

Visited the Pantheon

Walked through the Colliseum

Visited Capitol Hill

Again, I’m sure I missed something, but oh well.

By the way, I have some nice shots of the Pope. When I can find an Internet Cafe with a “USB Pass” I’ll let you see ‘em.