Two US Tourists In Trouble After They Carved Their Initials Into The Coliseum Then Took A Selfie

The Guardian- Tourists are once again getting into trouble in Italy, with two American women caught carving their names into Rome’s Colosseum. The Californians, aged 21 and 25, snuck away from their tour group on Saturday and began scratching their initials into the amphitheatre with a coin. They managed a “J” and an “N” around 8cm high, before taking a selfie with their handiwork. Police were quick to catch the two Americans and report them for damaging the ancient site. The women may now go in front of a judge and face a penalty. Defacing the walls is strictly forbidden, as pointed out on signs in both English and Italian. But some visitors think little of breaking the rules as they view the crumbling monument differently from other top sites such as the Vatican, said a spokesman for the Special Superintendency for the Archaeological Heritage of Rome. “There’s a difference in perception. Museums are treated like churches, sacred places where there are things of great value. Whereas the Colosseum is an incomplete building which has already been robbed,” the spokesman said. The Colosseum fell into disrepair after its heyday of hosting 73,000 spectators, watching gladiator fights to the death, and was at one point quarried for its stone. While the amphitheatre was completed in AD80, the section defaced on Saturday dates to the 1800s when the pope initiated restoration work. “It’s not an original wall but it’s nevertheless antique,” the spokesman said.

Annnnnnd the White Girl-ification of the world continues.  I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be outraged about this but I’m not.  That’s probably the American, “We can do whatever we want, where we want” in me taking but oh well.  So a couple of US tourists scribbled on the wall of the Colisieum and took a selfie.  Big deal.  Like I get it, it’s a super historical building where people used to slice and dice each other many moons ago but come on.  The place is already falling apart.  A couple girls writing their name on the wall isn’t exactly out of character for the place.  It might actually be a good way to get more young people to visit the Coliseum.  I can’t imagine that place is a hot spot for the younger generations.  They could change that in a hot minute if they did it right.  “Are you not entertained?  Well you will be now!  Come to the Coliseum, scratch your name into the wall of the historic arena and take a selfie!  Watch out for Tigers in the trap doors!”  These people like to make money I assume?  That’d be pretty savvy marketing if you ask me.  2015 through and through.  Maybe pin up a few pictures of a shirtless Russell Crowe around the joint.  That place would be flooded with hot white women wearing yoga pants in no time.  And that’s always good for business. $$$$$$$$$$