We left Positano by a ferry boat, 70 minutes of the ultimate coastline viewing and a complete navigation of the Amalfi coast. The ferry ultimately landed in Salerno, on the mainland, and a straight shot by train into Rome. Rome’s main termini is like New York’s Grand Central Station, layers of trains, Metro’s, passenger connections and lots and lots of stairs. We immediately got on the wrong metro line and our only option was to climb out to street level and cross the street and descend again. Two people, two heavy duffel bags, and ultimately two young people who helped carry them up. We said thanks and bye, and crossed the street, looking at the two stogie of downward stairs thinking if we are wrong it is a long back up agin . . . . . Our angels appeared out of nowhere, assured us we were on the right track, and yes, helped carry out stuff down again. I had a good feeling about Rome, it is a happy city.
Our hotel, the Suite Dreams, turned out to be a 10 minute walk from the Colosseum, and that is where we headed. The Colosseum represents Rome at its greatest. Originally a 4 story structure, the building is more functional than beautiful. Originally, copies of Greek statues stood in the arches and it was sheathed in marble. Only a third of the colosseum remains. Earthquakes destroyed some of it, but most was carted off as easy pre-cut stones for other buildings. You can still see the pot marks where the marble was attached to the walls. One guide told us the walls of the colosseum are currently the floor of the Vatican.
There are stories of gladiators, exotic animals brought back from conquered civilizations (can you imagine a tiger or a giraffe or a camel in Rome?) Much less springing from a trap door wildly chasing a prisoner — an interesting form of entertainment, and a sure fire hit for a Saturday night on the town.
