Roma may we Return Soon

Our plan was to visit Palentine Hill and to use our Roma Pass for transportation there and a discounted entry. We hadn't utilised them as well as I'd anticipated due to so many free things to do and the fact that our energy levels were rapidly dwindling. Eric now had the beginnings of a flu, I  dosed him with codeine and hoped for the best.

Last night I'd sent Chiara an email asking if we could check out at 1pm because our train for Salerno was booked for 2.25pm. I don't know if she agreed because she was nice or because I  mentioned that I'd received an electric shock when plugging in the ancient front end loader. She'd emailed Meathead to ask him to put our washing on, apparently he'd told her he'd think about it. I  had to let her know that he'd already left for work. I think she wasn't impressed either that he had a girl staying over.

Anyway Meaty was home for once and I'd rolled our cases out to the hall in preparation for our checkout later in the day.  There was no greeting just a demand for chiave. I showed him my email as well as smiling sweetly at him re amended checkout time. Off we went - 2 hours later than anticipated - it was a race. Termini - Colosseum and then a short lineup at the Palentine Hill entry.

€24 later we were inside the historical center of Rome.  We basically galloped to the entrance if the Hill but once there my body shut down,  my legs felt like lead. I urged Eric to go on without me for an hour and I just sat there on an ancient scrap of column soaking up the atmosphere.  I  worked on one of my blog days which as luck would have it didn't save properly ! Technology be damned!

Eric returned and we hastened back to Re di Roma.  We unlocked the door at exactly 12.58. Mr Moody was sitting there facing the entry encircled in thick cigarette smoke.  Eric bolted to the freshly cleaned amenities, and to be honest I had a tinkle as well.  You could have cut the hostility in the air with a knife! 
Chiave - he demanded. I pointed at the afore arranged spot. Eric said goodbye and thankyou,  he grunted in response.  I was silent.

Dragging our suitcases along we got to the station an hour prior our departure time . I logged into Ham Holy Burger but got an aperitif from the place across from them as we'd had one last night and it was fabulous and the staff were lovely.  Holy Ham had done their dash yesterday when my macchiato was a big milky frothy drink however I wasn't scorning the use of their wifi.

Before long it was time to board and we got on hassle free although we were sitting across the aisle from each other.  Once again  I felt intolerant of youth - the young Juliet opposite me who seemed to be writing an autobiography about her romance  (she had large prints of steamy photos and her writing - which was amazingly uniform - was peppered with hearts and bold large bubble writing! )

It was so annoying I know that I am a grumpy old person but honestly with my rheumatism of the knee ( self diagnosed ) i need to have my legs stretched out a teeny bit. Instead Missy had all her gear;  leather jacket plus two bags under my feet and looked mortally wounded when I attempted to move my leg. Ah the selfishness of youth!

It was a pleasant trip apart from that and during the next leg of the journey hubster and I both had a window seat. It was quiet a horrendous experience at the Naples Centrale Stazione I  couldn't see our trsin listed at aland ll
The platform staff refused to help me and directed me to the ticket office.  By the time it was my turn i was panicking. I showed Dolly bird my ticket and asked Quella Binari? She shouted whatytt do you wantttt in English. I said, " i want you to stop being rude and politely tell me what platform I need to go to. "

She replied angrily " are you blind? Number 15:"

I replied "But it's the wrong train number and I have booked a seat. "

She actually screamed "Are you stupid. Get on the train!  What's wrong with you? "

I said, " thanks for your help. But there is no need for you to be arrogant or rude" . We had 4 minutes to go so we hoofed it to our platform and got on. Luckily we  did so as the train took off within 2 minutes. We had scored reasonably priced tickets for the 4th carriage so we didn't have far to go. Of course there were other people in our seats but once they moved we could finally relax.

Antonio our host in Salerno kindly picked us up from the train station with his car. He drove us through Salerno it was a very pretty seaside city. Our apartment was in the old city in an area where people aren't really allowed to drive however he drove up the tiny alley so we could take up our cases easily. There was a tiny service lift which I got into with our 40kg of cases.

Once inside the apartment I couldn't wipe the smile off my face, we'd landed in the lap of luxury! Everything was spotless and beautifully presented. Antonio explained all the nearby activities to us.  He was such a friendly host. After he'd gone we collapsed for a while then we went for a leisurely stroll along the esplanade finishing with a very unremarkable meal in the tavern a stones throw from our apartment.