Early Friday morning we took a train to Italy. Words cannot describe the beauty we saw after leaving Bern. High, high snowcapped mountains towering up and valleys far below the train, so neat and picturesque. Very often there were waterfalls plummeting down for thousands of feet. It was absolutely breath taking. There were a great many tunnels because of the high mountains and the train was without power -no lights and no heat. Things are not perfect all of the time. All of the sudden we were in Italy and it was so different. There was no longer such neatness and pride. We did see the vegetable gardens in every yard.
We changed trains in Milan and had trouble finding a seat. We soon changed trains to go to Naples. We sat in a compartment with a woman, two young men and a pretty Italian girl. She spoke English and said she was a student at the University of Milan studying English and French. She was on her way to Florence to do some interpreting. This girl could be a model or movie star - very attractive and so nice. Before she got off the train she found out we had no Italian money to buy food. She gave us enough to buy lunch. I was very impressed with her kindness.
On Saturday morning in Naples through the hotel, we hired a driver and car to take us to Pompeii. The driver’s name was Mike and he was Ethiopian. By phone he helped us to make a reservation at a hotel in Rome. Pompeii ruins are unbelievable - such a vast area. To think this city was buried for two thousand years before excavation began. Some of the paintings on the walls and tile floors are still in good condition.
As you go by train to and from Rome to Naples, you can see part of the old aqueduct which bought water to the city thousand of years ago. We were so interested to see crops raised in Italy - one of which is sunflowers. Fields and fields of them which I would like to know why.
After getting settled in the hotel in Rome about 3:00 PM, we took a bus to see St. Peters Cathedral. The huge square was jammed with people and there was no chance of getting in. That was one place Ralph wanted me to see - oh well. We went part way back and got off the bus to see the old Coliseum which was fascinating to see. I was surprised that it was not an arena as I had expected, but was full of small enclosures or rooms. There were so many old, old ruins on the same street.
I wish we could longer here but must leave tomorrow. I know Ralph has enjoyed this part as it brought back so many memories for him. We had more walking than I am able to do.
The next day we went out to catch a bus to go to the airport. Here came another bus and Ralph said he would find if it was going to the airport (Leonardo de Vinci). When he stepped on the bus to ask, the bus took off with him on it. Here I stood with all the luggage and all alone. What was I to do? After quite a while he came back and said he threatened the driver if he didn’t let him off.
While we were on the plane, homeward bound, a paper was passed around for us to state what articles we had purchased in Europe. When we landed at Kennedy airport, we had to pass through customs. Ralph had moved a distance and a man came up and asked me where he was. When he came back, we were told that we would not go through customs but could leave immediately. We took a plane and were back in Phoenix. It was good to be home, even though we had a wonderful trip.
Link: Life Story of Dorothy Evelyn McRae Keller, final installment
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