Storming of the Roman Empire

The reason why the Romans felt so safe in their city and were able to build a large empire with peace of mind was certainly due to the city's difficulty in reaching it. This is still the case today. Our planned 12-hour train journey had its hurdles. Fortunately, I checked the travel plan again shortly beforehand and, lo and behold, the train from Munich started almost half an hour earlier due to a route diversion. Then we went leisurely through the Alps at a speed where Hannibal and his elephants would probably have overtaken us. Despite a few delays in between, we arrived in Bologna on time and were looking forward to the express train that would take us to Rome in just 2 hours without stopping. But the display board was flashing with delays and our train was 40 minutes late, which was to increase to 60 minutes. So we waited in the Bologna underground station and one train after the other to Rome passed by. Seat reservations are compulsory on trains, which is why we couldn't take any other train. The underground station is grey and very uncomfortable with diffuse white light. Either the architect was drunk or most of the money for the construction of the underground station went into other channels. But finally the train came and we actually got to Rome in 2 hours. The metro in Rome is really very easy to use. You don't need a ticket, just hold your credit card to the turnstile. And you can ride the metro for 1.50 euros. It works in Singapore too and the system there also recognises transfers and bus use so you don't have to pay twice. Let's see if it works as well in Rome. The host of our guest house then came up with a scavenger hunt so that we had to pick up the key to the guest apartment from a grumpy café owner. With his grimness, the man would have made a good gate guard at the city wall. As I said, it's not that easy to get to Rome.