19 & 20 Feb. 1956

Dear Folks

Got your letter mailed the 14th, which said you got my package—I’m glad you liked everything, & hope none of it was broken or spilled. The robe & Ching Chong 2 came from Gibraltar, as did the tapestry & pipes.

I never was able to figure out what Ching Chong 2 is carrying—a wine sack is most likely. I couldn’t figure out what else you might like or could use. This one shouldn’t have a crack in it as the first one did. If you like you can call one Ching & the other Chong—saves confusion.

Slept today till eleven; something I’d like to do more often. Can’t seem to concentrate tonight—an annoying habit.

I’ve learned by now that if you can’t fight ‘em, sometimes it’s just as well to join ‘em; so I’ll start again this morning.

Coutre met a buddy of his in Naples, just over from the States. They know all about us over there. We’ve had more courts-martial than any other ship in the fleet, gotten into more trouble than any five other ships, lost more planes & pilots, & cost the government more money than any other carrier we have. He says if anyone causes any trouble in Norfolk they usually stop it by threatening to put them on the Ticonderoga! Oh, well, we have fun.

Had trouble with my camera today—the door got stuck shut. I was taking pictures of flight operations (including landings as seen from directly underneath, on the fantail--& real bombings). But I guess all that film was ruined.

Showed movies all night tonite & now I’ve got to close. Rome tomorrow.

Bye Now

Love

Roge

P.S. Enclosed are some pictures taken at Syracuse, Sicily, & Catania.

Photographs I took in Syracuse, Sicily. Date unknown

This is the amphitheater of Syracuse, where gladiators fought each other & lions fed. The gladiators entered through the arch in the back—where the two men are--& exited, if alive, through another arch directly across from it & out of the picture. The lions entered through the dark holes on either side of the men; the pool in the center held water to wash the blood from the arena.

And here is the great Theatre of Syracuse carved out of solid rock. The stage was covered in marble. The deep ridges in back supported a stage that could raise or lower by water pressure.
At the top & in the back (out of the picture) is a large ridge into which rooms were cut for the wealthy to rest on hot days