After becoming aware of my coffee addiction, Ali immediately escorted me into the nearest cafe for my caffeinated kick start to the day. In search of the Ostbahnhof (train station) to research schedules, prices and routes for trains to Moscow on Sunday, we accidentally stumble upon a large part of the Berlin wall that still remains. I took pictures of the decorated slabs of defensive concrete - some painted by artists and others by people who just wanted to share their view.
When we finally got to the train station, we waited for the woman behind the desk to give us timetables and prices for various complex routes to Moscow. 2 hours later we eventually concur and can now enjoy the rest of our stay here in Berlin knowing the specifics of our onward journey.
With approximately four hours of daylight left, we decide to pay a visit to the Reichstag building which is situated in the heart of the parliamentary and government quarter. We wait patiently in a queue to visit the new viewing platform that was designed by Sir Norman Foster. It's a huge glass dome which sits on top of the old building and has sloping pathways that let you climb to the very top. The contrast in architectural design was very interesting to see. As if the cool architecture wasn't enough, we had a unique view of the whole city. It was definitely worth the wait!!!
Exhausted, we return home to eat, drink and play backgammon (again). Current score... Ali:5, Kris:5. We also socialised for a bit in the lounge/bar area and met a few interesting people from Australia, America and Canada.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Happy Ending
I woke up this morning lying in a field of daisies. My sleepy eyes scanned the incredible view of the snow capped mountains in the distance. I could see the reflection of the Alps in the fresh water just a short distance away. A few split seconds later I remembered that I had slept the night in one of the many themed rooms that make up this wonderful hostel. We obviously are in room 013... the "Swiss Room". I looked around again and marveled at the badly decorated room. Giant red stripes with Swiss crosses cover one wall while giant frescos of the Alps cover another.
We collected our laundry from reception (here they do it all for you but charge 5 euros for a tiny sack). Never have I been so happy to receive fresh clean clothes. Unfortunately my favorite white polo shirt is ruined after an inconsiderate bird though it would be funny to "drop a bomb" on it whilst I sat on the beach. After several attempts to remove the stubborn stain I have finally given up.
After a brief walk around the neighborhood last night I quickly realised that our language challenge has been stepped up a notch. So far about 20% of the people here in Berlin are able to speak very good English and the rest don't understand a word. This means of course that simple requests like "how much is the internet?" or "where is the nearest ATM?" are extremely difficult to communicate. Unlike Italy, I don't think I will be able to pick up any of the language just from sitting in a cafe. It's a strange feeling to all of a sudden be submerged in a whole new environment after already experiencing mild culture shock just over a week ago in an entirely different country.
This morning I spent some time trying to orientate and familiarise myself with the city. As usual, I had lots of questions that needed to be answered before stepping out to explore.
Our first point of interest was Checkpoint Charlie, which used to be an official point of entry when crossing the border. I read at the nearby memorial that there is no other place in the world where the division between east and west was more apparent than here at Checkpoint Charlie. It's where a wall divided an entire city. The memorial which was called "All they wanted was freedom" consisted of hundreds, if not thousands, of large wooden crosses that have been erected in honor of all those who tried to escape (successful or unsuccessful). I start to realise how lucky I am that my generation inherited a greater inheritance than any other generation before mine - freedom and peace.
After buying a great book on Berlin Wall art, we accidentally stumbled upon a VW photography show which was being held in some sort of mall-like exhibition space. It included the great works of Peter Keetman, a photographer that was officially assigned by Volkswagen during the production of the very first VW Beetle.
As we walked around one of the main shopping and business districts in the city I was amazed at how quiet it was. I'm not quite sure where the 3.5 million inhabitants are living or working but it certainly wasn't here. The capital of Berlin is 9 times larger than Paris and has so much space that I don't think there is enough people to fill it. There is lots of new development here too - more so than any other city I have ever visited. I guess it's no wonder that to me, the city doesn't feel very "lived-in". Except maybe the area in where we are staying which is very relaxed and kind of 'grungy'. There are lots of small cafes and restaurants that cater to hip youths and not so well groomed students. The district is called Kreuzberg and it's located in the west, just south of the original divide. Kreuzberg was recently merged with its neighboring district Friedrichshain just across the river which is also home to underground bars and experimental galleries with what seems to be a friendly and diverse population.
Number of times Ali approached a German who didn't speak a word of English: 9
As me and Ali walked through Alexander Platz just passed the "TV Tower" we were approached by a film crew and asked if they could film us. We kindly agreed and let them position us on the fountain, "looking relaxed and enjoying Spring", as this was the theme for whatever they where filming.
Walked into an art exhibition and talked with the artist about her pop-art style paintings. I liked her work. Took a postcard.
At the end of our day, we went shopping at a very cheap supermarket on the way home so that we could cook dinner for ourselves. Ali took some hilarious photos of me holding strange German packaging, including a pack of toilet rolls which honored the brand name "Happy Ending". Frankfurters seemed to be appropriate after refusing to stop at the many vendors that we passed by on the way.
Cooked the franks. They were delicious!!!
We collected our laundry from reception (here they do it all for you but charge 5 euros for a tiny sack). Never have I been so happy to receive fresh clean clothes. Unfortunately my favorite white polo shirt is ruined after an inconsiderate bird though it would be funny to "drop a bomb" on it whilst I sat on the beach. After several attempts to remove the stubborn stain I have finally given up.
After a brief walk around the neighborhood last night I quickly realised that our language challenge has been stepped up a notch. So far about 20% of the people here in Berlin are able to speak very good English and the rest don't understand a word. This means of course that simple requests like "how much is the internet?" or "where is the nearest ATM?" are extremely difficult to communicate. Unlike Italy, I don't think I will be able to pick up any of the language just from sitting in a cafe. It's a strange feeling to all of a sudden be submerged in a whole new environment after already experiencing mild culture shock just over a week ago in an entirely different country.
This morning I spent some time trying to orientate and familiarise myself with the city. As usual, I had lots of questions that needed to be answered before stepping out to explore.
Our first point of interest was Checkpoint Charlie, which used to be an official point of entry when crossing the border. I read at the nearby memorial that there is no other place in the world where the division between east and west was more apparent than here at Checkpoint Charlie. It's where a wall divided an entire city. The memorial which was called "All they wanted was freedom" consisted of hundreds, if not thousands, of large wooden crosses that have been erected in honor of all those who tried to escape (successful or unsuccessful). I start to realise how lucky I am that my generation inherited a greater inheritance than any other generation before mine - freedom and peace.
After buying a great book on Berlin Wall art, we accidentally stumbled upon a VW photography show which was being held in some sort of mall-like exhibition space. It included the great works of Peter Keetman, a photographer that was officially assigned by Volkswagen during the production of the very first VW Beetle.
As we walked around one of the main shopping and business districts in the city I was amazed at how quiet it was. I'm not quite sure where the 3.5 million inhabitants are living or working but it certainly wasn't here. The capital of Berlin is 9 times larger than Paris and has so much space that I don't think there is enough people to fill it. There is lots of new development here too - more so than any other city I have ever visited. I guess it's no wonder that to me, the city doesn't feel very "lived-in". Except maybe the area in where we are staying which is very relaxed and kind of 'grungy'. There are lots of small cafes and restaurants that cater to hip youths and not so well groomed students. The district is called Kreuzberg and it's located in the west, just south of the original divide. Kreuzberg was recently merged with its neighboring district Friedrichshain just across the river which is also home to underground bars and experimental galleries with what seems to be a friendly and diverse population.
Number of times Ali approached a German who didn't speak a word of English: 9
As me and Ali walked through Alexander Platz just passed the "TV Tower" we were approached by a film crew and asked if they could film us. We kindly agreed and let them position us on the fountain, "looking relaxed and enjoying Spring", as this was the theme for whatever they where filming.
Walked into an art exhibition and talked with the artist about her pop-art style paintings. I liked her work. Took a postcard.
At the end of our day, we went shopping at a very cheap supermarket on the way home so that we could cook dinner for ourselves. Ali took some hilarious photos of me holding strange German packaging, including a pack of toilet rolls which honored the brand name "Happy Ending". Frankfurters seemed to be appropriate after refusing to stop at the many vendors that we passed by on the way.
Cooked the franks. They were delicious!!!
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Volcanic Views
Tuesday morning and we're taking the 6:45am coach to Napoli airport where we'll be just in time to catch our flight to Berlin. As we left Sorrento I started to recall highlights from our whirlwind tour of Italy - the view of Pisa from the leaning tower, magnificent David in Florence, St. Mark's Square in Venice, ancient ruins in Rome, the nastiness of Naples and the beauty of Sorrento all still vivid in my mind. I feel very satisfied and content with what we've achieved in such a small amount of time and I'm ready for a new country to explore.
After an unintentional late night and an early wake up, all I want to do is sleep on the coach as we drive towards the airport. Instead, I can't help but look out of the window at my last views of Italy. It was such a clear morning and I could see for miles including the volcano, looking gracious with it's ever so gentle slopes, and the crystal clear sea where it meets the dramatic cliff edges and sprawls of small white and cream buildings dotted around the hills. Already I'm starting to think about Germany and what my expectations are. The change of vocabulary will be very much appreciated as my bad Italian wasn't going down to well with the locals or even Ali for that matter.
I think I'm substituting graphic design for writing and photography.
Excited about Germany...
After an unintentional late night and an early wake up, all I want to do is sleep on the coach as we drive towards the airport. Instead, I can't help but look out of the window at my last views of Italy. It was such a clear morning and I could see for miles including the volcano, looking gracious with it's ever so gentle slopes, and the crystal clear sea where it meets the dramatic cliff edges and sprawls of small white and cream buildings dotted around the hills. Already I'm starting to think about Germany and what my expectations are. The change of vocabulary will be very much appreciated as my bad Italian wasn't going down to well with the locals or even Ali for that matter.
I think I'm substituting graphic design for writing and photography.
Excited about Germany...
Monday, March 28, 2005
Views from a Vespa
Last full day in Italy!
Tomorrow we leave for Berlin on the 9:10am flight out of Naples (urgh). Luckily we can take the first airport bus at 7:00am straight from Sorrento so that we don't have to go through that god awful city. (By the way... If you are reading this and have been to Naples before and completely disagree with my thoughts, please please please post a comment and tell me what we missed and how).
Today we rented a Vespa and drove up and down the hills along the coast in and around Sorrento. The views were gorgeous and it was the perfect way to see lots in such a limited time. At one point we stopped and looked across the sea from a great height and identified the isle of Capri.
Today we met 2 people from Switzerland (Jonas and... I think her name was Maria - I apologise if I spelt that wrong because I know there is a possibility you guys might be looking at this) who are going to be our room mates for the night. We had a drink together and talked about each others travels and experiences. I enjoyed there company and it was very interesting to hear about their lives back home.
Another interesting observation is the awareness of our appreciation for music. We are excited every time we hear a song whether we are familiar with it or not. It's obviously because we are both being deprived of our usual listening habits and make the most of what ever we get to hear. Consequently, I have been humming a different tune in my head every day... again probably making up for what I'm not hearing.
I beat Ali at Backgammon THREE games in a row... a record in our playing history.
I am being forced to declare this... I clearly did not learn a lesson from the expensive cookie purchase in Florence. Just paid an unreasonable amount for a single shot of locally made Lemon liquor. Ali says "it tastes like lemon tequila... bloody awful".
Tomorrow we leave for Berlin on the 9:10am flight out of Naples (urgh). Luckily we can take the first airport bus at 7:00am straight from Sorrento so that we don't have to go through that god awful city. (By the way... If you are reading this and have been to Naples before and completely disagree with my thoughts, please please please post a comment and tell me what we missed and how).
Today we rented a Vespa and drove up and down the hills along the coast in and around Sorrento. The views were gorgeous and it was the perfect way to see lots in such a limited time. At one point we stopped and looked across the sea from a great height and identified the isle of Capri.
Today we met 2 people from Switzerland (Jonas and... I think her name was Maria - I apologise if I spelt that wrong because I know there is a possibility you guys might be looking at this) who are going to be our room mates for the night. We had a drink together and talked about each others travels and experiences. I enjoyed there company and it was very interesting to hear about their lives back home.
Another interesting observation is the awareness of our appreciation for music. We are excited every time we hear a song whether we are familiar with it or not. It's obviously because we are both being deprived of our usual listening habits and make the most of what ever we get to hear. Consequently, I have been humming a different tune in my head every day... again probably making up for what I'm not hearing.
I beat Ali at Backgammon THREE games in a row... a record in our playing history.
I am being forced to declare this... I clearly did not learn a lesson from the expensive cookie purchase in Florence. Just paid an unreasonable amount for a single shot of locally made Lemon liquor. Ali says "it tastes like lemon tequila... bloody awful".
Sunday, March 27, 2005
A not so Happy Easter in Nasty Naples
Woke up to an insane amount of noisy people outside who decided it would be a great idea to have a market right below our window. We quickly packed up and left the hostel in search of another.
Finally getting used to crazy Italian traffic and crossings - it seems the correct procedure is to simply walk in front of a car to make it stop. More problems finding a place to stay tonight but eventually decided to take one that was available in Sorrento (about a 40 minute ferry ride away). Once we got that sorted we planned to see as much of Naples as possible before catching one of the last boats out to Sorrento. Our findings were far from impressive.
Naples is dirty.
As the day deteriorates, so do any pleasant thoughts I had on Naples. Flies, litter, petrol fumes, dangerous driving, strange and limbless people, unfriendly folk, stray dogs and pollution of every variety. I felt very insecure walking the streets. If I inhale one more toxic fume I think I might die. We couldn't have been happier when we were told that the clocks changed today. I would struggle to think of a better place to loose an hour of my time! I remember looking in awe at the airport buses that drove past knowing that they are taking people to a nicer place.
There I was, sitting on a bollard (because there are no public seating areas) amidst the fumes of polluted air that surround me, waiting for our 5:15 ferry to Sorrento where we hope is much more pleasant than here. I was amazed at the amount of scooters driven by pairs of kids racing around the city. One couple even mounted the curb in front of us and began to window shop whilst riding down the pavement.
Number of photos taken in Naples: 2 (to prove how filthy it was)
6:55pm - Sitting on the window ledge of our beautiful, clean, fresh dorm room situated among the lush hills of Sorrento. I have a huge smile on my face. Such a contrast to where we have just been. The second we stepped off the ferry my immediate thoughts were... I want to stay here for 2 weeks. It's beautiful!!! My not so Happy Easter is rapidly changing for the better. After a quick shower I think we're going to head out in search of a nice little bar with a view of the hills (and hopefully Mt. Vesuvious - the largest active volcano in continental Europe). Ali is the happiest I've seen her (and that's not to imply that she's been miserable, because she hasn't) and has been singing what sounds like every single song from West Side Story.
Finally getting used to crazy Italian traffic and crossings - it seems the correct procedure is to simply walk in front of a car to make it stop. More problems finding a place to stay tonight but eventually decided to take one that was available in Sorrento (about a 40 minute ferry ride away). Once we got that sorted we planned to see as much of Naples as possible before catching one of the last boats out to Sorrento. Our findings were far from impressive.
Naples is dirty.
As the day deteriorates, so do any pleasant thoughts I had on Naples. Flies, litter, petrol fumes, dangerous driving, strange and limbless people, unfriendly folk, stray dogs and pollution of every variety. I felt very insecure walking the streets. If I inhale one more toxic fume I think I might die. We couldn't have been happier when we were told that the clocks changed today. I would struggle to think of a better place to loose an hour of my time! I remember looking in awe at the airport buses that drove past knowing that they are taking people to a nicer place.
There I was, sitting on a bollard (because there are no public seating areas) amidst the fumes of polluted air that surround me, waiting for our 5:15 ferry to Sorrento where we hope is much more pleasant than here. I was amazed at the amount of scooters driven by pairs of kids racing around the city. One couple even mounted the curb in front of us and began to window shop whilst riding down the pavement.
Number of photos taken in Naples: 2 (to prove how filthy it was)
6:55pm - Sitting on the window ledge of our beautiful, clean, fresh dorm room situated among the lush hills of Sorrento. I have a huge smile on my face. Such a contrast to where we have just been. The second we stepped off the ferry my immediate thoughts were... I want to stay here for 2 weeks. It's beautiful!!! My not so Happy Easter is rapidly changing for the better. After a quick shower I think we're going to head out in search of a nice little bar with a view of the hills (and hopefully Mt. Vesuvious - the largest active volcano in continental Europe). Ali is the happiest I've seen her (and that's not to imply that she's been miserable, because she hasn't) and has been singing what sounds like every single song from West Side Story.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Brass Band?
11:50pm - just been woken up by what sounds like a brass band marching along some street. I guess it must be more Easter celebrations. Just remembered that tomorrow I get to eat an easter egg. Yummy!
Tons of Nuns and a Vicar on a Vespar
This morning we walked past the Quirinale which is the Presidential Palace. Not quite as impressive as the buildings we have already seen but I guess it's nice to see where Mr President lives and works. Decided to start taking pictures of all the different types of guards that we see in the city. They are all elaborately dressed, each one slightly different from the next. Rome is a well guarded city!
Woke up this morning with a headache. Last night we went out for dinner. Food was ok but nothing to write home about. We paid 38 euros for 3 small appetizer (I really liked the stuffed and breaded olives), 1 salad, 2 main courses (Ali had "something like chicken" but not chicken and I had one of only three pasta dishes on the menu), a bottle of red wine, water (which they charged us for), and one coffee. We had difficulty ordering the food because this place really was popular with the locals and therefore the entire menu was in Italian. Afterwards we treated ourselves to more vino at the nearby wine bar. More than our budget permitted (15 euros for a bottle of Toscana Chianti) but well worth the bad head this morning.
Not quite as nice weather today.
Next on the agenda was the Pantheon. A unique building that was originally a temple dedicated to all Roman Gods but is now a Christian Church (surprise surprise) and still a place of worship today. At first I was intrigued by the giant hole in the center of the dome shaped roof. What happens when it rains? We discovered that it does in fact rain inside the temple but there are 22 little holes on the outskirts of the marble floor with a drainage system below. Fascinating!
Walking around the nearby market stalls snapping away with my digital camera, I realise that this is a dream come true. All I ever want to do is take photos of things, places or people that interest me and now I'm getting the chance to do it. I have the time to stop, compose and shoot anything I like. It's wonderful. It's also a great opportunity to improve my photography skills. Already I am noticing trends in compositions and themes and I'm having to force myself to come up with new ways of looking at things through the lens.
Just noticed that there are tons of nuns walking around here. Just saw a vicar on a Vespa and it made me chuckle.
Train ride to Naples was great. It was a newer train than the others and had bunk beds which of course we used. We slept the entire two and a half hour journey and woke up just in time to realise that we had arrived at our destination. As we exit the station we are greeted with loud bangs and sirens. The sirens were just a big emergency that happened to be whizzing by and the banging I'm assuming was from Easter fireworks. We called 5 hostels before finally booking an available room. The guy at the hostel said it was a miracle that we found availability on Easter weekend. Tomorrow he said is fully booked so we will have to pack up early and look for a new place to stay. So far, our introduction to Naples hasn't been very pleasant. I'm sure after some exploring tomorrow I will be convinced otherwise.
Total number of photos taken to date: 546
Woke up this morning with a headache. Last night we went out for dinner. Food was ok but nothing to write home about. We paid 38 euros for 3 small appetizer (I really liked the stuffed and breaded olives), 1 salad, 2 main courses (Ali had "something like chicken" but not chicken and I had one of only three pasta dishes on the menu), a bottle of red wine, water (which they charged us for), and one coffee. We had difficulty ordering the food because this place really was popular with the locals and therefore the entire menu was in Italian. Afterwards we treated ourselves to more vino at the nearby wine bar. More than our budget permitted (15 euros for a bottle of Toscana Chianti) but well worth the bad head this morning.
Not quite as nice weather today.
Next on the agenda was the Pantheon. A unique building that was originally a temple dedicated to all Roman Gods but is now a Christian Church (surprise surprise) and still a place of worship today. At first I was intrigued by the giant hole in the center of the dome shaped roof. What happens when it rains? We discovered that it does in fact rain inside the temple but there are 22 little holes on the outskirts of the marble floor with a drainage system below. Fascinating!
Walking around the nearby market stalls snapping away with my digital camera, I realise that this is a dream come true. All I ever want to do is take photos of things, places or people that interest me and now I'm getting the chance to do it. I have the time to stop, compose and shoot anything I like. It's wonderful. It's also a great opportunity to improve my photography skills. Already I am noticing trends in compositions and themes and I'm having to force myself to come up with new ways of looking at things through the lens.
Just noticed that there are tons of nuns walking around here. Just saw a vicar on a Vespa and it made me chuckle.
Train ride to Naples was great. It was a newer train than the others and had bunk beds which of course we used. We slept the entire two and a half hour journey and woke up just in time to realise that we had arrived at our destination. As we exit the station we are greeted with loud bangs and sirens. The sirens were just a big emergency that happened to be whizzing by and the banging I'm assuming was from Easter fireworks. We called 5 hostels before finally booking an available room. The guy at the hostel said it was a miracle that we found availability on Easter weekend. Tomorrow he said is fully booked so we will have to pack up early and look for a new place to stay. So far, our introduction to Naples hasn't been very pleasant. I'm sure after some exploring tomorrow I will be convinced otherwise.
Total number of photos taken to date: 546
Friday, March 25, 2005
Good Friday in Rome
Today we made our second trip to the Vatican City with the intention of seeing the Sistine Chapel. Still lacking energy from yesterdays excursion, we opted for a local bus to take us there instead of our legs. In just ten minutes we had arrived at St. Peter's Square (unlike the 4 hours on foot yesterday) and then walked to our destination from there.
After walking past the many tapestries and paintings in the museum we arrive at one room which is incredible. My neck starts to hurt as I am forced to look up at the decorative and complex work. Never have I seen so many paintings all on one ceiling. There must be at least 1000 individual paintings just on the ceiling alone! Each one is different from the next illustrating a new story. This is one of many "coridor-like" rooms that make up the Musei Vaticani (Vatican Museum). It must be over 600 meters in length and was built between 1578 and 1580. The painted ceiling took 3 years to complete.
There is so much to take in, it's almost impossible to understand everything that you're looking at. Just as I was amazed at the perfectly carved statue of 'David' in Florence, I am equally as impressed with the scale and perfection of the works within this museum. Like the city of Rome itself the museum is an overload of visual stmuli.
"Shhhh... Silencio" the guards insist as we finally enter the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo's single greatest artistic acheivement right there above me on the ceiling of the Cappella Sistina. It has been described as one of the most awe-inspiring acts of individual creativity in the history of the visual arts. Painted between 1508 and 1512 Michelangelo painted the entire ceiling himself after dismissing all his assistants. Still claiming to be a reluctant painter, Michelangelo never wanted the commission but was forced to devise the complex and grand composition that covers the entire 800 sq meters of ceiling. It took him four years to complete.
... I can't help but feel like this would have been slightly more impressive had I not taken the route via approximately 1000 other frescos, paintings and tapestries before hand. Looking up (in small periods to avoid severe neck issues) I notice several small dark squares in certain areas and found out that they are to show the original condition of the surface before the restoration. The restoration on a scale as grand as this is also amazing to see.
Unfortunately it is unlikely that we will get to see the Pope. We have to leave for Naples tomorrow in order to make our flight to Berlin so we are unable to stay for his Easter Sunday speach.
As this is our last night in Rome AND Good Friday AND our agreed special day for eating what we want, we have decided to eat in the nearby neighborhood called San Lorenzzo which apparently has good restaurants where the locals eat and for a reasonable price.
After walking past the many tapestries and paintings in the museum we arrive at one room which is incredible. My neck starts to hurt as I am forced to look up at the decorative and complex work. Never have I seen so many paintings all on one ceiling. There must be at least 1000 individual paintings just on the ceiling alone! Each one is different from the next illustrating a new story. This is one of many "coridor-like" rooms that make up the Musei Vaticani (Vatican Museum). It must be over 600 meters in length and was built between 1578 and 1580. The painted ceiling took 3 years to complete.
There is so much to take in, it's almost impossible to understand everything that you're looking at. Just as I was amazed at the perfectly carved statue of 'David' in Florence, I am equally as impressed with the scale and perfection of the works within this museum. Like the city of Rome itself the museum is an overload of visual stmuli.
"Shhhh... Silencio" the guards insist as we finally enter the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo's single greatest artistic acheivement right there above me on the ceiling of the Cappella Sistina. It has been described as one of the most awe-inspiring acts of individual creativity in the history of the visual arts. Painted between 1508 and 1512 Michelangelo painted the entire ceiling himself after dismissing all his assistants. Still claiming to be a reluctant painter, Michelangelo never wanted the commission but was forced to devise the complex and grand composition that covers the entire 800 sq meters of ceiling. It took him four years to complete.
... I can't help but feel like this would have been slightly more impressive had I not taken the route via approximately 1000 other frescos, paintings and tapestries before hand. Looking up (in small periods to avoid severe neck issues) I notice several small dark squares in certain areas and found out that they are to show the original condition of the surface before the restoration. The restoration on a scale as grand as this is also amazing to see.
Unfortunately it is unlikely that we will get to see the Pope. We have to leave for Naples tomorrow in order to make our flight to Berlin so we are unable to stay for his Easter Sunday speach.
As this is our last night in Rome AND Good Friday AND our agreed special day for eating what we want, we have decided to eat in the nearby neighborhood called San Lorenzzo which apparently has good restaurants where the locals eat and for a reasonable price.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
The Most Impressive of them All
This morning, perched on the edge of our bunk bed, we planned our journey to the Vatican City via as many attractions as we could logically fit in. After visiting more basilica's, piazza's, fountain's and a grand palazzo, we eventually arrived at our destination. The view as we walked along Via Della Conciliazione towards the entrance was amazing.
There just aren't enough words to describe how incredible the Basilica di San Pietro is. WOW! Without a doubt it is the most stunning interior I have ever seen. As soon as we walked through the giant doors of the basilica, about 20 men in dark suits stopped people behind us from entering and proceeded to force those who were already inside to hurry through like herds of sheep. Apparently they needed to clear the building ready for mass which was due to begin in 30 minutes. I was literally snapping photos whilst being pushed in all directions and shouted at by the guards. I got some great shots of the interior but still angry that I we never got more time to appreciate it. It truly was an amazing sight. Unfortunately they are closed until next week for Easter weekend. I still can't believe the Vatican City even has it's own postal service, currency (vaticano euro) and military police.
Number of times I lost Ali today: 3
After the rushed, but oddly satisfying tour, we left the Piazza di San Pietro (St. Peter's Square) in search of a cheap gelatteria and place to rest our tired feet. Completely exhausted and mentally drained, we try to figure out an easy route back to our hostel at the opposite end of the city.
There just aren't enough words to describe how incredible the Basilica di San Pietro is. WOW! Without a doubt it is the most stunning interior I have ever seen. As soon as we walked through the giant doors of the basilica, about 20 men in dark suits stopped people behind us from entering and proceeded to force those who were already inside to hurry through like herds of sheep. Apparently they needed to clear the building ready for mass which was due to begin in 30 minutes. I was literally snapping photos whilst being pushed in all directions and shouted at by the guards. I got some great shots of the interior but still angry that I we never got more time to appreciate it. It truly was an amazing sight. Unfortunately they are closed until next week for Easter weekend. I still can't believe the Vatican City even has it's own postal service, currency (vaticano euro) and military police.
Number of times I lost Ali today: 3
After the rushed, but oddly satisfying tour, we left the Piazza di San Pietro (St. Peter's Square) in search of a cheap gelatteria and place to rest our tired feet. Completely exhausted and mentally drained, we try to figure out an easy route back to our hostel at the opposite end of the city.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Free Pizza
Having been told that there is a free pizza party at the sister hostel just a few blocks away, we decided a cheap dinner was in order and proceeded to the intriguing event. After a pint or so, Ali and I talked about the grandeur of what we are doing. We casually mentioned our arrival in South America in about a years time and then it suddenly hit us. We laughed nervously.
I like the way Italian's use pedals on the floor instead of taps for the sink. It means you don't have to touch anything... simply press your foot down and rinse - ingenious!!! Walked past many interior/home decor stores and drooled over the beautifully designed merchandise. I love Italian design. I guess they must export all of it because the closest thing to modern design I have seen in Italy are the telephone booths. Everything else is centuries old with not even a splash of contemporary anything.
This internet blogging is turning out to be much more expensive than I thought. Honestly... 2.50 euros for 60 minutes. They're having a laugh!
I like the way Italian's use pedals on the floor instead of taps for the sink. It means you don't have to touch anything... simply press your foot down and rinse - ingenious!!! Walked past many interior/home decor stores and drooled over the beautifully designed merchandise. I love Italian design. I guess they must export all of it because the closest thing to modern design I have seen in Italy are the telephone booths. Everything else is centuries old with not even a splash of contemporary anything.
This internet blogging is turning out to be much more expensive than I thought. Honestly... 2.50 euros for 60 minutes. They're having a laugh!
Rome Certainly Wasn't Built in a Day!
Today is such a beautiful day and we started off by visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggione. It's the fourth largest church in Rome and the largest dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and apart from some decoration, is the only basilica which still retains it's original shape and character. The Romanesque campanile (bell-tower) is also the tallest in Rome.
The second grand sight was the Colosseo (colosseum). We decided not to pay the 10 euros to go inside and settled for a walk around the exterior instead taking pictures from every conceivable angle. As we walked further through the ruins of ancient Rome I was amazed at the amount of beautiful buildings I could see in the distance around me. Rome has so much to see and do. Ancient ruin after ruin. Church after church. Piazza after Piazza. Each deserving at least an hour or so of your attention. We have been sneakily following tours so that we can get explanations and fascinating stories about what we're looking at.
Sitting among the ruins of the great forum, not too far from Ceaser's final resting place, I look around thinking about what it must have looked like in perfect condition. I try and fit all the pieces together in my head and imagine how it would have functioned over 1900 years ago.
Sun is blazing and need more water.
No other city have I ever walked through so many different periods of architecture. After visiting the ancient ruins we were immediately drawn to the Piazza Venezia - a grand renaissance period building that has been built high up to offer incredible views of Rome. Security within this piazza is very strict as somebody has just been whistled at for sitting on the stairs leading up to the building. Ali just got told off by a guard for getting too close to the monument. I'm going to leave her now.
Just been bitten on the nipple by some horrible insect.
Never seen so many columns in my life.
Lost Ali again. Must remember to buy a leash.
The second grand sight was the Colosseo (colosseum). We decided not to pay the 10 euros to go inside and settled for a walk around the exterior instead taking pictures from every conceivable angle. As we walked further through the ruins of ancient Rome I was amazed at the amount of beautiful buildings I could see in the distance around me. Rome has so much to see and do. Ancient ruin after ruin. Church after church. Piazza after Piazza. Each deserving at least an hour or so of your attention. We have been sneakily following tours so that we can get explanations and fascinating stories about what we're looking at.
Sitting among the ruins of the great forum, not too far from Ceaser's final resting place, I look around thinking about what it must have looked like in perfect condition. I try and fit all the pieces together in my head and imagine how it would have functioned over 1900 years ago.
Sun is blazing and need more water.
No other city have I ever walked through so many different periods of architecture. After visiting the ancient ruins we were immediately drawn to the Piazza Venezia - a grand renaissance period building that has been built high up to offer incredible views of Rome. Security within this piazza is very strict as somebody has just been whistled at for sitting on the stairs leading up to the building. Ali just got told off by a guard for getting too close to the monument. I'm going to leave her now.
Just been bitten on the nipple by some horrible insect.
Never seen so many columns in my life.
Lost Ali again. Must remember to buy a leash.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Our First Night in Rome
Our first night in Rome wasn't very exciting. Once we found the hostel that was recommended to us by some people we met in Florence, we decided it would be a good idea to make use of the laundry facilities and cheap(er) internet services.
Destination Rome
Now we're on the Naples train heading towards Rome where we plan to spend the next 5 nights. The ticket inspector come into our compartment and asked to see our ticket as usual. As she was able to speak English she kindly advised us that the next time we purchase a ticket, that we should stamp it with the date and time at the "yellow machine" located near the platform otherwise we will be charged a fine of 25 euros. It's strange because no one told us that we had to do that. At least she was nice enough not to charge us this time.
I'm drinking some very cheap red wine (packaged in a carton like milk) which is actually quite nice. Like grape juice really except it's 10% vol.
Looking out of window on the train and seeing lots of countryside and vineyards. Nothing very exciting.
I'm drinking some very cheap red wine (packaged in a carton like milk) which is actually quite nice. Like grape juice really except it's 10% vol.
Looking out of window on the train and seeing lots of countryside and vineyards. Nothing very exciting.
"Prego"
Woke up this morning to the sound of bells ringing again... this time they didn't stop for a LONG time. Not quite sure why they needed to ring the bells 60 times at 7:00am in the morning but I guess they must have had a reason. Just found out what "Prego" means. I asked the woman behind the desk at the hotel who could speak very good English and she told me that the word means "you're welcome" or "how can I help you". So I made a complete fool out of myself the other day when I walked into a shop and the man behind the counter said "prego" and I replied with the same (thinking it was another way to say hello). I basically asked the shopkeeper how I could help him. oops.
Enjoyed another coffee at the same shop I went to yesterday. The coffee there is good. The best I have ever had in fact! The shop is called Caffe Costarica and is in the Cannaregio part of Venice. The shop itself is an interesting experience as it's very old and only seems to attract local coffee drinkers which makes for an authentic caffeine pit stop. Ali hates coffee but seems to love taking pictures of me and the locals inside drinking.
We both made a rather nice purchase this morning at a small glass shop near the hotel where I bought a beautiful Venezia Murano (Venice hand blown glass) bowl. Ali also bought a large plate and we had them shipped together to save costs.
Enjoyed another coffee at the same shop I went to yesterday. The coffee there is good. The best I have ever had in fact! The shop is called Caffe Costarica and is in the Cannaregio part of Venice. The shop itself is an interesting experience as it's very old and only seems to attract local coffee drinkers which makes for an authentic caffeine pit stop. Ali hates coffee but seems to love taking pictures of me and the locals inside drinking.
We both made a rather nice purchase this morning at a small glass shop near the hotel where I bought a beautiful Venezia Murano (Venice hand blown glass) bowl. Ali also bought a large plate and we had them shipped together to save costs.
Monday, March 21, 2005
More Pizza. More Wine.
11:30pm. Ate pizza (which was deliciosso) and drank wine (unable to determine what kind) and after my backgammon win (finally) I now have to suffer through Ali's attempts to play her harmonica. Not quite sure what she's trying to achieve but whatever it is, I think it will take a while.
Click, Click, Click...
I was waken up this morning by the sound of bells ringing from the church across the square. I counted nine rings which was a good indication that I should make some effort to get out of bed and prepare for a tough day of sight seeing.
Looked out of the window and noticed lots of people carrying olive branches.
As anticipated today consisted of lots of walking and photo taking. I have took a total of 279 photos in only 4 days and my camera battery ran out today whilst walking through the Piazza San Marco. Bloody typical - it was just as the sun came out too. So I paid a ridiculous amount of money for an additional battery for my camera so that I could continue taking photos. We walked around most of Venice today and now I'm exhausted. Highlights of the day would be the small coffee grinding shop that we came across in the Cannaregio part of Venice, the Vaparetto (water bus) ride through the city and St. Marks square which is stunning.
I have concluded: Venice is a photographers dream and a disabled persons nightmare.
We took the Vaparetto from Rialto to Calle Valleresso which is where Piazza San Marco is situated. The huge square is surrounded by incredible architecture like the Basilica di San Marco, an incredibly ornate building which I learnt is romanesque-Byzantine style built in the 10th century. It houses the body of the St Mark the Evangelist. Right next to that is the Palazzo Ducale which is of Byzantine origin and has Venetian Gothic style facades. From the square we walked, along with hoards of other tourists, back towards our hotel and have now seen so many canal bridges and gondolas that they are all starting to look the same. Tonight we are going to rest our feet and plan for our trip to Rome tomorrow.
We have been eating at small places that sell large slices of pizza for 2.50 euros and sandwiches for just slightly more. Food in restaurants looks wonderful but is too expensive for us to try. I have decided that me and Ali are the worst people to be together when trying to stick to a budget. We are both so weak and can easily justify purchasing a bottle of wine or even an expensive beer at a major tourists attraction if the opportunity presents itself. We need to be spending much less!!!
We came across many situations today which rendered us intrigued and almost frustrated because we were unable to understand. For example, throughout the city we came across several different groups of young people who we have assumed are students, and they all were dressed up in some silly situation being made to read from a large sheet of paper. One guy we came across in the middle of a small square was half naked standing in a bin covered in all kinds of filth holding a bottle of wine. He had an audience of people who were all laughing at what he was saying but we obviously couldn't understand a word he was saying.
What does "Prego" mean. I hear it said so many times and have a feeling that it is the formal word for hello or something similar. I'm always unsure as to how to reply when somebody says it to me.
Looked out of the window and noticed lots of people carrying olive branches.
As anticipated today consisted of lots of walking and photo taking. I have took a total of 279 photos in only 4 days and my camera battery ran out today whilst walking through the Piazza San Marco. Bloody typical - it was just as the sun came out too. So I paid a ridiculous amount of money for an additional battery for my camera so that I could continue taking photos. We walked around most of Venice today and now I'm exhausted. Highlights of the day would be the small coffee grinding shop that we came across in the Cannaregio part of Venice, the Vaparetto (water bus) ride through the city and St. Marks square which is stunning.
I have concluded: Venice is a photographers dream and a disabled persons nightmare.
We took the Vaparetto from Rialto to Calle Valleresso which is where Piazza San Marco is situated. The huge square is surrounded by incredible architecture like the Basilica di San Marco, an incredibly ornate building which I learnt is romanesque-Byzantine style built in the 10th century. It houses the body of the St Mark the Evangelist. Right next to that is the Palazzo Ducale which is of Byzantine origin and has Venetian Gothic style facades. From the square we walked, along with hoards of other tourists, back towards our hotel and have now seen so many canal bridges and gondolas that they are all starting to look the same. Tonight we are going to rest our feet and plan for our trip to Rome tomorrow.
We have been eating at small places that sell large slices of pizza for 2.50 euros and sandwiches for just slightly more. Food in restaurants looks wonderful but is too expensive for us to try. I have decided that me and Ali are the worst people to be together when trying to stick to a budget. We are both so weak and can easily justify purchasing a bottle of wine or even an expensive beer at a major tourists attraction if the opportunity presents itself. We need to be spending much less!!!
We came across many situations today which rendered us intrigued and almost frustrated because we were unable to understand. For example, throughout the city we came across several different groups of young people who we have assumed are students, and they all were dressed up in some silly situation being made to read from a large sheet of paper. One guy we came across in the middle of a small square was half naked standing in a bin covered in all kinds of filth holding a bottle of wine. He had an audience of people who were all laughing at what he was saying but we obviously couldn't understand a word he was saying.
What does "Prego" mean. I hear it said so many times and have a feeling that it is the formal word for hello or something similar. I'm always unsure as to how to reply when somebody says it to me.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Our Venetian Adventure Begins
We arrive at Venice and as we step out of the train station we lay our eyes on the Canale Grande for the first time. WOW. Immediately I am struck with a sense of excitement. After finding our accommodation for the next two nights, we explore the watery roads of Venice in search of a nice place to stop and have a bite to eat. The small pasticceria situated on the canal side invited us inside. I had a cappuccino and enjoyed a slice of torte millefoglie while Ali sampled the irresistible tiramissou.
Venice is beautiful and unusual. Despite the insane amounts of tourists that seem to infest the city, it's charm and beauty is overwhelming. You're led up and down over the hundreds of tiny bridges - again leading to squares and tiny streets laden with places to eat and drink. I feel very relaxed here. We're currently sitting on the edge of the canal next to the Ponte di Rialto (a large and extremely ornate bridge) that crosses the Canale Grande at a cafe/bar. Drinking a well deserved beer, we watch boats and gondolas pass by under the stars.
It didn't take us long before we found our hostel and I can't help but feel like we over spent. For 22 euros a night, we have a room all to ourselves with a balcony overlooking a small square. It's very clean and I look forward to the next two nights of comfort, hot showers and security after spending the last two nights in a hostel not providing any of the afore mentioned. The hotel is called Allogi Calderna/Casa Geratto and is located just a few minutes walk away from the train station and the original Ghetto.
Days seem to be getting longer and longer as we wake up in one city then sleep in another.
Smells like the sea.
I'm so incredibly relaxed now. Haven't felt like this for a while. I'm forecasting that tomorrow will entail lots of photo taking. Every corner turned presents an incredible shot.
Venice is beautiful and unusual. Despite the insane amounts of tourists that seem to infest the city, it's charm and beauty is overwhelming. You're led up and down over the hundreds of tiny bridges - again leading to squares and tiny streets laden with places to eat and drink. I feel very relaxed here. We're currently sitting on the edge of the canal next to the Ponte di Rialto (a large and extremely ornate bridge) that crosses the Canale Grande at a cafe/bar. Drinking a well deserved beer, we watch boats and gondolas pass by under the stars.
It didn't take us long before we found our hostel and I can't help but feel like we over spent. For 22 euros a night, we have a room all to ourselves with a balcony overlooking a small square. It's very clean and I look forward to the next two nights of comfort, hot showers and security after spending the last two nights in a hostel not providing any of the afore mentioned. The hotel is called Allogi Calderna/Casa Geratto and is located just a few minutes walk away from the train station and the original Ghetto.
Days seem to be getting longer and longer as we wake up in one city then sleep in another.
Smells like the sea.
I'm so incredibly relaxed now. Haven't felt like this for a while. I'm forecasting that tomorrow will entail lots of photo taking. Every corner turned presents an incredible shot.
The Train to Venezia
The train is fantastic. We have our own compartment which is basically a room with a sliding door and curtains which can be pulled across for privacy. We have six seats all to ourselves (our bags sit in two seats and we're taking advantage of the remaining four since discovering that they recline to make a bed). I'm about to start looking at my book that I bought at the market this morning. I say "look" at it because it's written in Italian but the pictures are great. The book is titled "L'Italia in 300 Immagini" by The Touring Club Italiano. It's basically a guide book for Italy that was published in 1956. A little dated but the pictures remain accurate as most of the buildings are so old in Italy with very little new development.
Final Thoughts from Florence
It's Sunday morning. Our train to Venice leaves at 1:33pm. Sitting in a cafe wondering whether or not to buy another slice of pizza for the train journey. I wish I could speak at least some Italian. Feel ignorant but people are tolerant. I suppose they're used to it. We're getting by ok. You can learn most of the basic words like hello, goodbye and thank you just from sitting in a cafe for 30 minutes or so.
Anticipating Italian dentistry. A little concerned.
Italy so far is reminding me a lot of Barcelona and might even go as far as to say that most of Italy, France and Spain are very much alike in terms of lifestyle and settings. The architecture is similar, as are the small narrow streets forming a web around pretty squares and small cafes. One thing which I have noticed about Pisa and Florence specifically is that there are no chains. No Starbucks. No McDonald's. Every commercial outlet is an independent one. Makes me wonder why? How? Do the cities have regulations against such development or have these offending chains done some research and concluded that they wouldn't be successful.
Everything is small here. The streets, the cars, the portions of food, cups of coffee and even the shops are shy of a few extra square foot. On the other hand, everyone seems to be very healthy living a comfortable and relaxed lifestyle. No body is rushing anywhere.
Lots of churches. Lots of bells ringing.
With just over 3 hours to kill before our train departs we decide to venture out one last time and stumble upon a square (yes, another one) which happens to be host to a large antique fair. Ali happily sits on a bench with our bags whilst I wander around to see what's on offer. A perfect way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon in Florence.
Paid 5 euros for 2 cookies... ridiculous! Obviously I have learnt a valuable lesson here - don't buy cookies (or anything else for that matter) unless you are certain of the price before hand.
Cookies had better be good :)
Anticipating Italian dentistry. A little concerned.
Italy so far is reminding me a lot of Barcelona and might even go as far as to say that most of Italy, France and Spain are very much alike in terms of lifestyle and settings. The architecture is similar, as are the small narrow streets forming a web around pretty squares and small cafes. One thing which I have noticed about Pisa and Florence specifically is that there are no chains. No Starbucks. No McDonald's. Every commercial outlet is an independent one. Makes me wonder why? How? Do the cities have regulations against such development or have these offending chains done some research and concluded that they wouldn't be successful.
Everything is small here. The streets, the cars, the portions of food, cups of coffee and even the shops are shy of a few extra square foot. On the other hand, everyone seems to be very healthy living a comfortable and relaxed lifestyle. No body is rushing anywhere.
Lots of churches. Lots of bells ringing.
With just over 3 hours to kill before our train departs we decide to venture out one last time and stumble upon a square (yes, another one) which happens to be host to a large antique fair. Ali happily sits on a bench with our bags whilst I wander around to see what's on offer. A perfect way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon in Florence.
Paid 5 euros for 2 cookies... ridiculous! Obviously I have learnt a valuable lesson here - don't buy cookies (or anything else for that matter) unless you are certain of the price before hand.
Cookies had better be good :)
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Last Night in Florence
We spent our last remaining hours here in Florence sitting in the Piazza de Republica where we listened to a band play famous melodies and songs. I could have sat there for hours just watching all the many different types of people walk by. To one side of me there were kids dancing to the music and on the other, a romantic couple buying art from a street vendor.
11:46pm - Still thinking about David.
11:46pm - Still thinking about David.
Dangerously Crusty
Stomach hurts from all the rich food we bought at a local deli and market. We enjoyed various cheeses, olives, Parma ham, fromage et'herbe and Napoli salami with some Chianti to wash it all down with. We also purchased some lovely ciabatta from a nearby bakery that was so crusty... it broke one of my teeth. The over baked offender was just too much for my bridged tooth. So now I guess I'll have to wait until Rome before I can take advantage of my health insurance and get it fixed. Never expected to be using my policy quite so soon in my trip. Now I'm thinking about where to spend our last remaining hours in Florence.
Dying for a cup of tea.
Dying for a cup of tea.
In Love with David
This morning I wrestled with my backback once again. It seems like the contents expand on an hourly basis. Last night I lost at backgammon AGAIN. Wine wasn't as good as I had hoped. According to Ali... Chickens fly.
Nor has there ever been seen a pose so fluent, or a gracefulness equal to this, or feet, hands and head so well related to each other with quality, skill and design. Today I saw another amazing sight, Michelangelo's "David", which is now situated in the Galleria dell'Accademia. Unfortunately, you're not allowed to take pictures but this is certainly a sight that I will not forget anytime soon. I feel extremely lucky to have been able to see it. It was like a rush of energy ran right through me as I turned the corner in the gallery and looked straight ahead at the incredible work of art in the distance. A statue that I had only ever seen in books before. Once again, a moment which required me to stop and take it all in. Simply amazing and just so perfect.
Nor has there ever been seen a pose so fluent, or a gracefulness equal to this, or feet, hands and head so well related to each other with quality, skill and design. Today I saw another amazing sight, Michelangelo's "David", which is now situated in the Galleria dell'Accademia. Unfortunately, you're not allowed to take pictures but this is certainly a sight that I will not forget anytime soon. I feel extremely lucky to have been able to see it. It was like a rush of energy ran right through me as I turned the corner in the gallery and looked straight ahead at the incredible work of art in the distance. A statue that I had only ever seen in books before. Once again, a moment which required me to stop and take it all in. Simply amazing and just so perfect.
Friday, March 18, 2005
Our First Night in Florence
When we got off the train we were greeted by many hotel touts asking us if we have accommodation. After finally accepting an offer we are guided through the city to our hostel which is situated near Piazza Della Repubblica, a huge square surrounded by beautiful architecture, street performers and complete with an adult merry-go-round in the corner. The hostel is perfect for us - only 18 euros a night each and we have the room all to ourselves. I am pleasantly surprised by Florence. Maybe this is pure ignorance and lack of research, but this city is much bigger and more beautiful than I had ever imagined. So much so, that our original plan to stay only one night might just be extended to another night. This means we get all day tomorrow to explore and then leave early on Sunday to travel to Venice.
We talked today about our budget and have agreed to have one special day a week where we can eat at a nice restaurant. It's extremely difficult walking past all these amazing places to eat offering freshly made everything from panini's and pizza to gelatto and esspresso, unable to make a purchase in accordance to our budget.
I'm excited about exploring tomorrow. Tonight we drink another bottle of local Italian Chianti which I hope is as good as the one we drank last night (mmmm).
We talked today about our budget and have agreed to have one special day a week where we can eat at a nice restaurant. It's extremely difficult walking past all these amazing places to eat offering freshly made everything from panini's and pizza to gelatto and esspresso, unable to make a purchase in accordance to our budget.
I'm excited about exploring tomorrow. Tonight we drink another bottle of local Italian Chianti which I hope is as good as the one we drank last night (mmmm).
Travelers Tip Number 1
Make use of toilets before boarding a train especially when unaware of the exact journey time ahead.
Slight Change of Plan
We arrive at Pisa Centrale at 4:00pm with the intention of getting a train to Venice via Florence. I kindly allow Ali to approach the ticket salesman as this being the first train we're about to take in Italy, it required many complex questions in order to purchase the most economical ticket. For example, do we buy single journey tickets as we go or is it cheaper to buy a rail pass that allows us to travel freely around Italy for a certain price (if this type of ticket even exists). After being swiftly directed to the international office around the corner, we're kindly advised that it is in fact much cheaper to buy individual tickets as and when we need them. So we're now sitting on the train heading for Florence, our final destination instead of Venice. Why? Because the last train to Venezia from Firenze was 5 minutes ago. So new ETA for Venice: tomorrow afternoon (after some brief exploring in Florence)
Our Adventure Begins
Traditionally, getting off a plane and coming out of the airport is usually followed by a pre-determined itinerary however, this wasn't the case when we arrived at Pisa International Airport yesterday at 5:08pm. We stepped outside and I felt an overwhelming sense of adventure as I looked around for our next mode of transport with absolutely no agenda in mind. Everything was a mystery. Finding what bus to get, figuring out where to alight and then trying to navigate our way through an unfamiliar city in search of a decent place to stay for the night was a welcomed challenge. Our first search was actually much easier than I had anticipated after a simple look through a list of cheap places to stay we decided that Albergo Serena would be the best option and also the closest. We arrive at the hotel at around 6:20 and were greeted by a man standing at the top of a winding staircase shouting "ello". We accepted his offer of 40 euros for the night and were guided to our room. My first thoughts were slightly reminisce of the bate's motel (imagine an Italian version) and surprised by how large the room was with extremely high ceilings and a long narrow window with shutters overlooking a small cobbled street. The sound of birds chirping was also mixed with Pisans riding scooters everywhere. Once settled, we decided to visit the Torre Pendente (the leaning tower of Pisa) to see it lit up at night. It was one of those priceless moments where you have to stop to take it all in. It was almost too much to comprehend... one of the world's most famous landmarks right there in front of me. We marveled at the bad Italian engineering for a while before resting at the nearest trattoria pizzaria for some authentic Italian food. I said grazzie for the first time and have been told by Ali on several occasions that I'm overusing the word. Pisa was much quieter and smaller than I thought but enjoyed the lack of bothersome tourists. Today we had breakfast and meandered through the small cobbled streets that all seem to be linked by grand piazza's and churches. I ate the nicest gelatto before climbing 300 steps to the top of the Torre Pendente for an immensely rewarding view of the city from 60 meters above ground. Now it's off to Venice where I hope the search for a suitable hotel is as easy as it was last night.
çiao for now.
çiao for now.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Five out of Seven isn't Bad
With only three days left until the big departure I think now would be a good time to outline our final itinerary...
At 2:10pm on Thursday me and Ali will enjoy a short flight from London to Pisa where we'll have exactly 12 days to explore the sights and sounds of Italy. Initially we plan to visit Venice first, working our way down to Rome and then finally Naples where we will fly to Germany. Our seven days of fun in Berlin will be immediately followed by a complex course of train journeys that will eventually take us to the start of our Russian experience in Moscow. As we understand it, the train will take us along the famous Trans-Siberian Express rail route, stopping at Irkutsk, Ulaanbaatar and then finally Beijing. Two weeks in China, two weeks in Japan and then back into China for another two weeks as we work our way towards Vietnam. Next is Malaysia and Thailand (order to be decided) before our second big flight which will be from Bangkok to Sydney where we hope to find work within the design industry. I'm initially thinking three months in Sydney and then three months in Melbourne (after speaking to many Australians this week in London, they have assured me that Melbourne is a very comfortable and easy place to live and work - I guess like how I found Chicago to be compared to New York). Plus I figure six months will be just the right amount of time to recover from all the language barriers we will have just faced in Asia and Russia.
Once we're done with Australia, a flight from Sydney will take us to Santiago, Chile where we will explore everything that South America has to offer, including Peru (to see Machu Picchu), Colombia (where I have to find my friend a rather impressive emerald in the great emerald city) and Venezuela (home to Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall) and many other places in between I'm sure although the exact route through this continent is yet to be decided (notice how my itinerary descriptions get less and less specific as I go - the truth is, we haven't actually planned that far ahead. All we know is that we have a flight in there and a flight back out a later date. I guess we'll just figure it all out the closer we get).
Our final adventurous flight will be from Chile to Mexico City before heading back home to London sometime next year. Although I am extremely tempted to pay a visit to all my friends in Chicago whilst being so close.
So that, believe it or not, is the result of 8 months hardcore planning and preparation! It feels weird to say this but I'm actually not that excited right now. I think it's because I've been so stressed working night and day these past few months that I haven't had time to really think about what I am about to do. Although I'm sure it will hit me on our drive down to London Heathrow on Wednesday afternoon.
Next blog entry will be live from Pisa!!! Until then, arrivederci x
At 2:10pm on Thursday me and Ali will enjoy a short flight from London to Pisa where we'll have exactly 12 days to explore the sights and sounds of Italy. Initially we plan to visit Venice first, working our way down to Rome and then finally Naples where we will fly to Germany. Our seven days of fun in Berlin will be immediately followed by a complex course of train journeys that will eventually take us to the start of our Russian experience in Moscow. As we understand it, the train will take us along the famous Trans-Siberian Express rail route, stopping at Irkutsk, Ulaanbaatar and then finally Beijing. Two weeks in China, two weeks in Japan and then back into China for another two weeks as we work our way towards Vietnam. Next is Malaysia and Thailand (order to be decided) before our second big flight which will be from Bangkok to Sydney where we hope to find work within the design industry. I'm initially thinking three months in Sydney and then three months in Melbourne (after speaking to many Australians this week in London, they have assured me that Melbourne is a very comfortable and easy place to live and work - I guess like how I found Chicago to be compared to New York). Plus I figure six months will be just the right amount of time to recover from all the language barriers we will have just faced in Asia and Russia.
Once we're done with Australia, a flight from Sydney will take us to Santiago, Chile where we will explore everything that South America has to offer, including Peru (to see Machu Picchu), Colombia (where I have to find my friend a rather impressive emerald in the great emerald city) and Venezuela (home to Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall) and many other places in between I'm sure although the exact route through this continent is yet to be decided (notice how my itinerary descriptions get less and less specific as I go - the truth is, we haven't actually planned that far ahead. All we know is that we have a flight in there and a flight back out a later date. I guess we'll just figure it all out the closer we get).
Our final adventurous flight will be from Chile to Mexico City before heading back home to London sometime next year. Although I am extremely tempted to pay a visit to all my friends in Chicago whilst being so close.
So that, believe it or not, is the result of 8 months hardcore planning and preparation! It feels weird to say this but I'm actually not that excited right now. I think it's because I've been so stressed working night and day these past few months that I haven't had time to really think about what I am about to do. Although I'm sure it will hit me on our drive down to London Heathrow on Wednesday afternoon.
Next blog entry will be live from Pisa!!! Until then, arrivederci x
Capital Pride
I have been working down south these past two weeks on a big project at a design firm in central London and it reminded me of how much I love our Capital. I crave being in a fast paced environment especially in a city that has so much to offer 24 hours a day. I'm most certainly looking forward to moving there when I return from this trip and it will be interesting to learn how our big city compares to all the other big cities around the world!
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