Venezia

From Austria back to Italy...and YAY! Good weather is back!

And about time too...having been sick from Milan through to Austria (funny how I think in terms of places I visited instead of time..time really is relative when travelling. Most of the time I don't even know what day of the week it is!) and had grey weather, sunshine was most welcome!

Twas another long day on the bus, but we did stop at the highest Mickey D's in the world...right by the highest bridge in Europe, near Innsbruck...and the view was pretty cool

Watched the Full Monty en route...movie doesn't fail to make one laugh :)

Finally get to Venice, or rather, the hostel outside of Venice, as staying there will just be ludicrously expensive! Check in, find my bungalow (which I had all to myself for 4 days...bliss baby, after a month of sharing my personal space it was most welcome. Another girl I'd met also had a bungalow to herself and as she put it, the cheapest we'll ever pay for a 'single' room, since it's supposed to be shared between three but wasn't.), drop pack, dig out bikini and head to the pool!

That water was most welcome after a long day on the bus. And that dip set the tone for my stay in Venice...every day after being tourist I lazed in the pool, soaked up some rays and just chilled.

Sunshine and blue skies...what more could a girl ask for.

Venice is a great city. No car traffic, it's only foot traffic and canals. Forget a map...because you will get lost, but that's half the fun in discovering a new city - getting lost in it. You discover things you wouldn't if you'd been following a map.

In Venice it's pointless anyway, you're unlikely to find the place you want and will just end up frustrating yourself. A girl was saying how they found this cool mask shop the one day, wanted to buy a souvenir and the next day spent goodness knows how many hours trying to find it again!

Did a walking tour of the area around St Mark's Piazza and the Doge's Palace. St Marks Basilica is insanely decadent on the inside (no photos allowed, sorry). The church itself took about 29 years or so to build while the decor took 400 years to complete!

Insane! There's detail everywhere - the walls, the floors, the roof and most of it is mosaic. There is the beautiful gold leaf piece behind the altar and the detail in it is astounding!

In Venice I didn't do too much...it being my last stop and my budget blown a few cities back...I thought it best to not spend an excessive amount of money. If you avoid the stores and just wander the streets and soak up the atmosphere, it's possible. This doesn't mean I spent no money...of course not! But I did (more or less) behave financially.

It didn't matter though..just wandering the streets you see so much, and it being Italy, and filled with tourists, people aren't afraid to stop and talk to you. Or fellow solo travellers stopping you to ask you to take their photograph...got chatting to this uber tall German dude that way... he was cycling through Europe...I mean seriously! Craziness...fun at times I'm sure, but definitely insane. And he'd started in Prague of all places!

The food was of course good. It's Italy... wander a few streets away from the big tourist areas and you'll find some really reasonably priced and oh-so-yummy food stores! And don't forget the gelati! Never forget the gelati...

Yes, yes...I love food :p

The strangest compliment I have ever received was from some Spanish guy...stopped me asking for a light (like I smoke), had no clue South Africa was a country...gave up trying to explain to him since English was clearly not his first language and I don't speak Spanish...and as I'm about to walk off he shakes my hand and tells me 'Congratulations, you're beautiful.'

To my credit, I didn't laugh in his face...but I did have a giggle after I'd walk off...certainly a new one! And yes, I said thank you...one has to accept compliments graciously...Italian men are very free with their 'ciao bella's'... One gentleman stopped me in passing, Ciao, I greet back, smiles, says 'bellissima' I reply with grazie and then walk off with a ciao....

How can a girl not feel good amidst all of this? :p

So being complimented aside...an awesome way to end a great trip I must say... I had fun in Venice, doing an impromtu study in black and white. Venice is a city that just begs for it...






My last day in Venice, post chill time in the pool of course, I headed back in to the city...failed attempt at sunset photos ( I realised that I needed to be on one of the islands off the main one to get proper photos) and I got lost anyway, after having found my way to St Mark's Piazza - successfully - numerous times..the one time I want to find it fairly quickly I get lost...such is.


I eventually got there - and it was the day Andrea Boccelli had a concert. It was a paid concert so they'd closed off the concert area...but acoustics and microphones and such, just because you couldn't see him...didn't mean you couldn't hear him...It was pretty awesome.

Couldn't stay until the end though, had to weave my way back to the main land to catch the last shuttle back to camp.

The next day was the last leg of my journey...return to Rome, with an evening arrival, just to overnight and head back to London town.

And that is the end of my euro trip!

I had tons of fun, met some pretty cool people and all it did was confirm that the travel bug has bitten good and proper and it ain't letting go!

So, here's to more travels...not only a return to the continent, but the rest of the globe!

A Day in the Life of...Milano

What's there to say about Milan?
It's a city - financial capital of Italy; fashion capital
One of the few buildings that survived WWII is the gothic duomo, and if you didn't know (I didn't) Mussolini was executed here.

Milan I will share in pictures

16 June 2009

from flea markets...

to designer shopping...

only 500 euro if you want to wear a cup on your foot!

to stores we commoners can afford

Tuscany

Siena is a quaint town – managed to see it all in one afternoon.

I left Rome early Friday morning and on the way to Siena had a bonus stop at Orvieto – such a lovely small town.

Cool looking marble church – from the outside; never got to go in because somehow the hour allocated flew by.

I arrived in Siena, along with the other (4) getting off mid afternoon, checked in and headed into town.

The hostel we stayed wasn’t the greatest but it was a place to sleep and it was clean.

The town is lovely, narrow little streets, cute shops, many many food stores – wine, cheese, pasta – and all looking very very yummy!

The main ‘hang out’ place in the town is Il Campo. This is the piazza in the centre of town and here a bi-annual horse race is held. We missed the horse race by about a month. I saw postcards of this event and I really don’t know how that many people fit into that small area!

After our wander about town, headed back to the hostel and just chilled – first early night of the entire trip.

We were all quite glad that other people got off at Siena because that small town by yourself – it would still be quaint but not the same as having other people to hang out with.

Saturday was a lie in day (seeing how there really was nothing urgent we needed to see or do in Siena). Made our way back into town mid morning, bought goodies for a picnic lunch and chilled on Il Campo – good food, lovely place to just soak up the atmosphere.

It’s amazing how different a place can feel – Friday had this small town vibe, and Saturday was crowded with tourists taking day trips to Siena.

Last night about town grabbed a meal – was divine Tuscan cuisine.

I had toasted bread and sheeps cheese drizzled with Chianti honey and accompanied with two pear slices as a starter. My main – aubergine ravioli with a tomato based sauce.

All of homemade, all so so yum!

I know aubergines aren’t the greatest vegetables – I had my doubts, but the way it was described on the menu made it sound fab – and I was not disappointed.

Desert – gelati of course! I’d been having gelati daily since I arrived in Italy, kinda decided to make it my unofficial rule of this trip :p

Sunday, woke up poured with rain...and it being Sunday public transport of course not as frequent and we were catching a lunch time bus out of Siena. Bummed around the hostel waiting for time to move along so we could move on out the hostel – seriously not the best atmosphere! But it is the hostel in Siena and being on a budget, fussiness is curbed!

Siena to Florence!

(only one hour’s drive)

Stopped at Piazzo Michelangelo for aeriel view of Firenze – pretty – before heading in to town and checking in.

Central enough hostel – within walking distance of everything you want to do and see within Florence.

I’d opted in for the group dinner – and it wasn’t even Italian food, and mediocre at best. The biggest disappointed was that they didn’t even serve gelati – but ICE CREAM! There is a difference in taste, trust me!

And this in the place that is also known as the gelati capital of Italy.

Other than the mediocrity, the company was good. Didn’t stay for a karaoke do afterwards – I really did not like the feel of that bar/restaurant and the loos were SMELLY!

A group of us headed back to the hostel and chilled on the Terrace bar for a bit. Nice-ish view of Florence by night – you could only really see roof-tops and the dome of Florence’s Duomo.

On a Monday all the museums in Florence are closed – so, if you do make your way to Florence and are an art buff, do bear this in mind.

Did a wine tour of the Tuscan, in particular the Chianti, region.

The countryside is just beautiful, if you don’t love Italy in which ever place you first arrive – Tuscany will do the trick!

First stop – can’t recall the place’s name – tasted four local wines, 3 reds and a white as well as olive oil!

The olive oil was just divine. Especially the Truffle Olive oil. And don’t forget the 30yr old Balsamic vinegar, sweet and oh, so yummy. And only 45 euro a bottle (which is actually reasonable cos I saw it for 60 at some other shop in Florence)!

Alas, I bought neither the olive oil nor the balsamic – no space...and my budget. I do have the web address somewhere though...so maybe, just maybe!

Oh, the wine was good – Chianti, Chianti Classico, another red and a white. Their tasting is a whole lot more than what I would pour for tasting!

Another wine farm – this time we were shown around the vineyards and in the distance we could see the medieval town of San Gimignano.

At the second stop tasted a white (better than the first), a rose and red (too dry for my liking and by then I’d had enough – but still not as much as the others around me – and I didn’t finish it).

We had ‘lunch’ there too – more of an entree really: bread salad, 3 types of Salami, bruschetta (yum!) and pecorino (sheep’s cheese) drizzled with Chianti honey – not melted this time, but still really really yum!

The Tuscan region is known for its wines, olives, cheese (pecorino) and meat.

There are meat stores everywhere! As our guide said – if it moves, they kill it and eat it!

Our last stop was San Gimignano – a town which contains the best Gelataria – having one awards etc etc – and making the oddest of flavours, like rosemary and basil (or some sort – together!)

I was not that adventurous – chocolate, lemon and cinnamon flavoured; the cinnamon was surprisingly good!

Wandered around the town along with all the other tourists and enjoyed the views of Tuscany.

The symbol of the Chianti region is a black rooster.

The story goes that way back when (sorry, there is limited space for dates, seriously!) Siena and Florence needed to decide on the borders of their regions. Initially they wanted knights to go to war but then someone suggested that they get two roosters and when the rooster crows a knight from each area must wake up and start walking, where they meet this will be there border.

Florence had a black rooster and Siena a white. The Sienese fed and pampered their rooster making sure it will crow, the Florentines kept their’s hungry.

This paid off – the Florentine rooster awoke crazy early and started crowing...so the knight started walking. We were told that the well fed Sienese rooster was so content he didn’t even wake.

And this was how initially the border of Florence/Chianti was 12km (if I remember correctly) outside of Siena.

It differs today, but I don’t know the details.

The tour was an all day thing, head back in to town and I went a wandering, had dinner with of the people I met and then bed.

I was optimisitic and wanted to go to the Uffizi and Musea d’Academia – but couldn’t get tickets reserved – the guy at the hostel was on the phone for like 5min and gave up. Pfft, what kinda holding is that?

I slowly made my way to the Uffizi, and stood the queue for like an hour before finally getting in and spending a couple hours inside. I missed one section though – more queues, and by then I’d had enough.

It’s slightly annoying that you have to pay for pretty much everything in Italy – Students get discount, and if you’re an EU citizen in a certain age bracket – you either get discount or free entry. I’m none of the above so full price it was – this and more queues stopped me from seeing the real David.

Instead I saw the fake David where the real David used to stand before he was moved to the Museu d’ Academia

Lunch – getting cultured by (trying) to absorb Renaissance art is hard work and makes one hungry! :p

More wandering the town up and down random streets; was good. Had gelati three times!

I had to make for the ice cream on my first day in Florence!

First one was so so. Second one was good, the third one was AWESOME! From a gelataria called Vivoli, out of the way and not where you find hundreds of tourists – but the shop is busy! Because it apparently has the best gelati in Florence.

Yoghurt, dark chocolate and lemon flavoured gelati – heavenly!

Last night in Florence, dinner, terrace, drinks, met up with some other people...and then chilled for a bit (ok, a few hours) before eventually heading to bed and having an early start the next day and catching the bus out of Italy to the Côte d’Azur!

Buongiorno Italia

My first stop on my month long Euro trip was Rome, but it is howzit to Italy since half of my time on the continent will be spent in this country.

Rome is fabulous...it is said of Rome: Roma, non basta una vita

Rome, a lifetime is not enough.

I have done an insane amount of walking already (and this is only the beginning!) The best part is that I can take things at a more leisurely pace – none of this racing around like a crazy person trying to fit everything in (of course unsuccessfully).

Before I continue with Roma...my welcome to Italy – fairly painless. Prior to departure, queues at check in but that moved rapidly, no flight delays – we were in fact early. Breezed through passport control – checked my visa, stamped it, checked my face and handed back my passport – no questions asked!

And the reason for whizzing through passport control – non EU (probably the first and only time I’ll be somewhat happy I have a non-EU passport) There were very few (read, one person in front of me) people in the queue. Minor confusion at finding the correct baggage carousel...and then I waited, and waited and waited for my airport pick up. Called, tell me outside although email reads differently, tried calling them again as no-one outside – engaged for the next 30min. I was about to negotiate public transport – didn’t really want to with my backpack...when I got through, told me the driver was running late. So he finally comes.

And this was when I remember that Italian time may actually be on par with African time...this has been reiterated with the busses here – there’s no timetable up, and seriously, arrival times have been variable (at least as far as I’ve noted)

From one airport to the other (because driver was running late – had others to pick up) and finally arrived at camp – well, I’m staying in a bungalow – 3 bed shared. I noted when I booked, nothing about single sex, although I was hoping if I were to share it would be a chick – alas this was not to be.

I unlock the bungalow and there’s a guy standing in red boxer shorts with some sort of print. He mumbled something I didn’t hear, then he was like give me a moment to put on my jeans. So I close the door, and had to rapidly wrap my head around that I’m sharing a three bed bungalow with a total stranger – who’s male!

But it was all good, cool dude, into photography, and I even picked his brains with a few questions I had!

My first full day in Rome I went to the Vatican (different state and all even though in, or rather, within Rome) and entered St Peter’s Basilica – OHMYGOSH...is that place HUGE! It is just amazing! I went to the top of cupola and had an aerial view of the church before seeing it eye-level, and then a view of the ancient city...spectacular!

Met with my roomie later and we basically just wandered the streets of Rome – taking in of the places I’d seen previously...but this time shooting with my baby :p

Trevi fountain, Spanish steps, Pantheon, Piazza Navona...and however many little other piazzas you tend to happen across in Rome. We wondered somewhere beyond the Spanish steps and came across rollerbladers in the park – was fun watching them.

Roomie headed back and I stayed wandering some more.

Now, Paris..France...is like the place for PDA...yeah right. Think again.

Make that Rome! Admittedly, it may be Italy, but I’m yet to see!

I’ve never seen so many displays of public affection – like the nauseating kind, not the cute, aaaaaah swwwweeeeet kind. For many couples it’s ‘get a room already wouldya!’ In the park I took a walk to the one end and saw about eight couples in the area – all in various stages of PDA – from girl perched on wall, guy standing in front of her, to full on snogging, to legs intertwined on a bench and snogging. There was even a gay couple (at least, those guys looked stood mighty close and not in the way you would see straight male friends stand. At all. Ever!)

Made my way back to camp and ended up chatting until dunno when.

Day two – the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum – spent HOURS just here. Spent, what I consider, quite a bit on a walking tour but it was well worth it. The Colosseum is massive – 76 entrances – used to be way more when it was originally built by Vespasian, seating between 50 000- 80 000 spectators. Events from festivals, to sporting events to gladiator fights were all held here.

Palatine Hill and the Roman forum were pretty sweet. Rome really is an ancient city. I know I’ve said so before, but I can’t help but be amazed. There’s thousands of years history in front of you – and a lot of it is still being excavated today!

I’m really not even going to try share the history – if you’re interested, you are on the interwebz after all...better yet, plan a trip to Rome! Take a tour – you’ll never find out anything about half the stuff you see in front of you if you don’t!

Take the Roman forum; there are two temples at the bottom of the Forum. At the time the Roman Empire was at its peak it was Pagan, and most Emperors were deified and had temples built in the honour. When Christians invaded, a lot of the buildings were destroyed as the Christians were very much anti-pagan, but somewhere along the line instead of destroying everything they blessed it and made it holy instead, took it over and usually made it a church.

One such temple is that of Austina and his wife, there’s a story behind that temple (which will just lengthen and already long entry ;p). This temple is from around 700 odd AD, Rome flooded often, the city used to be quite low and part of the temple was underground. Come the dark ages – 1600s, Christian invasion, take over the temple, try to pull down the 30 tonne solid marble pillars to no avail! There are cuts in the pillars where the ropes were placed trying to pull down these pillars. I should add that by that time the pillars were at least 30 feet underground.

The temple next door – that of Romulus – little boy of four who died, dad was an emperor, had him deified. That temple has two solid rare Egyptian marble pillars – Rome was full of it, until it was all, shall we say, claimed, by the Vatican. That marble is worth the going rate of gold today. Not only that...but the bronze door, which actually predates the temple is 1700 years old, and still has a working lock and key.

Now if that is not fascinating, then I don’t know what is!

I was absolutely exhausted by the end of that, grabbed late lunch and rested my poor feet for a few minutes before doing more walking and just wandering around Rome.

Getting lost is the best part of being in a foreign country or new city, discovering all sorts of things! Eventually you find your way to some place you recognise.

Piazzas, side streets, fountains, churches, quaint cafes...all just lovely.

My last day in Rome had me walking for hours again. Surprise :p This time I tried to find all the piazzas and other spots I’d missed previously. Got to all of them eventually – amidst getting lost and ending up at the Trevi like three times or something. Everything in the centre of Rome is in walking distance, but there are many side streets so getting lost is easy. But it’s fun. Just head in the general direction you want to go and eventually you’ll get there.

Mouth of truth – I’m happy to report that my hand is still attached :p

The area around the mouth of truth, side street and photographer heaven. There’s also far less crowds and more locals.

I chilled on the Piazza Popolo for a bit, eating gelati (of course!) and then headed down a street I’d not been down previously.

I came across the old man, who, for lack of a better description had an outdoor art gallery – using interesting bits and pieces and entitling them with amusing names. It was along a wall behind the Temple of Augustus and he told me that they were offers to Augustus.

The most random thing I’ve come across yet, but such a lovely old man. It is also the most innovative way I’ve seen of getting money. There’s the usual street musicians and beggars – some face down on the ground with a crutch close by, others with deformed legs on skateboards and then you get mothers with small children.

I took photos – of course, but seeing it in person, I think it was the highlight of my day. And I’d seen so much of Rome that I just absolutely loved.

'The absent minded tourist'

I did a night tour of Rome - found out more history, some repetition from my Colossuem, Roman Forum tour – but this is never a bad thing seeing how there’s just so much information! Need some way of trying to retain it all.

It was heaving – with tourists, and locals. That may have been because it was a Thursday night...or else just because it’s Rome. On this tour found out about another area of Rome I just didn’t have the time to wander around. Next time! Then it was time for a repack and bed seeing how the next day I officially joined busabout on my month long euro trip

Onward to...Siena!

8 countries, 16 days part II

II: Italy

Day six saw us leaving Nice, saying au revoir to France and buongiorno to Italy!

Earlyish breakfast, load the bus and then all aboard and onward to Pisa.

Pisa really was a bit of a disappointment - all there is to the town is well the leaning tower. A few tour group members knew to expect from friends who'd already been. It was typically tourist - African crafts (roll eyes!), to tacky plastic Pisa tower replicas, to boxer shorts with the tower in all sorts of 'compromising' positions and angles.

We all did the cheesy tourist photos - pushing over the tower, pushing up the tower, hugging it, kissing it, licking it, and if you were a guy - well, use your imagination as to what they did :p

Had lunch in Pisa and then we'd set off to our camp site near Florence. First Italian meal and it was yuuuummmy! Penne, tomato sauce and mince as a starter, lamb chops with some sauce i couldn't figure out and veggies as a main and gelati (chocolate and lemon flavoured) for dessert.

After dinner, sat and listened in the outdoor courtyard to a guy playing guitar and singing English and Italian tunes and then it was the local disco...at first we were the only ones there, and it was off to a really slow start - but turned out be fun. A typical cheezy, holiday like disco - a whole mix of things were played - starting with recent songs and inevitably getting to grease lightening, the Y.M.C.A and the like.

Another tour group was staying at our campsite as well- all the tours stay at pretty much all the same places - and were they raucous (and Aussie!). The Aussies with us were not impressed. Danced around for a couple hours and then headed to bed. Found out the next morning some of our group went swimming after hours - and got caught (oh and really drunk - some were not hungover, but rather, still drunk the next morning).

Brekkie and then Florence! I quite enjoyed this city - too many tourists but hey. Saw the Ponte Vecchio - the oldest bridge in Florence. It was the only one that survived WWII - today there are jewellery stores all along it - pretty jewellery,classy jewellery, weird jewellery, would-someone-actually-wear-that jewellery, but all expensive jewellery! Saw a small section with leather markets, the town square - with a whole lot of sculptures and a replica of Michelangelo's David - the actual is now housed in the Museu d'Academie - tried to go in, but with a queue stretching around the block and only having a couple of hours in Florence I decided there are other things to do in that short space of time. So definitely back to Florence!

Wandered the streets and ended up in more markets - of course leather goods were purchased, few leather bracelets AND the awesomest black, fitted, biker type leather jacket. It looks like it was made for me, taking into consideration that I fitted on a couple and that often the small was too big! finding (and then buying!) one that fit was fantastic. Add, the lady gave it to me for halfprice - she said it was student price, and we were a bit worried we were being had, but mine had a price tag on...definitely got it half price!

I can now say I own a genuine Italian leather jacket made in Firenze! w00t :D

Needless to say most of the girls on the bus either returned with leather handbags or a leather jacket - after not spending all that much money in France - the euros flew out our pockets once we reached Italy!

From Florence - we hit Rome. Arrive at our campsite - after being stuck in some traffic - nowhere near as bad as Paris though, we arrive. And then wait for our tour guide to go the reception.

And we wait and wait and wait and wait.

By now we're all hot and bothered, and since there's a pool at the camp site all we wanna do is get out the bus, off load and jump in the pool. It was around 6pm that we arrived at camp, maybe a little after. Eventually, we get into the grounds, offload the bus, room allocation, quick change into cozzies and then try find the pool in the massive camp site. Our cabins were about 10min walk from reception. Our tour guide had told us pool closed at 8pm, by now it was around 7.15 - still more than enough time to swim. Asked this group of people for directions who told us the pool closed at 7, we decided to try find it anyway. Find it and yep, indeed - closing times had changed from 8pm to 7pm - not sure when that happened. Disappointment.

Back to cabins to change out of cozzies and head to dinner. Another delish 3 course meal - though not as good as the one we had in Tuscany. As we were walking to the restaurant lightening streaked the sky - frightening, but beautiful. During the third course, the storm hit - bringing everyone who'd been outside indoors. The umbrellas were blown over, and a few bulbs burst - that's how violent the storm was - I was quite happy to be in the restaurant - and not in our cabins where there are plenty of trees around. Twenty minutes later, storm is over and we head back to camp.

Day eight and it's the walking tour of Rome. Breakfast, purchase travel day passes and off we go into Rome. Some of the group opted not to do the tour and headed straight for the Vatican City - as it's closed on a Sunday. The rest of us did the tour.

Whether or not it was really worth it - I really couldn't tell you. We had a local take us around the major sights of the city - it was supposed to be a 3hour walking tour - was 30min longer, and it could've been way way shorter. She just talked way way way too much. We spent nearly an hour at the Colosseum alone! Where she lost us all about 30min in. Spunky, strange lady - and I guess she tried to make it more relevant - by comparing ancient Rome to modern scenarios but we really didn't need all of that.

I spaced in and out for most of the talk - spent most of it taking photos and looking around at everything else. A few more people decided the walking tour was not for them and left before we'd even departed from the Colosseum.

Since I wasn't listening I really can't remember it all but we saw the Colosseum, the Forum, had the 7 hills pointed out to us, tomb of the unknown Soldier, Rome's main street whatever it's called, the Pantheon, some church, the Trevi fountain and finally the Spanish steps...

By the time we got to the Spanish steps we were all a lot bored and silently, and not so silently, begging for this lady to finish already.

Soon as she was done, did the obligatory hand clap of thanks...a few of the girls and I raced to the closest metro stop, and headed to the Vatican. We got there and there was hardly a queue (for the Vatican museum) - this was around lunch time. Walked in, payed our fee - making sure we had on appropriate attire - no shorts or skirts (at least none that are above the knee) and no spaghetti strap tops allowed.

The museum is massive - and we only saw a fraction of it - basically making our way towards the Cistine Chapel....it took us long enough to get there! Spent about two hours in the museum. All the artwork was truly amazing - and a sensory overload - the walls, the floors, the ceiling - all had something on.

Finally reach the chapel - which didn't really feel like a chapel with all the throngs of people in it. There's signs everywhere saying no photographs or videos, but of course you get people taking them anyway. One dude with this huge camera and massive lens was blatantly taking photographs (eish, I did have some serious camera envy....entire trip through actually, the cameras I saw - wow!) I turned my good ol' point and shoot to face the roof, zoomed in and pressed the shutter, all without looking at it! and making sure the guards never saw me.

Found a place to sit and just sat and looked at the ceiling. It's really incredible - I then did the silly thing actually focussing and aiming at the creation - and then showed it C who was sitting next to me - both were excited - and oops - 3 guards came at me!

I then put the camera away. Later that evening we found out from girls who paid for the full guided tour (and had to wait about 1.5hr to get in that morning...) that the reason behind not taking photos has got absolutely nothing to do with damaging the artwork - no.

The Vatican had sold the restoration rights to the Cistine to some company, they in turn had sold it to Nikon and Nikon now holds the copyright (and restoration rights) to the Cistine.

Dispicable!

From the Cistine eventually exited the museum, and although the Basillica was a block away - albeit a very huge one - we really didn't have the energy to return after the longest day of walking. Got the metro back to camp and went for a swim!

And was it a lovely swim! Until I was stared out the pool by the lifeguard that is....the others were cold and I decided to stay and just laze about with 30min before the pool closed.

I tell you, it could only be the whole Italian men thing...ohmygosh, all he did was stare - he even watched me when I got out the pool and wrapped around my sarong! Oh, add that I was the only in the pool area at the time - it made me feel a little lot uncomfortable.

Dinner that evening was purchased in the restaurant - I had a yummy Romano Pizza - thin base, tomato sauce and chilli (no cheese) - twas good! Some folks decided to braai that evening... I ended up staying up until 3am just chatting and laughing at the antics of drunk folk. Failed attempt at a 2am swim - way too many lights, too much noise, guard actually walking around, and apparently cameras on the pool foiled it.

Up early the next morning for free day in Rome. Spent the entire day there - wandered around some markets, through a somewhat dodgy part of Rome and then literally just walked it all. Returned to the Pantheon, Trevi and Spanish steps with the girls who'd gone to the Vatican the day before and didn't see it. Spent a fair bit of time in jewellery stores.

Towards evening we started keeping an eye out for a place to have dinner. We found ourselves in the Piazza Nuovo.... I love love LOVED this square! The vibe was fantastic - all the cafes and restaurants setting up for dinner, the musicians setting up for a concert, testing by playing the guitar, artists drawing and displaying their work. I would've been happy just plonking myself in the middle of the square and soaking it all up! I had goosebumps just being there.

After this, walked some quaint back alleys and found ourselves headed back in the direction of the Trevi, found a place down one narrow street close by - including service charge. Sat down to a lovely 3 course meal - bruschetta, spagetti, tomato sauce and fresh basil followed by veal, veggies and potato wedges. Had gelati for dessert at the Trevi - was beautiful seeing it at night, walked passed the Spanish steps again, and then headed back to camp.

We had an early start that morning as the next stop was Venice. Of course we didn't leave at 7am as we should have. No real surprise there. It was a pretty uneventful ride - until it got to about lunch time...the bus was acting up. Reached a truck stop, told us 45min for lunch and we should be back on the road to Venice. Uh, or NOT!

SEVEN hours later we finally left the truck stop.

It's amazing what boredom can do. I'd taken two books with me, and a glamour - all of which by this time i'd finished. We were all just sitting there bored to tears wondering when will this mechanic come and sort out the bus already. I jokingly suggested how about drinking. Adding, that for me to suggest drinking on a Monday afternoon I must truly be desperate - for one - I'm not a drinker. I'm such a light weight. And two - it's not the kinda thing you'd expect me to suggest...but lo and behold, like five minutes later - one of the 'drinking crew' suggested the same thing. Don't know if he'd heard what I said.

Anyway, go to the shop - where they sell booze of all sorts - half price special on red wine (in boxes of three).

I never thought I'd ever answer the question: So what did you do at 15.45 on a Monday afternoon? with - drink on the bus!

Yep, the bus we were all so sick of we headed back to, sat in rear and proceeded to drink (lightweight me only had 3 glasses). By the time the mechanic eventually came, and fixed the bus about 7-10 people had been drinking - and 14 bottles of red wine had been consumed by the time we reached the camp site just outside Venice at just after 9pm that evening.

Had dinner in the camp's restaurant before it shut at 11 and then bed before Venice the next morning.

In hindsight (don't you just love the knowledge gleaned from hindsight) breaking down meant that we had a little more time in Venice - since according to the Schedule we were supposed to arrive at around 3pm the afternoon and the last public tranport left Venice around 11pm.

Venice - what a pretty peaceful town. It's immediatley peaceful since there's no cars honking, no busses, no trucks etc etc etc. All things are done on boats - we saw a boat taxi, cops, garbage barge and even the delivery of drinks to restaurants - all by boat.

Of course most of us took a gondala ride. It was pretty cool. Bit of a balancing act, and feeling like this narrow little thing will tip over wasn't great but it didn't so it was all good. After the gondala ride once again just walked the streets. Piazza St Marco was flooded - not sure if it was high tide or something, but they had raised platforms for people to walk on and the cops all had thigh high waders on.

Oh man, one was so tasty. The Italians - men and women - are beautiful people. This one calender (i really should've bought!) with the hottest guy on the front kept catching my eye whenever I walked passed it in some tourist stall - must add the models were all dressed up in Priest garb....uh, lead us not into temptation...

Wandered around Venice, lunch on the go - pizza slice and then made our way back to where we had to catch the shuttle back to camp. We were told the half two - turned out be half three - since the half two only ran at high season. Don't really know why it was no longer high season since it was still very much summer, with plenty of tourists around but hey. So we plonked ourselves on the pavement for the next hour...we'd been threatened that the bus would leave without us since it was a ten hour journey to Switzerland. Oops. The bus couldn't leave with our bags, tour guide and bus driver now could it.

Eventually get back to camp - wait for the bus driver to manouver the bus out - taking about another 30min - why he didn't do this before we got there heaven alone knows but he got it done.

And we all got on board at about half four and four hours later said ciao to Italy






Pisa


The Streets of Florence


Ponte Vecchio, Florence


The other side of the Colosseum, Rome


Trevi Fountain at night, Rome


Gondolas in Venice