So incase anyone hasnt noticed...we havent blogged much recently. I managed to break our brand new laptop...and now have to wait to get home to fix it, so the blogs are scarce. Anyway. It is time for an update...
We have been in Italy still since last update. Today is our last day here. From Firenze where i left off, we headed to Assisi. (I'm actually posting this some week later...)
Assisi is a stunningly beautiful town set on a hill with tiny streets zig zagging their way up the mountain. It is small and packed with character and has a very stunning (and free) church. Where the remains of St Frances are held. We got our true backpacker on here, as the station was a 3km hike from where we stayed,and was in the dirt and fields we went.
From there we went to the eternal city of Rome. Rome is utterly breathtaking. Its surprisingly small and walkable, but there's so much to see. I could write forever on Rome. Its a very welcoming city and we enjoyed every moment we had there. Around every corner theres a mammoth monument or ruins, just hangin out. It was what you expect in grandeur, and so much more. I think the big cities all have that feel. London, New York, Paris and Rome all give you a sense you're somewhere special.
Our next stop was the frenzied Napoli, the Scooters are piled high with anything up to 4 people, and road rules are completely obsolete. We stopped for a pizza, of course as it is the home of pizza & must say, although they are very basic, were delicious! We also made a day trip to Pompeii whilst in Napoli, and Ben very much enjoyed the amphitheatre from the Pink Floyd DVD.
From Napoli, was train ride up to Venezia. We stayed at a campsite 30min or so away, but got to spend 2 days just roaming the streets. Oddly enough it was mor beautiful on the day it was raining, as the water was a crystal blue in th smaller streets. It was also interesting as the rain had raised the water levels, and even St Marks Square was half under water! The Cathedral was unfortunately being worked on at the time, so we didnt quite get the full picture, but still an absolutely stunning square of architecture.
From Venezia it was 2 days in Bologna. Very pretty uni town and the home of....you guessed it bolognaise sauce & lasagne. We decided to splurge and head out for lunch, and ate ourselves silly. The food was amazing though and oddle enough the lasagne reminded me of the one nan bonanni used to make. Made me wonder if Pa had trained her in his Italian ways.
Then it was to Como, which is simply stunning. From the moment we arrived we were relaxed. We prety much just spent the 2 days walking through the old town, around the lake, and enjoying the views. Found an english bookstore so spent an afternoon reading, and another eating gelati watching the sunset. Como is definately one to remember.
Next and last Italy stop is Milan. The main drawcards here are Da Vinci's "Last Supper" which we didnt make it to and the mammoth Gothic Duomo. We were going to head town to the last supper, but read that it was notoriously difficult to get into and we only had the 1 day so we headed down to the main square instead. We were there the day before the Champions League final & as Inter Milan ( I think...) has made it they were getting ready to party. Big screens were set up & we had seen the images of only a few days before when they won to get in and knew what the square would look like very shortly. Whether they won or lost, I don't think it would have been th place for me. That night we met some English Lads ( Southampton specifically - which they don't blame us for missing) and had a few beverages before we caught our very early train to Berlin the next morning.
Italy as a whole was a place we both absolutely loved, and we feel like we have only just scratched the surface of what we want to do there. The food was incredible, we understood parts of the language, and the scenery along the journey was amazing.
I'll try and catch up the rest!
Love xxx
Friday, May 21, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Florence
I’m very pleased to say we have found that getting around Italy and Europe extremely easy with our Eurail passes, so we arrived in Florence, happy & distressed.
I personally had a very different image to Florence that what we saw, which was magical nonetheless. I was expecting it to be very...pretty. Instead i found it to be really energetic, packed with people, and markets, and people, and people, and people.
It was packed. We wandered around the markets and i nearly splurged a few times, but was restrained. We walked along the water, up to the Ponte Vecchio which was the only bridge in Florence to survive WW2 still with its jewellers on either side to this day. We spent time trying to take in the enormity that is the Il Duomo and of course made the trip...and the wait to see Michelangelo’s David.
We saw 2 of the 3 David’s in Florence. There is the original, which is now in the Accademia dell'Arte del Disegno. Then there is a replica where the original David stood in the Plaza, then there is another Bronze replica up the mountain, We were going to head up there as it boasts the best views of Florence, but it started raining and Ben was not feeling well so we headed home.
Overall Florence was a very interesting experience. We don’t have any pictures of David as they are prohibited, but it really is beautiful. I am not usually big on sculpture, but it really is just perfect. The detail that goes into it is amazing, from the veins in the hands and neck, to the muscles , to think that it was all carved from the one piece of stone...anyway it was well worth the measly 6 euro admission price. The streets were crazy and we found some really cool things as well. The love locks all locked along the river were really sweet and the fact that we found a whole market dedicated to Italian leather was interesting too.
Was a fun few days.
I personally had a very different image to Florence that what we saw, which was magical nonetheless. I was expecting it to be very...pretty. Instead i found it to be really energetic, packed with people, and markets, and people, and people, and people.
It was packed. We wandered around the markets and i nearly splurged a few times, but was restrained. We walked along the water, up to the Ponte Vecchio which was the only bridge in Florence to survive WW2 still with its jewellers on either side to this day. We spent time trying to take in the enormity that is the Il Duomo and of course made the trip...and the wait to see Michelangelo’s David.
We saw 2 of the 3 David’s in Florence. There is the original, which is now in the Accademia dell'Arte del Disegno. Then there is a replica where the original David stood in the Plaza, then there is another Bronze replica up the mountain, We were going to head up there as it boasts the best views of Florence, but it started raining and Ben was not feeling well so we headed home.
Overall Florence was a very interesting experience. We don’t have any pictures of David as they are prohibited, but it really is beautiful. I am not usually big on sculpture, but it really is just perfect. The detail that goes into it is amazing, from the veins in the hands and neck, to the muscles , to think that it was all carved from the one piece of stone...anyway it was well worth the measly 6 euro admission price. The streets were crazy and we found some really cool things as well. The love locks all locked along the river were really sweet and the fact that we found a whole market dedicated to Italian leather was interesting too.
Was a fun few days.
Pisa
Pisa was our first couchsurfing experience. Couchsurfing is a website/group that essentially helps people get to know each other & move around the world by crashing on someones couch, you have to apply to them after reading their profile & deciding on a place you would like to stay, and then they can say yes or no, luckily for us Gala was the first of these to say yes.
We had only really decided to come to Pisa for the tower, and knew little else, apart from the fact that it’s a uni town. Galas house is a student house. There are 5 of them and they are all absolutely wonderful, unique people. They reminded me alot of some friends at home. They are all extremely intelligent, kind, funny... hippies essentially.
I don’t think I can cover all that they showed us, but they, along with some older housemates that are always still around showed us an amazing time in Pisa and we really got a feel for what life there is about. Drinking in the streets is fine and there are squares around town where they all meet up to do so, people bring down instruments & jam in the streets, whilst everyone hangs around, sings and has a great time. The second night we went out for a gig with them in an old converted church, had a few beers. Chilled out. They definitely gave us a unique Pisa experience and we loved it! It was sad to say goodbye.
We did of course do the tower also, and just like everything else it was being worked on when we got there, but still, it really is just one of those things you need to do!
I’ll leave it there on Pisa, but we had a great tine & made awesome memories, and hopefully some good friends too
We had only really decided to come to Pisa for the tower, and knew little else, apart from the fact that it’s a uni town. Galas house is a student house. There are 5 of them and they are all absolutely wonderful, unique people. They reminded me alot of some friends at home. They are all extremely intelligent, kind, funny... hippies essentially.
I don’t think I can cover all that they showed us, but they, along with some older housemates that are always still around showed us an amazing time in Pisa and we really got a feel for what life there is about. Drinking in the streets is fine and there are squares around town where they all meet up to do so, people bring down instruments & jam in the streets, whilst everyone hangs around, sings and has a great time. The second night we went out for a gig with them in an old converted church, had a few beers. Chilled out. They definitely gave us a unique Pisa experience and we loved it! It was sad to say goodbye.
We did of course do the tower also, and just like everything else it was being worked on when we got there, but still, it really is just one of those things you need to do!
I’ll leave it there on Pisa, but we had a great tine & made awesome memories, and hopefully some good friends too
Monday, May 3, 2010
NICE
After Paris, we all caught our overnight train down to Nice, as easy as this may sound, as the decision was made hastily by the others to join us, all was not as organised as we perhaps would normally have it, and in the mix-up the train was booked for the wrong month. Luckily after some pleading the lovely French man let them on the train anyway as it was not sold out.
We were very lucky in Nice with where we were staying, as we were 4 we were able to book an apartment 10 min walk from the beach and in the town centre. We hadn’t had much planned for Nice as we wanted it to be about relaxation & the beach, but our contact for the apartment Frederic was amazing & filled us in on a few great tips including 1euro bus trips to Monaco-Monte Carlo
We spent most of our days strolling the town, window shopping & relaxing on the beach, once we got used to how to of course. The beach was a very new experience for us...it was a cobblestone beach. The stones are quite large and although all the locals seem to have the hang of it, we were all making quite the fool of ourselves oohing & ouching our way into the water, and from there it only got harder. You have the option of swimming, or staying out. Wading in the cobblestone water is very difficult as your footing is constantly challenged with the movement ^ it can become quite painful. I think the Europeans must have tougher feet – or better balance, something up on us either way.
While Benny & I practiced our sun smarts, Blairy decided he would be fine without & it was quite amusing for a day or so as he had a really red belly & legs. To our dismay though, he did tan & not peel, bastard!
The beach area is full of shops & cafe’s and i think we did fairly well to eat as much French food as possible and fit in our daily glass of wine (however long it took to get the cork out without a corkscrew)
Our day trip to Monaco was something else, it is an absolutely stunning city, and we thank Chris for telling us to go. We “hiked” to the top of the hill and took in the breathtaking views then worked our way down, around the bay, through the GP course, and the pits, and out to the casino & park on the other side. We were very lucky in some ways that they were setting up for the GP as we got to do some things I think were fairly unique. We got to go through all the old GP cars some dating back to the 30’s as they were having races with the older ones in the week leading up to the F1 GP. We also got to walk through the pits which was really cool as it already had the names of the spaces & so forth, and we got to walk out onto the “world’s most famous hairpin” I actually wasn’t that sure of the title, but I’m sure it has merit.
With the good though comes the bad, and i think we missed out on the beauty in some ways as everything had the stands up & the park had portaloos everywhere and such, regardless though it was amazing.
Our last night in Nice, our last day in France we decided we had to have some real champagne. I have never actually drunk champagne before & it was definitely nice to do so in Nice, not to mention it was quite a bit cheaper than home!
So we finished up with a bit of class, Blair & Pippa shelled out on the Antipasti Platter & we enjoyed our champagne & wine & our last night together.
The next morning we said goodbye to Pippa, Blair & France & Hello Italy.
We were very lucky in Nice with where we were staying, as we were 4 we were able to book an apartment 10 min walk from the beach and in the town centre. We hadn’t had much planned for Nice as we wanted it to be about relaxation & the beach, but our contact for the apartment Frederic was amazing & filled us in on a few great tips including 1euro bus trips to Monaco-Monte Carlo
We spent most of our days strolling the town, window shopping & relaxing on the beach, once we got used to how to of course. The beach was a very new experience for us...it was a cobblestone beach. The stones are quite large and although all the locals seem to have the hang of it, we were all making quite the fool of ourselves oohing & ouching our way into the water, and from there it only got harder. You have the option of swimming, or staying out. Wading in the cobblestone water is very difficult as your footing is constantly challenged with the movement ^ it can become quite painful. I think the Europeans must have tougher feet – or better balance, something up on us either way.
While Benny & I practiced our sun smarts, Blairy decided he would be fine without & it was quite amusing for a day or so as he had a really red belly & legs. To our dismay though, he did tan & not peel, bastard!
The beach area is full of shops & cafe’s and i think we did fairly well to eat as much French food as possible and fit in our daily glass of wine (however long it took to get the cork out without a corkscrew)
Our day trip to Monaco was something else, it is an absolutely stunning city, and we thank Chris for telling us to go. We “hiked” to the top of the hill and took in the breathtaking views then worked our way down, around the bay, through the GP course, and the pits, and out to the casino & park on the other side. We were very lucky in some ways that they were setting up for the GP as we got to do some things I think were fairly unique. We got to go through all the old GP cars some dating back to the 30’s as they were having races with the older ones in the week leading up to the F1 GP. We also got to walk through the pits which was really cool as it already had the names of the spaces & so forth, and we got to walk out onto the “world’s most famous hairpin” I actually wasn’t that sure of the title, but I’m sure it has merit.
With the good though comes the bad, and i think we missed out on the beauty in some ways as everything had the stands up & the park had portaloos everywhere and such, regardless though it was amazing.
Our last night in Nice, our last day in France we decided we had to have some real champagne. I have never actually drunk champagne before & it was definitely nice to do so in Nice, not to mention it was quite a bit cheaper than home!
So we finished up with a bit of class, Blair & Pippa shelled out on the Antipasti Platter & we enjoyed our champagne & wine & our last night together.
The next morning we said goodbye to Pippa, Blair & France & Hello Italy.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Paris
Last time I blogged we were in Paris, but I hadn't said much about it. As we go on through Europe we are finding it harder and harder to find time to sit around & write the blogs, partly due to being so busy, partly due to where we are staying. So I will try and keep going, but they may become less detailed as I always seem to have a lot to catch up on!
The first few days in Paris it was just me & Ben. We were staying in a hotel north of the centre and had a wonderful room, complete with the opening windows and small balcony Paris style. It was ridiculously cleche, and we giggled about this as we stood out there eating our baguettes watching Parisian life go by...
The next 4 days we were joined by Bens mate Blair & his missus Pippa. It was so good to have people to hang out with & make bad jokes with, we really enjoyed having them there...in the end they joined us in Nice as well, but we have since parted ways & Blairs in Barcelona, Pippa in London & we are in Pisa...anyway
Paris is so jammed packed with things to see & famous landmarks that I wont go into detail on everything we did but over the 8 days we covered Notre Dame, Arc de t
Triomphe, the Louvre - which is free on Friday nights for Under 26's so get onto that! Moulin Rouge, Champs De Elysess, The Eiffel Tower, the Catacombes, saw Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde & Chopin's graves, we ate criossants & baguettes, drank wine & relaxed in the parks. It was Paris...what else is there to say.
I think the thing that got to me the most & will be one of the most memorable experiences of my life was the Catacombes, Just to be walking through passages made of millions of human bones was really surreal. Yet oddly I was not as freaked out by it as I thought I would be. But definitely something that everyone should do if they come to Paris, Thats my tip for the day.
Well I'll leave it at that for Paris, from a strange turn of events we can now upload photos again, so eventually I will get it all happening and add them onto the blogs. Otherwise facebook may be updated sooner.
Hope everyone else is having as much fun as we are!
Much love xxx
The first few days in Paris it was just me & Ben. We were staying in a hotel north of the centre and had a wonderful room, complete with the opening windows and small balcony Paris style. It was ridiculously cleche, and we giggled about this as we stood out there eating our baguettes watching Parisian life go by...
The next 4 days we were joined by Bens mate Blair & his missus Pippa. It was so good to have people to hang out with & make bad jokes with, we really enjoyed having them there...in the end they joined us in Nice as well, but we have since parted ways & Blairs in Barcelona, Pippa in London & we are in Pisa...anyway
Paris is so jammed packed with things to see & famous landmarks that I wont go into detail on everything we did but over the 8 days we covered Notre Dame, Arc de t
Triomphe, the Louvre - which is free on Friday nights for Under 26's so get onto that! Moulin Rouge, Champs De Elysess, The Eiffel Tower, the Catacombes, saw Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde & Chopin's graves, we ate criossants & baguettes, drank wine & relaxed in the parks. It was Paris...what else is there to say.
I think the thing that got to me the most & will be one of the most memorable experiences of my life was the Catacombes, Just to be walking through passages made of millions of human bones was really surreal. Yet oddly I was not as freaked out by it as I thought I would be. But definitely something that everyone should do if they come to Paris, Thats my tip for the day.
Well I'll leave it at that for Paris, from a strange turn of events we can now upload photos again, so eventually I will get it all happening and add them onto the blogs. Otherwise facebook may be updated sooner.
Hope everyone else is having as much fun as we are!
Much love xxx
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