Bella Italia
Well i did make my flight on time and floated up the picturesque canals of Venice just before sundown on boxing day, with just enough light to find my way to my cute little Venician hotel located around a million corners that all looked the same and down a small alleyway off unrecognisiable piazza in the middle of a very confusing city. Well thats what it seemed like and although i got lost more times than i care to remember, around every new turn there was something new and quaint and beautiful to discover like the gondolas riding on the blue green water, the sparkling christmas lights up every cobbled street and the mnay but ever so delicious chocolateries. As i was only there the night i spent most of the time just wondering around without any real agenda. I people and pidgion watched in Piazza San Marco outside St Marks Basillica and the Camponile, visited the Rialto Bridge and surrounding markets, scored a free ride on a vaperatto up the Grand canal and discussed the ins and outs of venetion life with two different Italian guys, both called Tony.
The sun shone brightly in Venice, but unfortunatly lost much of its warmth in Florence, where the icy cold hit my skin hard. Thankfully Florences many wonderful sights, and open spaces were a lovely contrast to the cramped feeling of venice, and where climbing the dome in the Duomo, mosiing around San Lerenzo markets, and over Pont Vecchio a thousand times, and the friendly hostel apartment type thing where i stayed, provided much needed shelter from the cold as well as interesting sight seeing. When the sun did come out, a trek up to Piazzale Michelangelo, and a 2 euro bus trip up to the tuscan hilltop town of Fisole were in order to offer a spledid panorama of the city, followed by a walk around the old Olterano quarter, picnicing in Piazza Signoria with some of the most famous statues including Giambolognas 'rape of the the sabines' and the not original David. I think now it would of been worth the 10 euros to see the real David in the Academia, but at the time i was getting easily tired of renaissonce art and so decided against it. Much to the dissapointment of Leonardo, my host, (and Mum no doubt!) who later queried me on 'what did you actually do in Florence' after i also mentioned i opted out of the Uffizi gallery as well. Well, i dare say i saw alot, walked alot, thought alot about the sun, and soaked up the seducing energy of one of Italys most beautiful medievil towns in one way or another, and thoroughly enjoyed almost every minute of it. and although im sure the summer sun will draw me back again some day, it was time to move on to yet another, completley different Italian city just 3 days later, which gratfully was futher south, and just that much closer to the equator to make a significant difference in temperature...well almost anyway.
so 4 hours on the regional train later i am walking out of Roma termini, heading for my final hostel destination. My highlights of Roma were definitly my hostel and the mix of fun, firendly travellers i met there where i shared many stories, jokes and tales from the road with two australian girls from where i grew up in sydney; lined up for the vatican city on the last sunday of the month which meant it was for free for only 2.5hours with Jennys mum from New zealand; talked, laughed and played yahtzee on new years eve with a young couple from Perth (whilst the streets become a manic scene of craziness and smashing bottles) and spent mnay a relaxed evening in the chilled out lounge with Ingham the resident cat, who could pass very well for a seal if it wanted too.
After what can only be descibed as a bit of a anti-climax at the Vatican and Sistine Chapel, i then solidered on and walked all over the city in one aftrenoon for fear of missing out the next day as it was to be the public holiday of the the 1st of january, when many attractions would be closed. Hence, I visited the wide open space of San Pietro Piazza, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, down to Piazza Venezia and the Wedding Cake; I rambled through the Foro de Roman, up Palatine Hill and around the Colosseum, then over to the Trevi Fountain and across to the Spanish Steps, before the sun dissappeared in the sky and my weary legs slowly carried my back over the hill to Place de Republicca and safely back to the comfort of the Beehive, my cosy, atmospheric hostel.
the following day, the first of 2007, i followed a much more relaxed programme, got up late, farwelled my sydney friends back to australia, then started off on a treasure hunt, thanks to Louise, my friend from the legion who spent 3 months in rome not long ago and who gave me a list of all her favourite haunts and sights for me to discover at my own pace and will. Here i found the sweet turtle fountain, bernini's elephant, an all natural gelato place in Trastaverre, and Castel Sant'Angelo, the bridge with all the beautiful angel sculptures. Unfortunatley i didn't manage to find La Bocca della Verità , the mouth of truth, but i did stumble across the the talking statue who apparantly dishes out advise to those who seek it earnstly enough. That afternoon I was exhausted so spent it with on the couch with the cat, talking with Jenny and her mum and listening to very chilled music in the the hostel cafe. a great end to a very tiring day.
and before long i was catching up on sleep on the plane home, waiting for lost luggage at gatwick, unpacking my bags in my room in london and back at my desk at the legion surfing the net searching my next holiday destination. Well I sure don't know where ill be travelling next, however i do know that ill be moving south of the river in 2 weeks into my new home in earlsfield, near wimbledon. its a lovely, big family home with a wonderful garden, bbq area for those hot summer days that im hanging out for already, and a big bathroom and conservatory, in a quiet, residential villiagy area much better than the noisy, busy road i currently reside on. I am so excited, its going to be great.
So that my friends is where i am at. what about you? id love to hear from you sometime so send me an email and tell me what you are all up to when you get a chance :)
The sun shone brightly in Venice, but unfortunatly lost much of its warmth in Florence, where the icy cold hit my skin hard. Thankfully Florences many wonderful sights, and open spaces were a lovely contrast to the cramped feeling of venice, and where climbing the dome in the Duomo, mosiing around San Lerenzo markets, and over Pont Vecchio a thousand times, and the friendly hostel apartment type thing where i stayed, provided much needed shelter from the cold as well as interesting sight seeing. When the sun did come out, a trek up to Piazzale Michelangelo, and a 2 euro bus trip up to the tuscan hilltop town of Fisole were in order to offer a spledid panorama of the city, followed by a walk around the old Olterano quarter, picnicing in Piazza Signoria with some of the most famous statues including Giambolognas 'rape of the the sabines' and the not original David. I think now it would of been worth the 10 euros to see the real David in the Academia, but at the time i was getting easily tired of renaissonce art and so decided against it. Much to the dissapointment of Leonardo, my host, (and Mum no doubt!) who later queried me on 'what did you actually do in Florence' after i also mentioned i opted out of the Uffizi gallery as well. Well, i dare say i saw alot, walked alot, thought alot about the sun, and soaked up the seducing energy of one of Italys most beautiful medievil towns in one way or another, and thoroughly enjoyed almost every minute of it. and although im sure the summer sun will draw me back again some day, it was time to move on to yet another, completley different Italian city just 3 days later, which gratfully was futher south, and just that much closer to the equator to make a significant difference in temperature...well almost anyway.
so 4 hours on the regional train later i am walking out of Roma termini, heading for my final hostel destination. My highlights of Roma were definitly my hostel and the mix of fun, firendly travellers i met there where i shared many stories, jokes and tales from the road with two australian girls from where i grew up in sydney; lined up for the vatican city on the last sunday of the month which meant it was for free for only 2.5hours with Jennys mum from New zealand; talked, laughed and played yahtzee on new years eve with a young couple from Perth (whilst the streets become a manic scene of craziness and smashing bottles) and spent mnay a relaxed evening in the chilled out lounge with Ingham the resident cat, who could pass very well for a seal if it wanted too.
After what can only be descibed as a bit of a anti-climax at the Vatican and Sistine Chapel, i then solidered on and walked all over the city in one aftrenoon for fear of missing out the next day as it was to be the public holiday of the the 1st of january, when many attractions would be closed. Hence, I visited the wide open space of San Pietro Piazza, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, down to Piazza Venezia and the Wedding Cake; I rambled through the Foro de Roman, up Palatine Hill and around the Colosseum, then over to the Trevi Fountain and across to the Spanish Steps, before the sun dissappeared in the sky and my weary legs slowly carried my back over the hill to Place de Republicca and safely back to the comfort of the Beehive, my cosy, atmospheric hostel.
the following day, the first of 2007, i followed a much more relaxed programme, got up late, farwelled my sydney friends back to australia, then started off on a treasure hunt, thanks to Louise, my friend from the legion who spent 3 months in rome not long ago and who gave me a list of all her favourite haunts and sights for me to discover at my own pace and will. Here i found the sweet turtle fountain, bernini's elephant, an all natural gelato place in Trastaverre, and Castel Sant'Angelo, the bridge with all the beautiful angel sculptures. Unfortunatley i didn't manage to find La Bocca della Verità , the mouth of truth, but i did stumble across the the talking statue who apparantly dishes out advise to those who seek it earnstly enough. That afternoon I was exhausted so spent it with on the couch with the cat, talking with Jenny and her mum and listening to very chilled music in the the hostel cafe. a great end to a very tiring day.
and before long i was catching up on sleep on the plane home, waiting for lost luggage at gatwick, unpacking my bags in my room in london and back at my desk at the legion surfing the net searching my next holiday destination. Well I sure don't know where ill be travelling next, however i do know that ill be moving south of the river in 2 weeks into my new home in earlsfield, near wimbledon. its a lovely, big family home with a wonderful garden, bbq area for those hot summer days that im hanging out for already, and a big bathroom and conservatory, in a quiet, residential villiagy area much better than the noisy, busy road i currently reside on. I am so excited, its going to be great.
So that my friends is where i am at. what about you? id love to hear from you sometime so send me an email and tell me what you are all up to when you get a chance :)
posted by Sophie at 1:28 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home