Well, another exhausting day!
Today it was a 551 step climb up to the top of the Vatican City, at the top of the dome that adorns many a postcards. And I can tell you, after 1 hour in a line to get up there, plus the walk, it was worth it!
I also went to the Vatican Museum, saw the Sistine Chapel which was pretty big, but I guess because I´m not religous, a lot of the pictures and figures didn´t really move me. Oh, and the wait to get into here was 1.5 hours, owing to the fact that on the last Sunday of every month, its free (normally €12). And the line snaked forever!!! I got there half an hour before it opened also so so much for that.
Oh I didn´t quite finish yesterdays post. After the catacombes i went to the pantheon which is the largest and best preserved building in Roma. It was pretty big and cool.
So the Vatican took up the whole morning until about 1, then I went to the cemetary of the Cappucian monks. Well, not really a cemetary, more a display of bones. the monks moved thier monestary so instead of reburrying thier dead, they brought up thier bones and decorated a couple of rooms.... quite odd. every bone used also. there is even a hip wall!!! there are quite a few skeletons still intact and dressed in thier brown robes with big crosses. no photos unfortunately, not allowed to take photos (and the ones that i did take were horribly blurry). i have postcards as proof tho :)
well, tonight i´m visiting the colloseum again, this time at night tho :)
oh yeah and yesterday i didn´t have porridge, i had traditional italiano pizza! and to tell you the truth, better than hell pizza and pizza hut. too bad willoughby.
oh and so far this trip i´ve averaged 2 gelati a day (gelati is plural for gelato) except today where i had 4.... in the space of 1 hour...... yeah i discovered a gelateria that sells green apple flavoured gelato!!! i went to that one shop 3 times and the owner told me i wasn´t allowed any more ... but then he gave me an extra helping hehehehehe.
ok. time to get off computer.
have fun people!!!
ciao
Not As Hot
Thanks to cloud cover, today was pretty good (late thirties).
Oh yeah, last night first.
Well, first there was a walking tour which took us past the Spanish Steps and The Trevi Fountain (amazing). Our American guide was quite entertaining, and even the Ozzie guide made us laugh! The bars were all pretty good, got a free shooter when we walked in the door, and i bought a few drinks also. wow so the prices here are crazy. we got a good deal via the tour, normally a bottle of beer (any kind) is 6 euros. yes, you heard right, thats about 11 new zealand dollars. it is absolutely crazy. our deal was 3 drinks for 10 euros, pretty good really considering!!
walked home with an ozzie, an american, and a puerto rican, all from my hostel. wasn´t too far, but we didn´t really care coz we were all pretty pissed!
this morning = very sore head. but got up none the less. visted the trevi fountain and the spanish steps again, this time in daylight tho. then i took the metro and met up with Janine (an ozzie) who i´d met the day before at our hostel, and we went to the catacombes of san calisto.
what are catacombes you ask, well, they are huuuuge cemetaries burried underground in 168 ad by the christians. i´ll post up photos when i can of them. it was really eerie down there, about 400,000 graves in there, all in slots piled really high. the above photo was taken just outside the building there. it was really pretty, and kinda hard to get to. initially we took the 118 bus, but because it headed into town we thought we´d got the wrong bus so we got off, took another bus back to our origional stop, and then realised that we actually should have stayed on the 118 anyway. sigh. two janines. anyway.
then went back to the old quarter and saw the pantheom which is big! unfortunately had mcdonalds for lunch, but i´m making it up tonight with authentic italian pizza! or porridge. dunno yet.
i´ve walked an extraordinary amount today, its been crazy.
my time is up here, gotta go now, will write more later maybe.
buenasera! (goodnight)
Oh yeah, last night first.
Well, first there was a walking tour which took us past the Spanish Steps and The Trevi Fountain (amazing). Our American guide was quite entertaining, and even the Ozzie guide made us laugh! The bars were all pretty good, got a free shooter when we walked in the door, and i bought a few drinks also. wow so the prices here are crazy. we got a good deal via the tour, normally a bottle of beer (any kind) is 6 euros. yes, you heard right, thats about 11 new zealand dollars. it is absolutely crazy. our deal was 3 drinks for 10 euros, pretty good really considering!!
walked home with an ozzie, an american, and a puerto rican, all from my hostel. wasn´t too far, but we didn´t really care coz we were all pretty pissed!
this morning = very sore head. but got up none the less. visted the trevi fountain and the spanish steps again, this time in daylight tho. then i took the metro and met up with Janine (an ozzie) who i´d met the day before at our hostel, and we went to the catacombes of san calisto.
what are catacombes you ask, well, they are huuuuge cemetaries burried underground in 168 ad by the christians. i´ll post up photos when i can of them. it was really eerie down there, about 400,000 graves in there, all in slots piled really high. the above photo was taken just outside the building there. it was really pretty, and kinda hard to get to. initially we took the 118 bus, but because it headed into town we thought we´d got the wrong bus so we got off, took another bus back to our origional stop, and then realised that we actually should have stayed on the 118 anyway. sigh. two janines. anyway.
then went back to the old quarter and saw the pantheom which is big! unfortunately had mcdonalds for lunch, but i´m making it up tonight with authentic italian pizza! or porridge. dunno yet.
i´ve walked an extraordinary amount today, its been crazy.
my time is up here, gotta go now, will write more later maybe.
buenasera! (goodnight)
Something in the Roman Forum
Wow guys, today has been absolutely exhausting. And its not over of course!
Got to the Colloseum bright and early, NO LINES which usually involve a 1hour wait (minimum). Walked around in there for an hour, it was really really big and awesome. Definately note the AWE in awesome. Totally brilliant day and it wasn't in the late thirties (temperature wise) yet so it was good. By 10ish when I left there were people swarming alllll over the place. TIP: Go to places early :-)
So then I walked around the Roman Forum, this is where a lot of the ruined ruins are. Lots of arches and pantheon type remains also. It just blows me away to think what it could look like if it were all still the same from Roman times. Spent 2 hours walking around, got way too hot in the sun. The rememdy? More walking of course!!!
Crossed the river Tiber into Traveste, the old quaint looking area of Rome, and there I had myself another gelato. This time it was KIWI!!! Mmmm, the kiwifruit tasted good. I can't believe how good gelato is, its crazy. We've never really had it in Hamilton have we, and the one place we did have (by the central library) closed ages ago. Seriously good when hot and hungry.
Didn't get lost, but didn't know where I was either, I was walking in the right direction to hit the metro at least :-) A quick journey back and a nice cold shower again.
Oh yeah, walked into a bank and changed my 50euro notes into smaller change - all done in 'perfect' Italian. I got the message accross anyway. Actually I've discovered that what ever is in my language guide book thing is pretty similar to spanish, so lately all i've been doing is speaking spanish in an italian way. don't knock it either, coz it works!!!
Tonight I'm going on a pub crawl - should be good - the hostel has a reputation because of it!
Ciao!
Oh yeah, the mercury hit 43 degrees today. Well not mercury, there is an electronic thermometer that is nearby the hostel displayed on a neon sign. Hence all the temperature updates :-)
Got to the Colloseum bright and early, NO LINES which usually involve a 1hour wait (minimum). Walked around in there for an hour, it was really really big and awesome. Definately note the AWE in awesome. Totally brilliant day and it wasn't in the late thirties (temperature wise) yet so it was good. By 10ish when I left there were people swarming alllll over the place. TIP: Go to places early :-)
So then I walked around the Roman Forum, this is where a lot of the ruined ruins are. Lots of arches and pantheon type remains also. It just blows me away to think what it could look like if it were all still the same from Roman times. Spent 2 hours walking around, got way too hot in the sun. The rememdy? More walking of course!!!
Crossed the river Tiber into Traveste, the old quaint looking area of Rome, and there I had myself another gelato. This time it was KIWI!!! Mmmm, the kiwifruit tasted good. I can't believe how good gelato is, its crazy. We've never really had it in Hamilton have we, and the one place we did have (by the central library) closed ages ago. Seriously good when hot and hungry.
Didn't get lost, but didn't know where I was either, I was walking in the right direction to hit the metro at least :-) A quick journey back and a nice cold shower again.
Oh yeah, walked into a bank and changed my 50euro notes into smaller change - all done in 'perfect' Italian. I got the message accross anyway. Actually I've discovered that what ever is in my language guide book thing is pretty similar to spanish, so lately all i've been doing is speaking spanish in an italian way. don't knock it either, coz it works!!!
Tonight I'm going on a pub crawl - should be good - the hostel has a reputation because of it!
Ciao!
Oh yeah, the mercury hit 43 degrees today. Well not mercury, there is an electronic thermometer that is nearby the hostel displayed on a neon sign. Hence all the temperature updates :-)
Yesterday In Rome
Hey people! I've just posted a few photos. They are big so sorry for those with a slow connection.
Anyway. I had a FANTASTIC sleep. Well, with an eye mask and earplugs :-) I didn't want to be disturbed and I wasn't (apart from the heat, 2am = 28* & 5am = 28*). And look at the time - I'm up early! My first and last time I reckon. I want to get inside the colloseum today, and i went to bed early (9pm) so thats why I'm up early.
Last night as i got into bed and remembered one of the hosts telling us to remember to fold our blankets... but i only had my sheets that he'd given me. I thought about going to ask for them, but as you can see with the temperatures i just wrote about, there was absolutley no need. not even for a top sheet!
anyways, i gotta go now, breakfast is being served and i'm hungry & need to catch metro :-)
ciao!
Anyway. I had a FANTASTIC sleep. Well, with an eye mask and earplugs :-) I didn't want to be disturbed and I wasn't (apart from the heat, 2am = 28* & 5am = 28*). And look at the time - I'm up early! My first and last time I reckon. I want to get inside the colloseum today, and i went to bed early (9pm) so thats why I'm up early.
Last night as i got into bed and remembered one of the hosts telling us to remember to fold our blankets... but i only had my sheets that he'd given me. I thought about going to ask for them, but as you can see with the temperatures i just wrote about, there was absolutley no need. not even for a top sheet!
anyways, i gotta go now, breakfast is being served and i'm hungry & need to catch metro :-)
ciao!
Weather Update For Willoughby
The temperature is now 41 degrees, and its 1.30pm.
Blue skies all around, bright bright sun.
I´ve showered now and I feel MUCH better. And I´ve had more icecream :)
Blue skies all around, bright bright sun.
I´ve showered now and I feel MUCH better. And I´ve had more icecream :)
Hot N Sticky
Well. I'm starving. But I'm very very happy.
Ok, so, flight was good SYD/BKK, had two seats to sleep in so i foetal positioned myself. Flying into Bangkok was really really pretty, the streets looked like glowworm strands all lit up. flight BKK/FCO {Rome} was alright, the plane was full of spaniards back from thier holiday in Thailand. 90% of the passengers were spanish it was crazy. Flying over italy as the sun was rising was magnificent... until i realised that the sun wasn't rising it was trying to get its first rays thru the pollution which turned the sky dark red on the horizon.
took the train into rome, and walked around trying to find my street that the hostel was on .... all this at 8am while it was 27 degrees with my hiking pack and day pack weighing me down. and i still had pants on. at the moment its nearly 12, and its 36 degrees. thankfully found hostel, dumped bags but couldn't shower etc because checkin is at 1pm.
so far today i've walked A LONG WAY. i've drank nearly 2 litres of water so far, had a delicious strawberry gelato, and i'm talking mouthwatering delicious. maybe it was the heat, excitement and tiredness, but it tasted GOOOOOD.
so from via palestro i walked to the piazza venezia (don't know its history), then down to the colloseum!!! man that was great to see. as soon as it came into view i burst out in a grin (like you said i was doing cam). i also walked past the roman forum which was spectucular. this was just an aimless walk, i started out just walking in one direction not knowing what i'd find. i like doing it tlike that. makes it more interesting!!! didn't go on any tours, i'll save that for when they open at 9am coz there was a huge snaking line. then i took the metro back here to my hostel, and at the mo i'm just wasting time waiting for checkin. i have no idea how much this internet is costing me. the guy just told me to sit down. oh well.
mmmm, food. oh yeah, i like airplane food. it was good. and cam can you pass claire r a message - yes they do go up and down the isles really pushing the alcahol don't they!! didn't take any. and i feel better for it.
wow this heat is oppressive. ok, anyway, time for food.
i am having a WONDERFUL time so far. lol, apart from the near pickpocket experience. 10 mins into my walk i sat down to drink some water and 3 kids come up to me with a piece of cardboard. now i don't know if any of you know what that means, but it means you're about to get pickpocketed. they push the cardboard up onto your body which desensitises you to thier hands in your pockets (my pickpocketers were actually grabbing at my arms). thankfully i read :) said no no no forcefully and walked off before they pushed the cardboard up against me. ha. shook off all the arms too. NOTHING TAKEN MWAHAHAHAHAHAH. janine 1, kids 0.
oh yeah, first time crossing the road, looked the wrong way. BEEEEEEEEEEEP. soo many mopeds here. but in my defence italians are crazy drivers. maybe i'll take a few photos also of thier parking. they put renelles foodtown eppisode to shame.
anyway. internet is cheap here. 1euro for half an hour. its not too bad in my books anyway. free internet at the hostel thankfully tho (but because i can't check in etc i can't use it).
i don't think many of my posts will be this long. the only reason this one is i think is because i can't be bothered walking any further. seriously, in the past 40 hours i've had all of 6 hours sleep AND i walked for 2 hours today. and i'm hungry.
ok. time to go.
thanks for those who emailed me pre departure and while i've been here. its really really nice to read them.
ok. time to go.
ciao!!
Ok, so, flight was good SYD/BKK, had two seats to sleep in so i foetal positioned myself. Flying into Bangkok was really really pretty, the streets looked like glowworm strands all lit up. flight BKK/FCO {Rome} was alright, the plane was full of spaniards back from thier holiday in Thailand. 90% of the passengers were spanish it was crazy. Flying over italy as the sun was rising was magnificent... until i realised that the sun wasn't rising it was trying to get its first rays thru the pollution which turned the sky dark red on the horizon.
took the train into rome, and walked around trying to find my street that the hostel was on .... all this at 8am while it was 27 degrees with my hiking pack and day pack weighing me down. and i still had pants on. at the moment its nearly 12, and its 36 degrees. thankfully found hostel, dumped bags but couldn't shower etc because checkin is at 1pm.
so far today i've walked A LONG WAY. i've drank nearly 2 litres of water so far, had a delicious strawberry gelato, and i'm talking mouthwatering delicious. maybe it was the heat, excitement and tiredness, but it tasted GOOOOOD.
so from via palestro i walked to the piazza venezia (don't know its history), then down to the colloseum!!! man that was great to see. as soon as it came into view i burst out in a grin (like you said i was doing cam). i also walked past the roman forum which was spectucular. this was just an aimless walk, i started out just walking in one direction not knowing what i'd find. i like doing it tlike that. makes it more interesting!!! didn't go on any tours, i'll save that for when they open at 9am coz there was a huge snaking line. then i took the metro back here to my hostel, and at the mo i'm just wasting time waiting for checkin. i have no idea how much this internet is costing me. the guy just told me to sit down. oh well.
mmmm, food. oh yeah, i like airplane food. it was good. and cam can you pass claire r a message - yes they do go up and down the isles really pushing the alcahol don't they!! didn't take any. and i feel better for it.
wow this heat is oppressive. ok, anyway, time for food.
i am having a WONDERFUL time so far. lol, apart from the near pickpocket experience. 10 mins into my walk i sat down to drink some water and 3 kids come up to me with a piece of cardboard. now i don't know if any of you know what that means, but it means you're about to get pickpocketed. they push the cardboard up onto your body which desensitises you to thier hands in your pockets (my pickpocketers were actually grabbing at my arms). thankfully i read :) said no no no forcefully and walked off before they pushed the cardboard up against me. ha. shook off all the arms too. NOTHING TAKEN MWAHAHAHAHAHAH. janine 1, kids 0.
oh yeah, first time crossing the road, looked the wrong way. BEEEEEEEEEEEP. soo many mopeds here. but in my defence italians are crazy drivers. maybe i'll take a few photos also of thier parking. they put renelles foodtown eppisode to shame.
anyway. internet is cheap here. 1euro for half an hour. its not too bad in my books anyway. free internet at the hostel thankfully tho (but because i can't check in etc i can't use it).
i don't think many of my posts will be this long. the only reason this one is i think is because i can't be bothered walking any further. seriously, in the past 40 hours i've had all of 6 hours sleep AND i walked for 2 hours today. and i'm hungry.
ok. time to go.
thanks for those who emailed me pre departure and while i've been here. its really really nice to read them.
ok. time to go.
ciao!!
A Quick Overview
Ok, I realise that apart from the USAC link on the right, many of you won't know what I'm actually going to be doing. So here it is.
On the 27th of July I fly out via Bangkok (2hr stopover) to Rome, where I'll spend 4 days soaking up my liver and the sights, if I can go outside of my air conditioned hostel that is (Rome= current heatwave). I then fly to Madrid (capital of Spain) where I'll spend 6 days drinking and sleeping and squeezing in the sights. Then onto Toledo (the ancient capital) where I'll sleep in a castle! After a few days I'll travel to Cuenca, then a few days in Valencia (going to host the 2007 Americas Cup). Then I travel up the Mediterranean coast to Morella which has some nice Roman ruins, then down to party central in Gandia where I'll be lying on the beach and drinking!!! Back up to Valencia for a few days, and then comes the highlight of my trip on the 31st of August --> The Tomato Festival!!! Stoked!! (For those that don't know, this is the tomato throwing fiasco that hits the small town of Bunyol every year). Then I'm up to Madrid to catch a bus to Bilbao (Northern Spain, the heart of Basque Country) where I'll begin my finance and economics studies. I'm flatting for the first semester, then being home stayed for the second semester. I'm not sure what I'm doing after my course, but I hope to visit my boyfriend Cam in the UK.
Well. Thats got me all excited now! 2 weeks!
On the 27th of July I fly out via Bangkok (2hr stopover) to Rome, where I'll spend 4 days soaking up my liver and the sights, if I can go outside of my air conditioned hostel that is (Rome= current heatwave). I then fly to Madrid (capital of Spain) where I'll spend 6 days drinking and sleeping and squeezing in the sights. Then onto Toledo (the ancient capital) where I'll sleep in a castle! After a few days I'll travel to Cuenca, then a few days in Valencia (going to host the 2007 Americas Cup). Then I travel up the Mediterranean coast to Morella which has some nice Roman ruins, then down to party central in Gandia where I'll be lying on the beach and drinking!!! Back up to Valencia for a few days, and then comes the highlight of my trip on the 31st of August --> The Tomato Festival!!! Stoked!! (For those that don't know, this is the tomato throwing fiasco that hits the small town of Bunyol every year). Then I'm up to Madrid to catch a bus to Bilbao (Northern Spain, the heart of Basque Country) where I'll begin my finance and economics studies. I'm flatting for the first semester, then being home stayed for the second semester. I'm not sure what I'm doing after my course, but I hope to visit my boyfriend Cam in the UK.
Well. Thats got me all excited now! 2 weeks!
Getting Jitters
Well, 23 days to go.... so I look up the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, just to check any warnings about Spain.... and look what I get:
Possibility of further terrorist attacks. Exercise caution, maintain a high level of personal security awareness, particularly in tourist areas and if travelling on public transport.
Avoid demonstrations and large public gatherings, particularly in the Basque region. ETA, the Basque terrorist group, has threatened to attack the Spanish tourist industry in 2005.
Guess where I'm going!!! Basque region!!! Yes of course I knew about the ETA etc when I applied, but I figure that they're not going to bomb thier own territory.
Here's to hoping anyway....
Possibility of further terrorist attacks. Exercise caution, maintain a high level of personal security awareness, particularly in tourist areas and if travelling on public transport.
Avoid demonstrations and large public gatherings, particularly in the Basque region. ETA, the Basque terrorist group, has threatened to attack the Spanish tourist industry in 2005.
Guess where I'm going!!! Basque region!!! Yes of course I knew about the ETA etc when I applied, but I figure that they're not going to bomb thier own territory.
Here's to hoping anyway....
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