Monday, June 21, 2010
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Last Day Pt 1
It’s 7:40 am on Tuesday 21 October 2008. I’m up writing one of my last blogs from one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Let me put this out there: I don’t want to leave. I’m sitting here drinking my cuppa, a habit I picked up in the UK, listening to Barenaked Ladies, “If I Had $1,000,000” and writing my blog.
I’ve been in Roma for 2 weeks now and have completely fallen in love with this City. This city is very small, but completely beautiful and just so full of history that America just doesn’t have. Cliff and I have gone to almost all the ‘famous’ sites in this city. The day we went to Florence, we were so close to seeing Michelangelo’s David but didn’t get to see it due to time constraints. That is one of my major disappointments. My other disappointment is that I completely forgot to look to see where di Vinci’s Last Supper was. I wanted to see that so bad, especially with the history surrounding that masterpiece. This city or country rather, is beautiful. I mean, this is Roma Italia for crying out loud. So far, Cliff and I have visited the following places:
• Vatican
• St. Peter’s Basilica and Square
• Forum
• Colosseum
• Palatine Hill
• Santa Maria degil Angeil (beautiful church and site of some of the old ruins)
• Fontana di Trevi
• Spanish Steps
• Largo di Torre Argentina: Roman ruins and a pound
• Pantheon
Please keep in mind that these are just a few of the places that we visited. Like I keep saying, this place full of history. I could stay here for a zillion years and still not get to see everything here.
Like I said, Cliff and I have been here for the full 2 weeks. This has been 2 of the best weeks of my life. Cliff says he’s had a great time but he’s ready to get back to his couch, bed and connivances that he’s grown to love & expect. I, on the other hand, only really miss my water pressure and dryer.
This trip has been a trip of a lifetime. I realize that not many people get to make this trip before they’re older. Hell, Cliff’s parents are with us and this is her first time out of the country and she’s well into her 50’s. I’m 28 and I’ve already been to 2 countries which sucks. I’d like to have gone to at least 10 by the time I’m 30. I may have to hit Canada and some of the Caribbean Islands to get my 10. But I know this is a trip of a lifetime.
Someone at work told me that if I go to Italia, I’m going to come back a changed person. I believe that he’s right. I may not be a changed person in the sense that he’s talking about, but I think I’ve changed. After I get home, the first thing I’m going to do is buy cloth bags so I can use my own bags when I buy groceries, I’m going to cut down the portion sizes at the house, sodas are going to become non-existent in my house, and we’re going to do better at exercise. Since we’ve been here, Cliff and I have both lost weight. In one week, I’ve lost over 10 kilograms and Cliff has lost 2.5 belt notches. This was after we’d been here for a week. We’ve been eating lunch and supper and really healthy at that. This country makes me realize exactly how wasteful Americans really are. Like I told my friend Mel, the American motto is: “The Bigger The Better” and I truly believe that. I can’t go back to the American lifestyle. When I go to another country, I generally take something back with me. When we went to the UK, I picked up the language and a couple of habits: hot tea in the afternoon and with my meals. Here, I’ve picked up that we’re wasteful and I’m going to my best to rectify that in my own household. Enough for 8:15 in the morning. Must go shower and brush teeth.
Ciao
I’ve been in Roma for 2 weeks now and have completely fallen in love with this City. This city is very small, but completely beautiful and just so full of history that America just doesn’t have. Cliff and I have gone to almost all the ‘famous’ sites in this city. The day we went to Florence, we were so close to seeing Michelangelo’s David but didn’t get to see it due to time constraints. That is one of my major disappointments. My other disappointment is that I completely forgot to look to see where di Vinci’s Last Supper was. I wanted to see that so bad, especially with the history surrounding that masterpiece. This city or country rather, is beautiful. I mean, this is Roma Italia for crying out loud. So far, Cliff and I have visited the following places:
• Vatican
• St. Peter’s Basilica and Square
• Forum
• Colosseum
• Palatine Hill
• Santa Maria degil Angeil (beautiful church and site of some of the old ruins)
• Fontana di Trevi
• Spanish Steps
• Largo di Torre Argentina: Roman ruins and a pound
• Pantheon
Please keep in mind that these are just a few of the places that we visited. Like I keep saying, this place full of history. I could stay here for a zillion years and still not get to see everything here.
Like I said, Cliff and I have been here for the full 2 weeks. This has been 2 of the best weeks of my life. Cliff says he’s had a great time but he’s ready to get back to his couch, bed and connivances that he’s grown to love & expect. I, on the other hand, only really miss my water pressure and dryer.
This trip has been a trip of a lifetime. I realize that not many people get to make this trip before they’re older. Hell, Cliff’s parents are with us and this is her first time out of the country and she’s well into her 50’s. I’m 28 and I’ve already been to 2 countries which sucks. I’d like to have gone to at least 10 by the time I’m 30. I may have to hit Canada and some of the Caribbean Islands to get my 10. But I know this is a trip of a lifetime.
Someone at work told me that if I go to Italia, I’m going to come back a changed person. I believe that he’s right. I may not be a changed person in the sense that he’s talking about, but I think I’ve changed. After I get home, the first thing I’m going to do is buy cloth bags so I can use my own bags when I buy groceries, I’m going to cut down the portion sizes at the house, sodas are going to become non-existent in my house, and we’re going to do better at exercise. Since we’ve been here, Cliff and I have both lost weight. In one week, I’ve lost over 10 kilograms and Cliff has lost 2.5 belt notches. This was after we’d been here for a week. We’ve been eating lunch and supper and really healthy at that. This country makes me realize exactly how wasteful Americans really are. Like I told my friend Mel, the American motto is: “The Bigger The Better” and I truly believe that. I can’t go back to the American lifestyle. When I go to another country, I generally take something back with me. When we went to the UK, I picked up the language and a couple of habits: hot tea in the afternoon and with my meals. Here, I’ve picked up that we’re wasteful and I’m going to my best to rectify that in my own household. Enough for 8:15 in the morning. Must go shower and brush teeth.
Ciao
Fashion
Something I haven’t really blogged about is the fashion here in Roma. Fashion rules supreme here. You’ll see men in business suits and women in dresses and 6-inch heels. It’s crazy. Apparently the women favour skinny jeans, ankle length, with really high heels. It’s a fashion no-no. My friend Sue’s daughter would have a complete field day here. They also wear black shoes with brown clothing. Ugh. No! As an American, we’re really standing out. People here wear jeans like we do, but they’re way different. I haven’t seen any Levi’s here or anything like that. Another thing that makes us stand out is the trainers that we wear. Okay, sneakers or tennis shoes. You’ll see people wearing Pumas or Addidas but not Nike, New Balance or anything like what we wear. Well, you see Chucks but they’re chic right now. The trainers they wear here aren’t really even sneakers. They’re more of a dressy type shoe. I’ll have to get a picture. It’s odd. I’d love to live here but I couldn’t do the shoes. I’ve seen people walking down the Spanish Steps in stilettos.
Day 12
Today we took the Archeobus around town. It took us out to the ‘countryside’ of Rome. It was very pretty. We got to go see some of the catacombs and it was interesting but I’m so not going down into the catacombs. *shuddering at the thought* With the Archeobus, we got some of the history of the buildings. I didn’t realize it, but the military memorial in town was once the house of a pope. Something else that I’d completely forgotten about was Romulus and Remus. I can’t believe that I forgot about them, especially with me being from Rome GA and it being tied to Italy circa 1940s. The bus tour we took today was just really nice. I got to see the places that I normally wouldn’t have seen. I finally got to see my aqueduct. So, my trip is complete Tomorrow, we’re doing the last things on the map and packing to go home I don’t want to leave.
Tonight, we went to the Fontana di Trevi. It was light up, no water was flowing, but it was still gorgeous.
Tomorrow is our last day in Italia and I don’t want to leave. Italia is a beautiful country. It’s just so pretty.
Tonight, we went to the Fontana di Trevi. It was light up, no water was flowing, but it was still gorgeous.
Tomorrow is our last day in Italia and I don’t want to leave. Italia is a beautiful country. It’s just so pretty.
Day 10
Today we went to the Pantheon and a few other places. We also went by some ruins where a lot of stray cats lived. Oh they were so cute and I wanted to bring them all home with me. But can I really compete with living in Roman Ruins? Not really. I’m going to have to donate when I get back home and can get Internet Access again. We leave in 4 days and I’m not ready to go. I want to stay. But we actually had a great time today. We’ve decided not to go to Pompeii, which makes me sad, but instead, do an archeological tour of Rome and get some really nice, high quality pictures to blow up for pictures for the house. Tonight, we’re going to Fontana di Trevi and get pictures of it with all the lights and everything.
The Pantheon is now used as a church. Cliff and I were talking about the churches, or Basilicas here. They’re freaking huge, but the seating is minimal. If we both lived in Rome, we’d alternate churches on Sundays. Y’know, one Sunday at the Pantheon, one Sunday at St Peters, another Sunday at Santa Maria’s, etc.
Another place we went to visit was Largo di Torre Argentina. It’s the cat pound. I really wanted to adopt a kitty, but Cliff told me no. I actually got to pet one of the pound kitties and it was so sweet. The white cat that I’m petting was solid white and had eyes about the colour of my shirt. The other picture was where the cats lived. Seriously, how can I compete with that? Note that this one of the 6 pictures I volunteered to have taken. These cats are sterilized, vaccinated, fed and live solely on charity. This is actually a great cause and I do need to donate when I get home. I think that this is a great idea.
Apparently the Smurfs are huge here. I got a figure of the cat and found out that I can order more!!!!! Oh happy me. Oh happy me. We finished up our souvenir shopping today except for moi. I’ve gotten a Hard Rock t-shirt, shot glass and cat figure. I guess that’s enough for me, but I want that Hermes scarf. ^_^ I’m still trying to figure out what I can get the people from work but everything is so expensive, even the pens. I may just hit a small gift store and see about the pens. Most of them are 4 Euros each. I can’t pay 50 Euros for pens for people at work. I just can’t.
Went shopping for food, again and that’s an experience. They charge you for each plastic bag you get. It’s .05 Euros, but they still charge you. It really shows me how wasteful we really are. When I get back home, I’m going to start bringing my own bags to put my groceries in instead of the plastic bags.
The Pantheon is now used as a church. Cliff and I were talking about the churches, or Basilicas here. They’re freaking huge, but the seating is minimal. If we both lived in Rome, we’d alternate churches on Sundays. Y’know, one Sunday at the Pantheon, one Sunday at St Peters, another Sunday at Santa Maria’s, etc.
Another place we went to visit was Largo di Torre Argentina. It’s the cat pound. I really wanted to adopt a kitty, but Cliff told me no. I actually got to pet one of the pound kitties and it was so sweet. The white cat that I’m petting was solid white and had eyes about the colour of my shirt. The other picture was where the cats lived. Seriously, how can I compete with that? Note that this one of the 6 pictures I volunteered to have taken. These cats are sterilized, vaccinated, fed and live solely on charity. This is actually a great cause and I do need to donate when I get home. I think that this is a great idea.
Apparently the Smurfs are huge here. I got a figure of the cat and found out that I can order more!!!!! Oh happy me. Oh happy me. We finished up our souvenir shopping today except for moi. I’ve gotten a Hard Rock t-shirt, shot glass and cat figure. I guess that’s enough for me, but I want that Hermes scarf. ^_^ I’m still trying to figure out what I can get the people from work but everything is so expensive, even the pens. I may just hit a small gift store and see about the pens. Most of them are 4 Euros each. I can’t pay 50 Euros for pens for people at work. I just can’t.
Went shopping for food, again and that’s an experience. They charge you for each plastic bag you get. It’s .05 Euros, but they still charge you. It really shows me how wasteful we really are. When I get back home, I’m going to start bringing my own bags to put my groceries in instead of the plastic bags.
Day 8
Today we went to Firenze to meet Mel. Things got off to a bad start. We got off at the wrong Termini and had to get a taxi to get us to the right station. We were 40 minutes late and poor Mel was freaking just as bad as I was. Firenze is a beautiful, bellimesso, city. There is so much history there. We got to see Brunelleschi’s doors & ceiling. Gorgeous. We just walked around town and saw all the major things: artwork & statues. Then we took the bus back to her house where she made us lunch. Poor girl shouldn’t have gone to the trouble. We also met her friend Suzy. She’s a very lively girl who loves her American Television. If I knew our DVDs would work here, I’d send her several seasons of Angel. I think I made a friend when I said I liked Buffy. Some interesting things we learned at lunch: the mafia is still a huge problem here in Italia and is nothing like what is portrayed on television & movies; never eat meatballs in Germany; and finally, Mel’s friend really loves stupid American T.V. Apparently she loves “My Name is Earl” and freaked out when Cliff and I told her that we knew people like that. It wasn’t a bad freak out, but a freak out nonetheless. We’ve got 5 days left here and I don’t want to leave. The things I miss about America: dryers and water pressure. Oh, they have paid toilets here and that’s really odd. I’ve never seen one before. They’re like .5 Euros to use. Cliff told me if he had to pay for a toilet, it better have 5-ply toilet paper, the seat should be hot or cold to his specifications, and his back should be massaged while he’s sitting there. Lovely huh? Mel told me that she shouldn’t teach me to swear in Italian. Mean friend of mine isn’t she? I told her that I’d teach her to swear fluently in English. I thought it was a wonderful trade-off. Mel if you’re reading this, you know I’m just teasing you. Overall, we had the best time with Mel and her friend. Now that I’ve got her address, I’ve got so much to mail her. Her pocketbook was covered in pins so I’ve got to find some really cute pins to send. Hmm, I wonder if they have Netflix here in Italia. Enough for now. More later.
Ciao
Ciao
Day 7
Today we got up a little late, about 9:30, and just wandered around town. We went through the park, again, and found The Hard Rock Café. While we were wandering we got hungry so when we got closer to our apartment, we ate at this little café across the street. Oh the ravioli I had was excellent. It was spinach ricotta cheese ravioli. Also, I found out from the owner of this apartment that their tiramisu is pretty good. I’ve been here for a week and haven’t had any. I’m getting pretty mad. That is probably my favourite dessert. Tiramisu with espresso. Can we say exquisite? Okay, so we go to the clothing district. I even took pictures of places that I’ll never be able to afford. As we say, if you’ve got to ask the price, you can’t afford it. Right huh? So we see the windows of Gucci, Dior, Valentino, Hermes, etc. God, I want a Hermes scarf. I want one so freaking bad. Maybe for my own souvenir, I can get one. We’ve got about half of our shopping done for people. I’ve just got to get the Hard Rock shirts, and a couple of small things. Also, I’ve got to get some pens for the people at work. Nothing fancy, just something from here. I’m on the bed typing this and I’m about to fall asleep. It’s only 4:10 and we’ve done almost everything we can do. We’re headed to Florence in the morning to met Mel again and she’s going to show us around. I can’t wait to see her again. She’s such a sweetie. We also get to meet her dad, sister and cat. The one thing I hate here is the washing machines. They’re microscopic compared to what I’m used to. There are no dryers here either. So, we’ve been wearing line dried clothing. Fun huh? And just to be mean to Cliff, I haven’t been putting fabric softener in the washing machine. Mean huh? Line dried clothes don’t really bother me. I grew up wearing the things. I’m off to take another load out of the wash and put another in. I’ve done 2 loads every night for the past 3 nights. Pictures will be taken of this machine from hell.
Ciao!
Ciao!
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