Thursday, January 10, 2008
fly cheap means fly crazy
After an hour-long, bouncy boat ride leaving Venice, we arrived at the airport. I'm not sure if you are well acquainted with low cost airlines, but they basically promise to get you there, with no extra frills, for cheap. You have to pay for any checked baggage, and forget the free peanuts, but I really have no complaints. Faster than trains, anyway (can you even imagine going from Italy to the UK on a train? I love them, but not that much).
The seating is also all up for grabs, so picture this: a couple hundred or so people crowded around the gate, waiting for their boarding letter to be called, and having no desire to move for those who can board before them. From there, you get on a bus, which takes you to the train, and once those doors are open, it is a sprint.
I'm completely serious when I tell you that I saw business women in heels running to get the seat they want on that tiny plane. That made me feel like I needed to run (I wanted to fit in), even though I don't care where I sit. I got approving looks for my row 4 window seat though, so I guess I passed.
We're safe and sound in Oxford now - after an hour-long boat ride, two-hour plane ride, and two-hour bus ride (now just get me a horse, and my diverse transit means will be complete). We'll rest here for a few days with some friends from school, and then head back to Cambridge for the books and things.
Much love.
The seating is also all up for grabs, so picture this: a couple hundred or so people crowded around the gate, waiting for their boarding letter to be called, and having no desire to move for those who can board before them. From there, you get on a bus, which takes you to the train, and once those doors are open, it is a sprint.
I'm completely serious when I tell you that I saw business women in heels running to get the seat they want on that tiny plane. That made me feel like I needed to run (I wanted to fit in), even though I don't care where I sit. I got approving looks for my row 4 window seat though, so I guess I passed.
We're safe and sound in Oxford now - after an hour-long boat ride, two-hour plane ride, and two-hour bus ride (now just get me a horse, and my diverse transit means will be complete). We'll rest here for a few days with some friends from school, and then head back to Cambridge for the books and things.
Much love.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
last day in italy
This trip has been really enjoyable, and compared to the first leg of our Europe adventures - much more dry. In numbers:
8: the number of cities we visited (Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Florence, Sienna, Pisa, Venice, Verona)
15: the number of gelato cones I ate (strawberry "fragola" is my favorite, expresso "caffe" was my least)
10: approximately the number of pizzas I ate here
.50 = the cost in Euros of the cheapest Diet Coke I bought in this country
2.50 = the cost in Euros of the most expensive Diet Coke I bought in this country (hey, when you need it . . . )
0 = the number of coffees I had
25 = at least the number of espressos and cappuccinos John had
12 = number of nights we had in Italy
3 = number of nights we had in Italy where we had our own private bathroom (it's some sort of heaven to have to walk less than 5 feet to your own bathtub).
We were told not to spend more than two days in Venice, as while beautiful, it does gets dull, so we saved all of our sightseeing adventures for our only full day in the city. We started in Piazza San Marco (with the pigeons) and took the "secret itineraries" tour of the Doge's Palace (the head governmental building of the Venetian Republic) and learned how Casanova escaped (with the help of a priest, and a piece of iron). From there, we had paninis for lunch, some gelato, wandered the closing markets at Rialto, walked over to the suburb in Venice where people actually live (Santa Elena), and took a break at the hotel. We're off to have dinner at a wine bar, and then back here to pack up. We head to Oxford, UK tomorrow at 10:30, and after we spend a few days there with some friends from Jewell, it is back to the Cam for school. Boo. Traveling trumps studying, I believe.
Much love.
8: the number of cities we visited (Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Florence, Sienna, Pisa, Venice, Verona)
15: the number of gelato cones I ate (strawberry "fragola" is my favorite, expresso "caffe" was my least)
10: approximately the number of pizzas I ate here
.50 = the cost in Euros of the cheapest Diet Coke I bought in this country
2.50 = the cost in Euros of the most expensive Diet Coke I bought in this country (hey, when you need it . . . )
0 = the number of coffees I had
25 = at least the number of espressos and cappuccinos John had
12 = number of nights we had in Italy
3 = number of nights we had in Italy where we had our own private bathroom (it's some sort of heaven to have to walk less than 5 feet to your own bathtub).
We were told not to spend more than two days in Venice, as while beautiful, it does gets dull, so we saved all of our sightseeing adventures for our only full day in the city. We started in Piazza San Marco (with the pigeons) and took the "secret itineraries" tour of the Doge's Palace (the head governmental building of the Venetian Republic) and learned how Casanova escaped (with the help of a priest, and a piece of iron). From there, we had paninis for lunch, some gelato, wandered the closing markets at Rialto, walked over to the suburb in Venice where people actually live (Santa Elena), and took a break at the hotel. We're off to have dinner at a wine bar, and then back here to pack up. We head to Oxford, UK tomorrow at 10:30, and after we spend a few days there with some friends from Jewell, it is back to the Cam for school. Boo. Traveling trumps studying, I believe.
Much love.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
where for art thou . . . ?
We went to Verona today, where Romeo and Juliet are "from". You can walk down the street Capello ( = Capulet) and see Juliet's "house", although don't forget she's pretty fictional. I love tourist traps like this, but it was closed for renovation (the curse of the off season).
Otherwise, the city was beautiful and we had great weather. Love graffiti is big here - the walls of Juliet's house is covered in X heart X and love notes, and you can visit the "posso dell' amore" (well of love) where the young-and-in love buy a luggage lock, write their initials on it, and lock it onto this closed up well. We saw locks like these in Florence too, Rick Steves (our travel guide book friend) says its a revived fad.
We also went to a funky wine bar. I am my mother's daughter - at 3 pm I ordered a dessert wine (to the shame of John!). The owner gave me a weird look, but we also woke him up (at 3 pm) so his judgement is nil to me. :)
Tomorrow is our last day here in Italy - we're spending it all in Venice, and then we're back to the UK.
Photos are taking ages to upload, so you'll just have to wait a little longer.
Much love.
Otherwise, the city was beautiful and we had great weather. Love graffiti is big here - the walls of Juliet's house is covered in X heart X and love notes, and you can visit the "posso dell' amore" (well of love) where the young-and-in love buy a luggage lock, write their initials on it, and lock it onto this closed up well. We saw locks like these in Florence too, Rick Steves (our travel guide book friend) says its a revived fad.
We also went to a funky wine bar. I am my mother's daughter - at 3 pm I ordered a dessert wine (to the shame of John!). The owner gave me a weird look, but we also woke him up (at 3 pm) so his judgement is nil to me. :)
Tomorrow is our last day here in Italy - we're spending it all in Venice, and then we're back to the UK.
Photos are taking ages to upload, so you'll just have to wait a little longer.
Much love.
masks and canals
I love Venice.
We're in a hotel that is music themed, and we're in the Elvis room. Aren't you jealous?
The city is beautiful, and the breakfast was free. Awesome.
We're off to Verona today.
Much love.
We're in a hotel that is music themed, and we're in the Elvis room. Aren't you jealous?
The city is beautiful, and the breakfast was free. Awesome.
We're off to Verona today.
Much love.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Italy is for lovers . . . and other things
For your enjoyment - a poem composed by moi.
"How to Know You are in Italy: A Couplet"
The people are kissing on the street
But the toilets have no seats.
Yesterday, we traveled to Sienna (it's where the color "burnt Sienna" comes from - it's the exact color of their soil) and then headed to Pisa today. Sienna was beautiful and Pisa was very, very wet - we only saw the tower and high tailed it back to Florence.
I also bought myself an Italian leather purse ($$$ but oh so beautiful) and John got himself some snazzy shoes.
Tomorrow, we are off to Venice, where we'll do two day trips to Verona and Padua, then back to the UK.
I won't lie - I'm not ready to go back to school. Italy revived my love of travel - minus the thieves, it's a wonderful, wonderful country.
Miss you all!!!!!!!!
But the toilets have no seats.
Yesterday, we traveled to Sienna (it's where the color "burnt Sienna" comes from - it's the exact color of their soil) and then headed to Pisa today. Sienna was beautiful and Pisa was very, very wet - we only saw the tower and high tailed it back to Florence.
I also bought myself an Italian leather purse ($$$ but oh so beautiful) and John got himself some snazzy shoes.
Tomorrow, we are off to Venice, where we'll do two day trips to Verona and Padua, then back to the UK.
I won't lie - I'm not ready to go back to school. Italy revived my love of travel - minus the thieves, it's a wonderful, wonderful country.
Miss you all!!!!!!!!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Florence / Firenze!
We're safe in Florence - it was a great train ride. Italy is beautiful, even in January.
Florence is wonderful - a nice break from the craziness of Rome. We saw the David (it is HUGE) and walked around. Don't have much more time to say more, other than I miss everyone and love you all even more!
Florence is wonderful - a nice break from the craziness of Rome. We saw the David (it is HUGE) and walked around. Don't have much more time to say more, other than I miss everyone and love you all even more!
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