Short posting as its now 1am. We got to the Hostel Giovannis Home. We couldnt find the place, it was raining, and didnt get the proper email from Giovanni as it was in my spam box. It wasnt fun, especially when it is a place known for crime. Mafia, pick pocketers....ahhhhh, why are we here! But im here, safe and it seems to be a great place. Very home oriented. We got a 2 hour history lesson and an overview of what we should and shouldnt do while we are here. So much info at a late hour. It was already a long day with lots of excitment that i want to share, but its late so you will have to wait until another day. Here are some bullet points.
1. Getting on a moving train in Siena
2. Another train experinece, but glad it wasnt a fine!
3. I hate misquitos
4. Without a map, hope we can find our way in Siena
5. Naples, how bad is this place!
6. Will our schedule change again!
View on Life
A beginning of a new journey
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Jan and I, on a September Morning
This is one of the 2 mornings we spent outside for breakfast. It was still cold, but the sun was quite warm for us to be able to be outside. Look at this Canadian girl, no socks or sweats...and the German hunk, all bundled up to keep warm. What a wonderful picture. Our mornings were great. Lots of laughs making breakfast and lots of talks about everything.
Thanks Jan for a great time in Germany to start off my trip. I cant wait to learn more German to impress your mom. I know she is already impressed, but perhaps i can have a conversation with her in the near future about everything and anything. Thanks for being my tour guide in your home town. Miss you lots.
Beer and Internet!!! IRONIC
I just had to add that we have gone to the same internet place twice in Florence and I had a beer with the internet. I hope I dont get a beer belly. Yikes. Why is is to hot!!! Its great! Im loving the heat. Germany is cold...but its also cold in the morning, but not for long. Im heading SOUTH!! Whoohoo.
Gladiator took my money!!!
A story in Rome to be told.
We are such tourist when a few actors pull you in for pictures. Thats what happened to us in Rome.
When we were siteseeing the Colosseum, we got pulled over to take pictures with these 2 gladiators. We laughed and walked off. Unfortuanlety, they followed us and made us laugh even more. We then gave in and took pictures with them. They made us to different actions right in front of the Colosseum. yes, it was fun, until they told us to pay the 10 Euros each. WHAT!!! What did we get ourselves into. Yes we had so much fun doing it, but didnt expect to pay 10 euros each. What a rip off. We thought it was by dontation. Well, we had fun as we gave the 10 euros and gave them each a kiss goodbye. They so wanted to come with us, but nope, we werent going back. Pictures will be posted, so watch out for them. You will get a kick out of this one. It better be worth 10 Euros.
We are such tourist when a few actors pull you in for pictures. Thats what happened to us in Rome.
When we were siteseeing the Colosseum, we got pulled over to take pictures with these 2 gladiators. We laughed and walked off. Unfortuanlety, they followed us and made us laugh even more. We then gave in and took pictures with them. They made us to different actions right in front of the Colosseum. yes, it was fun, until they told us to pay the 10 Euros each. WHAT!!! What did we get ourselves into. Yes we had so much fun doing it, but didnt expect to pay 10 euros each. What a rip off. We thought it was by dontation. Well, we had fun as we gave the 10 euros and gave them each a kiss goodbye. They so wanted to come with us, but nope, we werent going back. Pictures will be posted, so watch out for them. You will get a kick out of this one. It better be worth 10 Euros.
Grouse Grind X 2
Alright you hikers out there. If you want to do an amazing hike, you got to go to Italy and do the Cinque Terre. Tanya and I didnt even do the whole thing. We did do the harest part which would be considered as doing the grouse grind twice. My calves are burning. We had to get up so early to catch the train. Whoohoo...no fines today. We better write in the date for tomorrow, today.
The little towns inbetween the hikes are amazing. Its so beautiful that it takes your breathe away. The view is amazing as well. Dont worry, pictures to come. Its expensive for internet time...remember.
Im cutting down the cost of food, but not for our next destinations. Tanya says Naples is the place for Pizza. Good pizza that is. Ive been having bread, cheese, salami for lunch and dinner. Breakfast, i do have some fruit. The day we went to the market to get figs were the best. Yum, i love figs, especially when they are fresh. Whoohooo.
Siena and Naples here we come.
The little towns inbetween the hikes are amazing. Its so beautiful that it takes your breathe away. The view is amazing as well. Dont worry, pictures to come. Its expensive for internet time...remember.
Im cutting down the cost of food, but not for our next destinations. Tanya says Naples is the place for Pizza. Good pizza that is. Ive been having bread, cheese, salami for lunch and dinner. Breakfast, i do have some fruit. The day we went to the market to get figs were the best. Yum, i love figs, especially when they are fresh. Whoohooo.
Siena and Naples here we come.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
100 EUROS LATER!!!! NO MORE FOOD ALLOWANCE! IM GOING TO STARVE!!!
Alright,
im finally safe and dont have to sleep at a train station.
so, instead of going to florence like we planned, we heading to milan instead. what the heck did we go on the wrong train? the conductor just said to get on. why dont they check more throughly. so we got to milan...aka. simliar to NY and everything was booked. i tried to get on the last train back to florence but was too late. it then took 2 hours to try to find a hotel. in the end, we stayed at the train station. we got woken up by police to check out ticket at 1am and then got woken up again at 4am for us to get up. what a drag. no sleep, so tired and when we got to florence today, we couldnt check it because it was to early. we then took advantage of the market and walked around town before taking a power nap at 3. then off into town again to check it some more brand name shopping. im not into fashion as much. i like the markets...so much to see. i would like a leather jacket, purse, boots, wallet... but do i really need it? it would be nice to buy a mask, those beautiful italian mask. its so pretty. should i or shouldnt i??? Any feedback? Im here for a few days.
So tomorrow, im heading on a wine tour. i get to make my own wine. whooohooo....and pick the grapes too. i cant wait. i just hope i dont buy too much wine. i still have to carry it with me.
Siteseeing is quite tiring. especially when you only have two legs...so much walking. my legs feel like jello....but whats worth it is when you get to sit and eat, and eat, and eat!!!!
All this food. bread, cheese, meat!!! What more can you ask for!! I do need my fruits and veggies and its cheap here. i got a bag full of fruit for 3 euros. what a deal. but since i spent 100 euros on being fined, then spending 3 euros on fruit isnt that bad.
So, you must be wondering how i can get fined 100 euros.
1. we did not get our eurorail stampped. we thought the conductor does it for us.
2. we did not realize that the train was going to milan. we thought there was a stop.
3. we did not buy the right ticket. it was for 1st class
4. since we did go to milan, we had to go back to florence. we spent 3 euros for the seat booking, thinking that we didnt need to write in the date...FINED again.
So, total fine is 50 euros to Milan and 50E euros to Florence.
This vacation is costing way more than expected. This weeks food allowance has gone down the drain. No more geleto for me. I dont have the funds....anyone want to sponsor me??? hahahah. jk.
None the less, this has been a great experience to learn it the hard way. i know my sister did all the planning last time we traveled. i wish i learned more when i traveled with her. not knowing the language isnt fun.
Italian is very different than German. I was just getting the hang of German and now a new langauge....perhaps i,ll just go back to Germany.
Alright, i think thats enough for now.
More stories to come with pictures. not fun paying for internet....why didnt i bring my laptop??? BECAUSE ITS TOO HEAVY!!! HAHAHAHA
im finally safe and dont have to sleep at a train station.
so, instead of going to florence like we planned, we heading to milan instead. what the heck did we go on the wrong train? the conductor just said to get on. why dont they check more throughly. so we got to milan...aka. simliar to NY and everything was booked. i tried to get on the last train back to florence but was too late. it then took 2 hours to try to find a hotel. in the end, we stayed at the train station. we got woken up by police to check out ticket at 1am and then got woken up again at 4am for us to get up. what a drag. no sleep, so tired and when we got to florence today, we couldnt check it because it was to early. we then took advantage of the market and walked around town before taking a power nap at 3. then off into town again to check it some more brand name shopping. im not into fashion as much. i like the markets...so much to see. i would like a leather jacket, purse, boots, wallet... but do i really need it? it would be nice to buy a mask, those beautiful italian mask. its so pretty. should i or shouldnt i??? Any feedback? Im here for a few days.
So tomorrow, im heading on a wine tour. i get to make my own wine. whooohooo....and pick the grapes too. i cant wait. i just hope i dont buy too much wine. i still have to carry it with me.
Siteseeing is quite tiring. especially when you only have two legs...so much walking. my legs feel like jello....but whats worth it is when you get to sit and eat, and eat, and eat!!!!
All this food. bread, cheese, meat!!! What more can you ask for!! I do need my fruits and veggies and its cheap here. i got a bag full of fruit for 3 euros. what a deal. but since i spent 100 euros on being fined, then spending 3 euros on fruit isnt that bad.
So, you must be wondering how i can get fined 100 euros.
1. we did not get our eurorail stampped. we thought the conductor does it for us.
2. we did not realize that the train was going to milan. we thought there was a stop.
3. we did not buy the right ticket. it was for 1st class
4. since we did go to milan, we had to go back to florence. we spent 3 euros for the seat booking, thinking that we didnt need to write in the date...FINED again.
So, total fine is 50 euros to Milan and 50E euros to Florence.
This vacation is costing way more than expected. This weeks food allowance has gone down the drain. No more geleto for me. I dont have the funds....anyone want to sponsor me??? hahahah. jk.
None the less, this has been a great experience to learn it the hard way. i know my sister did all the planning last time we traveled. i wish i learned more when i traveled with her. not knowing the language isnt fun.
Italian is very different than German. I was just getting the hang of German and now a new langauge....perhaps i,ll just go back to Germany.
Alright, i think thats enough for now.
More stories to come with pictures. not fun paying for internet....why didnt i bring my laptop??? BECAUSE ITS TOO HEAVY!!! HAHAHAHA
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Im in ITALY
Good Morning,
It is hard to believe I am now in Italy. I have found my way to meet up with Tanya, my travel buddy for the next 2 weeks. I knew it would be fine, going from the airport to the hostel. I could not remember the last time time how it feels to be a tourist. No chinese people at all..well, not very many anyway. This always opens my eyes on how little I may know about my own culture as people wonder and ask questions.....i am Canadian, but Chinese too. hahha.
I am heading to Florence today and site seeing Rome...not sure how many pictures will be available for me to post as internet access can be expensive. ill post more when i get back to Germany.
It is hard to believe I am now in Italy. I have found my way to meet up with Tanya, my travel buddy for the next 2 weeks. I knew it would be fine, going from the airport to the hostel. I could not remember the last time time how it feels to be a tourist. No chinese people at all..well, not very many anyway. This always opens my eyes on how little I may know about my own culture as people wonder and ask questions.....i am Canadian, but Chinese too. hahha.
I am heading to Florence today and site seeing Rome...not sure how many pictures will be available for me to post as internet access can be expensive. ill post more when i get back to Germany.
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