Italy is a beautiful place to stroll around, hand in hand, or sit at a piazza with a slice of pizza and lengthy conversation, or simply drink coffee at a cafe while people watching.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Rome, Italy (Colosseum)
Day 15
Italy is a beautiful place to stroll around, hand in hand, or sit at a piazza with a slice of pizza and lengthy conversation, or simply drink coffee at a cafe while people watching.
The Colosseum is probably number one on anyone's Rome list, it certainly comes top on mine! We took a bus there, eventhough it wasn't far at all and the walk is dotted with current government buildings and ancient Roman ruins.
The Colosseum is masculine and magnificent. The sheer size and ingenuity is awe-inspiring.
The gladiatorial games were very popular up until the 5th century. Gladiators were usually prisoners of war, slaves and criminals condemned to the death sentence. The public loved a spectacular performance, with the Colosseum being the largest amphitheater seating 50,000. The animals were starved and kept under the wooden stage, so the blood of slain gladiators would drip down into their cage, causing these wild animals to be more aggressive and hunger for human blood. The blood of gladiators was also mopped up by sponges and became a profitable business, back then people believed drinking the blood of gladiators cured one of certain diseases. Besides death by being gnawed by animals, public executions like crucifixion and burnt alive were also held here.
What's that we found carved into ancient ruins? Gig 'em Ags.
One of the (if not the) greatest representation of Ancient Roman civilization, a product of their mastery of architecture and engineering. You will be humbled and awed by this magnificent structure.
Italy is a beautiful place to stroll around, hand in hand, or sit at a piazza with a slice of pizza and lengthy conversation, or simply drink coffee at a cafe while people watching.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Rome, Italy (Vatican City & Pantheon)
Day 15
Deciding where to start in Rome is difficult- you're beyond spoilt for choice! We settled on Vatican City, since it was slightly closer to our accommodation.
Look at the queue! There was no way we could make it in before closing to see the historic 16th chapel. Though this is an absolute must see for many Christians around the world who make Vatican City a pilgrimage, it wasn't too high on our priority list especially if queuing meant we would miss out on the rest of Rome!
St Peter's Basilica
Remember this from Angels & Demons?
A Vatican City guard. Don't you think he's a Tom Cruise look alike?
More of these delicious gelatos! They have every flavor you could possibly imagine and love! This one's coconut, mango and ferrero rocher.
Afif and I have a knack for stumbling upon treasures, or maybe Europe is just saturated with treasures that it would be impossible not to run into at least one (or multiple!) on a walk. At the end of a narrow street, loomed this legendary building:-
I'm embarrassed to admit, we didn't recognize it! We just thought "oh what a lovely ruin! I wonder what it is." It is, of course, the one and only Pantheon, with M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIUM·FECIT boldly etched across the front.
The Pantheon is very well preserved, considering it was built in 27BC by Marcus Agrippa and rebuilt in 126AD by Emperor Adrian. It has been used as a political gathering place as well as a temple and was later converted into a church, performing religious ceremonies to this day. There are various tombs in the building, including two Italian kings and the famous Renaissance painter Raphael.
Simple geometry and aesthetics yet never fails to wow architects and tourists alike.
Deciding where to start in Rome is difficult- you're beyond spoilt for choice! We settled on Vatican City, since it was slightly closer to our accommodation.
Look at the queue! There was no way we could make it in before closing to see the historic 16th chapel. Though this is an absolute must see for many Christians around the world who make Vatican City a pilgrimage, it wasn't too high on our priority list especially if queuing meant we would miss out on the rest of Rome!
St Peter's Basilica
The Pantheon is very well preserved, considering it was built in 27BC by Marcus Agrippa and rebuilt in 126AD by Emperor Adrian. It has been used as a political gathering place as well as a temple and was later converted into a church, performing religious ceremonies to this day. There are various tombs in the building, including two Italian kings and the famous Renaissance painter Raphael.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Rome, Italy (Trevi Fountain)
Day 14
Roma, Italia!
Morning power breakfast ready for our 4 hour train ride to Roma!
By the time we reached Rome it had been 14 days of traveling and exhaustion was starting to creep up on us. We turned the pace down a little (which basically just meant sleeping in without an alarm clock). Rome is huge, with many different districts, each with so much to offer. For the city that gave birth to civilization with history dating back centuries before Christ, two nights were by no means sufficient. But we decided to do the most popular sites, and the rest is good reason enough for a second visit :).
After getting terribly lost looking for our apartment, and attempting to ask directions from friendly locals who didn't speak a word of English, and we, of course, couldn't understand a word of Italian, a kind shop owner lent us his cellphone so we could call the apartment. The place we rented is quite lovely, it's a converted garden shed/garage with a full kitchen, separate bedroom and bathroom. After getting settled in, we headed for the center.
The best thing about summer is the incredibly long hours of daylight, sundown is literally around 10.30-11pm. This gives us ample sight seeing time. We were able to wander around a significant amount, letting ourselves get swept by the crowd (of tourists), until we stumbled upon this! So that's where everyone was headed..
The famed Trevi fountain! No, I didn't make a wish and throw a penny in but we did lazily sit there, marveling in its beauty as the day grew darker and the Trevi's lights turned on. Of course, we also took a multitude of photos.
Beautifully illuminated.
A lot of surrounding tourists ready to help us take a few couple shots =).
Roma, Italia!
By the time we reached Rome it had been 14 days of traveling and exhaustion was starting to creep up on us. We turned the pace down a little (which basically just meant sleeping in without an alarm clock). Rome is huge, with many different districts, each with so much to offer. For the city that gave birth to civilization with history dating back centuries before Christ, two nights were by no means sufficient. But we decided to do the most popular sites, and the rest is good reason enough for a second visit :).
After getting terribly lost looking for our apartment, and attempting to ask directions from friendly locals who didn't speak a word of English, and we, of course, couldn't understand a word of Italian, a kind shop owner lent us his cellphone so we could call the apartment. The place we rented is quite lovely, it's a converted garden shed/garage with a full kitchen, separate bedroom and bathroom. After getting settled in, we headed for the center.
The best thing about summer is the incredibly long hours of daylight, sundown is literally around 10.30-11pm. This gives us ample sight seeing time. We were able to wander around a significant amount, letting ourselves get swept by the crowd (of tourists), until we stumbled upon this! So that's where everyone was headed..
Beautifully illuminated.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Venice, Italy
Day 13
Ciao Italia!!
Ok, I realize it's been awhile, and the details are getting fuzzy (which is what I was afraid of!) but I'll do my best. Hey, vague is better than absent.
We had an overnight train from Zagreb to Venice that left at 9.30 pm and was supposed to reach Venice around 8am. What we didn't know was that the train from Zagreb was actually headed north to Austria so we had to switch at a platform in the middle of the night. Not only did we have to switch we also had to wait about 2 hours for the next train in a deserted train station. Then, to top it off, we missed our stop. We had to decide whether to stay on the train until it reached Salzburg and then travel back down (which would've taken AGES) or get off at the next horrifyingly deserted stop in the dark of the night and wait for the next train in an hour. We decided to stay safe and just go ahead to Salzburg but that would mean missing out on a lot of Venice. In a last minute change of mind, we jumped off the train at the next station.
And thank goodness we did. It was cold, and a little over 3 am. Our train wouldn't arrive until close to 5am so I waited outside with all our bags, while Afif looked around. He found out that our train was already there, just waiting to depart in two hours and that we can board it early. We got into our room and passed out! They even woke us up as we neared our destination with a breakfast tray :).
Venice!-City of Love
Venice truly lives up to her reputation and hype! Her old world glamor and charm captivates visitors. There's a seeming fusion of regality and bohemian chic. The narrow cobbled alleyways, rustic pastel buildings and plentiful canals will take you through Venice's own love story.
All sorts of pastas! The pastas are all home made and fresh so naturally Afif and I had to dive right in. We shared seafood pasta and a large pizza slice between the two of us.
Venice is a pedestrian city so cars and roads are substituted with boats and canals. Truly a marvel to witness such a large area car free!
These rides were ridiculously expensive- 80 euros per half hour!
We spent the evening at Piazza San Marco and decided to take a tour of the impressive Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
Bright ol me in front of Piazzo de Marco (St Mark's Square).
A final evening stroll through Venice as the sun sets and I am obsessed with these narrow canals and pastel building!
Ciao Italia!!
Ok, I realize it's been awhile, and the details are getting fuzzy (which is what I was afraid of!) but I'll do my best. Hey, vague is better than absent.
We had an overnight train from Zagreb to Venice that left at 9.30 pm and was supposed to reach Venice around 8am. What we didn't know was that the train from Zagreb was actually headed north to Austria so we had to switch at a platform in the middle of the night. Not only did we have to switch we also had to wait about 2 hours for the next train in a deserted train station. Then, to top it off, we missed our stop. We had to decide whether to stay on the train until it reached Salzburg and then travel back down (which would've taken AGES) or get off at the next horrifyingly deserted stop in the dark of the night and wait for the next train in an hour. We decided to stay safe and just go ahead to Salzburg but that would mean missing out on a lot of Venice. In a last minute change of mind, we jumped off the train at the next station.
And thank goodness we did. It was cold, and a little over 3 am. Our train wouldn't arrive until close to 5am so I waited outside with all our bags, while Afif looked around. He found out that our train was already there, just waiting to depart in two hours and that we can board it early. We got into our room and passed out! They even woke us up as we neared our destination with a breakfast tray :).
Venice!-City of Love
Venice truly lives up to her reputation and hype! Her old world glamor and charm captivates visitors. There's a seeming fusion of regality and bohemian chic. The narrow cobbled alleyways, rustic pastel buildings and plentiful canals will take you through Venice's own love story.
The Palazzo Ducale, or Doge’s Palace, was the seat of the government
of Venice for centuries. As well as being the home of the Doge (the
elected ruler of Venice) it was the venue for its law courts, its civil
administration and bureaucracy and the city jail. The building embodies the highest expression of the city's cultural, artistic, military, political and economic history. Much smaller than say Versailles but a labyrinth nonetheless. All the various stages of the Palace's past are represented here, in an
extraordinary accumulation of architectural and decorative features and we had a great time wandering its corridors and educating ourselves on Venice's sociopolitical status.
A final evening stroll through Venice as the sun sets and I am obsessed with these narrow canals and pastel building!
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