Alright, so it has been a while since I last posted, so I'm going to do a super post for all of Italy for my adoring readers. I'm currently in an internet cafe in Milan, and am hungry for cheap pizza. But, first, a post.
ROME
What to say about Rome? We spent 4 days there, and it can pretty much be describe with any adjective that comes to mind. It was loud, exciting, dirty, hot, ancient, disorganized, and overall a lot of fun. We saw all of the basics, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum. After my rather powerful feminist upchuck reflex eventually subsided, I actually enjoyed the Vatican as well.
Two things I loved about Rome were the huge numbers of motorized scooters, and of course, the Gelati. The Roman streets are covered, in a very literal sense, in every type of scooter you can imagine. From brand new classically red Vespas to beat up, taped together who-knows-what, every Italian had one and knew how to aggressively veer past the poor souls who were in cars. I loved, and plan to get one as soon as I get back to DC when I can afford one, so future apartmentmates beware.
This brings me to gelati (this, as I learned, is plural for gelato). This delicious Italian treat was served at every single street corner in Rome and Venice in "Gelatirias". We ate several scoops after every single meal, and it was epic. My favorite flavor (after sampling about a dozen) is pineapple and lemon, although not together.
VENICE
This city delighted me. While Rome is ancient and full of interesting things to do, Venice held the charm and vibe that I expected from an Italian city. It is easily the most humid place I have every been to, and I don't think I'll ever dry off. This humidity combined with age means that the paint is peeling from every building and gives off a lazy feeling from the buildings and streets themselves. The canals stank, but we bought a day pass for the city water bus system and spent much time enjoying the cool breeze as we puttered through the city. There are no cars in Venice, which I didn't realize for a long time and kept on wondering why I felt so peaceful. We used the water busses to boat to two islands off of Venice, Murano and Burano, famous for glass blowing and lace, respectively. These islands were Italian Fire Islands, honestly.
Our lodging was in the country about 30 minutes outside of the city. It was a little creepy, being in the middle of a corn field and all, but our place to stay was actually a little cottage which was very charming and private and... attached to a pizzaria with the best pizza I've had in Italy and a cat named Amore. Sweet.
MILAN
In an unexpected side tour, I am now in Milan before jetting off to Prague tomorrow afternoon. We have about 24 hours here, and we are taking it easy before the last leg of the trip (Prague, Berlin, and Amsterdam). The Last Supper is here, but you have to book a ticket about three months in advance to see it, so we are just soaking up the vibe and relaxing. It is a very Italian city, not nearly as touristy as Rome or even Venice. Our English is only getting us so far here! I will be very relieved when I get to Germany and can finally speak the language of the culture I am visiting. And I'm super excited to see Eastern Europe!
Overall, we are becoming experts in navigating train stations and metro stations in foreign cities and finding reasonably cheap food on a very expensive Euro. Our sign language for "how much is the Coke?" and "where the heck am I?" is improving as well. It's an empowering experience, dealing with problems independently and traveling in a way that doesn't break the bank or offend the people we are visiting. This trip is great preparation for Africa, and it only makes me more excited for the next several months! I miss you all though, so e-mails would be greatly appreciated!
At the end of this trip, I will be taking a side trip with Andrew for a few days before heading off the Africa. Any suggestions as to where to go? Your options are: any town in Germany, Belgium, or northern France. Go.
Oh, and happy birthday Dad!
7 years ago
6 comments:
This sounds like so much fun... How are my vac-sealed sauces comming?
Gelati, indeed. Should be "cost-a-lot-i," eh? Eh? Oh, wait a minute - you're not getting imported gelato, in a Las Vegas casino. Understood - carry on!
Is Amore the Great Cat of Milan? You should ask.
For your intermediate trip with Andrew, I suggest Cologne (Koeln), where you should visit the signature Gothic cathedral, and Munich, where you should visit a violin shop or two.
On to Prague!
hey lady! i miss you and am jealous that you are in europe while i am still trying to figure out how to pack...
how'd you plan your trip so nicely? i shall be contacting you in search of info and to get the name of your slightly creepy place outside venice. hahah
<3
i'm so jealoussssss.
they inexplicably have a lot of gelato in australia. go figure.
i vote for france because it is a romantic country.
miss you
<3roommate
i'm glad you're having such a great time :) keep it up. stay safe. enjoy the trains. etc.
sadly, i know nothing about europe and can't give you any suggestions. but you'll probably have to give me travel advice when i finally save up enough to go there myself. so... keep your eyes peeled. haha.
So glad to hear your adventures have been all of those amazing adjectives you've been using! I'm having a great time mentally reliving my own travels by reading your blog and am envious of your being there now!
Did you get to wear masks in Venice? :-)
Of those options, I'd suggest Belgium, though it definitely depends on the kind vibe you two are looking for on this last leg. Bruges is definitely that quintessentially quaint European town - this old, cozy, peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of many of the cities you've visited. They have canals and swans and amazing old architecture and waffles and horse-drawn carriages and brick plazas and chocolate and lace shops galore, plus these awesome bell towers you can climb, allowing you to see for miles through the mist. The towers even have all these arrows pointing towards the major cities of Europe along with the distance to them - might be a neat way to reflect on your previous travels.
If you're looking for a more modern, urban city, you should probably stick with Germany (plus your language skills will be more helpful there!)
Have fun!!
kristen
OH!!! Thank you and Bethany so much for the picture frame! I keep meaning to send an email about it. I was so touched by it - thank you for being so thoughtful.
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