Florence

May 18-22, 2009

Gladys and I left Rome on a train bound for Florence, while Yuanting and Kenny had arrived in San Francisco. We were really impressed with our hostel. Owned by brothers Vito and Carlo, Casa Dolce Casa was well kept, comfy and in a good location.

In parts of Florence, you still get a sense of the olden days with cobble stone streets and stone architecture. One wouldn’t use modern to describe the city, but rather antiquated yet charming. We took it easy that evening. We had roasted potatoes (cut like fries but fresh and lightly fried with olive oil) and linguine with calamari for dinner and strolled around the small town center.

The next day, without really having an idea of what we wanted to see, we again walked where our feet would take us. First, we went to check out the bus schedule to The Mall, a factory outlet about an hour away. That done, we walked in the central area, passing the cathedral, also known as the Duomo.

The queue to get in was long and the Italian summer was proving to be quite a test of our endurance. Along the way we were tempted by gelaterias. We gave up trying to get into the cathedral. We also found our way to the shopping district where Gladys wanted to go check out some bags. And we didn’t stay out in the heat too long. Eventually we called it a day and stayed indoors watching TV.

The Mall

So we took an hour long bus ride to the Tuscan countryside to get to The Mall, a factory outlet shopping center. Gladys’ colleagues had recommended the place to her and we were going to check out what we could find.

In the end, I actually bought more things than Gladys because she was fussy. And I know a good deal when I see one. Bought leather shoes and a wallet. Eventually, Gladys decided to buy her handbag from the boutique in Florence.

Brands represented at The Mall

Florence

Back in Florence, we had plans to visit the Uffizi. But another long queue for it really dampened my spirit. It was way too warm, the summer, and yet another museum/gallery wasn’t what I wanted to view. Watching TV online was way too tempting. Instead, we walked with less of an aim, looking at more sights around town. The list of sights we had drafted on the first day was quickly ignored.

Florence's central piazza, while I was having gelato

Replica of David by Michelangelo

Vespa galore

River Arno

Ponte Vecchio

The day before, we had dinner at a German pub and I managed to satisfy my cravings for chicken wings. Always trust a pub for great fare to accompany their beer! For our final meal in Florence, we settled for Italian, which was amazing as well.

Bread, asparagus with butter and cheese, pasta with porcini mushrooms and red wine from Chianti.

So long, Florence!

Rome part two

May 13-18, 2009

Yuanting and Kenny were flying off that afternoon to California, while Gladys and I were staying two more nights before heading to Florence the next day. We switched hostels for the remaining nights and it was a pretty good one this time. Met some Singaporeans who were just checking out.

Soon after, we were at Roma Termini where I spotted Alicia first, then Alvina. What a small world! And such a coincidence bumping into them at the same place at the same time. They were traveling in a group of four girls, all of them schoolmates of mine from communications. And they were going to meet up with Dylan and gang in Germany.

Bumped into SCI schoolmates at Roma Termini!

Fontana di Trevi

We took the metro towards the Trevi Fountain. It was a pretty warm day and while walking there, we stopped for some souvenir shopping along the way. First shop we stopped at was a limoncello store (limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur) and also tried the coffee liqueur there. There were tacky souvenirs too, of the David statue, Roman sculptures, etc.

Limoncello from all over Italy

Fontana di Trevi

Eventually we got to the Trevi Fountain. It was way too crowded. Everyone was jostling each other. People were trying to get to the edge of the fountain so they could toss a coin or splash themselves. The story goes that if you throw a coin into the fountain, you’ll be back in Rome one day. The things people believe. Anyway it is estimated that the fountain collects 3,000 euros (in coins) per day.

It was really warm out there though so we sought shelter for a bit inside a nearby cathedral. We decided to walk towards Piazza Navona and catch some of the street sights along the way, passing the Pantheon though we didn’t go in.

The Pantheon

Piazza Navona

So we had read somewhere that this particular plaza (square, or piazza in Italian) was a must-see because it was atmospheric and charming. It was quite big and filled with Italian cafes along the inside perimeter. In the center of the square there is an obelisk and a fountain, flanked by artists and caricature artists.

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona

Viagra ice-cream, anyone?

That evening, we met Gladys’ friend and his family for dinner. Before that though, he kindly brought us up one of Rome’s hills for an aerial view of the city. Dinner was pizza at an Italian restaurant in the suburbs, followed by ice-cream, which was a nice end to the day.

Pretty cloudy when we went up in the evening

From up there you can kind of make out the newer parts from the older parts of Rome

Piazza Navona, again

The next day, Gladys and I went back to Piazza Navona for a lazy day. We spent it sitting at a street-side cafe, taking in the sounds while reading. I speak for myself when I said the past week and a half in London, Paris and Rome had been tiring because we were rushing from sight to sight. Each day was packed with things to do so we took that day and a few others in Florence to relax and recharge.

Gladys at Piazza Navona

I like this structure but I forgot its name. Fiori something I think.

Colosseo by night

We strolled to the Colosseo district where we had been a few days earlier for me to take some evening shots. Dusk didn’t arrive till after dinner, which we, or rather I, had at a pizzeria. Gladys decided to return to the hostel, while I stayed out for the photos.

Up next: Florence

Rome part one

May 13-18, 2009

So Rome was a challenge for us because neither one of us four had been to Rome, or Italy for that matter. But being in a new place is always exciting once you get past the strange unfamiliarity and psyche yourself up for a new experience, and language.

We had a booking for this place called RetRome. We soon found out that it wasn’t really a hostel as much as a room in an apartment. And there wasn’t a reception and there wasn’t anyone around, so we had to wait outside till the guy arrived. But he was real funny and helpful, giving us lots of tips about Rome. The hostel was pretty decent, the decor was kind of retro, though the bathroom was kind of a problem. Imagine eight people sharing just one bathroom, and apparently the shower drainage got clogged up!

Vatican City

Our first day saw us heading to the Vatican City. The crowds were out in full force and we were queuing up for a bit. In fact, the queue was mostly for a security check, after which the entry was pretty fast. I walked around the square snapping some pictures before we headed into the St Peter’s Cathedral. The basilica was huge and we didn’t really know which entrance led to what. I remember at this point, I called my dad to talk about being in the Holy See. Mostly because I knew I was here as a tourist, and not a devotee. I had to be able to differentiate between what I was seeing and admiring as opposed to what I was believing in, I guess. As a Protestant, I wanted to be very clear of what I took in visually and mentally. And I didn’t want to be taking photos of what I don’t believe in, i.e. images of saints, Mary or Joseph and even Jesus, the crucifix with Jesus still on it and the popes. So I had to remind myself that I was here just to take in the secular architecture and images that were in line with Protestant teachings.

Cute uniform

Swiss guards

St Peter's Square

We headed to the Vatican museums thereafter. But I think Gladys and I both agreed that the Vatican City turned out to be less spectacular than we had first imagined. I guess it’s over hyped in the sense that everyone talks about it as a major attraction when you visit Rome but at the end of the day, what were we there for? Yes, I can say I have visited it but it wasn’t memorable and certainly didn’t leave much of an impression on me. What stood out though was the nice octagonal courtyard and Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel.

View of Ancient Rome

Octagonal Court

Sistine Chapel murals

Piazza del Popolo and Spanish Steps

After we left the Vatican City, we headed towards the Spanish Steps. Along the way, we passed a few monuments. And also saw streets lined with Vespas (what is Italy without them, right?) The narrow cobbled stone streets and colorful shop houses lent an air of Italian charm to our walk.

Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo

The ladies did a bit of window shopping, mulling over Italian-brand handbags. The fascination, I’ll never fathom. We hung around the area for a while, people-watching at the Spanish Steps. Also stopped for a drink at Macs and it turned out Kenny was the one who bought an Italian leather wallet. A seriously good buy though. Lesson learned: Always buy local products, never buy imports.

I guess this adds to the Spanish flavor of the steps

The Spanish Steps

Ancient Rome

We took the metro to the Colosseo stop and got out with the the magnificent Colosseum in front of us. We kept that for later in the afternoon though because we wanted to escape the crowds and do Ancient Rome first. We stopped for a bit at the entrance to the Roman Forum to snap some pics before going in. I was the only one who rented the audio guide so as I listened, I repeated bits that I thought the other three would like to know.

Gladys and I before entering the Roman Forum

It looks a little nondescript maybe but imagining the scene from centuries gone by makes it more creative.

Gladys, Kenny and I

From a vantage point

The ruins were really a sight to behold. Just thinking about the civilization that used to live here lets your imagination run wild with all these ancient bricks, concrete columns and disheveled bits of ruins lying around. Gladiators, men in armor, chariots, Julius Caesar… There was a short drizzle so we stopped to have lunch that we had packed from the supermarket near our hostel. Saw a creepy leaking cave and had a few laughs before we continued up the hill towards the gardens and residences. We got a little tired of the ruins after a while so we decided to head for the Colosseum.

So once we got in, it was not as big as it looks from outside. There’s not much to explore because once you get into the arena, you pretty much see everything. And it looks nicer from the outside too. All in all, ancient Rome was fascinating to look at, only if you really enjoy history and can let your imagination wander. I don’t really enjoy history but I sure did envision the scenes in front of me, maybe a little too influenced by movies.

Not so nice from the inside and looks small too

Group pic inside the Colosseum

I guess the external view is more iconic because of the arches and the partial outer wall.