Big Cities and Going Solo

After my warm up to Italy aka relax central (rancho relaxo) we moved onto Rome, Italy's capital. My awakening hit when we briefly visited my parents hotel first (mine last year) the Rome Hilton €500 a night, before dropping by Palace Alessandro (mine and ash's hostel). But to be honest I was glad to see a hostel & other young folk once again and held no qualms in sharing a bathroom with 7 others.

When in Rome (ha) do as the tourists do. I found myself once again visiting the Vatican, the Pantheon, Piazza Nuovona, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. There is something truely special in Rome in that every single part is as famous and recognisable as the next and all are very awe striking. My favourites still being eating Pizza on the Spanish Steps, onlooking Keats' house and admiring the VERY well dressed Italian men, and hearing the pounding of water rushing from the Trevi, while naturally the La Dolce Vita scene flicks through your mind. 

It's very busy, dirty, loud, dangerous, expensive and fantastic. Eating out is a risk, hoping you don't get conned (which we did one night, but still my mussel and cherry tomato linguine was delicious). Ash and I went out one night by the floating bars on the rivers edge, where we experienced €10 beers and €15 basic spirits. Needless to say, we and some other hostel folk talked our way into 3 bottles of Vino Bianco from a restaurant and wined outside the Vatican, impressively lit up at night. Don't say we're sacrilegious. 

After 3 nights I parted from my family and began my solo leg. To Naples, home of pizza and Mafia. Where I learnt that holding my keys in my knuckles is the only way to walk at night. An odd hostel with a very helpful/creepy owner but who pointed me in the right directions in my daily sights.

I discovered Naples has a underground city as it does hilltop castles with spectacular views. Next I went to Pompeii which was something else, and suprisingly massive. I was so glad I saw it and definitely one to tick off my list. So well preserved and scarily so with Mt Vesuvius looming giantly on the horizon.  After that I spent a day heading to the Amalfi coast stopping at Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Solerno. Such a glorious day, the most beautiful white and pastel towns built onto sheer cliffs and with the water a killer aqua. I learnt also that Italians don't swim, they go knee high in the water, wearing designer swim suits and chat. Or bake under the perfect rows of striped umbrellas. The water (Mediterranean) too is so salty, it must be impossible to drown. Salty nonetheless I swam out almost 80m, in  its true beauty. I think the Amafi coast is a must, the rugged /glamorous coast line with tunnels dug out of the mountain sides is such a great drive.

Once home, My friendly/creepy hostel owner helped me get a bus ticket to Bari, by taking me on his 300kg BMW motorbike through the streets of Naples by night. He showed me the sights and the famous harbour, palace and lookout. A thrill to be on his bike (my first time, and in a short dress mind you) but also a little weirded out. The mindset has to be 'just go with it'. 

Last day in Naples was a amazing fresh food and clothes market, which such things as alive snails and octopus, 2kg of peaches for €1 and fresh FRESH pizza. I departed for Bari to then board a MASSIVE ferry to Dubrovnik, Croatia Bound.

Ciao Italia, hopefully my coin in the Trevi worked again!

First Leg.

August 2.

Ciao, Comè Stai?

Come March 2010, after I had decided to  holiday quickly in Scotland, I rapidly discovered that what I had to learn and discover could not be completely uncovered in one months holiday. On my last day in Edinburgh and my flight home, I planned a semi-realistic dream with the help of a Italian backpacker and a Irish love seaker. Just short of 4 months later, I was again at a international airport, eager to see how long my notsostringent savings could take me. My life in Brisbane put on hold, with some sadness and a few gin filled evening goodbyes, but hopefully prepared enough to last 5 months.

First leg.

An early flight out of Brisbane to Sydney after a quick dash to Nudgee beach to ignite some memories, then begun my long haul flight to Milan. From here I was slightly nervous to embark on another 5 hour train journey to Umbria, due to my tired self wanting sleep and fearing I would miss my stop. After last years experience of Italrain (stuck on a broken down train for 8 hours), I was also sceptic, however it went pretty smoothly except accidently getting a SUPER expensive high speed train to Florence. The slow rickety one to Perugia with big open windows I suppose made up for my European train dream. Italian trains still have toilets that open up onto the tracks and conductors that come passed and punch your tickets.

Greeted by my dad who is also in Italy with my sister, mum and Grandpa, I began my holiday in the Italian apartment in the Umbrian country side in the small town of Ripalvella. A week and a half here sorrounded by olive groves and grape vines, and fields upon fields of sunflowers, I have been relaxing by the pool in the 30+ heat. The apartment is also sorrounded by others occupied with Danish, Dutch, Italian, American and Irish families & couples.

Days here have been a mix of visiting other Umbrian and Tuscan hiltop towns including Monte Castello Di Vibio, Perugia, Siena, Spoleto, Orvieto and Florence. Each town having it's own uniqueness like Spoleto for its ampitheatre and aquaduct, Orvieto being home to Pincochio and begining every street with a mounted wild boar head. Siena is all one burnt tuscan orange colour, and Florence for leather, Ponte Vichio, the Duomo and David.

I am finding travelling weird in that sometimes it doesn't take a lot to make you forget home and adore the excitement. But also homesickness can overwhelm you and you start to make silly comparisons to the Duomo in Florence being as great as a picnic in New Farm Park. Most of this week I have been slightly sadened by the thoughts of Brisbane, however I'm not allowed to come home until I've seen all of what I wanted to see and what I can afford.

Taking advantage of my dad, we've been eating very Italian with pasta, pizza, risotto (I made!) chingiale, salami, roasted vegetables and gelati. Not to mention the bottles of Chianti and Montechino's and European beer, all being very cheap local prices as we're in the country.

A day and a half left of Leisure in Ripavella until we head to Rome for 4 days and where I prevail and start my solo jaunt. Think of me riding and speeding in a fast EU car, avoiding Italian drivers and eating anti pasti until I update next!
Ciao