Remembering Rome

This Euro trip holds a lot of significance for me as it was my first non-work related solo trip. A few years back my 1st ever overseas trip though solo, was work related. I spent 7 months on the channel Islands courtesy of my employer. And that would be the time the travel bug really bit.

After coming back to my homeland I was itching to travel but I had a problem, for some reason I thought I have to do it with someone. So I spent 2 years in waiting - and I could not find anyone to go wit. And then last November - it hit me. I'll go gray waiting for a travel buddy and I'll never get to experience the world. So I went ahead an planned my first voluntary solo trip. Italy (Rome, Milan and Venice) and France (Paris) was on my agenda.

My first stop was Roma!!!

After a long flight including a stop over in Dubai, I was pleased to land at Rome's Fiumicino aka Leonardo Da Vinci airport. Going through customs was reasonably painless and I was officially in Rome. I had mixed emotions getting through the airport - a little scared and excited at the same time. Having booked the entire trip myself over the internet with no travel agent assistance I knew if anything went wrong it was all on me and I would have no one to call. So my mild stress was understandable. What if I try find a hotel and I'm led to a bogus location.

Getting to the city center was relatively easy. I took the bus from the Airport to Termini station, then from there was the metro to the Colosseum stop.

I stayed at a hotel pretty close to the Colosseum, so after a few minutes walking in the wrong direction out of the metro station - I was headed towards my beautiful hotel :). With a view of the Colosseum for breakfast - I couldn't have asked for a better spot. The 1st thing I did after settling into my room was to walk around the neighborhood to try find a grocery shop, get acquainted with my surroundings etc.

Colosseum early morning

The next morning I woke up early to see the Col while its still tourist free and take some pretty pictures. 

After a full breakfast at the hotel, I was on full tourist mode. On my agenda for that day was a full tour of the Colosseum, Forum, and the Vatican in the afternoon (oh, Vatican City is actually a country, in my view - ridiculous).

Ancient Rome

I spent a few hours at the Colosseum with the audio guide taking me through the place and pointing out areas of historic significance. The Forum audio guide is worth it. Either that or just get into a tour. There's so many things worth noting, you can't do it via history books and google alone.

Vatican City

After some nice salad and water at McDonald's (I know!), I made my way to a pre-arranged tour of the Vatican City. Because I had read the Dan Brown books and watched the movies so many times, I was more curious than ever to see the Vatican. I needed someone who knew it intimately to show me around. Needless to say, based on my research and as expected Brown's book - I'm sure the tour guide had had enough of my many questions by the time we made it to St Peters Square. I would do a tour of this place 10 times over and I still would not be able to capture everything about it.

Villa Borghese Gardens

 I spent a half of my last full day in Rome at the Villa Borghese Gardens, simple put - my most favourite place in all of Rome. It is soooo charming. Trust me! The Galleria Bhorgese, what can I say really? What an amazing collection. I won't pretend to be an art expect on my own blog - but I got it. Art has a life of its own and the collection as the gallery spoke to me. GO see it.

Walking through the gardens is an experience on its own, beautiful fountains, accordion players, lush and well manicured gardens. I can't rave enough about this place. Next time you go to Rome, make sure to go.

I saw and experienced a lot in Rome, this is just a snapshot of my favourite spots... I could write 30 or more blog entries and still would not capture into words how amazing it is and how much you need to see it!

Two things

Two things is a weekly feature I'll run on my blog, obviously every week :) This is really to share two things that I love. So to kick off things...

1. The world's street lights.

I've been fascinated with street lights for the longest time. Not because of the basic function they provide, but rather how pretty they can look if you pay attention. Last year I visited a few countries in Europe and these are some of my favourite street light photos...



Gondola Station lights



Look at this one taken during my time in Venice. How cute is the pink. Imagine a row of these lit up at night time, now see how pretty that look. The first day I arrived in Venice there was high tides (Aqua Alta), what I found fascinating were the walkthrough bridges built that had everybody walkig on single file lines. It was quite a site. Luckily though, the water levels dropped the next days and I was able to do some good 'getting lost' advisable the best way to see Venice.

Venice lights

Venice is a really beautiful city... You have to see it to believe it. The city is pretty much occupied by tourists 24/7 and by the people who work in the tourism industry. So, I didn't really see any unique local culture. But it is charming... I managed to see it better 'in peace' early morning and in the evening. During the day, I spent my days in cafe's and churches. There is just way too many people off the cruise ships to even try make your way through. And this was winter time, I wonder how it is in Summer. But Venice is on my go to again list, if I ever run our of places to see :)



Louvre courtyard



Paris, paris, paris!!! Oh wow... I got two pictures of street lights from this city

1. The one at the Lourve. In my view this place houses the the world's greatest anti-climax. Leonardo's Mona Lisa... How is it that the painting I've heard of since I was a child became the smallest in the room??? I was left grossly underwhelmed by the Mona Lisa. But that didn't mean that I would not take my must take pic with the lady.



Hotel des Invalides

2. The building that houses the war meuseum (Hotel des Invalides)... It is one of my most favourite buildings in the city. I love the street lights on each side of the road as you approach the building.





2. Song of the week

The song I've been playing almost daily on my iPod this week has been Adele's cover of a Bob Dylan song: "Make you feel my love"

I fell in love with the song actually when I heard another artist names Leroy Bell sang it on XFactor USA, he did it with such purity that I had to go onto the copy I had on my iPod by Adele and listen to it over and over again.... It is an amazing and emotional song, with such power in the lyrics.

When the rain Is blowing in your face
And the whole world Is on your case
I could offer you A warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows And the stars appear
And there is no - one there To dry your tears
I could hold you For a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you Haven't made Your mind up yet
But I would never Do you wrong
I've known it From the moment That we met
No doubt in my mind Where you belong

I'd go hungry I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling Down the avenue
No, there's nothing That I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging On the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
Though winds of change Are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing Like me yet

I could make you happy Make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do

Go to the ends Of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love, To make you feel my love

How many people these days are prepared to offer such kind of love to their loved ones??? To really go to teh ends of the earth for the one you so love.