Since I planned to leave this evening, so I didnt go on trips and just decided to stay and go to the market to get some food famous from Sicily... Woke up late...woke Jen up later....and ended up heading out at 4!!!! went to the big market in Catania....haa....they really have a similar food market culture to Asians!!!! Bought lots of food and realise that time is tight..but I still havent tried those local Catanian fooooood!!! So Jen brought me to this Cafe and bought them all at once for me!!!...one of the was this gelato kinda thing, but not exactly [View Full Entry]

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So, today set off to the most touristy town of the region, Taormina. Didnt expect much..thought it would just be another medieval town... Took the bus there and WOWOW.. Didnt know it was on a hill...and the view was superb!!!!!!!! If I came in the summer...that would be very nice!! There is this island down by the sea and people swim out from the coast...just looks great!!!! The weather was gloomy tho...so the heavy waves were dominating the coast...which made the view more dramatic! Anyways, got up there and was gonna go to the Greek Theatre there... its very famous for [View Full Entry]

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Got up early to catch a bus to Modica today! This was the favourite city of 2 girls in the house so I think it must be gooood! and also, they still have traditional chocolate shop which made chocolate in its ancient way!!!! So, got there, beautiful little town...walked up and this town had 2 very nice churches.....its basically a town in a narrow valley...besides the main road..everything was on a slope and all those stairs!!!! haaaaa... very pleasant walk....not much to see though. So, got the chocolate...YUM!^^ then headed to another city, Ragusa. Waited a long time for the bus....an [View Full Entry]

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Warm weather!!! What I felt within 10 seconds off that train was the warm weather!! So nice!! Arrived in Catania, surprisingly, the tourist office opened at 830!!!! so got a map and went to Piazza Doumo, where they have this nice church there, and I met up with Eva! Met her in Greece and gonna stay with her for the next couple of days! She lives with a SIngapore girl and some other Italians, all nice people!!!! they brought me to the local market, where I found lots of seafood not seen in Europe so far!!!! ooooo...the fish like "lap yue", [View Full Entry]

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So, last day in Rome... Started out to San Giovanni, this church ...that was said to be the official church of Rome for many years... its pretty nice..I love the inside though, they have this...stage/alter thing....with gothic towers!!! haaaaa After that, wanted to go all the way to Vatican City again, so walked to Metro station.....but... got lost!!!!! went to this neighbourhood......saw lots of local activity.....ended up asking my way back to the Metro station..and went up to Vatican Museum directly. There was a HUGE lineup..but it didnt take too long though. The VM is one of the [View Full Entry]

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After a whole morning deciding..either a daytrip to one of those hilltop medieval towns...or Naples... Then the train schedule decided for me..so there I went to Naples! The city is......very different from Northern Italy! I mean..its a lot..older...dirtier..and more immigrants.... But the vibe is nice....! Many small streets...Tons of Churches.......not much big spots to see and I didnt have enough time to see them actually................ Walked around....lots of shopping...cheaper than Rome..so cheap I actually shopped! haaaa! many piazza I walked to all have the same......humm.. [View Full Entry]

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Back in Italy, went to this hostel I emailed but they didn't have my booking!!! ended up sleeping on a matress in the common room for the first night.......and the next day they said they have 2 more nights booked for me. OK. The place was cool with satalite TV! haaaa..... So the next day had to wake up early to give make the room available for breakfast, so I headed out early to start walking around Rome. It was FREEEEZING!!! ><" walked around the Colosseum........and the ruins in that area... then walked over to Transtevere to go to the marketplace....long [View Full Entry]

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Woke up and then headed to find a minibus to Kruje! Kruje is the most touristy setup town so far I see in Albania!!! There is this old bazzar that sold all these touristy gifts and stuff...some are coool....esp. the instrument here......but.....argh...didnt get it. The castle was another hilltop ruin.......not very interesting inside...but nice view... Besides this, really not much! haaaa. Theres a museum, but we decided not to go in...... We sat down and had some lunch and then took the bus back to Tirana. Short but pleasant day=) now I just need to find my way to the port [View Full Entry]

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Stroll around Gjirokastra in the morning...walked into this big old house, with an old lady and asked to get inside to see the interior......very Turkish style.....nice big house, too bad its vacant and not carefully maintained....... lots of stray dogs in town and this one was jumping on us and bitting us!! ARGH!!! so scary...and the bit actually hurts...+( Anyways, then went down to take the bus....asked around and a minibus said he goes to Berat! so I hopped on and went.........it stopped at Fier! and asked me to take a taxi to Berat!!! too expensive...so I took the minibus from [View Full Entry]

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Woke up early to catch a bus to Gjirokastra. On the map, it wasn't far..but it was a 7 hours bus ride!!! OMG.....so tired.. Albania has some of the worst roads!!! and they were all winding roads in the moutains! I see a lot of construction going on, so I guess the situation will improve. People are very helpful as well. You just stand at the bus station and ask someone for the destination, and they will somehow get you there. I like it in the city that they don't rip tourist off, which is nice. Only people at the port [View Full Entry]

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