Advertisement
Published: July 12th 2007
Edit Blog Post
Bonjour from France!!!
Its been a while since I rambled on about our latest travels, so let me fill you in on the highlights of our past 10 days in Italy....
As I don't have heaps of time on the internet (again), I've decided to use the journal I've been making in order to come back and edit these online blogs on my return to the UK. Some places just deserve a better description than 'It was good'.
Venezia
Dubbed the 'most expensive city in Italy', Gerard and I were slightly apprehensive about our ability to budget such a place. We were even more dubious due to the slightly obnoxious and negative review of Venice that some American backpackers had forced upon us back at our hostel in Salzburg.
Needless to say we had NOTHING to worry about. I had chosen a beautiful B&B accomodation just out of the main island, which saved money and had regular bus services to Pizalle Roma. (Which in itself had a Vaporetto ferry port, allowing us access to all the individual isles.
The highlights of Venice were:
1) A Gondola ride down the Grand Canale. This was a second birthday present
from Gerard- and it was fantastic!!! We were taken all around the minor canales dividing Santa Croce and San Polo Isles and along the Grand Canal- infamous by so many movies. The experience was very relaxing and sedate, and as romantic as you'd expect 😊
2) Piazza San Marco. Ok I should give this a cursory mention. It was very picturesque, don't get me wrong; it was just such a shame there were so many crowds (no wonder Venice flood occasionally due to the masses of visitors). We also took a tour of Bascilica di San Marco, which again, I must stress was a tribute to the 11th century architects that constructed it. However, the morose doorstaff, 'no smiling' attitudes and security teams dotted around shouting at people who spoke a word, made the experience slightly oppresive. It goes without saying that people absolutely should be respectful of the catholic religion, and a gorgeous religious sanctum. But I wish the staff who were supposed to be looking after tourists, hadn't been quite so instistant on making us all feel slightly inferior, and I guess (can me paranoid) but ignorant as well). They must have had some problems with 'unruley' tourists
in the past.
3) The island of Lido. This was gorgeous!! When we went it was a beautiful day and we got our first taste of 'proper' beachlife of the journey. This is also were the Venice film festival is held and it's charms appeal to the rich and famous all year round. I looked, but couldn't see George Clooney anywhere. Such a shame. lol 😉
Roma
I love Rome!!! We had a slight false start with our first accommodation at a camping site just out of the centre (Where it seemed 'v' shaped matresses and matchbox cabins where an acceptable- sorry but no.)
In the morning of our first full day in Rome we found a gorgeous budget hotel, alligned with a hostel Gerard had been to before, near Roma Termini station.
The highlights of Rome were:
1) The Colosseum. This giant ampitheatre was breath-taking. Although not in it's entirity (naturally), as we walked around, you could really get a sense of it's grandure and significance for so many centuries. We had a really insightful guided-audiotour, which explained key points such as dates, emporial influence, gladiator fights, the impact of christianity and even how large sections were constructed
(using various ignious rock forms). It also had an exhibition inside called 'Eros', which followed the importance of love in Ancient Rome (something that was mentioned quite frequently in certain modules of my degree)...so was overall an extremely interesting experience!
2) The Roman Forum. We were sweltering walking down in this hill, so much so that I was considering leaving Gerard for a bottle of iced water. However, I'm happy to report we are still together and the water left me within seconds. The valley is scattered with remains of the central hub of the Roman Empire. Beyond this we could see Palatine Hill, were many a rich and important Roman lived. I was largely wandering around trying to imagine were Ceasar said 'et tu brute'. Gerard has a really impressive vocabulary of knowledge about this area, so it was almost like being given a private guided tour!
3) The Vatican City. Awesome. Will write about it when I get home. Truely amazing place, well worth the queues!!
4) The Pantheon, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain
I don't have time to discuss them all, but they were recommended by my parents, who had recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in
Rome. Needless to say, they were individually well worth the visit.... I will describe these more at a later date.
Pisa
We stayed at Camping Village Torre Pendente...only 800m form the leaning tower it was idilyc!! Highly recommended for a short holiday. Pisa itself was piccolo (small) yet beautiful, with Tuscan hills lining the background.
We saw Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) which contains Pisa's Cathedral, Baptistry and the Leaning Tower. The latter was very impressive, as you would expect we did all the neccessary 'touristy' photos in front, and I bought an amusing Snoopy t-shirt in tribute to it's lean. Was a slight shame there were so many Hawkers in the Campo, but the uglier side of capitalism is bound to be prevalent in such iconic places.
Also must mention the swim pool regulations at our Camping Village...compulsory swimcaps. Like a idiot, I forgot my own so we had to purchase the most amusing material hats you will ever see. Will add photo shortly!
Lago di Como
All ailments can be instantly cleared by a stay near the Lake's breath-taking Tremezzio!!! Of course you wouldn't be the first person to convince yourself of this, or delude
yourself into a happier disposition, after a firm history of English gentry and the odd poet laureate vacating here to 'heal' or 'recover'.
Happily the lake was magnificent, and although I didn't feel 'cured' from anything, a one night stop turned into 3 days bliss. The highlight of the stay had to be Villa del Balbiandello; a worthy 2hr ferry ride to this location in Lenno will bring you to the famous location of scenes from Casino Royale and Star Wars Ep 2.
Lake Como is clearly a winner so far with me- I will certainly return!!!
Got to run anyway...have to find some French things to write about!! 😊
😊
KTxx
Advertisement
Tot: 0.201s; Tpl: 0.015s; cc: 9; qc: 51; dbt: 0.1314s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb