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| Duomo Milano |
Working somehow has not diminished the idea of "Summer holiday" for me. Granted, this has turned into week long sojourns, but it's good how much you can really fit into that 1 week break if you really wanted to. So this years' destination was....ITALY!
Yes, Italy, gorgeous gorgeous Europe. I figured I've never really been on mainland Europe, save Austria and a day trip to France. But going around Italy was amazing especially when you have a friend doing all the planning/arranging/booking/buying tickets for you =P.
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| Oh Romeo, Romeo... |
Started out in Milan for 2 days, first day was spent napping and went out for dinner at a bar place where for the price of a drink you also get a buffet spread of pasta/breads/rice etc. Then amazing pistachio ice cream and an early night.
Spent the next day tiring the feet out to the point, that we had to end up buying Birkenstocks! Duomo climbing, oh was soooo gorgeous. Amazingly gothic architecture, castles, more gelato! Dinner across the little canal.
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| Masquerade! |
Early start the next day to start the week long sojourn. First stop...Venizia!
After getting horribly lost in the small windy streets, we went for lunch and wondered around St Mark's Square for a bit. Checked in, freshened up, and up we went into St Mark's Duomo and the adjacent Doge's palace where we crossed the bridge of sighs and got lost a bit more in the cellars down below (the first of many times we get lost on this trip! Lost in alleyways, lost in prisons, lost in gardens, lost in Rome, lost in streets...yeah). Then up to St Mark's Campanile to take in the view from up top. Breathtaking stuff.
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| Japanese Tea Houses |
Next day went to the morning markets. Eating cherries in the shade of the fish market on a Monday morning is a must do for anyone. So far removed from work! Then, on a hunt for Lonely Planet's recommendations of places to eat...only to find teahouses shut..as always. Also, Venice's roads on maps can be meter wide passages between buildings =S. Settled on a small restaurant instead, then taking water taxis down to Ca'Rezzonico museum, nothing too interesting in that one besides expensive rooms and Murano Chandeliers. Found Grom after that, and a lovely little Japanese themed teahouse (come to think of it, reminded me of AA Cafe Japon).
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| Bling Hoops |
Modern Art Museum was tremendously different, horses stuck in walls, chandelier basketball hoops, prostitute themed exhibitions, clowns yelling at each other through TV's....enjoyed it immensely, just for the fact it was kinda grotesque!
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| The Pumpkin |
Found La Zucca and had good pumpkin appetizers and a vegetarian lasagne. Ginger, prosecco and melon ice cream was something else. Proceeded to get lost in the streets of Venice with a full moon and not too much lighting, but before we knew it we had ended up back at the main Rialto bridge somehow. Ridiculous stuff.
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| Florence BnB's |
Next day we bid adieu to Venice and it was off to Florence. The BnB was a GORGEOUS place, pale blue walls, terracota coloured flooring, a cooling breeze and a street-side view. Sigh, I could've stayed there forever. But yes, Florence! A little less touristy than Venice, but still quite touristy. Headed to yet another Duomo, Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, this time a gorgeous little number with pale green and pink accents. Looked like a dollhouse really. Climbed up the the top of the dome.
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| Perfection |
Then to the Uffizi museum where we spent an hour+ queueing and another hour speeding past most of the pieces...main thing there was Botticelli's Venus. Other than that, I have no clue of appreciating art =S. Total fail.
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| Florence bridges |
Took a walk to the bridge past dinner where sunsets start at 930pm. Was nice sitting bridgeside with a cool breeze and a 99% moon above.
Had a half day to kill the next day so we decided to choose the Boboli gardens and the Pitti Palace as our morning activity. Nothing too interesting in Pitti besides the amazing jewels and really nice dresses! Boboli gardens were way too big, steep and hot, not to mention so gravelly. I then also got lost in the Bardini garden for about a half hour. Not enjoyable.
By the time we got to Rome I was slightly exhausted (highlight was sitting next to a guy studying William Blake). Dinner where we stuffed ourselves too much of antipasti to actually enjoy the mains! (veal half finished and the guy is convinced I can still eat). The Trevi fountain definitely made things more amazing. 3 coins and 3 wishes!
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| Sitting on the Spanish Steps |
Next day consisted of Pantheon, Spanish Steps and Bernini fountain visiting, before the Vatican city for the second half of the day. Vatican museum was amazing, Michelangelo! Leonardo! Raphael! Sistine Chapel! Gosh. Too much to take in! Sat in on mass at St Peter's Basilica, definitely a highlight of the day! Ate fried artichoke at Giggetto, then proceeded to get lost trying to find Tango that night. :( unfortunately did not get to tango. boo.
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| Hello God, can you hear me? |
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| Forum |
Coliseum visiting and the Roman Forum the next day while navigating un-working subways due to strikes. Monumental crumbling structures requiring quite a bit of imagination and the Big House...original! Coffee at Sant Eustachio and final night in Rome with a dinner at Leoncino's pizza! mmmmm, then ice cream by the Pantheon while watching a march go by and capped off with people watching on the Spanish Steps. Such fun times!
Back to Milan the next day and meeting Mattio, a spot of shopping, last gelato's, 3/4 of Serendipity and a send off :(. Arriverdaci Italia! You were amazing.
Then to the Uffizi museum where we spent an hour+ queueing and another hour speeding past most of the pieces...main thing there was Botticelli's Venus. Other than that, I have no clue of appreciating art =S. Total fail.
