Italy – Ciao Bella!

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Thursday June 24th -

Wow, 2 hours later I’m in Italy and from the air it’s green with an endless numbers of small farms.
I land at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome and Emporio Armani has giant black and white photos of Megan Fox and Ronaldo in their underwear all over the place.  It’s nice having no passport control or currency to exchange.
After walking past lots of renovation, I take the Trenitalia Leonardo Express train for 8€ and read the graffiti on the way to the city center.
From the Roma Termini station, it’s a long walk underground to the Metro Line B.
You don’t have to tell the Italians that “sex sells”. It’s practically in every advertisement. Outside of the metro, I catch the 343 bus to Peter Pan Hostel located on the fringe of town. I check in and meet a Brazilian girl named Veronica who lives in Holland and we go to dinner together at restaurant around the corner – the only thing open.  At the hostel, the two hostel cats are immediately enamored with me.

Friday June 25th – Are You Not Entertained?

At the small market, I’m chastised for squeezing the peaches. So I eat some cherries as I walk to the metro, past the Istituti Penitenziari Rebibbia – a prison (maybe for all those peach squeezers). It’s 85 today.   Hmm, she’s got big arms, oh, no wait that’s a cross-dresser on the train.  I emerge to see the white marble Arch of Constantine and the Coliseum in all its glory.
There are thousands of tourists here today. I walk past the actors in Roman uniforms and lots of tour groups, and get in line to pay 12€.
In line, the couple in front of me is all over each other, I don’t know whether to say “get a room” or pay for membership.
Built around 72AD and rebuilt in 217AD, the Coliseum is about 50m tall and 188m long. It could hold 70,000 and was designed for a rigid social class with assigned seats (senators had their name carved in their seat).  The inauguration lasted 100 days and there was free admission.
Uniforms, armor, weapons, helmets, and shields are on display for an exhibition on gladiators.  The arena floor is a labyrinth.  Originally, Romans would scratch the names of their favorite warriors or moments in the stone like ancient graffiti artists.
Outside, I head to the Palatino Archeological Area, which is a giant sprawling park of temples, columns, houses, basilicas, and arches.
The exit is next to the capital. The capital building is a gigantic white building with long steps and many carvings, statues, and bronze figures.  It’s very impressive and definitely the best capital building I’ve ever seen. In front, there’s the Tomb of Unknown Soldier and an eternal flame.  I walk down Via de Corso, past luxury shops and the Piazza Colonna, to the Tempo Liturgico (Basilica dei ss Ambrogio e Carlo) and its painted ceiling.
Next I visit the Piazza del Popolo which has an Egyptian obelisk with cross on the top. As I walk through a nearby park, there’s 4 more obelisks, a view of the city, and a model photo shoot.  Back to the hostel for dinner and the World Cup.   Europe is expensive.

Saturday June 26 – Vatican

I take the metro into town and walk to Vatican City. It’s hot today as I arrive at a huge open square with an obelisk in the center, surrounded by about 100- 20ft tall statues and columns. There are fountains, a sea of chairs, and grey cobblestone streets.  After passing the wooden fences and a guy wearing a t-shirt saying “sugar, water, purple”, I get into the long entrance line. There’s a dress code, security, and silence is requested.   Vatican City (Country) only has about 500 citizens and it’s difficult to obtain citizenship.  Inside, I decide to get in line for the Basilica Dome (Cupola 5€) instead of the Tomb of the Popes.  It’s 551 steps up to the top of the dome.

Oh my god. The inside of the dome is absolutely gigantic and the chairs below in the church look like toys.  Everything is accented with lots of gold color and paintings of saints.   Around the catwalk, there’s fancy mosaics of cherubs and a high wire fence.  The dome rises 435 ft and is 135ft across. Built in the 1400s, the entire Basillica covers 18,000 sqyrds.   Walking up more steps and a stone spiral staircase, each step builds anticipation. The stairs start to lean inward and I’m thinking, “how high can it go?”  “how tall is this thing?”  At the top outside, there’s a magnificent panoramic view of the city, where you can see the capital building but not the coliseum.

It’s 2pm and the church bells ring as I look at the manicured gardens below.  I walk down to the roof and find nuns working in the gift shop.  Down at the main floor in the Basilica, everything is so ornate and detailed. The marble floor is exquisite and the statues seem full of emotion.   There’s a bronze Jesus and bronze four column cover over where the pope speaks. Guards in suits watch over the thousands of tourists here today.
The place is just so big and beautiful; an art history major could do a thesis on just this building. It’s pretty imposing.  I head outside to the Vatican post office before leaving. Along the river, I pass a castle/fort and arrive at the Ferrari store in Spagna (thought of you Jason).   Later, I bought an all natural deodorant with no aluminum. Amazing.
Back in the metro to Ponte Mammolo, where outside there’s heavy rain.  At the hostel, we all eat dinner and watch the World Cup.

Sunday June 27th – Paint by Numbers

It was noisy in the dorm last night so I sleep in ’til 9 instead of 7:30.   The metro to Ottaviano station (Vatican) is jam packed. When I arrive, the line wraps around the block, then keeps going, next around a few more corners, and finally you can see the beginning a few more city blocks away. It’s easily the longest line I’ve ever been in, by far. If it were any longer, the Earth’s axis would tilt.It’s even longer than the Splash Mountain ride at Tokyo Disneyland during spring break. The 2hr wait goes fast.

Inside, there’s a dress code (cover shoulders, no hats, modesty) and admission is free today.  The museum is a maze of endless hallways and rooms (some with domes) of statues, paintings, and decorated marble floors.   There are several floors and everything is very detailed and well preserved. It’s all overwhelming, too much. Some paintings are too big for one photo. It’s grandiose. I just can’t take it all in.One could spend over a week looking at it all.   It’s like swimming in art.
Next is the Room of the Immaculate Conception with old bibles behind glass.  The symbol of the Vatican is an images of two keys which you can see in many rooms. In the next area is Rhodin’s thinker, the bronze guy sitting with his chin in his hand (or a copy).
Finally I’m inside the Sistine Chapel and the guards request silence to no avail because they’re always going ”shhhhhh”.  This would have taken a long time for Michelangelo to paint (1508-1512). It really is amazing. The room is about 130ft long by 60ft high with mosaic floors.  There are hundreds of people and guards in different uniforms everywhere.
No photos are allowed. One guard catches the guy next to me.  I sneak one photo (and it’s pretty good).   In the middle of it all is the painting of god creating man (touching fingers). Loud speakers come on reminding people of the rules.
There’s so much effort here, so much of an attempt to turn god and heaven into an image, but it can’t be done.
Back into the maze of rooms, you can see some Egyptian influence. You can even buy Egyptian souvenirs in the gift shop. Interesting.  After more museum, the courtyard and the exit, it’s back to the metro to Republica for another Basilica.
Back at hostel, I discover that everything is closed on Sunday. So I go for a long walk, just to see where I end up, and I end up in the ghetto (yikes) – complete with graffiti and drug dealers on the corners. I don’t understand a word they say, so after multiple attempts they give up talking to me and I quickly hop on the next bus.   After another long walk and dinner, it’s back to the hostel and the World Cup.

Monday June 28th – Hello Tuscany

I check out and take the metro to Termini station for the 12:45 slow train to Florence (3hrs – better sightseeing) or Firenze.   Who would have thought that the best grocery store I’d find in Rome would be at the train station.   Off we go, Ciao Rome.
Believe it or not, Italians are not into candy bars. If you wanted to buy a solid chocolate bar, I’d wish you good luck.  On the train, for no reason, I am extremely happy in this moment.
After arriving in Florence, I take the bus to hostel which has 200 rooms next to an old church.  I make some new friends and we talk about art history while I plan for tomorrow and watch the World Cup.

Tuesday June 29th – Florence

The hostel tells me that if I want to stay longer, I must extend online and not at the front desk. (What?)  I walk past Donatello square and up to Michelangelo plaza.

The park has flowing springs and overlooks the city. It’s a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains, the river, and points of interest. There’s a bronze copy of the Statue of David in the middle of it all.
I walk downhill past the Palazzo Pitti to the Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli – 7€) and the Museum degli Argenti. Outside the museum is a room with melting statues.
I walk over to the Fiume Arno on the ponte vecchio to the Galleria degli Uffizi and the Piazza Della Signoria. (Got that?)  Next, I arrive at the massive Catterdrale di Santa Maria del Fiore.
It’s huge inside and the dome is painted like Sistine Chapel. There are marble floors, candles, and they only let in so many people at a time.  I skip going to the top of the dome to see Michelangelo’s Statue of David at the Galleria dell’ Accademia.   The line is only a block long but takes forever. We move 70ft in 1 1/2 hours. The intense sun and 2 hours of waiting are mentally exhausting.  Finally inside, no photos are allowed because of “security”. There are lots of paintings, and then the long room with David.  Imposing and classical, to me it could have easily been just another statue in history. The rest of the museum has hundreds of additional overlooked statues and oil paintings.  Of course, at night it’s back to the hostel and more World Cup, which is nice.

It´s huge inside and the dome is painted like Sistine Chapel. There are marble floors, candles, and they only let in so many people at a time.  I skip going to the top of the dome to see Michelangelo’s Statue of David at the Galleria dell’ Academia.

The line is only a block long but takes forever. We move 70ft in 1 1/2 hours. The intense sun and 2 hours of waiting are mentally exhausting.  Finally inside, no photos are allowed because of “security”. There are lots of paintings, and then the long room with David.  Imposing and classical, to me it could have easily been just another statue in history. The rest of the museum has hundreds of additional overlooked statues and oil paintings.  Of course, at night it´s back to the hostel and more World Cup, which is nice.

Wednesday June 30th – Don’t Stand There, It’ll Fall on You!

Breakfast is cherries, apricots, and blueberries as I hop on the 10:27am train to Pisa.
Pisa is a charming walkable small town. Pleasant.   It’s a short walk over the river to the Piazza dei Miracoli.   In a nice grass courtyard, BOY the Leaning Tower of Pisa is really leaning. Like if it fell at any moment or during an earthquake, I would not be surprised.
I can’t believe that you can even buy tickets to the very top and walk around. Hundreds of tourists are taking photos of themselves holding the tower up with one hand.  Restoration of the 60m tower will be completed this year because it used to be covered in cracks and black crusts. Now the white marble looks pristine.

Built in 1173 over 200 years, it began leaning halfway through construction in 1273 and was finished in 1370. It’s leaning 4.1 degrees and 5.5 is the failsafe point. It used to move 1.2mm per year.   (“Hey it’s starting to lean” “Well, let’s keep building it higher!”)

The tower is located next to a beautiful white marble church with dome and another well-decorated dome shaped building.  After heading back to the station and buying a train ticket to Florence for 5.70€, I get a citation on the train because my ticket didn’t have a validation stamp. What?  I have to pay 15€ to the officer on the spot (supposed to be 40).  I’m doing my best to exhale and let it go.

Thursday July 1 – The Train Scene at the End of Mission Impossible

I check out of the hostel in Florence and perfectly time the bus to the train station.  I activate my Eurorail pass and learn that the 2hr rapid (bullet) trains to Venice at 8:30 and 9:30 are sold out. I get the last 1st class seat on the 10:30.  First class is overrated, it’s not like on the airlines (my standards for first class are too high).   The train is going so fast that your ears pop in the tunnels from the air pressure.   We cross a long bridge right into the city of Venice.  I was told Venice is like Disneyland for tourists and I agree. It has a slight fantasy feel about it the first few moment when you arrive.
I hop on the next bus to the airport to meet Janine, who’s been waiting for me for at least an hour. After arriving, I’m happy to see she’s still in the waiting area and happy to see me too.  We head back into Venice where souvenirs stands line the narrow streets selling masks, ties, merano glass, fruit, gelato, and more.

Venice is a maze of stone walkways that all look very similar. It’s over 150 islands connected by 400 bridges. There are lots of green window shutters and hidden side streets.
Singing gondola rides and water taxis are zooming around everywhere.
It’s cool because the ambulance, fire department, and police are all in boats.  The hotel is awesome and on a quiet side street.   Around Venice, you see tiny supermarkets and stone steps covered in dark-green algae that lead into the water. The hotel is in a quiet neighborhood and we’re content to get some rest.

Friday July 2nd -  Ahhh Venice…

The first place we discovered today is a music museum inside a small old church. There are violins, cellos, harps, and beautiful statues. Some of the instruments are from Vivaldi and Stradivarius.   Walking along the water, we arrive at the famous San Marco Plaza that you see in the movies. In the corner is St. Mark’s Basilica with flying lions built in the 9th century, rebuilt in 1063. Across from the basilica is a red brick bell tower and just as we get to the top the large noon bells ring and it’s deafening! Gong!   The 360 view of Venice is wonderful. It’s bigger than I thought with very few trees. The plaza below is straight from the movies.   Back into the maze of streets, we take a treghetto “water taxi” because there’s no bridge nearby to cross the Grand canal.
After walking over to the famous Rialto bridge (which is no big deal), I ask for the nearest movie theater and say “cinema” and we’re directed to a cosmetics store called “Cinema”.  Haha.

Saturday July 3rd – “Ciao Venezia Ciao”

Janine and I check out and walk to a nice park near the train station.   The train leaves Venice for a 2hr trip to Milano.   The Milan station is cool. I go to inquire about tickets and we run into a friend from my Florence hostel. His train to Paris was cancelled.   I buy a train ticket to Ventimiglia because the train does not go directly to Monte Carlo, Monaco.   After following bad directions to the Hotel Diablo, we arrive they direct us to their sister hotel called Hotel Rossovino, located on a gated street across from a big supermarket.  As we go for a walk at night and get some gelato, the lightning lights up the shapes of the distant clouds.

Sunday July 4th –

After checking out, we take the metro to the Duomo di Milano in the middle of the city. The cathedral is massive, built around 1565-1646 with white marble, and it has so many towers and statues on top. It rivals the Vatican in how ornate it is.
Inside there are large hanging oil paintings, over 40 gigantic columns, and black and copper-colored flowers on the marble floor.  Organ music suddenly fills the cathedral (wow) and it reminds me of the Phantom of the Opera.  Up on the stone roof, the view of the city is wonderful and you can see the statues up close and the square below.   After walking though the city, Janine and I head over to the well-built dark brown Castle Sforza. Its corner towers are very big and it’s one of the nicest castles I’ve ever seen. Its outer walls used to surround the entire city.
Behind the castle is a beautiful green grass park with a white marble arch and 4 galloping horses on top.  We hurry into the metro to catch the airport bus for Janine’s flight back to Germany.   After saying goodbye, I head back to the Central Train Station. I can’t find any Wi-Fi but I do find the Central Station hotel/hostel.  There are no dorms available but luckily I split a private room with two German guys for 75€.

Monday July 5th – 30 Hours of Travel

I catch the train to Ventimiglia at 7am and we pass the lush green countryside and rolling farmland.  The train reaches and travels along the Mediterranean and continues through many charming beach towns. It’s partly foggy and weird seeing palm trees.   Two police officers come by and check my passport for 3 minutes. What are they thinking?

Next stop: Monaco and Spain!

(Note from your Administrator: I too have been to Italy…five times but who is counting , so I have included a post page with photos concerning some of the places that Scott visited.  Click HERE to go there and if you want to see more, then visit one of my other sites www.artistacreations.com.