When In Rome, Do as the Romans

Ahh Rome! For the last two years I have been telling my dad that I would go to Italy. Instead, I ended up in the States, well, little did he know that I would be able to pack in a trip to Italy as well! I took an overnight train from Switzerland to Rome - left at 7.20pm and arrived in Roma at 7.30am the next morning! When I got to Rome I bought some breakfast (Brioche Marmellata - it is to die for!!) and did a little bit of planning, then leisurely made my way to the bus stop to go and meet my couchsurfing host. Unfortunately, that particular day all the public transport was on strike!!! I was so lucky that I was couchsurfing and was able to call my host and ask him to pick me up. He had to pick up another couchsurfer as well, from another station, so while I waited for him I had a quick look around the streets surrounding the station, went to an Italian supermarket, bought some postcards, was proposed to by an Italian man who bought me a bottle of water (strange to say, but this is not the first time I have been asked out by men who buy me bottles of water!) but he was a kind hearted soul and was harmless. I politely refused the man's proposal, and was grateful when I was finally picked up by my couchsurfing host in a beautiful long black convertible! He drove us around the city with the top down, I was in the back, hair flying everywhere, loving every minute of it.

 

How better to experience Rome than to drive through it in a convertible?!!

We went to lunch in a local Italian restaurant, I had the best gnocchi I've had in my life. We then dropped our luggage off at his awesome rooftop apartment with great views and lovely balconies, and went out for proper Italian gelato - now this was really something special. 

My couchsurfing host

My first taste at authentic Italian gelato: Strawberry, After 8, and macaron (yes, it was actually gelato stuffed with macarons!)

Now, in Rome it seems there are gelato shops and gelato shops. Some have a range of standard flavours, of course all are delicious, but the place my host took me to was a real gelato shop - they had so many flavours I could not believe it. It took me 10 minutes just to decide what to have. It was the best gelato I've ever tasted in my life, and was better than all the other gelato I ate in Rome.

After the gelato, the other travelling couchsurfer and I went to the city for a while, we strolled around Piazza del Popolo, saw the sunset views from the Borghese gardens and walked to the Pantheon. We got home around 9pm and went out to dinner at another local restaurant, I have to say, I ate really really well on this trip, like a proper Roman!

Piazza del Popolo 

Rome at Sunset

All the famous names!

The next day, bright and early I headed for the Vatican. I already had bought my ticket so was able to bypass the line (best decision ever!). Of course I was looking forward to the Sistine Chapel - you hear so much about it - but what was really such a surprise for me was just how beautiful the other parts of the Vatican were. Every ceiling was painted, everything was beautiful and ornate and incredible. In fact, it was all so beautiful that when I went into the Sistine chapel, I wasn't all that impressed. The artwork was exquisite, but there were few windows so it was quite gloomy, and there were so many people, and they were disrespecting the rules (no photography, no loud talking) - I have to say it did marr the experience a little. But I found a spot sitting on the side, and I listened to an audio guide I had downloaded which talked me through each section of the ceiling. My time at the Vatican was simply magical.

Wow!!! Painted ceiling in one of the corridors at the Vatican

I left the Vatican after spending hours there, and headed for St Peter's Basilica. Upon entering the Basilica you are hit with this incredible vision of mammoth size and beauty. Everything is generous, lavish and ornate. The ceiling soars so high, the floor is so spacious, there was so much to see. It was breathtaking. The things that man has made for the glory of God, really special. I spent a long time walking around and experiencing it, it was lovely and cool inside - such a refuge from the searing heat outside. And it felt so far away from time and reality, time became meaningless. There were statues everywhere. I didn't even manage to find Michelangelo's Pieta which I was disappointed about, but I wasn't too concerned, there was so many other incredible sculptures.

Bronze statue of St Peter - the feet have been made toe-less from thousands of people touching them over the years.

Amazing rays of sunlight filtering through the windows at St Peter's Basilica

I finally pulled myself away from the church and back to reality. It was 4pm and I hadn't eaten. So I grabbed a gelato and headed toward the Pantheon to get a good look inside (it was closed when I went there the night before). By the time I got there I found out it was closed to the public so they could hold a mass. I asked if I could attend the mass, they let me in! So I was able to go to a Roman Catholic Mass, in the Pantheon, in Rome. It was an unforgettable experience! I could not understand a word of the language, but the singing and the organ and the acoustics of the Pantheon were so amazing to me.

The Pantheon

After the mass I headed back to my couchsurfing home and met some more couchsurfers who were going to stay with him. There were 5 of us in total, and our host decided to drive us out to the beach for sunset! We got there just in time to see the sun disappear over the horizon. We took photos, chatted and put our feet in the warm, warm water of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

At the beach, on the Tyrrhenian Sea (part of the Mediterranean Sea)

Hanging out with my Couchsurfing friends at the beach at sunset

Just before midnight we left the beach and had authentic pizza in yet another fabulous local restaurant.

Eating 'real' Italian Pizza in Italy!

The next day was my last day, and my train left at 3pm, so I decided to pack in a few more sights - the Spanish Steps, the Fountain of Trevi, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palentine hill, and Circus Maximus. Sounds like a lot, but I managed to do it in plenty of time - even with time to get breakfast at a local cafe. I had my last meal in Italy - a delicious lunch of lasagne at a restaurant near to the train station.

The Spanish Steps

Roman streets

Dropping my coin at the Fountain of Trevi 

Guess what this building is!

Me looking like a turtle with my house on my back at the magnificent Colosseum. The Colosseum itself is looking very bare now, but what made it so neat for me was the audio guide I had downloaded - it really put things in perspective and created the original atmosphere for me. 

The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum

Circus Maximus! (looking a little baron and abandoned)

I was exhausted. I got on the train for my 6 hour journey and slept and slept, well, that is until I got a text from a couchsurfer in Switzerland inviting me to the Montreux Jazz festival, to which I immediately replied yes! I got off the train one stop early, went to the Jazz festival until after midnight and then came home for a good sleep! What a fabulous time!

Swiss Adventures: Interlaken, Luzern & Zurich

One epic Sunday I decided to pack in a huge chunk of Switzerland - Interlaken, Luzern and Zurich. I caught the 6.25 train and arrived at Interlaken at 8.30, it was an early morning for sure, but so worth it! I had a list of train timetables between each city and had my timing worked out perfectly to be able to spend a decent amount of time in each place. 

Interlaken/Lake Brienz

Interlaken is almost the centre of Switzerland, a small town nestled inbetween two lakes. I had planned to spend an hour and a half looking around the town, but it just so happened that when I got off the train I saw there was a boat about to leave, going to the eastern side of Lake Brienz, and what was even better was that the boat would be free with my Eurail Pass! I was thrilled! So I had a brief look around the area until it was time to catch my boat. It was spectacular on the water, there were so many interesting things to see, and best of all, when I got to the town of Brienz, I was able to sync up with my train to Luzern!

Town church

Lovely flowers all around this town!

Foreboding looking clouds on the lake!

Such interesting colours and silhouettes with these heavy clouds!

The town of Brienz and Lake Brienz, taken from the train.

Luzern

Luzern had not originally been on my 'list' to visit, but I had read so many good things about it on the internet that I decided I had to give it a shot. Boy am I glad I did!!! Luzern was something very special, I really loved the little city. It had such character and charm, I couldn't help but smile with enjoyment as I walked the streets. 

Story-book scenes!

Beautiful interior of the Jesuit church

After looking around the streets for a little while, I headed uphill to the old Museggmauer - or town wall - built in 1383 with a commanding view of the town. Here in Luzern you can climb up the wall and enter into the towers for free! It was so neat, looking out over Lake Luzern. 

Taken from the wall

Huge clockface in the wall tower - took up the entire room! 

After climbing down from the wall I made my way across town to the famous Lowendenkmal or Lion monument - carved into a limestone cliff here in 1821 as a memorial to the fallen Swiss Guards who were defending the palace of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution in Paris, when the palace was stormed by angry working-class, 700 guards were killed - but the bad blood came out when they learnt that the Royals were not even in the palace!!! The Swiss Guards were employed in Paris because of their trustworthiness and neutral political stance, apparently, the Swiss guards are employed even at the Vatican to protect the Pope! As I walked back from the Lion monument to the train station to go to my next destination, I was passed on the street by a hilarious sight - a novelty miniature tourist train, all painted up and colourful, carrying a full load of sombre-faced adults! They all looked so sad and gloomy while sitting on this joyfully toy-like train, the paradox was hilarious!!!

The lion in the cliff

Zurich

By the time I got to Zurich, the foreboding clouds that had followed me the length of the country finally broke and it started raining - not just normal rain, we're talking the bring-your-shampoo-because-you're-having-a-shower kind of rain!!! The streets and sidewalks flooded in minutes. I am by no means put off by rain. I had a rain jacket and an umbrella, I was good to go, but then my feet were swimming in water and I was feeling cold, so I decided to drastically cull my 'to visit' list for Zurich, and instead became determined to go to the art museum. The art museum was located a little outside of the original old town. I struggled through the intense rain and flooding and made it to the art gallery. I was so thrilled to be there!!!

The town

Amazing church doors on the Grossmunster

The art museum was really something special to behold. I went through the old masters, seeing paintings over 600 years old, and in such well preserved condition - such bright colours! I then went into galleries of impressionists - beholding the beauty of 6 metre long Monet artworks; seeing the big names in the art world: Picasso, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Matisse to name a few. It was truly magical. By the time I left the rain had died down a little - to a more normal amount and I was able to walk without feeling like I was in a bath. By that time I was tired and wet and cold and I had absolutely no desire to see any more of Zurich. I walked towards the train station via the river, and was amused as I followed a very tall man into a very small pedestrian tunnel! I bought dinner at the train station and enjoyed my 2 hour train back home!

6m x 2m Monet

Another 6m Monet!

Recognise this face?

Up close and personal with Monet!

Swiss Adventures: Geneva

I was working just a half day the other Saturday so I decided to take the opportunity and go to Geneva! I had had a neat morning, the kids were great, the weather was great- one of those mornings where time flies by (they're not all like that, believe me).

I arrived in Geneva with a photograph of a map with a few sights marked on it stored on my camera. I walked around the lake front and saw the magnificent fountain - the largest in the world spraying 7 tonnes of water up in the air! It was a perfect day, the weather was magnificent. I strolled along the streets, popping into little shops of interest and getting some food supplies from good old Migros, the major supermarket chain here. 

I walked through the enchanting old town of Geneva - spiralling little alleys, all cobbled and oozing with character. I had just reached the cathedral when I heard some music and followed the sound down to a little courtyard with a stage set up. Curiosity got me and I spotted a free program of events: turns out there was a free music festival on the day I was there! I studied the performances schedules, hardly believing my luck! Stages were set up all over the city with music covering every genre you could imagine. So I went on my way, exploring the city with new eyes, heading to places and parks I would not normally have. This is my ultimate travelling dream: I love going a bit off the beaten path and seeing things you don't normally see. 

a choir performing at the stately cathedral - the acoustics in the building were amazing, it was like beholding angels singing

an all female yodelling chorus (yes that's right, they just stood there in their costumes and yodelled)

Reformation Wall in Geneva

Hot chocolate as the orchestra warms up!

awesome feel-good Reggae bands

I also saw an avante garde dance troupe and a big band performing in the beautiful old museum building

It was a truly spectacular day, I left in the evening with the glowing evening sun, the smell of delicious street vendors, the chatter of people revelling in the festival, and the sound of bands playing. Could it get much better than that? I don't think so!