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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Roma, Italia! Giorno 1 e 2

Ciao my friends! I know it has been a long time since I posted, hope you will forgive, as I have had spotty internet for the last 3 weeks while traveling France with my honey, my mom, and granny! 

Back to the trip!

Next stop was Rome! It was an awesome city, except for the really ridiculous metro system. It's in the shape of an X and everything you want to see is on the left side... so you still end up walking for ages.


We arrived in the early afternoon so we went for a bit of a walk around, metro is only 1 Euro per trip so that's a great deal!

Colosseum, Incredible building!


Kitty!!! Sleeping on the warm rock wall of the Colosseum

What a great way to explore the city!......NOT
(I saw an ad describing segway tours as exhilarating with the wind whooshing through your hair to cool you down...HA)

Foro Romano


More kitties!!

The Tiber River walk, a la Robert Langdon

Circo Massimo

Day 2! 

Coloseum: We actually got to go in this day, make sure to go in the morning so when you're standing in line you're in the shade! Also, don't fall for the people saying you're going to wait in line for 2 hours, they just want you to give in and pay the extra for a guided tour. However, if you're short of time and want a guided tour, try to get one with the very enthusiastic guy, we saw him at several sites and almost wished we were in his group!

12 Euros entry, 7,50 if you are a Euro student, also includes entry to the Forum (which we did not use)


WHY does this remind me of that awful movie Jumper?

We got cheap pizza for lunch where you pay based on the weight, meaning you get exactly the amount you want to eat! It's next to the Largo Torre Argentina, where I went to visit the Kitties at the
Torre Argentina Roman Cat Sanctuary!

All of the cats I spent time with were handicapped in some way (missing a leg, blind, etc...) and 3 lovely ladies take care of them every single day, out of the goodness of their own hearts. They love cats and are 100% No Kill, which is the best anyone could ask for. As far as I understood, all cats are up for permanent adoption or adoption at a distance. They have all been de-sexed. This experience is 100% FREE and there is no pressure to donate, but you sure know I did! I even splurged and got a Gatti Di Roma Shirt! If you'd like to help, click on the link above! =]



Dave made a friend, 100% blind, hopped up on each of our laps and slept and purred for ages!


I love kitties!!

Day 3 coming soon!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Buena Sera, Cinque Terre!

We arrived in Cinque Terre around 6pm, so after the nice lady picked us up and took our money for our apartment for 2 nights, we walked around looking for a shop with basic food items. After finally finding what we needed, we proceeded to drink Tuscan wine and eat simple, but DELICIOUS spaghetti. All for less than 7 Euros! I also took advantage of the washing machine and washed every single item of clothing we had ( believe me, there was a LOT). The next morning, we strolled through the markets on our way to the train station to explore the amazing Cinque Terre...

Unfortunately, due to a mishap (which I will not go into detail on), we lost our snorkel gear. Dave got us some new masks and tubes, and we swam in the nice temperature ocean.
We also had some yummy lunch at a kebab place under the train station in Monterosso.

Lots of sea urchins...remind me of this.



I think I have a fetish for tunnels.

....and wells/caves.

Long hike with nice views


Capturing my hearts, of course, KITTIES!!!!

Tortoise kitties are precious.



Vernazza




Little cutie!!!


We had a lovely time, minus the 2+ hour HIKE UPHILL from Monterosso to Vernazza, good thing we took the train between the last 3 of 5 towns...It was beautiful, and just as amazing as the photos I've been looking at online for the last year or so...After a short stay, we were headed to Roma!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Ciao! Venezia, Italia

We got up early in the morning in Marseille, and hurried like crazy to catch our train to Venice! The trains automated ticketing system was down, which worked out to our advantage, because instead of waiting in a crazy long line, we just hopped on the train!
Long story short, we were over-charged for our tickets and had to argue (nicely) at the Ventimiglia station to get a refund and our tickets to Venice. My politeness and patience helped us save some cash =]
It was a LOOOOOOONG day. We arrived in Venice at 11:30pm on the very last train, after having trouble getting from Mogliano Veneto to Venezia Mestre station. Our hostel/B&B hosts were nice enough to not only pick us up, but to wait for us so late at night! We awoke to a huge, delicious breakfast on the balcony, and the lovely lady owner dropped us off at the train station to head into Venice Island. (Side note: trains in Italy are NOT reliable, don't bother looking at the schedules...)

Anywho, here are some photos of a lovely city!


Gondolieri
I wish we could have done the typical touro thing and done this, but not for 80 bloody Euro!



Lovers (no homo)

For my mommy! She works at the one in LA as a french teacher!

This douche.






Narrow house! Part of an exhibit that we refused to pay to see. 

Totally found my favourite chinese drink in a Chinese market in Italia! WHEEEEE

Check out the helmet hair on this guy.


If you ever visit Venice, you need to stay with this lady, she rules!

And after 2 nights, we were off to Sarzana, near our destination: The Cinque Terre! Tuscany's beauty awaited us...