New year-Back to Tuscany- Pistoia and then beach coast Rimini !

new year concert at rimini !

dinner on the 31st of december at Rimini

 

Rimini beach

 

with lisa s family

Hey all !

Happy new year  ! :D

Well it’s the new year today and I have been unable to mail anyone… because I don’t have any internet here…but im writing anyway because I have to….

Yesterday started off so bad..on getting to the station and checking the train timings on the big board..realizing my train time does not exist I got to know that my ticket was for the 30^th of November and not December… while buying both me and caity were there and were checking everything….somehow the 11 instead of 12 escaped us….i panicked for a while…because caity had to get on the train to Florence and after that I had no way contacting her...our phones don’t work here… she said she d miss her train too cuz she could not leave me like that…but I convinced her to go…said id get there somehow and that she has to wait there…

thanks to my eurorail pass I could purchase a ticket for a train leaving 10 mins later for cheap…then I was running toward caity s train to tell her wot time id reach and tht I got the ticket when I saw her running too….2 trains were leaving at the same time and she had gone to the wrong platform…by then she missed her train …and she cried a lil too..poor thing…because of me…and she changed her ticket to my tain but had to pay extra of course….sigh…and then we got on the train and I felt I was missing something…I had been running around too easily…my trolley bag was not with me….and I grabbed my wallet and jumped out of the train again telling her if I miss this one ill come on the next…I dint remember where id left it in my panic….thankfully it was close by at the information desk id inquired at …and then I got onto the train again sat and it departed….i was sweaty and heart beating like crazy with a headache….then we both listened to music “ A new day will come “ by celine dion…lol…just what we needed…

lisa came to the station to get us in her car….it was so sweet of her because she lives an hour away…we had a nice ride to her home in the countryside…near Pistoia….beautiful mountains and lakes and in the middle is her home…and it is very cute… her parents and sister were so nice…her dad can not understand English or French so lisa was translater but mum and sis could talk to us…me and caity were so exhausted with our 4 hour sleep…we fell asleep for an hour and lisa woke us up for lunch…and there were the most delicious scents…Pasta….had a super 3 course Italian meal followed by dessert.. ..delicious..me and caity were wondering how they eat all that and don’t grow fat…then we 4 girls hung out together some at home played with her dog maya just stared at the view from her home…..had a great dinner too played a little board game and slept..

today after breakfast we packed up again put our luggage back in the car said our bye and thanks  and started our road trip to Rimini with lisa and her friends Niccolo and Pietro  in their car..we fell asleep of course..we stopped for lunch that her mum had packed for us J and then slept again..Rimini is a beach resort and it shuts down in winter ..lisa s friend has a hotel here and its closed but she s opened a couple rooms for us to crash in….its quite a fancy place…

we walked along the empty beaches for a while ..went for dinner ..it was really good…the dishes kept coming in…names we could not pronounce…I ate something translated into English called “the strangled priest” a type of pasta…really good, then grilled veggies with cheese and and panna cota with chocolate for dessert..and then drove to the concert…its of a singer called Batiato one of the most famous in italy apparently….he s 65 but it was really quite good ! the music was great and the crowd was amazing…lisa kept translating the lyrics for us which made it better…there was the new year countdown of course and then firecrackers display ! :D fabulous…

that done we got back to the hotel…they playing a board game while I am DJ….now I sleep…..

and I must say….i know I write very long mails and give unnecessary descriptions and bore you all probably…but I cant help it….if I try to write shorter mails it takes longer because then I have to think about which parts to edit….this is just easier…

well…Happy New Year to all of you ! hope it comes along with a lot of  happiness and joy J

good night all

with loads of love

Aishu

the zini women

The Pope,the Spanish steps, the pantheon and the Trevi..

audience with the pope

BENEDICTO

the spanish steps

Pantheon

Piazza Navona

Befana -the good witch

 

dear all...

today was a really loong day....woke up at 6....and went to see the pope! the event thingy stated at 10.30 for which we had to be there by 8.30....and only me and priya were ready to wake up and go that early...but it was so worth it !! :D in the summer he come out to the balcony and tlaks to the people however in the winter like now we had to take tickets and were hearded into a huuge auditorium ! held maybe 5000 people easily.....people from all over the world come to just see the pope !! on pilgrimages....there was not one moment to be bored....there were school kids from englad who had come in huge groups who were chanting slogans and cheers "  B E N E D I C T O !! VIVA LA PAPA !! EVERYBODY POPE POPE POPE..." in all sorts of tunes and songs...if the girls school sang and cheered the boys had to get into the competitiona nd would chant even louder ! it was hilarious and very thrilling....

afer sometime i fell asleep for an hour...in the midst of all that noise yes....i am exhausted....and woke up to a deafening roar of cheers from the crowd ! the pope had arrived...i grabbed my camera to take a video....which u shall see sometime  soon....he speaks more than 7 languages !! he addressed us in french,english,italian,spanish,german,portugeese and russian...maybe he knows even more...the piligrims from different parts of the world were introduced on the mike and they would break into a song...choir type...it was beautiful...and he would smile and wave at them...he was so cute ! in a old man sort of way....he reminded me of satyabhama ajji....:) he wished us all a merry christmas, happy new year and said that he was blessing us, our family, our children and anyone we know who is ill.....then theere were some beautiful hymns in latin.....

this got done by 1 and then me and priya headed to the spanish stairs to meet the others but apparantly rome is crazy on a wednesday..there were too many people everywhere ! and we were 2 hrs late so dint see them....we checked out the stairs which are supposed to be soo beautiful....but in summer...now it was just ok....then we went to the Trevi fountain!! which is hugee !! and splendid...the sculptures are gorgeous...i made my wish and threw a coin into the fountain over my left shoulder....:D

then we went to the Pantheon....which was awesome...what can i say....it looks Ancient....truly old...but it looks so well kept...not old and breaking...just old....the inside is very nice too...its a basilica and houses the tomb of the first emperor of italy - Vittoriano and the tombe of Rafaello...the artist...the roof of teh Pantheon is so amazing. i read that this building to this day perplexes the architects and engineers because it is in perfect proportions....its a circle and they cant figure out how they made it so perfectly.

here we saw the other 3. caity,santiagoa nd natasha!  :) we then went to the piazza Nuvona..which is a main area in the plot of Angels and Demons...:P now there was a market going on...for new year i guess....we hung about there...very pretty houses and fountains and musicians playing music everywhere....and artists painting and making caricatures...the delicios smells of hot chocolate. ciambella ( doughnut) etc....it was perfect....i got a doll...of a witch called Befana...it is the italian tradition that on the 6th of january this witch brings presents to those who have been good...it is the italian version of santa claus :D it is for Victorine s family to hang on their christmas tree next year...

then we went to see the Trevi again....then we found a lovely little restaurant for dinner...early dinner at 6 cuz we skipped lunch....we had really good pasta sitting on table chair on the streets(as is european tradition) with flowers and candlelight on our table...:p us 4 girls had a romantic dinner...:)

this done we went bact to the Trevi...to cheat and make more wishes.....:) i made many more....then we juat sat and looked at it....it started to get cold so we walked back to the Piazza Novona and got some Ciambella with Nutella...it was so huge..i was so full by the end of it....then we started back towards ous hostel(like a 40 min walk) and on the way we stubled upon the most famous and reffered gelato place in rome !! Gioletti ! :D we had tried to find it earlier unsuccessfully....and we dint know if tomoro we would get lost and not find it again...so decided to eat some while it was in front of us !! there is a reason why its the best !! the flavours....oh my god.....and the quantity for the price !! sooo much !!  and the way they serve...we said no its ok no whipped cream on top of the ice cream he said oh no no...come on...a little..it is good....and put it....of course there is no extra charge for it !! lol...and such generous proportions. i got bachia( chocolate with hazlenut chips) caramel and limoncello( lemon and a lil alcohol in it ) flavours....here you tell them the price of the cone you want and you can select 2-3 flavours mix for that quantity....

it was ammmmazing......we are going back tomoro....for one last before we leave rome....

we walked back felling so full we could burst.....and freezing.....then we sat and watched some of a movie  called " Under the Tuscan Sun "...a movie set in Florence and sienna and Rome..:D

im exhausted...considering sleeping all day tomoro but cant waste time like that...

byee

love

aishu

 

 

The Vatican City

 

 

sistine chapel

the creation of adam

the school of athens

  

Hello People !!

Today has been equally amazing……I think we have been walking about 15 kms everyday….no public transport. We headed straight for the Vatican city ! which is infact its own country !! :D if you look it up the population in this country is “ 1 “ aka the pope….:D how cool is that ! he is the only one with resident permit….so much security checking when we enter..just like the airport…it must be receiving a lot of terrorist threats …..it was exciting …the very idea of being inside the Vatican city….its like a walled fortress….

We enter the Vatican Museums….there are many many….the place is just humungous! one leading to another…and it was soo beautifullll I can not tell you…maybe the photos will explain a bit..

The statues….of gods…names that we ve read and heard in front of you by artists you ve heard of being spoken of in revered tones….and then the corriodors start…stretch on for kms….each better than the previous ! the whole day my neck has been bent looking up…

Ceiling paintings by Michealangelo , Botticelli, rafaelo…..they were the most amazing sights ive seen…the Sistine chapel was breathtaking….there was not one inch left unpainted my Michealangelo…they were so detailed..the colours the expressions, the clothing….so realistic yet fantastical….in there I just sat for 20 mins neck craned upwards…the last judgement, the creation of adam, the last supper(not the original) brilliant stuff….

There was one random painting of a boat in a storm..there are too many people in it so they are throwing an old man out into the sea so that it gets more steady….he is shown to be praying to god…the look in his eyes…the fright on his face was something…it was so intense I could not stop staring…

Then saw room after room of Rafaello s frescos…..they were fabulous !! most of them had a 3D effect to them ! you can not make out immediately if they are paintings of sculptures….they seem to come out of the wall ! his most famous being the school of Athens…in which stroll about the famous philosophers plato, Aristotle, Socrates and pythagorus….it was thrilling ! J

I walked through a km of corridor with a golden ceiling and paintings and sculptures in it….and I have no idea what it was called…..it was gorgeous…but it was so much to take in….in rome it is rightly said…you can get overwhelmed in a day…I was experiencing all sorts of emotions….it was like a dream….when things come in real life like this you can hardly believe it…and you feel in awe…of it of yourself….and feel so lucky to be able to see such grand sights..

Went into another section of the museum which had Egyptian antiquities….rome and Egypt were connected at the hip im guessing by Cleopatra….who was the love interest of both Marcus and Ceasar…here there was a mummy too like in the louvre except this one was not covered…I could see he had blonde hair and his toes and fingers….creepy…

Entered many many more museums saw soo many more paintings, carpet weavings, sculptures….i just can not describe…I have begun to forget already which makes me sad….

This done we went to the st Peters Basilica… !it was already 4 by now… the st. Peters square is hugee with cpillars and statues and fountains …the basilica itself is enchanting…..we can see the spot from which the pope addresses the gathering….his balcony ( a  surprise at the end of this mail ! )

We entered the Basilica which was the best church ive ever seen…….it had to be…the pope was there after all….so grand and so big !! the colours the paintings and sculptures…..(as usual) so royal…

In here was the Pieta something I heard of for the first time today. This is a sculpture by Michealangelo of mother mary holding Jesus Christ in her arms after he was taken down from his cross….this was the original while there are many replicas scattered around…the catholics were already in awe of being inside the Vatican and in the basilica…when they saw this they went nuts….it is of great importance to them….iit looked beautiful…

We had heard that every Wednesday the pope addresses the people…so today I went and asked the guards at the Vatican….they directed me to a bronze door to get tickets…they were free but limited and we needed to have them…so I go and the guards there are colourfully dressed and standing still…they would not move their eyeballs !! and stood soo still ! I tried so much to get him to move but dint work…I looked and smiled..laughed….nope..nothing..he did not even move his eyes…stared straight..hilarious !! then I got 6 tickets for all of us to see the pope tomoro !! :D not personal or anything…justa good seat..good view..

The view at night was very pretty too….then we went to get dinner…it was 6.30…we had not had lunch….ate at subway….got some gelato and headed back now….we walked back from the Vatican…40 mins walk…my feet hurt like hell….toes feel glued together but we just walk anyway….cuz it’s the best way to experience a city…

Took a bath…and mailing now…will sleep early cuz have to wake up at 6…the pope speaks at 10.30…but we ll have to be there by 8.30!! but im going cuz it’s a once in a lifetime thing…

That’s all for now !

Love

Aishu

st.Peters Basilica

Pieta

Rome-the colosseum and the Palatine..

water spouts around rome

colosseum

gladiators..

ruins in palatine

 Rome is the best in the world !!!

It tops Venice…. Today has been the most fabulous day ever !! I feel like I got so much done…. Every minute well spent. We had a great breakfast at the hostel watched a little bit of Gladiator the movie (was filmed here in rome ) to get psyched up and we start off at 11. Here every other building is ancient and pretty and makes you go oohh….woow….look at that….you just turn a corner and there is another ancient monument and you r like ohh…what is that ? sometimes no idea at all…

Many of the the roads are cobblestoned and even the street lights are antique looking…. buildings I cant describe…each better than the other….it truly looks like an ancient city with ruins here and there , beautiful churches in every corner, amazing sculptures….

Today we walked towards the collosseum first…and at the end of the road …there it was !! its something ive always dreamed about…it is truly a grand sight….we got our tickets ( a funny story- the ticket guy thought we were very pretty and gave 2 tickets for the price of one ! :p advantages of being women in Italy I guess .) we go in and it was sooo beautiful….we read all the boards and notices describing the going on s…the fights, the gladiators, the royalty….saw the tunnels from which came the animals like lions , elephants and rhinos to fight with the gladiators….we were allowed to the lower levels…. It is huge ! it seated almost 50,000 people and they all came there to watch people being killed…..i could get pictures from the movie and was transported to another world….it was unbelieavable….it was so hard to leave…I just wanted to stand and stare….but we had spent 2 hours in there already….

Oh and I have to mention the weather is perfect !! J sunny and we need just a light sweater….it of of curse adds to the experience….

Then we got out and spotted a bunch of gladiators in outfits !! :D haha ! that was awesome !! and we could pay and take photos with them…of course I did !! they donned me in some roman robe outfit….but a gold leaf crown on my head…seated me on a chair and the 3 gladiators posed around me….I was CLEAOPATRA !!!  :D LOL !! it was epic !! they were hilarious….

That done we went next to the roman forum and the Palatine….they were mostly Ruins…of old buildings and senates from old ages…it had the place of origin of Remus and Romulus the founders of Rome…the temples of venus and Saturn…the sunlight playing on the caves and tunnels and ruins…the view of the collosseum just beside us…the view of the whole city of rome….as the sun set…it was indescribable….  The sky was blue the buildings had a red tinge to them…we were in there for 3 hours just walking around….

This done we went next to the Vittoriano…which was superb in the nightlight….fabulous sculptures and architecture….but by now we had reached our fill for the day plus our camera batteries had died…we saw the city by night from up there….it was beautiful….here the birds did strange things….almost 5 large groups of birds flew in groups very fast making patterns in the sky !! like some show ! as if there isn’t enough to see down on the ground….

Then we went to the Pantheon !!:) which was gorgeous…but could see from outside only…

Still just amazing…the inscriptions on it….have to find out what it says though….and it is soo huge…the pillars seem to go on forever….it was great at night..im sure even better in day light…

After this we got some dinner…pasta….not that good…expensive..but we were starving…had not eaten lunch either… and then we went to the first of gelato bars highly suggested by guide books…

I got scoops of icecream I cant pronounce the name of….well one lesson learnt…taste it before you buy it..lol…J but anyway…I was being adventurous….

We walked towards our hostel..the other side of the city..and as we walked we came across so many more ancient buildings that we dint know the names of…it was 9 by now and legs were hurting . we have been walking for 10 hours….came back…put my feet under running hot water for a while…felt amazing…now typing as I drink tea….

Tomoro we are going to the Vatican city for the whole day….they tell me it is its own country..!! but I don’t understand that very much..i should read up on wiki….

I cant wait to got here…see the Sistine chapel…trevi fountain…Spanish steps…woowee… !!

We might go again on Wednesday because they say that the pope addresses the general audience J

We ll see

Well that’s all for now !

Gnite

Love you all

sunset over rome..