Wayne's Europe Trip: My First Adventure, Trip Report
Jul 28th, 2006, 09:50 AM
#22
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<b><font color="PINK"><i><u>Day 8 Mon. 10/10 Lugano-Venice</u></i></font></b>
We said good-bye to our Swiss Chalet early in the morning. We were going to ITALY! By the end of the day we would be in romantic Venice.
But first we would drive across Switzerland, through the mountains, to the Italian side & stop for a few hours in the city of Lugano. We could see the architecture change as we drove along.It was amazing how the people changed as we went from German to Italian. Much warmer & friendlier. But they were still Swiss, so there was an air of aloofness. (<b><i><font color="ORANGE">Not to stereotype or anything.</font></i></b>
) Finally we crossed the border for Italy. Immediately we began screaming for pasta & wine. 
We stopped at a restaurant along the highway and changed our Swiss Francs into Lira. (1500 Lira = $1) By this time I had changed money so much, I was so clueless, I could have paid a billion dollars for a pack of gum! An irritating thing throughout most of Italy is almost all public toilets are pay toilets! 500 Lira. Anyway the wine & spaghetti was great.A few hours later we pulled up to a building, in the middle of nowhere and stopped. Our tour guide said, "Here's our hotel." I looked around, <i>"Um, excuse me, but I don't be seein' no water!"</i> It turns out that Venice is more than just the area on water. We were staying on the outskirts of the town. The Luxury Tour stays on the water. But it was only a ten minute drive to the boat which would take us to old Venice.
So I unpacked, showered & slept. Tonight we were going to see a show in Venice (the part with the water). It was traditional Italian songs, violins, pianos, the works, all performed live. Spumanti was free. (Uh, oh.)
Later in the evening, we caught the boat into old Venice. Even at night it was <font color="RED">breathtaking</font>! Just like what you see in the movies. The show was spectacular. Afterwards we walked around St. Mark's square. We would be coming back in the morning.
On the way back, one of the older gentlemen on the tour began singing. We were about to throw tomatoes, when we realised something: <font color="OLIVE"><b>He was amazing</b></font>! It turns out he was an Opera singer when he was younger. He was a native Italian who left when he was in his twenties and hadn't been back in forty years. So this trip was a celebration/homecoming for him. Nat managed to pilfer several extra bottles of Spumanti. We passed them around and he serenaded us as we sailed back to the hotel. This is living...
-----
<font color="BLUE">Editor's Note:
12 years later, Nat managing to 'lift' those bottles of Spumanti from the restaurant, and pulling them out of his jacket and sharing them with us will be one of the very greatest, most memorable moments of my life!
Earlier when I met Nat, he reminded me of an Italian Sean Connery. That moment cinched it. I wrote to he and his wife 12 years later and they still live in Australia.
</font>
Jul 28th, 2006, 10:09 AM
#24
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<font color="ORANGE"><b><u><i>Day 9 Tues. 10/11 Venice</i></u></b></font>
As we got up the next morning, we were really psyched for spending the day in Venice. There was an optional gondola excursion, which I decided to pass on. A single guy riding on a gondola alone might as well have a neon <font color="OLIVE"><b>LOSER</b></font>
sign above his head. The group gathered together in St. Mark’s Square & we got a history of the incredibly ornate St. Mark’s Cathedral.
There were hundreds of pigeons in the square. People would walk out with seeds and let the pigeons land all over them, like it was this great honor. Back in the States, the only way you let pigeons land all over you is if you’re homeless, a corpse or both!
We walked over to a world famous glass blowing shop and watched them make beautiful glass vases, cups, etc. from fiery hot molten glass. The workers in the store were terrified that we would break (or steal) something. They followed us all over the store. (No not just me!)
After this, the tour guide said that for the next six hours we were on our own to Eat, stroll, tour, sit and otherwise enjoy the timeless beauty of Venice. We could get maps, but why bother? Just point your-self in a direction and start walking, allow yourself to get lost. So this is what I did. I walked down strange alleyways, through people’s courtyards, private small squares, taking pictures and soaking up the beauty all the way.
All I can say is that when I direct my first blockbuster film, I am buying a home in Venice! Except for those annoying tourists, it seems untouched by time. I got some coffee in a little shop and sat on a bench and watched the gondolas go by & listened to the people get serenaded.
Towards the end of the day, I walked back to St. Mark’s and sat. Quite a few strangers came up to me and wanted to have pictures taken with me. (Hmm) I tried asking the natives if there was a local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I couldn’t remember how to say it in Italian, so I gave up.
As we rode back I thought each day of the tour seemed to top the one before. Today I hadn’t “done” anything except walked around, yet it was one of the most wonderful days in my life. I needed a week in Venice! I packed my bag again, in the morning we would leave for Pisa & Florence.
On a last minute whim I decided to ask one of the desk workers if he knew about Jehovah’s Witnesses & he said <i>“Hey, I’m one! you should have asked me yesterday, I would have taken you to a Hall!”</i> Ooops. Luca & I exchanged addresses. At least I now have someplace to go when I return.
As we got up the next morning, we were really psyched for spending the day in Venice. There was an optional gondola excursion, which I decided to pass on. A single guy riding on a gondola alone might as well have a neon <font color="OLIVE"><b>LOSER</b></font>
sign above his head. The group gathered together in St. Mark’s Square & we got a history of the incredibly ornate St. Mark’s Cathedral.There were hundreds of pigeons in the square. People would walk out with seeds and let the pigeons land all over them, like it was this great honor. Back in the States, the only way you let pigeons land all over you is if you’re homeless, a corpse or both!
We walked over to a world famous glass blowing shop and watched them make beautiful glass vases, cups, etc. from fiery hot molten glass. The workers in the store were terrified that we would break (or steal) something. They followed us all over the store. (No not just me!)
After this, the tour guide said that for the next six hours we were on our own to Eat, stroll, tour, sit and otherwise enjoy the timeless beauty of Venice. We could get maps, but why bother? Just point your-self in a direction and start walking, allow yourself to get lost. So this is what I did. I walked down strange alleyways, through people’s courtyards, private small squares, taking pictures and soaking up the beauty all the way.
All I can say is that when I direct my first blockbuster film, I am buying a home in Venice! Except for those annoying tourists, it seems untouched by time. I got some coffee in a little shop and sat on a bench and watched the gondolas go by & listened to the people get serenaded.
Towards the end of the day, I walked back to St. Mark’s and sat. Quite a few strangers came up to me and wanted to have pictures taken with me. (Hmm) I tried asking the natives if there was a local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I couldn’t remember how to say it in Italian, so I gave up.
As we rode back I thought each day of the tour seemed to top the one before. Today I hadn’t “done” anything except walked around, yet it was one of the most wonderful days in my life. I needed a week in Venice! I packed my bag again, in the morning we would leave for Pisa & Florence.
On a last minute whim I decided to ask one of the desk workers if he knew about Jehovah’s Witnesses & he said <i>“Hey, I’m one! you should have asked me yesterday, I would have taken you to a Hall!”</i> Ooops. Luca & I exchanged addresses. At least I now have someplace to go when I return.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:24 AM
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<font color="GREEN"><b><u><i>Day 10 Wed. 10/12 Pisa-Florence</i></u></b></font>
On this morning, we were going to make a 4 hour drive from Venice to Florence. Also we would make a pit-stop at the Square of Miracles and see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. On this day we were to see some of the most exquisite architecture in the world. Little did I know it would turn into <font color="red">HELL DAY</font>!
The drive started out well. We were winding our way through the Apennine Mountains of Northern Italy, when suddenly we hit a HUGE fog. I was just thinking to myself, "Gee I hope these #*%^ Italians slow down their crazy driving or else...", when the bus came to a complete stop. Traffic was stopped. We sat there for about an hour & we found out that there was a 14 car pile-up up ahead. We moved in stop-and-go traffic for another hour until we passed the masses of wreckage.
At last we were on our way to Pisa. We got into town & dined at a little out of the way placed. Afterward, we followed, Rosie, our guide down a side street and around a corner... <b><font color="blue">BEHOLD</font></b>! There it was, three breathtaking white marble buildings! The Leaning Tower looked like it could drop any minute. We ran around like madmen snapping pictures.
There was so much to see & so little time. We had to be back in the bus in a little over an hour. I needed to sit in the Square for a week! With a heavy heart I climbed back on the bus. :'(
As we made our way to Florence, we found that the fumes from the exhaust were <font color="purple">leaking into the bus</font>! Headaches and extreme nausea was turning a nice bus of tourists into prison rioters. But before we could start torching things, we arrived in Florence and drove to the Piazza de Michaelangelo, a Square that overlooks Italy's most picturesque city. A gigantic statue of David stands in the square and overlooks the city. We took a group photo here.
Florence is known for it's fine leather goods and jewelry. We went down the Piazza de Santa Croce & toured some shops and then saw the church of Santa Croce. Tomorrow we would come back and see the inside. Unfortunately, Florence is also known for pickpockets & bands of youths on mopeds who snag items from unsuspecting tourists. Rosie, warned us to be careful and no one was robbed.
So now it was time to head to our hotel for the evening. Rosie said it was 'just a few minutes' away from downtown Florence. To make a long story short, we drove so long that we were expecting to see the pyramids of Egypt along the way. We were a wreck when we finally got to our hotel. I didn't even bother to unpack, because we would be checking out in the morning.
We downed more wine & pasta and took our carbon monoxide filled lungs to bed.
On this morning, we were going to make a 4 hour drive from Venice to Florence. Also we would make a pit-stop at the Square of Miracles and see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. On this day we were to see some of the most exquisite architecture in the world. Little did I know it would turn into <font color="red">HELL DAY</font>!
The drive started out well. We were winding our way through the Apennine Mountains of Northern Italy, when suddenly we hit a HUGE fog. I was just thinking to myself, "Gee I hope these #*%^ Italians slow down their crazy driving or else...", when the bus came to a complete stop. Traffic was stopped. We sat there for about an hour & we found out that there was a 14 car pile-up up ahead. We moved in stop-and-go traffic for another hour until we passed the masses of wreckage.
At last we were on our way to Pisa. We got into town & dined at a little out of the way placed. Afterward, we followed, Rosie, our guide down a side street and around a corner... <b><font color="blue">BEHOLD</font></b>! There it was, three breathtaking white marble buildings! The Leaning Tower looked like it could drop any minute. We ran around like madmen snapping pictures.
There was so much to see & so little time. We had to be back in the bus in a little over an hour. I needed to sit in the Square for a week! With a heavy heart I climbed back on the bus. :'(
As we made our way to Florence, we found that the fumes from the exhaust were <font color="purple">leaking into the bus</font>! Headaches and extreme nausea was turning a nice bus of tourists into prison rioters. But before we could start torching things, we arrived in Florence and drove to the Piazza de Michaelangelo, a Square that overlooks Italy's most picturesque city. A gigantic statue of David stands in the square and overlooks the city. We took a group photo here.
Florence is known for it's fine leather goods and jewelry. We went down the Piazza de Santa Croce & toured some shops and then saw the church of Santa Croce. Tomorrow we would come back and see the inside. Unfortunately, Florence is also known for pickpockets & bands of youths on mopeds who snag items from unsuspecting tourists. Rosie, warned us to be careful and no one was robbed.
So now it was time to head to our hotel for the evening. Rosie said it was 'just a few minutes' away from downtown Florence. To make a long story short, we drove so long that we were expecting to see the pyramids of Egypt along the way. We were a wreck when we finally got to our hotel. I didn't even bother to unpack, because we would be checking out in the morning.
We downed more wine & pasta and took our carbon monoxide filled lungs to bed.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:40 AM
#27
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"Today I hadn’t “done” anything except walked around, yet it was one of the most wonderful days in my life. I needed a week in Venice!"
Isn't that the best thing? We plan and plan and it's those moments that really are the best! (And the people we meet, like Nat - loved that, too)
Enjoying this very much and looking forward to more . . .
Isn't that the best thing? We plan and plan and it's those moments that really are the best! (And the people we meet, like Nat - loved that, too)
Enjoying this very much and looking forward to more . . .
Jul 28th, 2006, 12:10 PM
#28
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<b><font color="VIOLET"><u><i>Day 11 Thurs 10/13 Florence-Rome</i></u></font></b>
First thing the next morning we were back in downtown Florence in the Piazza de Santa Croce. We had about four hours on our own to do what we wanted, then we had to be back on the bus for the drive to Rome.
I went inside the Church of Santa Croce. It is called the Pantheon of Florence because inside are the tombs of Michelangelo , Leonardo Da Vinci, Gallileo, Gioacchino Antoni Rossini, Niccolo Machiavelli, Conte Vittorio Alferi, Dante & others. If only the walls could talk! Florence was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. & it shows. The Duomo (cathedral) of Florence was designed & begun in the 1200s. White, red and green marble buildings decorate the city. The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) was built in 1350 & is lined with goldsmiths & jewellers shops.
There are museums all over Florence many containing the works of perhaps the greatest works of sculpture of ever, Donatello. Also, the original David statue by Michelangelo is here. (Believe it or not, I blew off the opportunity to see this. The museum was far, I didn't have time, it costed $15 to get in, & on top of that, there are so many copies of David around the city, I was sick of seeing it!)
<font color="RED">Editor's Note: 12 years later,one of the very greatest mistakes of my life was not trucking out there to see the REALL David. I was told that no matter how many replicas you see, there is nothing like seeing the real thing, in the museum with light shining on it.</font>
Florence also contains the greatest libraries in Italy, esp. the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale. And of course being Italy there are fountains and statues in every square. I got some really amazing pictures of me in front of David, Zeus and other statues. (Naturally, they were not NEARLY as buffed as I was!!
)
Of course when you go to Florence you are expected to purchase some of their fine leather goods & jewellery. And the stuff was incredible, but an important note: <b>Just because you're in Italy doesn't mean that you're getting the stuff for free! </b> In fact some things were just RIDICULOUSLY expensive! I think I'll just get a JC Penney leather jacket thank you. As I headed back to the bus, I knew that there was so much more to see & I had only gotten a glimpse but it was time to go to ROME!
On the bus to Rome, we sang Italian songs we learned in Venice, chatted & showed off the trinkets we bought, not to mention sleeping. I also took some time to works on CHAOS. Just because I was on vacation doesn't mean I can't get something done! (Spoken like a work-a-holic!) Seriously though all the culture was great for my creativity.
We arrived in Rome at a nice hotel. (once again on the "outskirts" of town.) But standing on my balcony I could see St. Peter's Basilica. We had time to rest, because we were going to do "Rome By Night". This would include a tour of the city and a four star dinner.
Seeing ruins at night was indescribable. It seems in Rome that whenever they start to construct new buildings, they stumble upon an old ruin which must be preserved, so they have to build around it. There is something foul & even sacrilegious about have a McDonald's and a 1000 year old marble ruin in the same vicinity!
We drove through the Vatican, past the Coliseum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier & eventually stopped at the Trevi Fountain. (See Roman Holiday w/Audrey Hepburn.) In ancient Rome, the fountains were where people got their drinking water, but the Romans didn't simply build something that shot out water. They sculpted marvellous pieces of art that were functional. My favourite fountain was one that had four HUGE, life-like human figures representing the four great rivers of the earth that were know at the time: the Nile, the Euphrates, the Tigris and the Ganges. But at the time, they didn't know the source of the Nile & so the figure representing the Nile has his head covered.
Our dinner was sumptuous! LOTS & LOTS more wine, pasta, and garlic bread. We were serenaded while we ate. The only downside was the lack of air & too much heat in the restaurant. I was sweating profusely and sneezing at the same time. My last memory of the evening was staggering around in my room looking for IBUPROFEN. Headache city!
And I was supposed to see the Vatican in the morning! Hopefully I wouldn't end up projectile vomiting on the Pope...
First thing the next morning we were back in downtown Florence in the Piazza de Santa Croce. We had about four hours on our own to do what we wanted, then we had to be back on the bus for the drive to Rome.
I went inside the Church of Santa Croce. It is called the Pantheon of Florence because inside are the tombs of Michelangelo , Leonardo Da Vinci, Gallileo, Gioacchino Antoni Rossini, Niccolo Machiavelli, Conte Vittorio Alferi, Dante & others. If only the walls could talk! Florence was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. & it shows. The Duomo (cathedral) of Florence was designed & begun in the 1200s. White, red and green marble buildings decorate the city. The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) was built in 1350 & is lined with goldsmiths & jewellers shops.
There are museums all over Florence many containing the works of perhaps the greatest works of sculpture of ever, Donatello. Also, the original David statue by Michelangelo is here. (Believe it or not, I blew off the opportunity to see this. The museum was far, I didn't have time, it costed $15 to get in, & on top of that, there are so many copies of David around the city, I was sick of seeing it!)
<font color="RED">Editor's Note: 12 years later,one of the very greatest mistakes of my life was not trucking out there to see the REALL David. I was told that no matter how many replicas you see, there is nothing like seeing the real thing, in the museum with light shining on it.</font>
Florence also contains the greatest libraries in Italy, esp. the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale. And of course being Italy there are fountains and statues in every square. I got some really amazing pictures of me in front of David, Zeus and other statues. (Naturally, they were not NEARLY as buffed as I was!!
) Of course when you go to Florence you are expected to purchase some of their fine leather goods & jewellery. And the stuff was incredible, but an important note: <b>Just because you're in Italy doesn't mean that you're getting the stuff for free! </b> In fact some things were just RIDICULOUSLY expensive! I think I'll just get a JC Penney leather jacket thank you. As I headed back to the bus, I knew that there was so much more to see & I had only gotten a glimpse but it was time to go to ROME!
On the bus to Rome, we sang Italian songs we learned in Venice, chatted & showed off the trinkets we bought, not to mention sleeping. I also took some time to works on CHAOS. Just because I was on vacation doesn't mean I can't get something done! (Spoken like a work-a-holic!) Seriously though all the culture was great for my creativity.
We arrived in Rome at a nice hotel. (once again on the "outskirts" of town.) But standing on my balcony I could see St. Peter's Basilica. We had time to rest, because we were going to do "Rome By Night". This would include a tour of the city and a four star dinner.
Seeing ruins at night was indescribable. It seems in Rome that whenever they start to construct new buildings, they stumble upon an old ruin which must be preserved, so they have to build around it. There is something foul & even sacrilegious about have a McDonald's and a 1000 year old marble ruin in the same vicinity!
We drove through the Vatican, past the Coliseum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier & eventually stopped at the Trevi Fountain. (See Roman Holiday w/Audrey Hepburn.) In ancient Rome, the fountains were where people got their drinking water, but the Romans didn't simply build something that shot out water. They sculpted marvellous pieces of art that were functional. My favourite fountain was one that had four HUGE, life-like human figures representing the four great rivers of the earth that were know at the time: the Nile, the Euphrates, the Tigris and the Ganges. But at the time, they didn't know the source of the Nile & so the figure representing the Nile has his head covered.
Our dinner was sumptuous! LOTS & LOTS more wine, pasta, and garlic bread. We were serenaded while we ate. The only downside was the lack of air & too much heat in the restaurant. I was sweating profusely and sneezing at the same time. My last memory of the evening was staggering around in my room looking for IBUPROFEN. Headache city!
And I was supposed to see the Vatican in the morning! Hopefully I wouldn't end up projectile vomiting on the Pope...
Jul 28th, 2006, 01:34 PM
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<font color="purple"><b><u><i>Day 12 Fri. 10/14 Rome</i></u></b></font>
<font color="blue">(I forgot one interesting little tidbit about Rome. As we were driving there, Rosie told us that there were some reports of people going to sleep in their hotels & then waking up in the morning to find all of their stuff gone!
It turns out the vogue new way to rob people was to spray sleeping gas underneath their door while they sleep. Then they can simply pick the lock & take their time emptying your room.
In order to thwart this, Rosie said we needed to place lots of wet towels at the bottom of our door to block the gas. And then maybe a chair wedged underneath the doorknob. We were all horrified. So that night before everyone went to bed, they built Fort Knox by their door. I set up a weird contraption of wet towels, the dresser & desk combined with a standing mirror, which would fall over and break if the door was pushed open. MacGyver would have been proud!) </font>
<b>Ah Roma!</b> As soon as the sun came up we toured the ruins of Ancient Rome. It truly deserves to be called the <u>Eternal City</u>. We went to the Forum & then we stopped at the Coliseum. Unfortunately Rome was on "general strike" that day & so we couldn't enter. I couldn't believe that I hit another strike again! These "general strikes" in Rome are pretty bogus. No one pickets for any type of cause. People just sit around on their butts & eat pizza. (Hmm maybe that is a good idea.)
Anyhow, even from just the outside, it is a marvel! For some reason, the area is overrun with stray cats who run around hissing at each other loudly. I closed my eyes & imagined myself as an ancient Christian being brought to this building to be fed to the lions, thousands of Romans inside cheering & <font color="red">the roar of hungry lions waiting to devour my flesh</font>! It was very sobering. (Something to keep in mind when the Great Tribulation starts!)
Then we drove to a restaurant right outside Vatican City. (I know, more eating!) I really found it interesting that the Italians don't put the HEAVY HEAVY amount of seasoning on their dishes that we do. I was expecting all of Italy to just reek of garlic & other spices, but everything was lightly seasoned, but GOOD!
Rosie told us not to send mail from anywhere in Italy because it would never get there. She said wait till we get to the Vatican their postal system is run by the Swiss & they understand the concept of mail actually getting to it's destination. So I sat in the shadow of St. Peter's filling out postcards & nursing my headache from the night before.
A special Italian guide would be conducting our tour of the Vatican. She spoke English, but with a HEAVY Italian accent which seemed to require an "A" at the end of virtually every single word. Therefore a sentence would sound like this: <font color="brown">"Hello-a. First-a we go-a to the Sistine-a Chapel-a. Then-a we go-a in St. Peter-a Basilica. Now-a follow me-a!"</font> Nevertheless, we were able to make it into the Vatican Museums without a hitch.
Before you even get anywhere near the Sistine Chapel, there are incredible works that alone could take days to look at. One of the highlights was 400 year old tapestries by Raphael. These contained scenes of Jesus with his Apostles. There were marvelous paintings all over & we probably didn't give any of them the time they deserved because we were so anxious to get to the Sistine Chapel. We kept seeing signs for it & our guide kept telling we were getting closer but it seemed to be taking forever!
<font color="GREEN"><i>"Now-a, when-a we go through-a here-a, we will-a be-a at the Sistine Chapel-a."</i></font> We would then proceed to walk for 15 minutes, up stairs, down stairs & still not be there! <font color="GREEN"><i>"Before-a we go-a to Sistine-a Chapel-a I wanna show-a you-a something-a."</i></font> Groan! <b>"Can we see the ^%$# Chapel already!?!"</b>
But finally, we entered the door... All I can say it is one of the most powerful experiences I've ever had! It is everything you're heard and more. You aren't allowed to take pictures in there, but a few people snuck them anyway. Naturally I would never skirt the law however. The big down side is that we only had fifteen minutes to stay inside! I needed to lay on my back for days and just stare up at the ceiling. But I didn't even bother to get angry, I will be back!
From there we walked into St. Peter's Cathedral, the largest church in the world. By this time, I had been to so many huge, ornate churches, that I thought nothing would ever impress me again. <font color="red">Wrong!</font> At first I couldn't get a handle on the size. But then we looked at the floor and saw names of other large churches of the world. From the spot where the name was, to the front was where that church could fit <u>inside of St. Peter's</u>! You could drop Westminster Abbey inside of it and still have room for a football game!
By the time it was over, I really didn't know what to think. On the one hand, I was awestruck at some of the most amazing works ever done by human hands. On the other hand, I couldn't help be somewhat repulsed by the unbelievable show of wealth & opulence. Think of the many people who died so that this could be here! Could this really be what Jesus had in mind? Moments like this make you ponder the very foundation of human existence. What is truth? What does God want from us? <u>What time do we eat?</u>
The farewell dinner was going to be tonight. Most of the people were heading home the next day. I had added a 4 day extension through Southern Italy. About 7 other people were going. So we went back to the hotel, rested for while & then got ready for dinner.
Before dinner we went to the Spanish Steps. They actually have nothing to do with Spain except that the Spanish embassy is down the street. We mingled among the Romans, poking our heads into shops we knew we couldn't afford. And then, another sumptuous 4 course meal! We were serenaded, but this time there was a tinge of sadness. I would never see some of these people again. The singer played <font color="blue">"Arrivederci Roma"</font> & we sang and ate & drank. We also did the "good-bye, trading addresses & swearing we would write" thing too.
Once again we went to our hotel & packed. As I lay in my bead with the moonlight shining in a smile of complete & total satisfaction beamed across my face.
<font color="blue">(I forgot one interesting little tidbit about Rome. As we were driving there, Rosie told us that there were some reports of people going to sleep in their hotels & then waking up in the morning to find all of their stuff gone!
It turns out the vogue new way to rob people was to spray sleeping gas underneath their door while they sleep. Then they can simply pick the lock & take their time emptying your room.In order to thwart this, Rosie said we needed to place lots of wet towels at the bottom of our door to block the gas. And then maybe a chair wedged underneath the doorknob. We were all horrified. So that night before everyone went to bed, they built Fort Knox by their door. I set up a weird contraption of wet towels, the dresser & desk combined with a standing mirror, which would fall over and break if the door was pushed open. MacGyver would have been proud!) </font>
<b>Ah Roma!</b> As soon as the sun came up we toured the ruins of Ancient Rome. It truly deserves to be called the <u>Eternal City</u>. We went to the Forum & then we stopped at the Coliseum. Unfortunately Rome was on "general strike" that day & so we couldn't enter. I couldn't believe that I hit another strike again! These "general strikes" in Rome are pretty bogus. No one pickets for any type of cause. People just sit around on their butts & eat pizza. (Hmm maybe that is a good idea.)
Anyhow, even from just the outside, it is a marvel! For some reason, the area is overrun with stray cats who run around hissing at each other loudly. I closed my eyes & imagined myself as an ancient Christian being brought to this building to be fed to the lions, thousands of Romans inside cheering & <font color="red">the roar of hungry lions waiting to devour my flesh</font>! It was very sobering. (Something to keep in mind when the Great Tribulation starts!)
Then we drove to a restaurant right outside Vatican City. (I know, more eating!) I really found it interesting that the Italians don't put the HEAVY HEAVY amount of seasoning on their dishes that we do. I was expecting all of Italy to just reek of garlic & other spices, but everything was lightly seasoned, but GOOD!
Rosie told us not to send mail from anywhere in Italy because it would never get there. She said wait till we get to the Vatican their postal system is run by the Swiss & they understand the concept of mail actually getting to it's destination. So I sat in the shadow of St. Peter's filling out postcards & nursing my headache from the night before.
A special Italian guide would be conducting our tour of the Vatican. She spoke English, but with a HEAVY Italian accent which seemed to require an "A" at the end of virtually every single word. Therefore a sentence would sound like this: <font color="brown">"Hello-a. First-a we go-a to the Sistine-a Chapel-a. Then-a we go-a in St. Peter-a Basilica. Now-a follow me-a!"</font> Nevertheless, we were able to make it into the Vatican Museums without a hitch.
Before you even get anywhere near the Sistine Chapel, there are incredible works that alone could take days to look at. One of the highlights was 400 year old tapestries by Raphael. These contained scenes of Jesus with his Apostles. There were marvelous paintings all over & we probably didn't give any of them the time they deserved because we were so anxious to get to the Sistine Chapel. We kept seeing signs for it & our guide kept telling we were getting closer but it seemed to be taking forever!
<font color="GREEN"><i>"Now-a, when-a we go through-a here-a, we will-a be-a at the Sistine Chapel-a."</i></font> We would then proceed to walk for 15 minutes, up stairs, down stairs & still not be there! <font color="GREEN"><i>"Before-a we go-a to Sistine-a Chapel-a I wanna show-a you-a something-a."</i></font> Groan! <b>"Can we see the ^%$# Chapel already!?!"</b>
But finally, we entered the door... All I can say it is one of the most powerful experiences I've ever had! It is everything you're heard and more. You aren't allowed to take pictures in there, but a few people snuck them anyway.
Naturally I would never skirt the law however. The big down side is that we only had fifteen minutes to stay inside! I needed to lay on my back for days and just stare up at the ceiling. But I didn't even bother to get angry, I will be back!From there we walked into St. Peter's Cathedral, the largest church in the world. By this time, I had been to so many huge, ornate churches, that I thought nothing would ever impress me again. <font color="red">Wrong!</font> At first I couldn't get a handle on the size. But then we looked at the floor and saw names of other large churches of the world. From the spot where the name was, to the front was where that church could fit <u>inside of St. Peter's</u>! You could drop Westminster Abbey inside of it and still have room for a football game!
By the time it was over, I really didn't know what to think. On the one hand, I was awestruck at some of the most amazing works ever done by human hands. On the other hand, I couldn't help be somewhat repulsed by the unbelievable show of wealth & opulence. Think of the many people who died so that this could be here! Could this really be what Jesus had in mind? Moments like this make you ponder the very foundation of human existence. What is truth? What does God want from us? <u>What time do we eat?</u>
The farewell dinner was going to be tonight. Most of the people were heading home the next day. I had added a 4 day extension through Southern Italy. About 7 other people were going. So we went back to the hotel, rested for while & then got ready for dinner.
Before dinner we went to the Spanish Steps. They actually have nothing to do with Spain except that the Spanish embassy is down the street. We mingled among the Romans, poking our heads into shops we knew we couldn't afford. And then, another sumptuous 4 course meal! We were serenaded, but this time there was a tinge of sadness. I would never see some of these people again. The singer played <font color="blue">"Arrivederci Roma"</font> & we sang and ate & drank. We also did the "good-bye, trading addresses & swearing we would write" thing too.
Once again we went to our hotel & packed. As I lay in my bead with the moonlight shining in a smile of complete & total satisfaction beamed across my face.
Jul 28th, 2006, 02:18 PM
#30
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<font color="GREEN"><b><u><i>Day 14 Sun. 16th Sorrento</i></u></b></font>
My body was still used to rising at the first sign of sunlight, but at least there was no place to go. I lay in bed for another hour, just trying to digest the many things that I had seen in the past two weeks. I rubbed the "'pasta gut" that I was developing. 8-) Eventually I went out onto the balcony and watched women in the houses down the road hanging their clothes out to dry.
Shirley & Katy came out onto the balcony & we chatted for a while. They had breakfast sent up. Now what was a good breakfast without champagne? We decided to do the unspeakable: <b><font color="RED">have something from the mini-bar</font></b>. You know the incredibly well stocked mini-bar that exists in some hotel rooms where you pay $100,000 for a bag of potato chips! Each of us had a tiny bottle of champagne the size of a Dixie cup. (I won't tell you how much it costed.)
The rest of the morning & afternoon consisted of lounging, and more lounging. Then we walked around Sorrento got some Spaghetti Bolognese & lounged some more.
By 5PM I was dressed to go to the Kingdom Hall. I stood in the hotel lobby at 5:30 waiting for Angelo to pick me up. When Angelo & his family arrived, I found out that they spoke virtually no English at all. So I wasn't going to an English speaking congregation.
When I got to the Hall, everyone was excited to see me. Fortunately there were a few young people there who were taking English in school to serve as translators. The whole process was exhilarating. I would slowly say some English words combined with pantomime to some teenager, they would take a second to "digest" it all, then they would turn to the other person & converse with them in Italian. The answer would come back to me in English & more gestures. I felt like I was in Dances with Wolves!
I sat through the whole meeting not understanding a word, but happy to be there nevertheless. It is amazing to be a part of something so international & united! Next time I will make sure I learn some Italian first.
I went to bed with my faith feeling strengthened.
My body was still used to rising at the first sign of sunlight, but at least there was no place to go. I lay in bed for another hour, just trying to digest the many things that I had seen in the past two weeks. I rubbed the "'pasta gut" that I was developing. 8-) Eventually I went out onto the balcony and watched women in the houses down the road hanging their clothes out to dry.
Shirley & Katy came out onto the balcony & we chatted for a while. They had breakfast sent up. Now what was a good breakfast without champagne? We decided to do the unspeakable: <b><font color="RED">have something from the mini-bar</font></b>. You know the incredibly well stocked mini-bar that exists in some hotel rooms where you pay $100,000 for a bag of potato chips! Each of us had a tiny bottle of champagne the size of a Dixie cup. (I won't tell you how much it costed.)
The rest of the morning & afternoon consisted of lounging, and more lounging. Then we walked around Sorrento got some Spaghetti Bolognese & lounged some more.
By 5PM I was dressed to go to the Kingdom Hall. I stood in the hotel lobby at 5:30 waiting for Angelo to pick me up. When Angelo & his family arrived, I found out that they spoke virtually no English at all. So I wasn't going to an English speaking congregation.
When I got to the Hall, everyone was excited to see me. Fortunately there were a few young people there who were taking English in school to serve as translators. The whole process was exhilarating. I would slowly say some English words combined with pantomime to some teenager, they would take a second to "digest" it all, then they would turn to the other person & converse with them in Italian. The answer would come back to me in English & more gestures. I felt like I was in Dances with Wolves!
I sat through the whole meeting not understanding a word, but happy to be there nevertheless. It is amazing to be a part of something so international & united! Next time I will make sure I learn some Italian first.
I went to bed with my faith feeling strengthened.
Jul 29th, 2006, 06:59 AM
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<font color="olive"><b><u><i>Day 15 Mon. 17 Capri</i></u></b></font>
For my day trip out to the isle of Capri I had the option of taking an all day tour where I would learn about the history of the island & see many important sites. Or I could just decide to completely wing it, just get off at the harbour and walk around. I opted for the latter. I had learned so much already.
{In short, I learned later on that Capri, an island in the Bay of Naples off the Southern tip of Italy, was a get-away place for Emperor Tiberius. }
When the boat docked at Capri I just started walking. I walked up a steep narrow path that led past people's backyards. I mingled with the natives as they worked on their gardens, walked to work or just sat around. As I got higher and higher I looked out towards the water and saw one of the most awesome views I've seen.
Gradually, I made it away from the areas where natives lived, to the touristy & resort areas. Of all the days of the entire trip, this was the one where I felt the pure and unadulterated sensation of being in another dimension. As I stood and the edge of cliffs, overlooking the shores of Capri, Microsoft, computers, fax machines, traffic jams, (& credit card bills) were simply a distant surreal memory from 1000 years ago.
When I direct my <b><i>second</i></b> Oscar winning film, I'll get a villa here.
<font color="blue">To make a long story short, my day on Capri was a day in which I accomplished nothing & learned nothing. Yet felt <i>everything.</i></font>
For my day trip out to the isle of Capri I had the option of taking an all day tour where I would learn about the history of the island & see many important sites. Or I could just decide to completely wing it, just get off at the harbour and walk around. I opted for the latter. I had learned so much already.
{In short, I learned later on that Capri, an island in the Bay of Naples off the Southern tip of Italy, was a get-away place for Emperor Tiberius. }
When the boat docked at Capri I just started walking. I walked up a steep narrow path that led past people's backyards. I mingled with the natives as they worked on their gardens, walked to work or just sat around. As I got higher and higher I looked out towards the water and saw one of the most awesome views I've seen.
Gradually, I made it away from the areas where natives lived, to the touristy & resort areas. Of all the days of the entire trip, this was the one where I felt the pure and unadulterated sensation of being in another dimension. As I stood and the edge of cliffs, overlooking the shores of Capri, Microsoft, computers, fax machines, traffic jams, (& credit card bills) were simply a distant surreal memory from 1000 years ago.
When I direct my <b><i>second</i></b> Oscar winning film, I'll get a villa here.
<font color="blue">To make a long story short, my day on Capri was a day in which I accomplished nothing & learned nothing. Yet felt <i>everything.</i></font>
Jul 30th, 2006, 10:23 AM
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<font color="PURPLE"><b><i><u>Day 16 Tues. 18 Pompeii-Vessuvius</u></i></b></font>
For my last "historical day" of the tour I was going to see the ruins of Pompeii & then I would scale Mt. Vesuvius.
When we got to Pompeii, we met our tour guide, an older German woman named: Nina. She spoke in a thick accent, chain smoked, and carried an umbrella. (Just imagine Hitler's version of Mary Poppins.) Whenever she wanted to summon the people with her tour, she would yell out "NINA!!!" and we would scurry over to her like rats. Believe it or not, I really I liked her, but then again, I was always a masochist.
Anyhow, Pompeii was fascinating. We walked around for 3 hours and yet only saw a tiny portion of the 3 square miles of excavated ruins.
Then we scaled Mt. Vesuvius & looked down into the crater. We could also see where lava had flowed down the side. By the way, Vesuivus is well overdue to erupt again. Yet people are building homes right next to it! Of course these will be the same people crying on the news when everything they own gets destroyed. (If they are lucky enough to live.) Don't send them money, send them maps & advice. Move where the volcanoes aren't!!
I went back to the hotel & packed once again for my return to Rome. Shirley, Katy & I wandered around Sorrento for a few hours, then I called it an early evening.
For my last "historical day" of the tour I was going to see the ruins of Pompeii & then I would scale Mt. Vesuvius.
When we got to Pompeii, we met our tour guide, an older German woman named: Nina. She spoke in a thick accent, chain smoked, and carried an umbrella. (Just imagine Hitler's version of Mary Poppins.) Whenever she wanted to summon the people with her tour, she would yell out "NINA!!!" and we would scurry over to her like rats. Believe it or not, I really I liked her, but then again, I was always a masochist.
Anyhow, Pompeii was fascinating. We walked around for 3 hours and yet only saw a tiny portion of the 3 square miles of excavated ruins.
Then we scaled Mt. Vesuvius & looked down into the crater. We could also see where lava had flowed down the side. By the way, Vesuivus is well overdue to erupt again. Yet people are building homes right next to it! Of course these will be the same people crying on the news when everything they own gets destroyed. (If they are lucky enough to live.) Don't send them money, send them maps & advice. Move where the volcanoes aren't!!
I went back to the hotel & packed once again for my return to Rome. Shirley, Katy & I wandered around Sorrento for a few hours, then I called it an early evening.
Jul 30th, 2006, 04:16 PM
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<b><i><font color="VIOLET"><u>Day 17 Wed. 19 - Rome
</u></font></i></b>
The drive back to Rome seemed shorter than it's four hours. Once we got there, around 1PM, I had the day to myself. My plane would leave at 6AM the next morning, which would mean I would have to leave the hotel at 4:30AM the latest. A cab to the airport would cost approximately $50 US. As cheap as I am, I considered that if I actually started walking <i>at that moment</i>, I could get there in time for my flight the next morning, for free, but I (wisely) decided against that.
I decided I would take my life into my own hands & try to take a bus into downtown Rome. I had no idea how much a bus ticket cost, but I stood at a bus stop and waited with everyone else. (All non-English speaking people who couldn't tell me squat.) So I jumped on the bus, when it came, I held out money in my hands trying to ask the bus driver, "How Much?" The bus driver was behind a huge glass barrier that seemed to be nuclear warhead proof & he completely ignored me. I looked around the bus waving my money saying "How Much?" in a fake Italian accent. I was ignored. It dawned on me that I looked like a moron.
Then, a revelation hit me: <font color="GREEN">Just slip in the back and stay quiet. Keep your money in your hand. Get off when your stop comes up. If someone says something, just act like a stupid American tourist (no stretch!) and hand them the money. </font> Well, the last stop at the Vatican came & I jumped off with everyone else. Viola! Free bus ride.
I wandered in the Vatican courtyards & in and out of stores. Eventually, it was time to head back. This time I simply walked on the bus, like I knew what I was doing and sat right in the back. When we got to my hotel, I walked off carelessly. YES!! Livin' on the edge!
Later I found out that you are supposed to buy a ticket before getting on the bus & that there are surprise inspections on the city buses where they check passengers for tickets. You can be in "a lot of trouble" if you don't have your ticket. Hopefully I wouldn't wake up with a horse's head in my bed! By the way, since I was back in Rome, I put the wet towel back under my door before going to sleep.
I also did the "final pack". All my gifts, clothes, souvenirs, etc. were wrapped & packed away neatly. The trip of a lifetime had come to an end.
</u></font></i></b>
The drive back to Rome seemed shorter than it's four hours. Once we got there, around 1PM, I had the day to myself. My plane would leave at 6AM the next morning, which would mean I would have to leave the hotel at 4:30AM the latest. A cab to the airport would cost approximately $50 US. As cheap as I am, I considered that if I actually started walking <i>at that moment</i>, I could get there in time for my flight the next morning, for free, but I (wisely) decided against that.
I decided I would take my life into my own hands & try to take a bus into downtown Rome. I had no idea how much a bus ticket cost, but I stood at a bus stop and waited with everyone else. (All non-English speaking people who couldn't tell me squat.) So I jumped on the bus, when it came, I held out money in my hands trying to ask the bus driver, "How Much?" The bus driver was behind a huge glass barrier that seemed to be nuclear warhead proof & he completely ignored me. I looked around the bus waving my money saying "How Much?" in a fake Italian accent. I was ignored. It dawned on me that I looked like a moron.
Then, a revelation hit me: <font color="GREEN">Just slip in the back and stay quiet. Keep your money in your hand. Get off when your stop comes up. If someone says something, just act like a stupid American tourist (no stretch!) and hand them the money. </font> Well, the last stop at the Vatican came & I jumped off with everyone else. Viola! Free bus ride.
I wandered in the Vatican courtyards & in and out of stores. Eventually, it was time to head back. This time I simply walked on the bus, like I knew what I was doing and sat right in the back. When we got to my hotel, I walked off carelessly. YES!! Livin' on the edge!
Later I found out that you are supposed to buy a ticket before getting on the bus & that there are surprise inspections on the city buses where they check passengers for tickets. You can be in "a lot of trouble" if you don't have your ticket. Hopefully I wouldn't wake up with a horse's head in my bed! By the way, since I was back in Rome, I put the wet towel back under my door before going to sleep.
I also did the "final pack". All my gifts, clothes, souvenirs, etc. were wrapped & packed away neatly. The trip of a lifetime had come to an end.
Jul 31st, 2006, 08:26 AM
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<b><font color="BLUE"><i><u>Day 18 Thurs. 20 - Rome->USA
</u></i></font></b>
My taxi came right on time to take me to the airport. I flew from Rome to London & then boarded the "real plane" for my ten hour flight back to Seattle.
I was looking forward to using the 10 hours, to sleep, read, relax and savour the many fine experiences of the last 18 days.
As I slept, a thousand images flashed through my head of the many things I had seen. From bloodthirsty ravens, to gondolas, to the Alps, to DaVinci's grave, the trip was over, but the memory could never be taken away!
When the plane touched down at Sea-Tac airport in Washington State, I let out a breath that I felt I had been holding for an eternity. Back in one piece!
<i><font color="GREEN">'And he looked at all that was around him, and he saw that it was good...'</font></i>
</u></i></font></b>
My taxi came right on time to take me to the airport. I flew from Rome to London & then boarded the "real plane" for my ten hour flight back to Seattle.
I was looking forward to using the 10 hours, to sleep, read, relax and savour the many fine experiences of the last 18 days.
As I slept, a thousand images flashed through my head of the many things I had seen. From bloodthirsty ravens, to gondolas, to the Alps, to DaVinci's grave, the trip was over, but the memory could never be taken away!
When the plane touched down at Sea-Tac airport in Washington State, I let out a breath that I felt I had been holding for an eternity. Back in one piece!
<i><font color="GREEN">'And he looked at all that was around him, and he saw that it was good...'</font></i>
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