Sometimes if your traveling with people, the sheer amount of time spent having to make minute to minute decisions that involve not only your time and experience but also your wallet, it make even the most perfect groups dynamics a tad tense. With our second day to explore the city, exhausted, half our crew sick, we were in just such a place. I mention this because I think it’s worth while saying that along side every picture of glamour and fun, there is a back story that for the large part in travel blogs, goes unmentioned. Whether it was the hours of research before you even left to find the right place to stay or the best deal on airfare, or in the moment right there on your dream vacation, sometimes things aren't perfect. I believe it’s the expectation of perfection that can ruin a good thing.
So it’s Saturday morning, we are in Dublin, and tiredness has gotten the best of us. Which way do you lean into? Do you fight? Do you give into the stress and let the day be taken from you? No! You find grace for each other, take a power nap, get some coffee and seize the day!
Upon such seizing, my favorite personal moment was seeing this little piece of everyday life in Dublin, which was also an pleasant foreshadowing for the day, hint hint.
With a bit of recon work, right down the street I find a little coffee shop called Catherine's Cafe & Bakery (they were doing a bit of renovations, not sure if a name had been settled on) but locals seemed to be going in, so I followed suit. Another little gem, I brought the troops and we restored some much needed energy with a good Irish breakfast. I had a very filling chicken pie and flat white, go figure right?
Now to explore!
Ireland has a rich and rather violent history of religious affairs. The right to soil between Protestants and Catholics along with some very severe circumstances i.e potato famine, are a fairly solid proof that the Irish are a resistant bunch. Their church’s, those still standing, are quite spectacular given the circumstances of the people that built them.
Along with a wandering through and around some of Dublin’s sacreds, we took some time wandering the streets to soak in whatever the next left turn would hold for us.
The Penny Bridge is another favorite of mine, complete with the promises of many an ambitious couple, locking away their love to one another with witness by the white cast iron walkaway and the river flowing underneath.
Another such left turn took us meet Toby the horse. And for a brief ride down Thomas street complete with a van of Irish men sitting in traffic, singing us songs as we past by.
Of course, No trip to Ireland is complete without a trip to a castle
In this case the Dublin Castle which is still used today to hold dignitaries most formal soirées.
And to fit the wash, rinse, and repeat evening of successful adventure, we of course ended up in a pub with some Cottage Pie ( side note: Shepard’s Pie very hard to actually find in most places here) asbestos tongue recommended!
Every challenge is a testament to how much getting out there and exploring is paid in full. Having fun takes some work, but it’s worth it.
]]>I like to map out where I go to get lost. Bare with me here. I like being lost, taking it in, wandering down the side street. You never know what you may see or experience. However, I “Google Map” out my day and take screen shots of roads on the way to places that get great reviews by both locals and tourists. So it takes me the time everyone else spends on their hair to do a little digging.
We started our day at the first reasonable hour of our entire trip, 9 AM. With my trusty screenshots in hand we make our way over towards the trinity college area of Dublin for a spot of breakfast.
And by spot, I mean a full Irish Breakfast.
Next we wander through to the Powerscourt shopping center, a building that is riddled with beauty, and selling some of Dublin’s higher end merchandise. I take away some pictures and some small finds to pack in the ever-mounting suitcase of too many finds.
Grafton Street
Sure it may just be a street with stores, but something about it feels alive and buzzing. We roll around from corner to corner powered by a sugary whirlwind of dough, a very popular trade of choice in Dublin as we found our way to get our fix in nearly every day.
More shopping with a three story Disney store included because everyone needs a little Disney
One of my favorite feels from the city was the sheer number of talented musicians, here is one such lass.
This is what I mean by alive! Just walking around, I picked up on many a local carrying around their instrument cases. Which only made sense in the evening when all the local bars lit up with the sounds of live music and authentic sounds of city life.
Stumbling through the beautiful St. Stephens Green and the campus of Trinity College, we worked up quite an appetite we did in fact make our way to such a place of music and fun for a bite of stew and a pint to call it a night on a fully stewed stomach
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If I thought “catching up” on sleep was a possibility before Ireland, it almost seems laughable now starting the second leg of our journey. Its 6 am (1 am for you savvy followers) and I’m the last awake and the first ready, praising my foresight of picking up a starbucks from the little corner market under our flat the night previous. As I worship the five sips of coffee it holds for me, the rest of the crew makes the final touches in their grooming. The crew now includes a Steve and a Lara, of which this adventure was originated, as today is a day for a proposal. But to get there, a fifteen-minute walk into the Trinity College area is included aswell as a three hour bus tour. A Three Hour tourrrrrrr, Gilligan was not included.
We meet up with Lara’s sister, Courtney who is an amazing wedding photographer who jumped over just for two days for this event. We take the back of the bus and get some shuteye, opening them to the Western bank of Ireland at the Cliffs of Moher. We have an hour and half, to find a place for Steve to drop a knee and soak in all the salty air our lungs can hold.
Going past a few safety barriers, we find the spot and Steve makes the move. Although they may have had literal cold feet with the freezing mountain wind, there was no hesitation to be found and the proposal is a wild success with many a cheer from happy on-lookers.
Of course we took some pictures too
So we naturally mixed some exploring with a bit of joyful memory making from peak to peak along the torrid sea side cliffs. These where probably my favorite photos from the trip, fitting that it was also one of my favorite days even being rushed along by our faithful Tim.
Although this was the Cliffs of Moher tour, the majority of the day was spent traveling and getting to see more of Ireland. Including lunch at a little village in Doolin. Little Dooliner Beer, little chip, little fish, goes a long way. We were off again!
We rolled past the The Burren, which is part of the County Clare. It is known for its almost lunar like landscape from large sedimentary rocks, mostly composed of limestone.
We have fifteen minutes here. I know, that is less than a hiccup for any photographer. And I considered hiding between ridges; I was hailed back to the bus. Shoot.
I will be back, I will drive my own car, and I will play on rocks.
Lastly, we drive on up to Galway, continuing Lucia’s obsession of recreating as many Ed Sheeran songs as she can.
This quaint town was full of life and another place I wish I had at least night to take in. This also provided an cultural experience for my fellow travelers as this was the first public bathroom they used and found themselves turning their pockets in for the change in order to pass through the turnstile entrance. Disney?
With only an hour here, we have enough time to walk from one end to the next and make our way back to the bus. For the first time all day, we do not receive the cold stares as we make our way to the back as we were not the last on the bus. Heading back to Dublin, our tour guide (Tim) and driver did a bang up job of giving us some historical understanding of Ireland from the Potato famine to the famed Obama gas station. That is no joke; it is truly a memorial to the Presidents visit to the country when he was seeing where some of his ancestors had once lived.
Pulling back into the city, although the 14 hour day naturally would march oneself straight to bed, we put on our party boots and marched back out into the city to celebrate everlasting love and all that mushy stuff. We kicked back a few Guinness’s (they really tastes different here) and listened to a few bands at Trinity bar and then over to the famous Temple Bar.
What a day.
]]>Having spent the hour it takes to work out packing up the previous night, we get our feet to the ground and work our way over to a London Starbucks. Yes, it tastes the same. No, it costs more. But this Starbucks was served in a small mall like area that housing an almost Figment like dry docked ship, in the middle of the courtyard. Even with coffee in me, it stayed put, so no fear, I was not still dreaming.
Fueled up, we make our way down the riverside, soaking up the fog and cool air. We make our way over to the London Tower Bridge
If you are like me and grew up hearing the London Bridge song, learning that this bridge is in fact the TOWER bridge, is an important distinction to walk about in one’s accurate childhood landscape. The London Bridge, much less gusto. Sadly we did not get enough time to do the tour, but we had plenty to fully enjoy walking about, counting double decker buses, and loading up on some much needed souvenir supplies.
One thing I've also enjoyed while wandering around, locks. Sure, some have very cute stories of promises made to love one forever and forever contribute to the alkaline content of the rivers below by throwing away the keys. Many though, like bike locks, seem to hold great propose but looks very different in subtile ways everywhere I've been. I particularly enjoy creating stories as I walk of the sentiments or placeholders the locks I stumble across hold in their keeping.
We said goodbye to London in a whirlwind of trying to get the right kind of train ticket to get over to the Gatwick Airport once again. Shucks Oyster card. As for leaving Gatwick, the airport was actually very efficient, utilizing stations for getting through security and minimal lines.
We flew Ryanair, which is an excellent cost save to hop around Europe and I was impressed by how easy it was to send a bag on without as much fuss over weight as we had received on Norwegian air getting over in the first place. Plus they even had a nice hour delay which bought us enough time to try out Nado’s, another new favorite I’ll miss back in the states.
After informing Dublin Customs that we are “on holiday”, we made our way into the city via the airport bus system that I would also give high marks to which included Wifi and stops in both English and Gallic. We even made some friends who were starting this process of moving from Spain in hopes of a better life in Ireland. After helping them with what I hope was reliable directions, we found our way to our Airbnb in the Liberties District. From our first steps on the cobblestone, we could already tell, we were walking on a place full of history.
Since the next day promises to be FULL of adventure, we chowed down on some pizza and enjoyed the sounds of Dublin’s street lullabies.
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Coffee is life and Pret’s are as to London as Starbucks is to America.
However, a Macchiato does not follow the same equation, as Lucia had the pleasure of finding out. I got my forth Flat White of the trip and we sat in a wee park enjoying the morning air before we shuffled down to the underground. Despite several transfers and line hops, I will say that this tube network seemed far less daunting then some of my previous treks. Partly from experience, lack of urine smell, and from the obvious benefit of understanding the very pleasant automated voice across the intercom letting us know that ALL LINES CLEAR. Even with the recent terrorist attacks, traveling about anywhere really didn’t provoke large amount of anxiety. This benefited us greatly as today we found our way through platform 9 ¾ to the Wizarding Studio of Warner Brothers.
For those of you that are neither avid Harry Potter fans or Disney nuts, I’ll warn you now, you can skip ahead to tomorrow.
Off the “real train” onto a double-decker bus that was fully shrink-wrapped to look like the night bus ready to transport all our wayward wizarding selves to the Warner Brother studio lot. With tickets in hand and audio guides in place, we entered several holding rooms that get you reminded just how fantastic the world-wide phenomenon of the series really was (as if we were already loyal fans). With a magical screen unveiling, the gates to Hogwarts appears and we step into the great hall. From here, I’ll let you roam about some of my favorite pieces of the walking tour from Dumbledore’s office to Butterbeer.
Our 5 hours on set were rich minutes, and we easily could of spent another several had we borrowed Hermione’s time turner (last bad reference).
Alas, we were off to a surprise treat I had in store for Lucia. Many a track-passed-tree later we arrive...
Back in London!
This is perhaps the only exception to my own note about traveling in the Underground. When jetting around down under around the evening rush hours in the heart of London, you are certainly not the only travelers savvy enough to utilize the convenience of the pipes. So this was perhaps the one time I felt real anxiety getting about. Not because I feared someone snagged our valuable Potter souvenirs, just general crowd anxiety and the sudden awareness of the lack of negative space in such a setting.
Thankfully, severe excitement propelled us forward and just in time to Prince Edward’s theater for a West End performance of Aladdin!
Two important notes for this experience
First off on the performance itself, having the privilege of having seen many a Disney on stage, I give this performance the highest marks. Jasmine was, at times, hard to understand during her speaking role but paired vocally quite well with Aladdin, who had an incredible range and stage presence. Genie did not disappoint either. Though often used as the focal point of comedy in Aladdin renditions, this Genie not only had the witty social commentary of West End caliber, but also had the pipes and the acting ability to be truly captivating. Set design also receives high marks in my book, specifically the “cave” interior. All in all well worth attention.
Secondly, if you ever have the pleasure of seeing a show in the Prince Edward Theater, Lodge seats= an introverts dream seat. You are about Mezzanine level however forward in front of the second tier. Great perspective, you are able to catch some of the orchestra with out being all the way on the side like typical box seats. I would actually plan a trip to this theater to see about any well-rated show just to be able to sit here again. No joke.
So we conclude our full day of seemingly less foreign adventure in a foreign land, with a stop in the Fuller House which is at the lobby level in the Mad Hatter Hotel.
At ten thirty, it is as you see here
Completely empty!
The bartender (night guard of the hotel) assures me that during their peak season, this is a lively place to be indeed. So as we sip of drinks, we imagine a boisterous crowd, praise the quiet that we actually have, and prepare ourselves for our last half-day in London.
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8 AM
That’s 3 am for all you Westerners. Four snoozes later, we are up, out the door, and one tube stop down at the London Tower Bridge station for a bite to eat at The Breakfast Club.
As someone who does not relish the idea of breakfast, I was shocked just how much I enjoyed this meal. This blast from the past styled diner seemed to be the more progressive crowd local feel. I had my second flat white and I am reminded every time just how much more I like the coffee abroad. Could be the espresso, could be the milk, could be that I’m on vacation.
Eggs Benedict ala chorizo, avocado perfection. As well as probably the best service we had the entire trip.
Good meal, Good start. Back to the tubes to Westminster station to visit, you guessed it
Westminster abbey
This 700 year old church packs quite the line, thanks to some good advice from Rick Steves, the online ticket helps you cut the line and head right in to grab your audio guide.
Sadly, no photography is allowed inside. If you like history though, it is packed full of it. My favorite part was the literary wing including Jane Austin, who was one of the few ladies to make their way into the Abbey without having blue blood. It was an experience to say the least, a tad overpriced at 25 pounds a pop, but well worth the visit once in a lifetime. Plus, I made a friend.
Off to Tea time round two! Walking around the topside of London proved to be well worth the adventure, complete with a house for ducks.
The Sketch
Another high tea complete with flare and finesse. Pink Pink Pink. From the seats to the wall, with bubbly poured over the tops of heads and caviar served by a man in pink.
Complete with space aged pod bathroom and an acrylic self playing piano, this joint takes tea to a fun flare.
This unfortunately was meet with some of our toughest serving experience, which is ironic given my utmost respect for any tea server from sea to all the shining seas. We didn’t let the slow downs get to us, and the lack of offered cake was not so much missed having finished off two pots of tea including a 1900 Pu-erh that was hands down one of my favorite teas yet.
Can’t get enough avocado sandwiches, can’t get enough fresh currant jam.
Having done two first class teas back to back, I will say that I was pleasantly surprised how much attention to detail both had for the finger sandwiches. The sweets were in fact sweet and of course well presented, however, the sandwiches showcased the tradition of the tea experience.
Less so a Sketch, more so a full portrait of full later, we took to walking since that seemed to help round one tea. Got a peak at Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Ham as I affectionately call it.
I found no Jekyll in Hyde Park, just a perfect hide away tree. If we had more days to enjoy in London, I would highly recommend a picnic here.
To complete the day, a trip to Harrods for a quick rose pedal macaroon from Laduree.
This proved to be more challenging than an offline Google may have one believe, as this maze was as complicated as the Louvre. Everyone’s definition of fun varies, eh?
]]>London!
Much like my previous abroad forays, I like to operate on Wifi only and level up my anxiety, builds character ya know. Unlike my previous travels, everything was in English! So beyond a bit of well intentioned “pardons” and “excuse us”, we managed our way on the train, to infamous “tubes”, and on our way to The Mad Hatter Hotel (more on that later) for a quick, throw the dress and pants in the shower to steam, brush the teeth, back out the door, change.
As many travel columns would remind you, take your first day slow while you adjust! As I would remind you, fool your energy-deprived body into total emersion and go have High Tea!
To the Savoy we must go
Tucked in a unsuspecting corner, The Savoy is a Fairmont Hotel that was built on the river Thames in five years and opened on August 6th, 1889. As the first luxury hotel in London, it was met with much pomp and circumstance with its crowd stopping use of electricity. Today, teatime is served in the Thames Foyer, complete with pianist and plenty of natural light.
There are many words to be said here and since a picture is worth 1000 of them, I will say just a few and allow the photographic account do the rest. It was everything one could hope from a traditional teatime. Beyond however much blood you may of had to sell to walk in the door, the experience and the memory was well worth it. Every crumb from the sandwiches was like edible gold to us. We were on a cloud 9 and it was made out of clotted cream and raining delicious tea.
As for the rest of our first day adventures, we decided to do ourselves both a favor and attempt to walk again having just relieved ourselves of many British £’s and gained several American lbs, the best exchange rate of our whole trip
Street Adventures
Many a sidewalk, many a monument
As we walked our way back to our abode, the sun set the lights flickered on with their best city gleam, the Thames giving great contrast to the crisp city corners with its finest murky waters
We said goodnight five hours ahead of our internal sense of reasonability and set our clocks for 8 am with great anticipation for our next day’s adventure
Spoiler: I am safe and sound, already home adjusting to the ebb and flow of "productive living" with a an affinity for the morning (thank you time change). But we will finish this adventure together, the way we started.
STRIKE
The best day to leave
Are you are booking a vacation or an adventure to test your determination of mind?
If it is the former, your last night should be in a hotel close to the airport with a well traveled route.
If it is the latter, perhaps consider booking a flight back home during a national strike of transport. Really exciting for those under utilized panic receptors.
So this day actually begins where the last day ended, home from a trip to wonderland in Paris. Checking the route for the next day, I had my first omen for the day to come. I registered with big brother before I left should my family need to be informed if I tried to make out of a foreign land with the royals treasures (watch less Robin Hood I know) or you know, bombings. So the US department of state sends out a little warning that the day I fly out, Paris is having a little watered down Les Mis production. Strikes of major transport sectors, beautiful.
I wake up early and head to the metro, get on one wrong train just to spice up the morning, get to the right platform and listen as over the intercom they rattle off that the strike will cause delays all day. After watching several trains leave, not bound for my stop, packed and delayed, the panic finally takes hold. I love Paris, but I do not want to extend this trip, this way. So I head up out of the underground beehive of trains/metro and low and behold, this massive station appears to be under construction. And its raining, double bonus.
Running in the rain with a pack, around corners and pleading with several kind parisians, I am pointed in many directions. A morning walking tour if you will. I see a taxi. Lights red but my pride was left several blocks ago, so I ask him to please please please and he says well well well, then finally, Oui.
We aren't actually here yet
But I wanted to make sure we are paying attention.
So several euros, american dollars, and apologies later, I make to the airport with plenty of time. The airport is a bit like the escalator edition of Hogwarts. The perk is that there is a security check point for every like five gates, which means fast lines.
So one final French snack and a gate change later and we are boarded
But still grounded.
That strike. Ya, it's at the airport too. Thankfully Frankfurt was no Milan, God decided once was all the character building I needed for this trip. So a nice afternoon jog through the airport later, I'm finally actually bound for home.
For the foodies, one last meal with a side of Bond
Better than it looks, not good enough to miss though.
Home
It's been a crazy three weeks. Really, not just for dramatic impact.
I came back home a slim trim 142 lbs but I gained so much life in the process.
I miss the coffee, the air, the purpose behind every day. I have woken up every night since being back, confused where I am and anxious that the train station in my room is not as safe as my cat would have me believe. So I think the stress of travel is finally catching up to me too.
Nonetheless, I say go. Maybe not till Central Europe gets a hold on some of the current crisis. But go.
Or you're welcome to travel with me again because
Adventure is out there
And Kit will be finding it
Lastly,
Thank you to all of the massive support I've got from friends, family, and colleagues. No sarcastic hints, or sass, I found my way with your help and I am blessed.
Once I get back and really settled, I will make formal shot highlight album from the journey for this site. So keep a watchful eye, there is plenty of Europe to be seen yet.
Last shout out goes to the real stars of the trip
I have no idea how you survived all 150+ miles of trekking.
Thank you, from the bottom of my feet.
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It's my last day in Europe!
Disneyland.
It's funny, because of my experiences to date, people seem to have the most opinions about my trek to Disneyland and there is not much middle ground. For me it is an opportunity, maybe to a few it seemed like a waste of a Paris day.
For me though, I've spent almost a month absorbing new, historical, and cultural things. I've trekked by every transport method except segway. I've been consumed my Europe, running on espresso and fumes. Disney is in many ways home to me, coming here was a compromise between the new and the familiar, setting my heart on the track for actually having to leave. Plus, I luf disney.
So if your disney heart strings and childhood whimsical follies are in need of a refreshment, scroll down.
If you are a sceptic, you're invited too. Or just follow the next two pictures. Or reread Cinque Uno.
Up and at it
So it was my hope to stay at Disneyland Paris the last night I was here. But I didn't book prior to because none of my plans were firm. Turns out, it is quite hard to do despite the best help of one of the smartest disney cast members I know.
So, the first half of my day I took in the Parisian city life moving from one Airbnb to the next.
Had perhaps one of the best sandwiches of the trip.
When a french person asks you for here or to go, stay. Pause your busy tourist life, pay the extra euro and sit. Even when the cafe's streets aren't alive with the bright light of day, your mouth will be full of the warm heat of an artisan sandwich.
Up and off again, I continue to take in Paris. Down in the pipes, taking in all the urine coated walls, truly majestic.
Alors, I find my next petit maison complete with Le Chat Gris, a young friend, showing affection through claws and an affinity for my right hand.
My host drove all the way back from her work just to make sure I could drop off my bag before going out for the day. Service.
TO DISNEY
A couple confusing train rides later...
Je vous presente Disneyland Paris
The glow. Well, that's the small flood to accompany my feet for the whole day. But the smile on my face, I hope you can feel it.
I literally ran around for the next 7 hours, skipping through puddles on cloud nine, featured here in this photo.
Let's talk detail
Disneyland is broken down into two parks, I did not have time for the Studios.
Disneyland itself is a lot like a condensed and intense Disney world. Every corner to every ceiling, full of detail. I could probably spend the day without going on a ride. That is not today however.
Skip around with me
Indian Jones Mine Cart
Walked on to this one, staggered off. A bit like an outdoor space mountian, but with a literal twist. 5 star
Phantom Manor
Step sister of Haunted Mansion. Follows same story of the husband killer wife, a real go-getter. But with a much darker twist. The majority of the ride is spent in the underworld of sorts. French disney isn't afraid of using real skeletons. Dante comes to life, well death I suppose.
It is a small world.
Well a smaller world. Same song, same beloved cross nation characters, in a smaller arena with more detailed touches.
Teacups!
Just as dizzy, promise
Through the rabbit hole
A little hedge maze in case you need to keep your fitbit doing it's job.
Snow White
See, french words. I am in Paris I promise
. Also a bit darker, follow the witch to her mischievous ends. The french seem to enjoy the scarier sides to the old tales. Which really is more accurate, not many off our happy water down endings were in the children's books. Don't believe me? Read the real little mermaid.
Side note, the churches in Europe also take in this approach. Many of the old master paintings featured in the cathedrals anyone can stumble in brought life to the hellish demise they warned against. Reflective and a tad momento mori, it brought a distinctive contrast though to life. Something to not take for granted.
Back to Disney
Steampunk Space mountain
SO GREAT
Not just cause I'm a sucker for the decor. You are blasted off into the galaxy in steam pipe. Space meets rockin' rollercoaster. Gravity is lost, fun is had.
The Nautilus
Walk under and explore Captain Nemo's original Disney Cruise. Full geek out mode.
Eat some fast food and train to become a Jedi.
Only truly let down here was now few young female Jeti I saw being trained despite their presence in the audience. Come on Rae's of the Europe, get up there. Come on parents, get over yourselves and your gender binary. Jeti is not a masculine word.
Performances
There was a parade, It was amazing and warmed my heart even through the water logged frozen shoes, thanks Elsa.
I will not buy an umbrella, I am that stubborn.
A spring show with Mary Poppins, Bert, chimney sweeps, and penguins
And a very odd show called the Enchanted Forest. Great singers, complete with French accents. Odd odd odd forest friends with some featured beloved disney movie characters mixed in.
Colors of the night
Light up your dreams with Peter Pan as you follow his shadow through the projected castle show including animation, fireworks, water cannons, and fire blasters.
I feel like they just said, what should we do? Everything, yes. Let's use everything
Best castle show by far.
Such a magical day.
Worth every second I was there. Got home around midnight with time for packing up and getting ready to head home. Which means only one more post to go for this blog!
Today I leave you with my favorite part. Under the Castle. THEY HAD A DRAGON
Yes, it's real.
]]>Under, up, and over Paris
Caffeinated, today was a day for Le Metro. Even with some extra speed under the city, it was still an eleven mile day. So hold tight and perhaps grab a snack.
Eiffel Tour
It's not just the wide angle lens, looking up at this massive genius of a structure, line seem to bend and the mind with it. In the modern era, it would be challenging to get on through life not knowing what The Eiffel Tower was. Iconic.
As always, the full effect of taking in a monument is difficult through only words. So I'll do the best I can through some images to give you details and put things into place. While you adventure though, try and recall that feeling of just waking up from a really bizarre dream. Somewhat lucid but questioning, was what I just saw real? That might make the next couple minutes more authentic for you.
In full
In parts
The View
Oh wait, I mean, The View...
It is a puzzle of intersections like 3D etchings, while at the same time being a captivating viewpoint to take in the bloodlines of Paris.
Worth not just staring at from afar but climbing all about.
From the Metro to the sky, now to the water.
Feeling so moved by the rushing winds of tourism, I ventured out onto a little hour tour down the river to get a little more perspective for the city. Although not as entertaining as the Jungle Cruise, it did have a rather nice finale vantage point.
Notre Dame
Those threatening looking clouds? Take note.
Off the boat and with a little snack..
Despite his face, there in nothing to fear in this photo.
Crepe in belly, threatening clouds now making good on their promises. Its back to walk around Europe in the rain and stopping to soak in some of it's treasures
Don't be fooled by the sunny exposure.
Paris wants you to think, go out, it'll be fine. 5 lbs of water logged socks later, many a happy local are out with bags of umbrellas to greet you which honestly is a nice relief from SELFIE STICK SELFIE STICK
Nonetheless, it was time to return in doors. What better place then the Musee D'Orsay
This gallery looks over at it's sibling Louvre as equals in my opinion. They are very much their own distinctive characters and where the Louvre might be the more robust in size and history, Orsay brings the life to a whole other chapter in Art's history. Most noted for the featured impressionist works, however it is still quite diverse. The naturalist piece's in the large format galleries floored me.
Going late in the day and with a bit of luck, the museum was not as crowded as it is known for. Also having a bit of patience, I was able to grab some shots without onlookers elbows and pleasant side stares. So here are some of the highlights from around the gallery, I'll save you the walking.
It was another full day of adventure. Tomorrow, a little more tourist in a different kind of way.
A side feature for the curious. Chez Kit while in Paris.
Time for a good soak in a petit tub.
One more day left, soaked socks and all.
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My first full day in Paris
It's spring time in Paris, which similar to Florida means completely unpredictable rain. In its manic episodes, the sky opens with gusto, making the local vendors very profitable on their umbrella sales. Not a great place for ponchos, as the depressive state of the sky only likes to casually consider the idea of rain in a very existential way.
Since I have such a limited time here, I am only hitting the big points. For today that is The Louvre. So I arrive having pre-booked, saving quite the line at the main entrance in the variable weather conditions.
Having been soaked and freezing in Budapest, I did not subject my camera to the same risk of my laissez-faire lack of umbrella approach to tourism. So it's an i-phone journalism kind of day.
Going in, down, to get to go up.
The Louvre has of course a great deal of very important pieces of art, I'll walk you through some of my favorites. However, the building itself was also very distracting. Which is not helpful when you are trying to see all of the things but a pleasant ambiance nonetheless.
Now, on to the Art.
There is no way to describe the feat of walking though this museum. Beyond the fact that by the end of the day I had actually walked close to 13 miles. Also, the fact that the museum splurged and uses Nintendo 3-D players for their audio guides, I am convinced solely to less the amount of lost tourists as they had a very helpful location service I found myself using often.
The frozen history
Artemis with a Doe
This museum has a very very comprehensive statue collection. I found much more of my time disappearing in the eyes of those that do not see then I would of thought prior to my visit.
Some of the heavy hitters, pun intended.
Venus
I'm not actually sure how I got this shot without people in it, this statue was pretty constantly surrounded. Being near this piece in person allowed me to finally do what many have done over the years and imagine the statue in it's full glory. That is perhaps why now over time, it has remained such an icon. What it lacks due to damage, it gives like a dialogue of possibility.
Lesser known, Venus preparing Mars for battle. It captured a moment, an interaction, and a feeling within two figures in such a simple but impossible way.
The Winged Victory
At the top of the staircase, this statue I could of practically spent the day with. The amount of movement and life in this piece is clear in the photograph but felt in person. This is one of the only pieces I let myself sit and use precious time to really take in.
Cupid's kiss was a surprise to me.
It is not a statue I knew much about, but by far was one of my favorite from the entire day. This is the moment where Cupid is literally kissing his lover back to life, the full story is even carved into the details from behind like his arrows and potion vase. It calls for the viewer to continue to encircle it, being completely wrapped up into the moment
Let's throw in some paintings, here are three I really enjoyed despite their lack of crowd winning approval
And of course, the biggest crowd draw
Just to get this close took a lot of determination and less than southern hospitable shoving. I would say she enjoys the attention though.
It was quite the day to be had, only leaving because I was walking a very dangerous lack of nutrition line that I did not want to cross.
So the rest of my first day I spent outside enjoying the sun and the view when I could get them
And the walks in the rain through the iconic streets
It was yet again, a very full, but rewarding day of exploration. Including a dinner in a little streetside cafe blanc where I enjoyed listening in on a french couple who were less then thrilled that I was not speaking french. The waiter actually told them basically "I'm sorry" or "excuse me" every time he used English with me. Fascinating and entertaining. Most importantly, the food was amazing, more rewarding yet was the couple that sat down next to me when I was concluding my meal. I ended up staying and talking to the charming pair for about an hour. They were inquisitive, authenticate, and the perfect conclusion to my day.
With my socks hung out to dry, a prayer for sleep
I will say Bon Nuit!
]]>When does a day even really begin?
If it's when you wake up, then my day started and stopped all across Italy, Switzerland, and France. The TGV was another experience of it's own. The view may be no different from first to second class, but the luck of the draw seating might have been worth the set back. Not that my travel companion for the day wasn't nice. All 60 of so pictures of him on the Alps were in fact very nice. Fitting together in the seats, not as nice. But a truly tired traveler makes for a great napper.
Since you might of gathered that I am not in fact on a night train, the one plus side to a day time expedition were some great mountain views. Switzerland, I'm hiking you next. With proper shoes.
The biggest take away from this journey was probably the difference in the general tension. Being in Europe since the attacks, particularly in regards to travel, it just feels intense. And it's not just my paranoid American self. I watched as one man was taken off the train by police. More fun yet was to be had as at one point a man left a bag after just getting on the train and the disappearing. I watched as other travelers did the same little check to make sure he was still on board. I did not sleep much after that, heart in my throat, travel companion basically in my lap.
Alas! We arrive in PARIS
I booked a cozy little place in the Opera district via Airbnb and it took almost everything in me not to instantly sleep.
Food first, a good rule of thumb.
So to resume the more pleasant side of my journey, I will visually walk you through the fanciest meal of my trip. Good contrast to the last twenty four hours.
Welcome to the
Brasserie Julien
These are cell phone pictures, and I was basically drunk with tire. Je m'excuse.
Alors!
TINY Tables. So close in fact, they pull the table out just to sit you down. The waitress worked with my broken french and although the service was slow, it was enjoyable in that I received fantastic food and I don't really enjoy the small talk anyways.
To begin!
The real thing: French Onion Soup
The only regret here is that there is no way to eat this in a classy manor. The cheese gets everywhere, just like God intended.
Not as salted as American look a-likes. Certainly brought me back to life.
The main course!
Sea bass with a mushroom risotto
They were even nice enough to save my weak american stomach and pre-cut the head off. No guilt served here.
At this point I'm stuffed, but we must carry on!
The Finale!
Creme BRULEE
Literally Brulee
Not as sweet as the American counter part, making it even lighter and next to perfection to one very happy, very full traveler.
It was a treat of it's own to watch the place fill up and chaotically run its course. I think the waitress was surprised I left her a happy extra tip (yes, I am aware it's included as a service charge in Europe), but they really earn it here. Again, not so much for the talking, more so for the staying afloat.
Now for a real bed and a hard sleep.
Tomorrow, adventure is out there!
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The gray skies rolled away in the night and I woke up to a bright and ready blue morning
Some places in the Cinque Terre you can book ahead of time online. They are hard to find, trust me. Air bnb opened a few more options but most places are found simply by wandering the streets and looking for rooms open signs. Being the type A that I am, I did not like this quite as much and managed to book via email with the one place I could find in Vernazza on the Interwebs. The leap of faith proved rewarding, clearly.
Quite a view to wake up to
Last night I also ate in the little dinner place that the runs the rooms they rent out. Stuffed mussels, a plate of meat, a full basket of bread, and a 1.5 liter of water. I literally ate everything in front of me.
Which proved helpful today for the next hike.
But both we change towns, lets explore a tad more around Vernazza which is also known for it's petit, yet high perched castle.
Naturally, I found the strange little staircase deserving of the feature shot.
That little cylinder on the hill, that's what I'm inside.
Now, back down on the break water
A clear blue sky, bright sun, and off far away in the distance, our next destination.
So pack up your bag
Grab a model citizen cat
And we are off!
Hiking today, a Saturday, came with a little more local traffic but no less views. Including some tucked away little treasures worth taking the shoes off and romping around a bit
Oh and about those cats, the people love them too. So much so, they created a little safe haven for them on the mountain.
I am convinced I actually found cat heaven.
And you know how Italian's love their football? Well why not hike on a trail through the mountains with your favorite ball. Just a little passing around the switchbacks, fun?
No?
Risk your life to retrieve said ball, of course!
Featuring, one arguably good dad
Thankfully, I left early. The wait just to hike going the other direction was longer that trying to get on Test Track in Epcot in July.
So we arrive in...
Monterosso al Mare
This town was probably the best way for me to end my journey because to me, it felt the most tourist. Had I hiked the opposite direction, I am convinced nothing could of pried me off its walls.
This town has the big beach and also is really the only flat town therefore the most public ready. I say this like a real Cinque snob I suppose because it was still a sight to behold full of its own little flares.
To finish out my Cinque Terre exploration, I choose to honor the day with a meal in the honor of and in great gratitude of my friend Delayne who would not let me leave Florida without promising to eat pasta.
And I did, and it was gooooood
So concludes my fun in the mountains and by the sea of Italy. This trip has allowed me to feel life again in a way that only true adventure can.
The second half of my day was a different experience all together.
I was a tad nervous but excited to board a night train to Paris. Perhaps my nervous energy was so compelling my first train (that I was safely two hours early for) to try and compensate and pull into Milan 25 minutes late, 10 minutes to late for my 11:15 train for the evening.
The train station also had just enough wifi to get through a few panic texts but no internet to be had for the researching. So relying on others web connected eyes, we worked out that the best course of action was probably to wait it out till the earliest 10 hour train out in the morning.
Let me introduce you to CHEZ KIT OF MILAN
I am actually quite proud of my little corner, it took awhile to find. The elegant marble really proved to be the fanciest of ice box beds for the night. A few hours restless hours later, I was thankfully heading out of Milan towards Paris.
The experience in the moment was not a pleasurable one in the slightest. I do feel however that it allowed a great contrast to the amazing experiences I've had up onto this point. As well as another humbling moment of insight into the lives that a great deal of people have to bare.
I am blessed to say the least
Now, off to PARIS
]]>Backpacking across the countryside, yes
Backpacking in the city, yes
Backpacking while trying to fit into a tiny gelato store, yes
Today had it all and then some. It was a cool, grey day outside. Maybe the pictures have less of that high dynamic range without editing but my face also has much less sun burning. So it's a fair trade.
My first hope was to hike through all the towns. Sadly, the first two coastal pathways were closed, the more famous ones, also the shorter ones haha! So, I still got plenty of walking in. Added by the actual exploration of the towns and it was a very long day.
Hello Manarola!
This is the smallest of the five towns, known for being much less interesting. However in hindsight, I think I will stay in this town next time to get the photographic night advantage because in my opinion this add some of the best flare even for being so tiny.
And great locals
The cats of the Cinque Terre will be my next adventure I think. One even took over my lap as I was trying to make this post at night sitting in a little indoor\outdoor lobby.
But back to town. This town has a vineyard walk, a hike within itself
The Cinque Terre produces its own wine, oranges, and lemons. The groves along the mountain side were a favorite of mine.
This little walk led me all the way around to one "swimming spot" better titled as the tourist make out spot. While an Italian couple enjoyed each other's faces,
I enjoyed the crashing water views
More so, from this spot you can see where my hike leads to. That little cluster of houses up to the left in the mountains, thats a short train ride away. That tiny speck of lighter yellow in the top left corner. That's where I'm hiking to today.
But before we leave, this was the highlight of my day view wise
The water was pure, the town bright, and my heart was lighter than its been before.
On to the next town. Tucked in the mountains, Corniglia is the only town the doesn't on the sea level. Which means about 385 steps just to get into town.
Which means, my first stop was here
Gelato made from local honey is hard to beat.
Refreshed, the walking around town was much easier to enjoy the details. For example, everyone's laundry out to dry in the warm sun tucked behind the clouds.
I even hiked down to what used to be the coast of this tiny city
And found some more detail to appercaite
Beyond the colors and the location, the Cinque Terre also had a way of feeling real, tactile. Gritty, it is a place that shows the labor that goes into keeping it alive, the pulse is in the very stonework.
Now for the hiking hiking which was quite challenging. Up's and down's, stairs and rocks, tourist and tight walkways
R
ewarding however
I carried my camera on my chest strap, and my water by my shoulders and hiked for about two very difficult but worth while hours to...
Vernazza
This city stop was bursting with life, from the kids playing in the streets to the loud fishermen pulling in their boats
Honestly, my favorite part of this town was the platter of meats I choose for dinner but I was a tad biased from lack of nutrition.
The views are probably the majorities highlight.
Waiting for the sun to set, I even had time to play with a filter
One more hike to go tomorrow, one more town to see, then it's off to Paris!
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I thought I was prepared. I was not.
Leaving Florence was not easy. I got my last 1.20 E espresso at my favorite little local bar, knocking over locals with my increasingly huge pack and was on my way. The trains, also not the most simple. Thankfully there are young Italians literally waiting on the trains for lost tourist, there to bustle you over to validate your ticket, run back in a panic, and reseat you in a tram where there is no assigned seating. All for a lovely "donation" for a service you didn't really know you were asking for. So even being preyed upon, I still learned a lot on my way out to La Spezia. Rolling past Pisa, the entire territory starts to change. Mountains. Not the space or thunder kind I'm used to. Epic and breathtaking mountains to your right, vast open beaconing sea to your left.
Paradise is real
Welcome to Riomaggiore
The first of the five towns making up the Cinque Terre. For day one, this is the only town I focused on and I'm glad I did.
Let's back up, when you get off the people sausage press aka, the train, you can go up and over the city, which of course I did. Or under the tunnel. Both are rewarding
Local art is everywhere
Turning towards the harbor, you start to notice everyone's calves. These towns are literally carved into the mountain. The chiseling equally applicable to the townsfolk.
To the harbor!
Seeing how it is March, this little oasis is more in the in between stages between down season and a summer harbor oasis for Italians. I found the weather perfect for the trekking, cold for the sleeping, and a little too real for swimming. But, that's not to say local's don't. It was a bright and sunny day and as my air b&b host forcefully suggested, GO OUTSIDE. I climbed rocks. They tan on the rocks.
Welcome to the Cinque Terre beaches
Now the last town has sand but honestly people were out on these rocks having a day of it.
I did more rock jumping which proved rewarding
And as the night sets in, the colors come out.
I went out on the break wall to get these next shots. It was slippery, loud, and probably pretty dangerous. Good thing two very drunk, 21'st birthday, American girls were in the there to slip on some rocks and provide entertainment. They very much wanted me to come have drinks with them, I very much wanted to stay to get these shots
Zero editing or enhancements, just a lens, a cold Kit, and a perfect little Paradise.
Tomorrow is a day for hiking! So tonight was a night for the best pasta with fresh mussels. Happy, happy, so very happy.
]]>Up up and away
So, if you've been tracking with me, you can probably see I've been going pretty non stop. I understand now the need for the siesta. So I could slow down, but that would be no fun. So lets ambitiously climb through my day.
DUOMO
This is the artsy angle shot. Don't worry, there will be another later. Notice though the backdrop, Let's go in!
But to go in one has to go up
463 steps, 92 meters to be exact.
Before the grand reveal and the view, quick shot in the dome with the ceiling and stained glass. Yes its a insane angle, no I did't really have a choice seeing is how we tight rope walk over to the next set of stairs while being enclosed in plexiglass.
Now from here, the stairs get more narrow and the tourist get sweater. And even though the presence of Disney can be felt and seen everywhere still here in Europe, the Duomo's line execution sadly was not one of those places. I'll spare you the claustraphobic rant and just say, things got tiny, tight, and tricky.
But the view
One of a kind experience. Well, sort of. See that bell tower? Remember that for later.
Back down and roaming through the streets, I found lunch in a place with an indoor view that was actually prettier than outside
Indoor garden, open flower shop, and yes my coffee in a wine glass.
The fancy smfancy shopping district is on a bridge called Ponte Vecho. Here, like many a bridge in Europe we find lover's promises marking the metal.
Too lovey dovy? Ya, I thought so too. MORE STAIRS
Lets go back up that bell tower eh?
414 steps, 82 meters. Need a break? Me too, here's a photo on the way up
Now check out the Duomo from this angle
My favorite explanation for this wonder is a Church in Pajama's.
Yes Yes Yes Florence.
Now, Let's to it after dark because who needs rest, not me.
Also fascinating were the carts was the keepers head home for the night.
They crank open and close. The lemonade stand for tourist.
Let's conclude back at the pretty Florence.
It's a gem of a city. Beauty in all the cracks.
Yes, Sammi and I did see someone hit by a car (don't worry, he got up)
Yes, we were yelled at and insulted once or twice. But I'm not holding it against you Florence. We part ways as friends.
Now coming to a blog near you
The Cinque Terre!
Oh I'm so excited, I guess I should do some sink laundry and gets me some clean socks
So Fresh So Clean
Here I come Coast!
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When I say I average at 10 miles a day on foot, I'm not kidding.
Sammi's ankle can be the true marker if you don't believe me. After today, it was melon sized.
We walked back and forth and through and up and over Florence today, soaking it all in before Sammi has to head back to the state's. Since a good majority of the day was spent inside galleries, I'll spare you the art in art and just give you some samples.
First of, the Santa Maria Novella
I saw this church in my dream last night. I'm not making it up I swear.
I mean there were some structure differences but this is the church I saw. Either my Italy has taken capture of my subconscious or I've seen a lot of churches in Italy and they are merging. Either way, this church in all its painted light luster was a great way to start our early morning.
Then it was off to the Acadamia to see an old pall David
Oh, look at that butt
I mean look at it! It's not the shot you were expecting I'm sure. You can shop that shot on google. I took this one because what baffled me time and time again was seeing these Michaelangleo's in person and noticing the vein work. They really were frozen in time.
Quick! Run inside the Duomo!
Look familiar? Apparently more than one of us artist type had similar dreams. Wanna go to the top? Not yet, that's for tomorrow.
Now Uffizi time. Do your U-feet-zi's hurt like ours yet? Ha!
SO MUCH HISTORY SO MUCH ART NOT ENOUGH TIME
So here is an art to prove we were there
Even though there was more walking and eating involved let's wrap it up for the day. But for now, here is a really really bad joke
What do you do with a bad statue? Stick them in the corner with a perfect view, and turn their heads away
I'd be making that face too if I was frozen in time with a stiff neck and a bad view (that bad view being inside the Uffizi, how tragic)
It was a great day and the time with Sammi was amazing. Join me tomorrow as Kit goes back to solo Europe for more walking, more Florence, and of course more adventure!
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Not for Kit, but the infinite land of good espresso
Good Morning Florence!
The first massive difference was actually last night finding the hotel in almost complete silence, I guess Rome is also good at stealing all the noise. And trash.
The streets are clean, we are not in fact the only ones here as we come to realize on our way to find a late breakfast.
This was 2.5 EURO. ALL OF IT. 2.5 EURO. HOW.
Shocking! I believe both Sammi and I also managed to shock the merchant with our reactions to this shocking discovery. Shocks all around!
And it wasn't just here, as expensive as Florence can be, espresso flows practically free in the streets. Bene!
Caffeinated, we set out to explore with our Firenze cards in hand. They were practically the biggest purchase (besides gifts), but got us into basically everything with skipping the lines. Truly a good purchase when you have a limited time to art, eat, and shop here.
Look Look Look
Our first day was for wandering around and getting our bearings. One of my favorite finds if you brave the outdoor Central Market, is the upstairs indoor Central Market.
Outside Market: going to be yelled at. alot.
Indoor bottom floor: so much meat and various parts of animals I didn't know could be consumed.
Top floor: food paradise. various vendors offering everything from cheese, wine, bread, seafood, pizza, burgers, gelato, everything.
Meanwhile outside
The Duomo, more on this later I promise. It's kinda a big deal here.
Different church actually, I was just making sure you were paying attention.
This is San Lorenzo. Well technically, that is Jesus in San Lorenzo. But look up. The church was massive and had plenty of other sites to offer however, this was my favorite. It's the first and only star map I've seen in a church. Go ahead, scroll back up and give it a second look.
Back outside!
There is no mistaking it, this city is beautiful. So why not hike up a mountain and see it in full.
This is the view from the Piazzale Michelangelo
Which of course comes complete with a David Statue replica. He gets the best view of the city and I'm fairly positive the Italians pay the moon to light him up.
Tomorrow is for all of the things. And I mean ALL the things.
Feet up and tuck in time.
]]>I really didn't put Ancient Rome up on any kind of pedestal. My dad (mostly probably my dad) and I made a wax figurine of the Colosseum in the 7th grade, really grade A material stuff. That is about where my true interest in Rome has held its roots, a wax figurine and of course the one scene in the Epcot ball where Rome burns and everything smells like bbq.
Good thing Kit is growing up and traveling
First, about traveling. Taking the metro to get to the Colosseum proved educational in that we witnessed a phone being stolen out of a tourist pocket literally one person over from us. The culprits, a group of three youth's working as a group. Shoving their way into the tightly packed tube, they push grabbed the phone and spread into the train. Once our victim realized his loss, two of three culprits spent the whole 2 minute interlude arguing who had stolen the phone while member 3 remained silent, only to rejoin the pack safely on the platform after our tube shot off the next station. Sad, educational, glad it wasn't us I guess?
Now for Rome!
The Colosseum was a good start, walking in circles in mops of people staring at a very clever place to hold 118 day massacres while cheering. Massively terrifying for a history, pretty dang neat as a structural feat.
Looking through the archways, we got a hint of what was to come
On to Palantine Hill! Up the way, nice chance to stop to get a drink of the fresh clean water flowing throughout the city. Yes, I did. No, it was not graceful.
On to the Forum. Ok so here is when it really hit me, just what I was looking at. A glimpse into a world that really existed and that brings life to the statement
All roads lead to Rome
I was taken back in all ways here. It is just massive and the pictures don't do it justice. I tried taking a detail shot up close that might make you feel a bit more like the ant one is while standing here.
Ok, two more to bring my point home
Looking back at my own photos, I still don't feel like there is a way to show just what standing here felt like. It really shifted my own perspective in a way, almost like weaving in my thoughts and experience into a past that I share with humanity. Cheese, I know. But hey Italy sports some great formaggio.
Before jumping on the train to Florence, two more important things. Well three, if you count even more gelato.
Seeing Michelangelo's Moses
One of the people I respect most in this world gave me some great advice for my trip about this statue
"If you can't hear his heart beat or see the blood pulsing through his veins. Stand there until you do! Pay no attention to the crowd."
The crowds came and went, I stayed.
Lastly, some advice I also followed from my sister.
Grounding myself to Rome, also proved staggeringly rewarding advice.
These feet are off to Florence!
]]>So I invite you to enjoy this day with me visually as there was a lot for the seeing and less for the talking. If you have any questions, feel free to comment and I'll explain away. Hopefully the visual tour will be less tiring but just as rewarding!
Hidden Steps
Golden Geese of the Tempio Di Esculapio
Piazza Mignanelli
Trevi Fountian
A little proof of the crowds I've been mentioning
Pantheon
Pantheon's Behind
Caffe Break
Piazza Colonna
Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Lighting Detail
There's no place not to be paying attention to really
Campo de'Fiori
Just stumbling in random doors
Street Life
Back once more for good measure
As for the city of Rome, it is loud but more so robust. Full of people selling selfie sticks and pushing past you to stop three seconds later to take their picture. There is trash on the streets, not many waste bins and sheer chaos. I'm 1000% convinced that the game Frogger was based solely on the street crossing, near death experiences of this city. But the chaos has a beat, and once you learn when to jump in the street and how to say no to strangers, it really has a charm that grows on you. Honestly when I first arrived here, I was massively overwhelmed. A few pizzas later, Kit is a happy Roman.
]]>Rome is huge, there is life everywhere.
Since today is a holy day of sorts, let's start with a confession. I am a tourist. Much of me stumbling around Europe has been in the good graces of Rick Steve's Italy book, google maps, and trip advisor. Today however, my love and adoration goes out to a man named Mario. Being the concierge for the fine hotel we were staying in, he managed to find me a ticket to the Vatican on the same day pre Holy week in the Holiest of places. I therefore was able to jump in to my next jump culture shock head over feet and avoid the two hour line wrapping the gates.
The walk over of course proved yet again worth it. Even with a seagull guarding the gates, this castle was a nice prelude to my trip to holy land.
But seeing how I am in Italy, first Gelato before Art-ing
Then we get holy engulfed in art
Raphael's little real estate in the Vatican was just the pre cursor to the Sistine Chapel. Although there was no photos allowed, after about a half hour of just starring straight up, it was a sight myself and my neck will never forget.
To skip even more lines, the true slippery tourist, I snuck in with the "group only" exit and the Me Myself and I tour group marched directly into St. Peter's Basilica.
Even though the crowds were massive, it was easy to feel somehow alone standing here.
Not to worry, there were crowds outside too
I promise I paused longer then it took to snap these shots. I did most of my processing on the 2.5 mile walk back because I do like to walk, even if my knee's are crying, the cobblestones can handle the water works just fine I guess.
The walking pays off
I found a bridge, I found a Vista, I am finding myself the longer I get a chance to see life as part on a bigger event happening across a world I have only seen in books and dreams.
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ROME
Woke up for a 6:00 flight over to CIA airport in Rome, which is about the size of the McDonalds in Orlando's I-Drive. Now of course, I read about transportation, I googled mapped it, took pictures, did all the things I promise you but there is nothing like a quite like trying to figure out public transport with a language gap and no caffeine. How this translates? Kit got on a bus to a train station, thus derailing the google map plan (pun intended), and kicked into gear Kit's survival skills. Finding the train station, check. Getting to the right platform, check. Fitting into a tiny tube with 6000 strangers and a full backpack, such a delightful check.
So my first impression of Rome, love what I've nick named Puffy Pine trees, not in love with public transportation. Also, what every guide book will tell you about Rome being dangerous for belongings? Very true. Stepping off the train felt a little like stepping into a hunting ground and Kit with a large pack and a map had to be at least 12pts to the happy hunters of the Termini Station.
At this point I firmly believe that Google, bitter that I did not use her directions to the Termini Station, decided to pay me back in kind with phony bus directions. Or much more likely the case, I took the right bus going the wrong way. Long story short, I got to the hotel about an hour later with a couple of kilometers of practice hiking under my belt.
This first day was more for the experience less for the pictures. However after meeting up with my best mate Sammi, we did do the needed exploring to redeem the sense of adventure. We found ourselves eating the best meal of my life at Bernini Ristorante with server Toni, on the cobble stones of the Piazza Navona.
But wait there's more
To top it all off, while Sammi is running a conference, we are also staying at the "Aldrovandi Villa Borghese" which roughly translates to the "hotel of Kit's dreams".
So here I will leave day one Rome on a happy note and promise that the rest of Rome comes in a more visual bundle
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So this day was so full of walking, hopping Metro's, and navigating language barriers, that we are gonna tell the story in the language of thousand word photo style.
Fisherman's Bastion
Growing up on Disney, it still baffles me that castles can be real things and this was just pretty garnishing to the Matthias Church. I climbed on all the nooks I could fit into.
Exhibit A
The Bastion View
I'm the King of this Castle. I'll take a paper crown, just let me stay here please.
Ok so down the river, on a tram, off a tram, and over the way God decided to apologize for trying to kill me yesterday with the weather with this little backdrop
Now let's get up close and personal to that big building that has been hogging up all the skyline
Parliament
Still closed from all the countries festivities, probably better off that way cause Kit DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME
Metro over to the Opera, grab a ballet ticket, Metro up to...
Hero's Square
Included in this package
A Castle!
Down a Metro, over a tram, and into the rabbit hole of market life complete with actual cooked rabbits (probably) more so duck and Goulash which both are actually worth the try.
Central Market Budapest
Hungarian official spice, Paprika. As my tour guide confirmed, "We spice everything with Paprika and salt, lots of both". My kind of people.
My night then finished out with a trip to the Opera house to see a ballet. Which was one of the most beautiful things I've seen, until about the second act, when a member of the audience cried out in agony in what I later came to decide was probably a heart attack. To be honest, it was probably the most scared I've been in a long time. Being in a foreign country with the current state of affairs and hearing screaming followed by people running out of the theater, very hard to discern what is actually a threat or just tragedy. The ballet however was not phased in the slightest and continued to perform without even a glance in the direction of the body being carried out. Maybe they are accustom to their art having such a powerful effect, hard to say.
So let's end on a happy note, cause I did actually despite the fear.
These feet
These feet got me across a new country and a city that I wish I could of glued myself down onto.
Next up, 4 am wake up call ! And preview for Italy, sardines! No, not the kind you eat...
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It's almost 10 am here to my internal 5 am and espresso is the name of the game today.
To a great deal of the folks back home, I promised a food blog and there's no time like the present when your hotel feeds you.
They had a bit of everything, from fruit to liver paste (I'll get more adventurous I swear)
Important: Cheese yes wow always
Meats: Salami is surprisingly the least threatening of the deli, such a turn of events
Desserts: Light and not over sweetened. One for moment and three for the road.
The two espresso's shown above, one is happily featured on my desk now as I write this and convince myself to suck it up and get out of bed! Time change is a struggle haha!
Finally up and at it for a rainy 38 degree day
Although I had my camera for the three hour tour, yes a three hour tour in the rain Gilligan, these photos were from my iphone and I'll add some of the professional shots when I get time
So I found a free walking tour by HostelCulture lead by a cool guy named Andris who was finding a use for his master's degree in Hungarian history. Our massive group, four people including the guide, we braved the freezing for some stunning views and fun stories.
My favorite part of the day seems to be the wandering though
Oh I forgot to mention, that today was a big day in History for Budapest Revolution, so Eddie Izzard here's your flags.
Once back to the hotel with a life saving hot shower, I ventured back out for some food and stumbled into some unusual places.
My favorite a private square where this picture does no justice
And two, a organ concert in none other then St. Stephen's Basilica
No words can describe how amazing it was. No words can describe how tired I am.
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Starting out
Pack weight: 35lbs
Kit weight: 145lbs
Location Location Location?
Budapest Italy France
Since fine european wine is sadly off this trip's agenda, it is my intention to eat my way through this tri-country trip. Despite my ambitious caloric agenda, I offer up my starting poundage with every hope that I'll still weight over 100 lbs when I get home. My pedometer has accepted the challenge.
Night flight and sleeping pill, what a cocktail for Kit. I sat window side with a free middle seat (hello Kit's leg room) and a lovely American lady to my right that promised to kick me if I slept through the landing. Such the friendly neighbor. In short, the usual turbulence, the unusual included staircase, and the much needed drool stains. Keeping it classy America.
Osprey 46 Kestrel fit overhead like a champ, however, many a comment on how I managed to bring it on. I don't think people are acquainted with the size of their own rolling luggage, or perhaps spacial awareness en general. No Matter! I made it barely to my second flight and two hours later, happily in Budapest, sipping coffee and googling the Metro system.
Time for another photo to keep you engaged
Bus, Metro, and a lot of walking later, I had checked in successfully to Hotel Carlton. My lobby attendant speaks English and seemed genuinely surprised that I am genuinely excited to be here. First impressions are always a fun merry go round. The fun stops when Kit forgets how to read signage and can't find the room. But then again, we all know my awkward red face, Europe deserves the change to meet it too, no?
First major impression for the day
The bridge that connects Buda and Pest actually made me choke back some feelings. It was that first real, woah, Kit is not in Disney anymore moment that I've needed for a long time. Later crossing back, I stopped to watch very stubborn seagulls fly up and float down in great quantities and alarming nautical knots for hollow boned creatures. Many a stranger now also knows my awkward laugh. 2 for 2!
I wandered! Half lost and hungry, half excited and google map seared into my working memory, all the way out to a street market that was called the Karavan. A little space between building with a gravel lot and food trucks. This Paneer cheeseburger. This Paneer cheeseburger.....
Happy.
When in doubt, follow the sun set home. Traced my sets back but not without picking up an extra treat.
So naturally, I also found some Ramen to compare. One glass mug, water heater, 30 seconds, and pink spoon (thanks mom) later, I've got to say their ramen manages to be a tad saltier but just as satisfying to this soup-blooded creature.
Close out the day.
It's been a crazy 24 hours. I make no promises on what the rest will bring. If it's anything like today, I'll be lucky if I weigh as much as my bag coming home. But I will be one happy Kit, that I believe.
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