Roma, again

So, as you remember, when i was in Siena my friend Lena called me and invited to meet in Rome. So here i am, in Rome.

I have to write couple of words about this girl. We met because of volunteer organization World4U, at their annual autumn meeting. That summer both of us were in italy, but in its different parts, and something made her come to Rome the same time when i was around it =)

So, she met me near my train, we were so so happy to see each other, but there was a big problem - we didn't know which language to talk! Both of us spoke english way too much, so speaking russian became unnatural for us, oh, shame on us XD

So, she couldnt stay with me that evening, because she aready had some plans, but she gave me contacts of my host. I must say that before Rome she was in Sicily and i think that place influenced her a lot, because instead of my host's contacts, she gave me her host's ones (whose phone was dieing). So, when i came to meet my host, he wasn't there, but some guy called me and sayed that my host's phone is off and that he is waiting for me outside the metro station... Hm, "there is something wrong", thought i, and right, in a couple of minutes another guy called me and sayed that he was my host and that he was waiting for me at the other station. Mamma mia, i spent like 20 minutes figuring out who had to go where, but at the end everything was gooood)

I spent all my next day with my wonderful Lena, we were just talkingtalkingtalking about our trips, shared our feeling and impression, well, girly stuff)

Next day was my last day in Rome. Lena went to the seaside and i was just wondering aroud when i heard charming sounds of The Beatles music at the street - it was street group from Germany The Streetless: two cute (even if i dont like germans) guys who sing and play really good music at the streets. After small talk to them i went to take the best gelato in the world at San Crispino (via di Panteon and turn left) - ginger and cinnamon together in gelato are wonreful! And after i headed to the airport. What for? You will see)

Cute Orvieto

What the hell, you were going to Rome? - can you ask me. I was, but on my way there i decided to make small stop in strange place called Orvieto. Why? I dont know, maybe because i liked its name?)

You know i havent regret about this decision even for a minute! Orvieto is really cute town. It so tiny, small, bright, and sunny that i didnt want to leave. Main attraction is Duomo (for sure) - extremelly beautiful and huge for this place. Town is situated on the hill, so you can go upsairs by Funiculore (so cute ans small, take it!!) or stairs. All town is very small, so you dont need a lot of time there, but you want it, because it is so amazing.

Do you remember that i mentioned rumor that Tuscany is knowen as the mot beautiful part of Italy. Well,Orvieto is part of Umbria and i can say that i liked it for sure not less than famous Tuscany, even more, maybe)

Also i have to mention local cousine (sure!) First of all this place ois famous for its whitw wine that is called (you not gonna believe) Orvieto (i tried it and i loved it - do the same!- shop at the train station, 5 euro). ALso Umbria is famous for its truffles - so in Orvieto you can et almost everything with it) Well, i tried raviolli already, that's why i stayed with pizza. Do really want me to describe that orgazm of taste that i had?)) But the best part about it is prices there - well, just go and check it out)

You know i spent there just 4 hours and was so impressed that even came back after, but after, now - Rome!

Italiani mangiano sempre

While i have very lonely evening in Siena i want to write about main italian custom, about base of their culture and life - about food.

I honestly have an impression that food is the main thing in life of every italian, they always eat or talk about it. But lets talk about it in right order

• Italians dont understand "fast food" for them there is only "slow food" that means that they cook very slowly, only one dish at time, because cook must devote all his attention to every dish he makes =)
• lunch or diner never consist of one dish, NEVER. At least there must be a desert) 
• Also italians cant eat if there is no parmigianno, olive oil, and a bottle of water (wine at diner) on the table.
• They make table ready for the food in advance and when food is redy everybody is already sitting and waiting for it
• TV/newspaper is just prohibited during eatin. Custom demands not only slowly absorb everythhing but also saying a lot of compliments to the cook, and meanwhile small talks about everything in the world
• To leave table before everybody has finished his food - is unpolite
• Want to show you liked food? Smack your lips and tell that you want more

If you have done all of it during eating you are a real italian) 

Siena, or how i got lost in the duck district

So, Siena
It is quite small medieval tawn situated in Tuscany countryside in 1,5 hours by train from Florence. This place has really huge history and very old traditions, it has its own spirit, and you know i love it. But lets start from the begining.

When i was in Pisa my dear american girls sentme a message that they have a place for me to stay,do i have to say that next day i already was onmy way there?) So after short stop in Lucca i came to Siena where girls took me to our host's place (yeaah, they used CS for the first time there).

I have to write a bit about our host in Siena. He is an amazing guy, very smart, very open minded. He hosted 7 people at one time, and actually Im even not sure if he slept at his home during that time XD And also he is a future doctor - well, CS always helped me to meet extraordinary people)

Piazzo del Campo

But back to Siena) So on our way home girls told me a bit about Siena, and i want to share this information. As i told you Siena has very rich history (i wontretell it, use wikipedia), and because of it now town is separated in 17 districts that they call Contrade. Each is named after some animal or symbol that has long and complicated history) But what is really interesting s competion that this Contrade has between each other - horse race. They call it Il Palio, thay have it twice a year in the main square Piazzo del Campo. The district whose horse wins is always decorated with its colors (yes, every district has colors). So, when i came the winner was the duck district, where we stayed =)

I really loved Siena, it was so unique, so separeted from the other world, so Siena, that i think it is impossible not to love it. And what i liked most was the fact that all tourist came there only for the day tours so at night there were only locals (cool locals) and us)

In general this place is mix of Florence (architecture) and Venice (the same labirinth instead of streets). Duomo there is one of the most beautiful in all italy (maybe the one in milano is better). And also there is one of the best Gelateri in italy - Grom, that is quite commersial but very good,veeeeeeeeeery good) ANd they say Siena is famous for its cousine, but unfortunately i didnt try any(

So, in Siena girls were planing their eurotour (we even watched movie)), we walked around and were chilling all the time. On our last night we decided to go to the jazz concert and here is the part about it frommy diary "we drank 3 bottles of wine and went to the jazz concert. On the way there we lost Livio but met some americans. On the way back we found him with his friends and joined them till the end of night"... Well Siena was really fun:lots of food and alcohol, what else did we need

But than girls had to leave. Livio and i drived them to Prato where they took train to go to France. On our way back to Siena we stacked in 52 km traffic jam (i was sure it was possible only in moscow). I was really sad because of girls but suddenly my very good friend Lena called me and told me to come to visit her in Rome - do i have to say where i was next day?)

Oh, there is also a story about Wyni'spackage) Wyni likes to sing, so her mother sent her sheet music. She sent it to England (where they stayed first) but Wyni left before it was delivered, so after it package was resent to Wyni'sfriend in Florence, but there was something wrong with name,so package stacked at the main post office in Prato. To get this package Wyni use as many italian as it was possible and i was sure that she wouldnt succeed, buuuut, she did it! She got her music, but didnt sing after all)))

After all Siena always will be in my hart)

Lucca

Lucca...
You have never heard about this place, right? Me neither, but somehow i decided to go there.

the wall

Lucca i a very quite place, with no tourists and no people at all)) This place is famous for ithe huge wall that surrounds all the tawn. Also used to be a capital of Italy for a while years ago, but nobody remembers it. So, wall - the main and almost the only one attraction. If you have nothing to do - just walk around, when you make rounde go inside the tawn and walk around there (it is impossible to get los, guess why)). In the center you can find Duomo that looks like the one in Florence. What else? Well as this place is veeeery old sreets there are very tiny and haotic, like in Verona (what a good memory). But that's all, nothing more, noooothing. So i just ran away from there to Siena!

Pisa or a city of miracles

We all know Pisa. Oh, yeah, we do, everybody knows about its world famous Leaning tower, and majority of tourist come there only for it, but come on, i spent there one day and i can say that Pisa - is one of the nicest place in Italy!

Of course i had no idea what to see there except Leaning tower, but (thanks CS again) i had host there who shower me around, and because of whom i liked this place (even if he didnt)). Pisa has a lot of space, you can breath there - this is exactly what you need after crowed Florence. Everything in Pisa is small, so comparing to it river (Arno, the same as in Florence) there seams to be rather big =)

But of course i went to the Leaning tower. Actually the place where this tower situated is called Piazza di Miracle - Miracle square, and, guys, this place is really marvelous. Actually i liked church there even more then tower, but what i just loved there were tourists! OMG what a funny things they do posing near tower! We were just sitting there and making fun of them, but than rain started and we had to go home, to drink some homemade bear, wine and to eat pasta) 

Tuscany

As you remember from Florence i went to misterious place called Castiglion Fiorentino. What is it? A small village in Tuscany with its tipical nature and architecture. Many people say that Tuscany - is the most beautiful part of Italy, Well, maybe i wasnt really lucky with weather there, but i'd prefer some other regions)

So, Castiglion Fiorentino, actually i wasnt there, i was in even smaller place next to it - Cartona - amazingly beautiful medieval village that is situated on the top of the hill, so you have very nice view on Tuscany country side. There we went to some very tipical place where i ate very tipical "Pici con cignale" (some pasta with tomatos and meet) and where we drunk too much wine) After it my host met his american friends and we went to some very strange party, that was full of hippies, music of 60-s and raggae... well, i dont remember that night really good, i just remember that i was complain about people there to my good friend Rita (i sent her msg at 2 am and she replied!)

I dont remember how we came home, but at morning i was already in the train to my next destination - Pisa!

Florence, an art city

For me from the very begining Frolence was one of the most important place, because, as you may know, there is the biggest collection of renaissance art in the world, and im a crazy fan of italian art of that period (do you remember Giotto and Cenacolo Vinciano&XD).

I planed to stay there 8 days, not be in a rash and to se everything. And how happy i was when i found out that Suzie and Wyni were going to stay there totally the same dates! Yay! To Florence i arrived from Bologna (i made way Bologna-Florence 5 times in a week) and i met my host right at the tain station. This guy took me to the very cool place right next to Florence: very small village, situated on hills, and fro there you can see all Florence like it is a toy-city - really beautiful! But to get this view you have to climb hills, after what you dont really care about anything)

Piazza Michelangelo

After that i met my girls, they showed me city a bit, we went to the Piazza Michelangelo, from where we enjoyed sunset and copy of David) After my host offered all of us to go to some loop music festival (i dot give a shit, what kind of music it is)), i didnt really care about music, but i cared about bar there, because in some places in italy you can eat as much snacks as you can if you buy at least one drink XD

amazing gelato place

Next day we went to Duomo, so we looked very covered) Well, as it happened with Milan's Duomo, this one inside was much less beautiful then from outside. Than we met Wyni's friend Enrico, had nice lunch (raviolly with truffles is in my hart for ever) and also we had some red wine, after what Enrico took us for a walk around. But wine and walking killed us, so we couldnt help taking a nap, and we didnt have any other place but banches in the park XD But after nap near this park we found an amazing place with home made gelato - Via de' Bardi right infront of the strange monument (remember this place, you will say me "thankyou" after visiting it). This evening we also visited nice bar called Amadeus, where nice waiter offered us some free drinks - i love this country)

Flo'!

Next two days we visited famous Uffici and Academia galleries, that are definitiely worth visiting, and than came our last night together. We all wanted to go out, but Wyni wanted to meet friend of her friend in some god damn place that was so hard to find... Buuuut, this person was a waiter there, sure he offered us some free food and drinks and also presented us to the owner of that place who after some time took us to themost famous Florence's night club "Flo'". We got a bit drunk there and wanted to go home, but that place was so far, so we stoped some car and asked to drive us to the city center XD But it was too early for my train and girls' bus, so we just felt asleep on the floar at the train station (familiar situation XD)

Actually we also did something that was totally my idea. As some of you know Im Harry Potter fan, and of course i couldnt miss the last part of it that came ouy that summer. But in italy they have lack of english-speaking cinemas, so i use opportunity and drugged girls to watch it with me. I almosr cried, they enjoy english language all around XD

Next day my girls left and i stayed in Florence one more night, after which i went to Castiglion Fiorentino...

Lasagna Bolognese!

Ive been here twice before but came back again, why? You can call me crazy but i couldnt resist opportunity to try original sous bolognese in its native city XD

In general city is quite nice, very italian, for me it was a perfect place to relax after our crazy night in rome. In Bologna i liked two places: Neptun's fountain and "little Venice". First because it was somekind of midieval pornography andsecond because it looked unreal and like a picture actually. Well, fountain is a fountain, but "Little Venice"? Yeah i also didnt understand it from the begining, but actually it is a small canal that they have in Bologna, but the secret is the you can see this canal only from the one place - throught small window in the wall (it is between Capo di Lucca and Via Alessandrini)

In all the rest Bologna reminded me of Brescia, so actually i have nothing special to say about this place, but i have something to say about food. Guys, seriously, i tried lasagna before, and it was good, but the one i had there, oooooooooooooh, at that momnet i wanted to marry this pasta and to have a lot of small lasagna with it...

Rome, first coming

When i told Suzie and Wyni that i want to go to Rome with them we decided to book hostel all together and actually we book a room just for three of us but only for two nights. After it i ran to Bologna to grab my stuff and cought first train to Rome - i made all of this in 5 hours!

So, as i told you, we booked hostel just for 2 nights out of 3 and we didnt have any place to cleep our first night in Rome. Of course we could just walk aound, but we were so exhousted that we decided just to inter every 3-stars hotel and to ask for a room there. With thrd one we were lucky and they had a room, a single one, with a single bed. But we took it with extra matress and a breakfast for additional 5 euro)

Next day we had to meet guys at 9 am, but of course they were late and we even had to wake them up =) But as they were separeted and stayed in different places we could anyhow reach two other guys, so we decided to go to Collesseum without them. And on the way there we met them (i still can get how it is possible in such a huge place as Rome).

bearpong!

After some sightseeing (never take tour around Collesseum and Forum - you will be bored to death and dead of heat) we went out. At daytime girls and me met some guy near Collesseum who recomended us to go to the place called "drunken sheep" (he also promissed us some free shots XD) - place was really cool, they tought me there how to play bearpong (the game ill never forget))

Next day we went to Vatican museum - people,, listen to me, dont waste your time there, even me, person who likes art, was so bored of this huge place full of nothing, that i was happy to get out of there! But St Peter's church and area around are just wonderful,i loved there.

nice taverna

At night we went to some Taverna that we chose just because waiter promised us 20% discount, but actually food was really good, in case, here is adress - via palestro 46-48 (also it was right next to our hostel XD)

That was my first coming to Rome, but Bologna was finally waiting for me, so wa said "goodbye" to guy, i left girls in Florence and finally arrived to the nativecity of "bolognese" sous - Bologna!

Party Florence

So, after one of the most memorable night in iTaly i went to Flornc. Actually, i didnt plan to cancell all my big plan, so i left all my stuff at my future host's place in Bologna and came to Florence.

In Florence i book a hostel (not me personally, but Klaudi's friend Fede, who helped me). So i came hour in advance before girls to check in in this hostel and meet themat the station, becaus it was the only way to meet (they didnt have any phones). But OMG i am so good in getting lost - i couldnt find this hostel and i was almost late, so i forgot about it and run to meet girls. They suggested me to try to stay at the same hostel with them, that was really smart)

So after checking in, we met guys, we went to eat to some really cheap place, walked around, chilled. But then night came and we went out to some unknowen small bar with karaoke (i didnt sing, i wasnt that drunk)). I really had a LOT of fun that night (one of top-5 italians nights), i loved to party with that people, but they were going to Rome next day and i understood that i want to go with them (drunk thoughts can be right sometimes, dont you think so?).

But in all this idea was one small problem - my stuff was in bologna - but it was something to think about next day)

Venice, Last good bye

There is one part of Venice adventure that i didnt cover - my last night) I had some problems with host and i didnt have any place to sleep. I decided to stay at the railway station a night, because i had train at 6 am. But there was small detain that i forgot about - they closed train station at 1 am. So at 1 am i was at the street with all my stuff and no place to go. "Let's sleep on the street" - i decided, and thanks to my lovely sleeping bag and thanks to hot italian night i had very good sleep and very unique experience)
But at 4:30 some italian guy, who saw blond girl sleeping on the street (it was square near railway station) decided to talk to this blond girl. 4:30, REALLY? Moreover, he even didnt speak english and i wasnt in the right mood to explain him in italian that it wasnt the best time to talk. Oh, italians, how intrusive you can be!

Venezia, or how i met my tripmates

People who say that Paris is the most romantic city in the world have never been in Venezia! Architecture, canals, churches, vaporettos - everything is so beautiful and so perfect that you can stand and watch it forever. But in all this perfect picture there is one problem - tourists. There are a lot of tourists, A LOT (so crowded that you cant walk on the street without stucking all the time, truestory)! It is funny, but at the same time museums there are almost empty - if you are bored of tourists or trying to escape from heat - just go there!

I was very unlucky because when i came there temperature was about +45 and it was simply impossible to stay at sun, so you had to hide all the time (actually it was the first time i hated my backpack).

"Get lost in Venice" - everybody wants to try it, butbelieve me, even if you dont - you will, because nothing will save you from it (except local person who can guide you around, but you can hardly find any local in Venice, they vanish at the day time, like vampires).

Also Venice is famous for being very expencive place, but i do disagree with it. Actually, prices there evenlower than in Florence and seafood and fish are much better. And talking about prices, i found an amazing pasticceria right in the center where you can get cappuccino just for 1,20. It is very close to Campo St. Giacomo, on the street infront of the church there - you will find it if you are lucky enough)

At night Venice is getting alive only twice a week - on friday and Saturday and the best places to go out this days is Campo Santa Margherita - the cheapest bear in Vanice! But be careful with this place - it is so easy to get lost on your way home)

It is really useless to TALK about this city, you have to SEE it. But i have one more personal tip - don't sleep one night? take vaporetto and go to St. Marco at 5 am - believe me, you wont regret it! It is the only time when you can find yourself there totally alone (i even could hear acho from my steps). Also this is the only time when you can see some locals on the streets, because they disappear when sun comes (vampires, told you)

And the very last thing. Only God knows how i met there americans (5 boys and 2 girls) with whom i spent all time there and who after all asked me iif i wanted to join them to go to florence and rome. As you remember i had quite strict plan, but i told myself "why not" and instead of 8 days spent in Venice just 3 and than cought a train to Florence where i was supposed to meet with this guys again)

Padova, city of discoverys

When i came to Padova i had no idea what i should do there (actually i just wanted to die, because of previous night).

the only photo of myself that was possible to take that day)

I found some map at the train station where were marked all main landmarks (there were a lot!), and because of this map i memorised that my favourite Giotto started to work in Padova. Of course i couldn't skip visiting church, that was painted by him (imagine how bad i love art if i did it with my headache!XD). Do you remember what I've written about Cenacolo Vinciano? I had almost the same feelings about Giotto's work. It was incredible! Also with the same ticket the you can enter two other museums. "Why not?" I said (anyway, it was too hot outside and i really needed a calm place) and went to Pinacoteca, that happened to be the biggest and the emptiest Pinacoteca that I've ever visited. Yes, yes, i walked (not walked, more or less i was crowling around) there totally alone - pretty interesting experience i must say)

What i really love about this city - is that it is not touristic at all, sometimes you really feel that you are surrounded only by Italians! But ireally didnt get it, because for me Padova was on of the most beautifull place in all Italy, i even thought about moving there someday))

Galileo's tower and my second church's outfit

But after mucking about Padova and suffering i finally met my host, who took me home, where i was almos reborn after nice fresh shower. So we went to the city again, but that time my host was showing me everything: the oldest italian university, main square that was magnificent, churches - all this turistic stuff) Actually, there was pretty old church that i wanted to enter, but what a pity, i was wearing shorts - and it is veto for italian churches!

Next day i specially put on long jeans to enter it, but, fuck, that time my sleaves were too short. oooh, challange accepted - and i went to by a scarf just to enter that church, and yes, i saucceed! BTW it really worthed it, to be honest, i even felt a strong desire to pray there, so, be carefull)

What else? Hm, for it was also interesting that famous Galileo Galilei spent almost all his life in Padova, he founded phisics faculty in local university and also in the astronomical tower, that he worked in, there is an astronomical faculty now (what a convincidence!)

I loved this place because it was full of students = full of life, but i think it must pretty boring there when all students go to their vacations, but who knows, who knows...

Beautiful Verona

After quite boring Brescia i went to the next place in my list - Verona, city, that is famous for the most tragic love story, which i even didnt read))

Verona is incredibly beautiful city. You can see it from the first step you make put of the railway station, when you almost crash into the old medieval dark church. But when you turn right from there you get to the bridge over the river, which colour really impressed me - it was real aquamarine color, that i thought was impossble to exist as a water color)

There are so many things to do and to go to that you dint know where to start. It is almost impossible to get lost in this city (you know, id tried): you will come to the river (with amazing view on the city) or to the Arena square (looks like Colosseum but never call it so infront of the local ppl). Verona is beautiful in its simplicity. Everything here is created for pleasure. Nice brease and gelaterias save you from heat, river gives an amazing view, Juliet's house lets you be romantic, and Arena doesn't give an opportunity to forget about history - really cool place to relax. But also at night time there pretty cool places to go out. Unfortunately and obviously i dont remember any names, but i do remember that there was an amazing place onthe top of some hill, and there they make veeery strong strawberry mojito)

the last moment i remember from that noght

I have to write about guys that i staied with. Actually i was advised by my dear Klaudi, who also staied with them. They were from Ukrain and Belarussia (was a pleaser for me after total absent of russian language for a several weeks). The girl (Anastasia) spent with me all day just walking around, talking, taking photos and drinking coffee - i missed good company. And as my last night in Verona was also her last night we had very nice diner and than drank quite a lot, so i cant say for sure if we had fun at night, but i guess we did XD

Next morning they were going to the airport in Venice so they also drived me to Padova (they saved me, because im not sure that i could get there with hangover i had that morning))

Brescia

Do you know anything about Brescia? I also didn't, that's why I decided to go there. The first time Id just  passed this city on my way to the first project, but i decided to come back and it was a right decision.

I arrived there with my back pack at morning, but meeting with my host was only at evening, so i hoped to leave my luggage at railway station and walk around, but no, they didnt have any place for luggage, so i had to carry it on me all the time - good escersizig after 3 weeks of drinking and eating all the time)

Well, I can say that this city is pretty nice: it is very quite, not touristic at all, and very medieval, what I just love. Main landmarks there are new and old duomo and also castle, traditional medieval castle (i got lost on my way there and my host had to look for me), much more medieval than one in Milano. City center is very small, so you can make all of it in one day just by foot, what I actually did  =)

also there are some temples, but they are nothing compering to the castle and all buildings around, that really look like they came through ages without any changing.

Also I went around the city at night, but actually it didn't impress me, what is really strange because usually i love to see nightlightes and how the city changes.

So, if you have one free day and you are found of medieval culture just go there and take some wine at the duomo square? otherwise - dont waste your time there)