To sum up...

Well, well, well, as everything in this world, my trip came to its logical end. Here i am in cold rainy Moscow and its time to sum up a bit this summer)

Iremember once, when i was in Siena, my american girls and i talked about Italy and i said "i had so strict plan about all my trip,everything was scheduled so well, but then i met this americansand my plan went to hell" XD More or less that is what happened. To be more exact everything started to fall apart when my first project was cancelled at the middle of it =) Just to make you understand how chaotic my trip was here is the map of it:

• More or less ive visited 23 cities, towns, and villages
• Tried endless amount of traditional italian food
• Started to speak italian (!) 
• Drank endless amunt of italian wine 
• Got lost at least 10 times 
• Was robbed once
• Slept on the street ones
• Used italian trains at least 50 times)

It was a great experience, a lot of fun, a real test for me. I fell in love with this country, and i know for sure that i will come back there many many times) But also during this trip i met old and new friends who made my trip unforgetable.

Grazie e basta XD

Russian Rome, part 2

As you can guess next afernon we woke up with awful hangover, so from our place we ran to the nearest McDonald'sto renew ourselfes with some frenchfries and coke XD

we love Orvieto)

Alina wanted to get out of Rome, so we went to that cute small place Orvieto) Of course we enjoied it, but there are two best memories from that place: amazing Margherita with truffles just for 7 euro (so far was the best pizza ive tried) and wine Orvieto for 5 euro at train station) Actually there was a funny story with that wine) As we woke up late, we came to Orvieto only at 4, so we wanted to come back around 8. As you remember Orvieto is situated on the hill, so have to buy ticket to go up or down,and as you remember i was robbed, so we had only Alina's money. So at 8 pm we went down to take a train and discovered that the next train was only in 1,5 hour. And we had only 6 euro left. Well, we decided to find some store to buy wine to make time go faster, but there were no stores! Actually we found only open marcet where we bought peaches and totally empty church (like in horrow movies). So disappointed we came back to the train station, and there in a cafe we found wine, amazing Orvieto wine for 5 euro! Ooooh, it was so good, we were just sitting alone at the empty train station and drinking it, do i have to say that we slept all way back to Rome?)

And, my friend Yura came, so we met him next day. Actually we had to get out of appartment we stayed that day,so we brought Alina's luggage to the train station, left it there and went to Sicilian cafe, that was situated right infront of the train station (Via Solferino, 2) where Alina tried real Cannolli and Latte di Mandorla. Also we went to see that keyhole, that Alina was obsessed with, and just walked around. At evening we met Yura and his brother and went to some tratoria that i found the day before. I have to write about that place,. It was real family tratoria, with very good and very cheap food right in the city cente - dont miss it! It is on the Via della Rotonda, youcan find it easily) After we told my friend that we had no place to sleep that night andhe offered to stay at their room in hotel (yeah!). So we took some wine, nutella and went there, where we tried to oped wine without bottleopener and finished nutella (or i finished it XD).

Next day all of us were leaving^ Alna- hone, my friends - to Milano, and i went to Napoli!

P.S. you could be interested what hapened to my money) Well, Alina gave me her credit card andmy mom charged it, but russian bank's are veeeery slow,so money came when i was in Napoli already for several days)

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!

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)

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!

Asso-Canzo or how i started to speak italian

As you remember i plabed to spend in volunteer project 5 weeks, and when my campleader told me that we have work only for 3 weeks i understood that i can do something with one free week, but 2 - were too much, so i asked to find another project for me and she did, she found a place, that was also part of legambiente. It was a kind of holiday house in mountains in one hour by train from Milan. There i was supposed to help girl to manage this house - easy and nice work in a new plave sounded good. But there were a little problem - the girl didnt speak any english. Well, i love challanges, so i decded to go for it)

So Klaudi's friend left me at Milano's railway station, my train was only in one hour so i decided to charge my phone with money. Oh God, you should see me at this moment. I bought a card and i called a number, but then you have to follow instructions that were in italian... I called 6 times before i succeed)

Well, i took a train and arrived to the station called Asso-Canzo that is between two cities: Asso and Canzo =) There this girl met me. She was so friendly, but both of us were so confused with languages) I coulndnt understand a word of what she was saying but i was just smiling and say "si, si" XD By the car we arrived to that center, using list of duties (that she transaed in englsh), italian and language of signs (almost alian) she explained me what i had to do there. Basicly it was the same, but also this place was holding some summer festival and we had to cook for all the people there (around 300 people) - challenge accepted.

This place was really nice, house, where lived just two of us, was really good, we had internet and in general there were a lot of people around, so ive never been alone. This girl - Silvia - was really nice and soon i started to try to speak to her, every evening we had ice diners with vine or bear, actually we became real friends and it was very hard to say her good bye, even we didnt speak one language. Also there was a guy Marco who was so into Silvia that i was helping her to escape from him every time he was coming) Day by day my italian became better ( at least i could express myself)).

But day of festival also wa coming. To help us Silvia asked her family to oin us, and that was amazing forme: in one moment i became a part of a real big italian family, and as i was interested in learning their culture and habbits, i was just amazed by this fact.

What i really learnt in being surrounded by italian family - they always think about food. If they dont cook it, they eat it, and durong eatng discuss how good it is. And you know in Russia it i normal if you eat fast and go, in Italy - NO! Lunch cant be less than 1 hour and dineeer, oh dier. And also alcohol, italians are amazing, thestart to drink at lunch, than aperetivo, than vine with diner and than drinks after diner - and they say that we drink a lot in Russia)

Than festival came, we coped very good with it, everybody was happy and full with food, and the next day i left, because my big italian trip was about to start) 

Lake that smells like a sea

Well, during our long 3 weeks in Turano we had days off of course and of course we didnt spend them in Turano)

Normally we spent only our first weekend, and here im going to stop) If you are staying in Turano you have only to ways to get out of there: to Cima Rest - village on the top of the mountain where there are more cows than people - and Gargnano - tawn on Garda lake. Do i have to say where did we go?))

We took the first bus at 6 am and at 7 were in the tan already. Of course place was sleeping at that time but we didnt care, we misse civilisation that much that the first thing we did - we found internet cafe) After we went to the center, walked around, and went to the lake.

You know, for me it was first italian city after Milano and personally i loved it much more. It wasnt that turistic, it was so small and cute that from the first moment there you can understand that you are in real Italy. I loved ts medieval architecture, but most of all i loved lake. OMG i really couldnt believe that it was lake, it was so clean and smelled like a sea! Even if waterwas cold for italian we swam there a bit, just because it was impossible to resist)

Gargnano isvery small place, so we decided to WALK to the catsle that was between Gargnano and Toscolano. What a mistake it was: two quite blond girls isomething short walking dawn the highway - oh god, i think after it i started to dislike italians.

Well, we didnt find castle, but we came to Toscolano, that was bigger than Gargnano, fooler of tourists and nicer in general) And there was a historical moment - i ate my first pizza. It was so delicious,so good, so tasty, i cant describe it. Also we took bottle of white local wine that was also amazingly good!

After very long walk and wine we decided just to go back by boat - was a nice idea, very fast and very nice view) And guess what we did after coming backto Gargnano - ate Gelato (told you, we loved food).

Actually i think that Gargnano is one of the best place on Lago di Garda: it is so small, nice, so cheap and calm, that it could be perfect for relaxing. I loved this place

Middle of nowhere or Kid's environment camp Legambiente

As you can remember the aim of my trip was volunteer work in the kid's camp in misterious place called Valvestino.

What is the best way to describe where was this place? Well, in Italy there is huge lake calles Garda. Near Lago di Garda there is small and pretty nice tawn Gargnano. And if you take a bus (that goes just twice a day) and drive for an hour or even more somewhere in the directions of mountains, pass Valvestino lake and if you are lucky enough you will reach place called Turano. Exactly there me and another volunteer from Estonia spent three weeks =) Why 3 when i was supposed to be there for 5? I think this place is so nowhere that parents are just scared of sandind their children there (i was, when  i arrived).

It is quite easy to describe his place Just imegine medieval tipical italian village, add there maximum 100 inhabbitants, one bar/shop, two churches (that ring every 30 minutes ALL the time) and here it is - Turano! Actually we lived not exactly in there, but in a small house 10 minutes walking away on mountain-nice, right)) And it wont be enough to say that i was scared of beng there: no heating, no internet, no TV, no phone (yeah, i didnt have connection) - and it is for me, for Moscow-girl. And yes first days were awful, i had literarly nohing to do, weather was awful (because we were surrounded by mountains).

But than kids came, we started to do some activities, we walked till thenext villages, and i really started to enjoy it. Nature around us was just wonderful, the other volunteer was really cool girl (Klaudi, i miss you!) and day by day i learned from our italian cook not only how to cook italian food (what i did and what im proud of now) but also how to do nothing - this italian talent, that we, ppl from north, simply dont have).

I have to write a bit about our work) Actually we didnt do a lot, just helped to play with kids, were looking after boiler, i was helping on the kitchen (because i wanted to learn and because our nice cook Marco and me became good friends, but oh god, he was so italian!) We had to look for a work to do just to do something and it was a bit boring, but i have nothing to complain)

Oh, and me and this estonian girl, we just found each other - we loved to eat (we even went to the other village just to pick some cherries), we loved to drink, what else did we need?) Yeah, we had very nice evenings there, ireally do miss it now.

On our last night there Klaudi's friend came and we had really strange night with limoncello, russian music and a lot of glowworms around. The next morning we went to Milan from where Klaudi and her friend went to Turino and i headed to another holy italian place Asso...