Day 21: To Civitavecchia!

May 19th, 2012 ---

I just arrived at my beaaaauuuutiful accommodations, Hotel San Giorgio in Civitavecchia - thanks dad!!! It's freakin awesome!! I've been travelling since 8pm last night when I boarded the ferry in Zadar, Croatia.

It was a long night with little sleep on a terribly uncomfortable couch.

I arrived in Ancona and was off the ship by 7:15 this morning. Exhausted and not planning on doing that awful 20-30minute walk back to the train station, I hopped in a cab off I went. I had a little time to kill so I grabbed a croissant at the cafe and sat reading my book. (I swear, by the time I get home I'm going to have to seriously find a Croissants Anonymous to attend. Aghh! Sooo amazing!!!)

I got on my train at 8:30 and was off to Rome, when I switched to another to bring me to Civitavecchia. Thankfully my hotel was only about 2.5 blocks from the station. (Again, thanks dad!! Haha)

It's now approaching 3:00, baby needs a shower and a glass'a wine! Haha! Cheers!

---

I took a shower, through on a pair of shorts and a tee and headed out to find a glass of wine, ending up next door on the patio of a nice little restaurant. The one thing that's really starting to bother me about Europe, especially Italy, is how much everyone just stares at you. They're so obvious about it too! I mean people stare every where and maybe back home I usually just don't care, but here it's like: am I doing something wrong? Have I offended you people in some way? Let me enjoy my glass of wine without you watching my every sip, please. Sheesh.

It soon started to get a bit chilly, do I finished my wine and small salad I had ordered and headed for a quick stroll along the beach before heading back to my hotel.

I was exhausted from such a long day, so I kept it mellow - painted my nails, talked to some friends, re-packed my suitcase and enjoyed the ocean view sitting on the window sill. Beautiful blue water, lovely sunset! It was quite nice!

Then after having a quick convo with my parents I headed off to sleep, excited about boarding my cruise in the morning!

Day 17: Boats & Trains (part 2)

May 15th, 2012 (continued) ---

Thankfully I didn't end up too far away. I stopped in Castel Franco about 25 minutes away!

I hopped off the train, and when I was at the top of the stairs looking for the main building/ ticket office, a man offered to help me with my bag down the stairs.
How kind of him!

He also helped me up the stairs on the other side. So nice! Finally someone that's a genuinely nice person around here!

We get to the top of the stairs and he asks me for money. Of course he wouldn't carry my bag for free, what was I thinking?! I had no change and I wasn't planning on giving him €5 so I apologized and told him I had nothing for him. He gave me a dirty look and walked away.

I think with every experience I have like this or with nut cases on trains - I appreciate living in North America more and more. By the end of this trip, I'm sure you'll find me stepping off the plane in California and on the floor, hugging the ground and grinning from ear-to-ear at everyone around me... Though I don't know if I'll get a smile back with the thought that I'm absolutely crazy. Haha whatever!

I zipped into the train station and ask them if I can get a train to Ancona or would I have to go back to Bologna.

Ancona, 12:09, platform 3.

"YES!! Excellent! Grazie! Grazie!!"
They laugh, and I head to platform 3.

This time I'm going to look at the information on the outside of the car. Haha
Lesson learned!

The train arrives, I jump on and nap for most of the three and a half hour journey.

When I arrive in Ancona, it sort of reminds me of the part of Huntington Beach with the big ugly industrial area and that other big nuclear plant off the 405 somewhere around inglewood by LAX. The city is pretty ugly and kind of trashy looking. I have about 6.5-7 hours till my ferry leaves for Zadar. So I start walking towards the port looking for a restaurant or cafe.

Nothing is open! I always forget pretty much everything in Italy closes for a few hours in the afternoon. But finally as I get closer to the port, a cute little cafe, called Cafe Rose (or something like that) is open, where I go in and get myself a glass of wine and sit and read a magazine for an hour and a half.

Following, I decide it would be a good idea to go check out the port and see what I need to do about getting my ticket sorted out since I had purchased it online and didn't have a hard copy. To this, they send me to the check in....
Where is it?
"The new port, take bus"
Ugh.. Okay..

I go out to the bus stop and sit for what must've been at least a solid 30minutes. I meet another girl from Santa Barbara who was super nice and laughed a bunch. She had just spent 5 months travelling alone through Australia and Asia, living in Bali for a while and was now on the last two weeks of her trip before heading back to California! She was now hoping to get to the train station to hopefully head to Florence.Very cool!
Finally, I decided- screw this bus! I'll just walk over there!
Well it turned out to be about a 20minute walk with ZERO directional signs, the bus passing me on the way of course, and in the most absurd location, a building hidden by a fishing/ import/export area and where all the big transport trucks are coming and going! So stupid! I stopped and asked directions about 8x or at least every time I saw anyoneeee on the street!

I get there, check in (which literally only takes about two freakin minutes!) and this time decide I will wait, actually, wait for the bus time. As I walk outside, who do I see?
The same California girl! She got off at the wrong stop and was waiting for a bus again too!

We laughed about how just as I left the bus had come, like I said it would and then she was telling me about how she was hoping to get a train to Florence tonight but didn't know what she'd do if she couldn't - then she, named Savannah by the way referenced Journey lyrics: "took the midnight train goin any whereeeee" and "just a small town girl.."
I laughed so hard! Finally someone in Europe with a sense of humor I can understand. The funnier part about it all is that she later messaged me on Facebook saying she actually did take a midnight train and it ended up in Rome. Haha! Funny girl!

Her bus came first and we wished each other well on our adventures. My bus came about 10 minutes after, promptly bringing me back to the terminal I was at originally, within about 2-3 minutes. Go figure. Ha!
It was about 7:30, my ferry was to start boarding at 8, so I sat in the waiting area and read my book.

I couldn't believe how large the ship was when I got on around 8:15. It was the size of a small cruise ship! Enormous! It had several levels, a "movie theatre" (movie theatre seating with 3 tvs, probably no larger than 35 inches? Haha), a large cafeteria, several bars, a disco dancing area and a duty free shop. It was great!

I bought one of the deck seats instead of a cabin ticket with a bed, it was way cheaper and I didn't care that much. I ended up getting my pic of several couches scattered around the top level of the boat. I picked one that was in a darker area and was right by the window for a great view!

Once settled in, I went down to the cafeteria for some spaghetti then headed back to my couch spot to continue to read my book then fall asleep listening to some mellow music.

I fell asleep pretty quickly, but I ended up realizing at some point in the middle of the night I had picked a couch under the air conditioner and was absolutely freezing. I ended up opening my suitcase grabbing two sweaters - one as a make-shift pillow, the other, as a blanket and then tossed and turned in-and-out of sleep till I noticed it was really bright out.

Day 17: Boats & Trains (Part 1)

May 15, 2012 ---

My train was leaving early this morning, so I had set my alarm for 6am giving me time to quickly dress, check out and take the half hour water bus ride back to the train station.

When on the train, I had the pleasure of being yelled at by another asshole. What is it with people yelling at me on trains in Italy? This one - I was ready to sock in the face or just cry, tears more likely between the two.

When I first sat on the train that was headed to Bologna for my transfer to Ancona, departing at 7:52am, it was completely empty. I didn't anticipate it to get all that busy because of how empty it was earlier. With absolutely no luggage area in sight, I brought my suit case with me to my seat, putting it under my legs, and with little room for my feet I put my feet up on the edge of the chair across from me, as well as resting my pink carry on there.

I was on the train for about 25 minutes, by the third stop the train began to have more people on it. I moved my suitcase as close to me as possible to give people room to sit down around me when this business man guy gets my attention. I take my head phones off, and he begins to yell at me to take my feet off the chair. "We sit! No feet!"
I apologised saying okay but I didn't know where to put my feet with my suitcase right there. As I was looking around, trying to figure it out he keeps yelling at me to my move suitcase.
I'm saying "okay! Okay!" as I continue to figure out how to move.
He's STILL yelling, trying to move my suitcase and saying "I have to work too, no feet! Move!"
Getting upset and frustrated, he's not giving me even a few seconds to figure out how to get out - him in the f***ing aisleway blocking me in anyways, I say: "I GET IT! Where can I put my suitcase?! Where can I put this???!" I wasn't trying to be smart or anything, I literally had NO idea where to put it!
He tells me he doesn't know, and that I should stand. Then he continues to yell "stand up and move!"
I just wanted to yell "I'm trying!!!!!!! F*** off, you mean, mean, grumpy man!!!!" Obviously I didn't, but as he continued to yell as I'm trying to get out of his way I look at him and I'm just like "PATIENCE!"
I take my luggage down the few steps to where the doors of the train open and find a little tiny corner that's sort of out of the way of the doors and rest it there and go back in my seat.

Go figure the a**hole gets off 2 stops and not 15 minutes later. Before getting off he says "Look for your bag." wtf? Why? Because it might get stolen? Kind of the whole effing reason I had it between my legs?! To prevent it from being stolen..! UGHH!!!

Rough morning. That whole situation literally almost brought me to tears. No one needs to be that mean when asking to sit down beside someone. You get a lot farther being nice/ polite to people.

I arrived in Bologna about 15minutes early, not realising it was Bologna I remained on the train until I noticed everyone else had left and quickly jumped off the train.

I wandered around for the hour I had to kill waiting in the waiting room. I noticed my train wasn't on the departure board at its scheduled time. Hmm...

I go up to the man at the desk and ask him where I could find my train. "Lecce, platform 9 - it stops in Ancona on the way."

Okay, perfect!

I had over to platform 9 and wait for the train. When it arrives at 11:15, I look for car 4 and hop on. I drag myself and my famous nuisance of a suitcase to a seat. As I get comfortable, the train begins to move.
It's 11:28.
My train shouldn't be leaving till 11:42...

Shit.

WHERE am I going??!
Ha! I knew this would happen at least once on this 7 week adventure. Hahaha

I'm currently sitting on this train, hoping the next stop comes quickly and I can either get back to Bologna quickly to catch another one to Ancona, or I can get one to Ancona from wherever I end up.

Now to sit, wait and see.

An empty San Marco Sqaure at 6:30am

Sunrise on Riva Delgi Schiavoni

Day 16: Oh, Venezia!

May 14th, 2012 ---

The constant travelling that is involved in this trip is beginning to catch up with me. I've been more and more tired in the mornings and this morning was no different.

I woke up around 11am to someone hacking up a lung in the hallway. It sounded so awful I almost went into the hall to see if the guy was alright. I got ready and headed out to go walk along the streets and canals.

I walked around for about an hour looking at all the Venetian decorative architecture, watching gondolas cruise by, admiring all the window displays along a street with Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Pucci, Prada and many other huge designer boutiques. Then I walked passed a little shop with sandwiches and wine!

I went in, grabbed myself a salami sandwich, small piece of Brie and a small bottle of Prosecco. I found a little corner spot on some quiet stairs leading into the canal and perched myself on the ledge. I took out my cup, popped the bottle, sitting in the sunshine watching gondolas pass by while enjoying my lunch.

It was such a great little spot! So enjoyable! It was nice to just sit and bask in the sunshine with my glass of wine while reading a book for a little bit. Those times are the nicest parts of the afternoon.

I continued to walk around the city for another few hours before heading back to my hotel early evening to sort out my tours on the cruise and my accommodations for my next trip to Croatia.

This morning I had purchase a ticket to a Vivaldi orchestral & opera performance for the evening at 8:30. So around 6, I put on my pretty little pale pink skirt and heels and off I went to the square!

The great thing about San Marco square is all the quarters playing classical music outside a few other restaurants. It adds so much to the culture and enjoyment of Venice. I found myself a small round table, ordered a glass of wine and a veggie plate and took out my book to kill some time.

When you order wine at this place, they bring you out a small silver platter. Your wine, some olive, chips and a few napkins all placed on it. After finishing my veggies & wine, i had left some of the chips in the dish and as I continued to read my book all of a sudden I had a group join me at my table. Not just any group, a possey of pigeons! They swarmed at the dish of chips. I think I have a slight fear of pigeons... They freak me out with their beady little eyes and dirty reputation. The man behind me is trying to help me shoo them away as I'm nervously keeping my distance from all their flapping wings, I nearly had a bird fly into me earlier today, I didn't want one ACTUALLy to fly into me now!

With the whole pigeon deal, I decided to move on somewhere else. I still had a solid 45 minutes to kill before the concert. I found another little cafe, a cute Italian boy persuaded me in. So I decided a small dessert would be in order.
As I was sitting enjoying my brownie, at the table to the right of me were a few Americans from Michigan who I chatted with for a few minutes before they headed out and then to the left of me, an older couple from Auckland, New Zealand who I also chatted with. Both couples very nice.
I love meeting new people! Its so fun to hear everyone's different stories.

At about 8:15, I walked over to the concert hall, which was a small old church next door. I found a seat on an aisle and enjoyed the orchestra and opera singers sing many classic songs for the 45 minutes the show lasted. It was also a very good show! Though the opera singers took turns singing songs so it became annoying to have to clap everytime they left the stage, then wait for the other to come out and then clap again when they came back on the stage. There was only two of them.
Sooooo... how bout you both just stay on the stage? No?

After the show I walked back to my hotel and crashed while listening to a man in the alleyway singing opera outside my window. Oh, Venice!

Tomorrow I set out on a train to Bologna, Bologna to Ancona and then a late night eight-hour ferry to Zadar, Croatia! A full day of traveling!

Venice Gypsy

Lunch by the Canal!

Balconies on the Venice Canals

Courtyard of the Picasso Museum

Gondolas!

Vivaldi Orchestra & Opera Singers in the old church

Bascilia de Santa Maria

San Marco Square

San Marco Sqaure after the Concert

Day 15: To Venice

May 13th, 2012 ---

I had made sure I set my alarm last night so I had enough time to pack! My stuff was everywhere! Haha so when my alarm went off I scurried around Anita's apartment, making sure I grabbed everything I needed before setting out for the train station.

It was wet, cold and windy on our way. I was relieved that I wasn't going to be missing some beautiful warm day in Milan.

When we arrived at the station, I had about 20 minutes before my train was departing or Venezia, the city on water!

The first time I had ever heard about Venice was in fifth grade. My favorite teacher, Ms.Wendling, had been teaching us about Vivaldi, classical music and carnival. I recall being so fascinated and excited by thought of a city all on water, taxis by gondolas and mask-wearing celebrations! It sounded like such a magical place! From the moment I had heard about it, I decided - at 10 years old, sometime in life I will go and see Venice! So naturally, while planning this epic Euro-trip, I made it a priority to get to Venice.

I said my goodbyes and thank you's to Anita and Bogdan, who had brought me to the train station, and hopped on what looked like an old, somewhat run down train.
Once inside, it was actually quite comfortable! Large spacious leather seats, leg room.. It was fantastic! I grabbed myself a window seat and got comfortable for the 2.5hr journey ahead.

About an hour into my train ride, the guy checking the tickets comes around. I take my headphones off and I hand him my ticket, with a smile. He looks at it, "Where you go?"
"Venice"
"Venezia"
"Yes." I say, with the smile still on my face... Even though he's not even looking at me.
"2nd class"
"huh?"
He points to my Eurail pass where it says '2nd Class'
"Yes..."
"This first class, you pay or change"
"Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't realise!"
"Pay or change" He starts to check the girls ticket behind me.
"Well how much is it?"
"Pay or change car"
"Yeah, hoooow much???"
He begins to chuckle a bit, like he doesn't really know, and asks the girl behind me who is a passenger.. WTF?
"Pay or change, fifty. €50"
"€50?"
"Si. Fiiiiiftty euro" He's starting to get pissed off and so am I.
"okay, I'll just move"
"Pay or change"
"Yeah I get it. Where?"
He turns his back to me and checks another ticket and then starts to leave the car, "Pay or change!"
He STILL hasn't clarified where. As he starts walking away, I raise my voice, "EXCUSE ME! WHERE do I go?!!"
"2 cars" and points towards the back of the train.
"Thaaank you." The door of the car is closed by the time I even finish my 'thank you.'

Seriously, I'm really beginning to dislike people in Northern Italy. Geez, so bloody rude here. The amount of times I've been cut off, talked to rudely, been corrected, etc, its really starting to bother me - especially when I try to be so nice and SMILE!!! No one smiles at you here! Common people! It's okay to grin once in a while!!! Sheesh. Be effing friendly!!!!! Pshhh.

So I went two cars down, to 2nd class that smelt like typical European body odor. Nice. I find myself a nice little seat by the window and angrily take a sip of my water, take out my music and start continue working on my blog to calm down a bit.
Ugh. A**hole.

Anyways, moving on to another story within my train travel. After I had moved to the car I was to be in. I was blogging away, my luggage sitting in front of me at my legs, only blocking one seat. I was a bit uncomfortable leaving it in the baggage area of this train because of how old and kind of shady it seemed. I had been sitting with it for about an hour. When an Asian couple got on the train with a large suitcase, trying to figure out where to put it I offered to let them out it beside mine while they sat across the aisle way beside it. They appreciated it and I was officially blocked in by a bunch of suitcases! I didn't mind though, I wasn't going anywhere.

A few stops later, this older French family get on the train and practically have a fit trying to find seats in this car. I understand, the train was getting pretty full but they ended up making the Asians move there bag between there legs, which I felt bag for them - it looked super cramped and uncomfortable and then after throwing another fit they made me move my luggage into the baggage area even though I had explained to them that I previously didn't see any room for my suitcase. They argued that there was lots of room! Common, it was a full train! Lots of people had luggage on here and I can luggage stacked!
They kept pointing to the suitcase and giving me dirty looks, wanting to have one of their family members sit in the spot that was blocking my suitcase. I mean i felt bad, but this is a HUGE train. Do you all have to sit RIGHT beside each other?!
Okay maybe I'm overreacting and being a brat. Finally I gave in and move my suitcase. One of the family members is walking infront of me. An older gentleman. I thought he was being nice enough to perhaps help me with the bag that his whole family was giving me a hard time about.... Instead, he doesn't even hold the door open for me. It slams in my face. A Nun sitting beside the door grabbed the door for me and opened it with a sympathetic smile on her face. I smiled back, with some what of an exasperated look on my face and thanked her.

I went back to my seat, sat down and put my headphones back on. The seat across from where my suitcase had been?
Empty.

You have GOT to be kidding me. Seriously?! Is this real life right now?
You put up a fit and then no one in your borderline rude family ends up even sitting there? Agghhh! I'm at the point where I just want to give THEM dirty looks.
.... Okay well, no, I'm not one to give dirty looks. Not my style. But I sit quietly frustrated and listen to my music, again just chilling out.

Finally, 15-20 minutes later, the older man from the French family - the one that had not held the door open for me, is walking down the aisle and the elderly woman beside me signals him to sit in the empty seat.
Great.
Now I have to sit face-to-face with this grumpy old man that let the door slam shut on me.

He gets comfortable for a few minutes then decides to stand up and take off his jacket. As he takes off his jacket and reaches in the pocket to grab something, his coat is literally draped on my leg.
Sure, go ahead - use my leg as your table. No big deal.
UGH.
I say nothing. Just steaming with frustration and constant rudeness from everybody today.
Deep breaths, Jessica. Deep breaths.
Whatever.

I turn my music up, drowning out the volume of my anger and sit, continuing to write and move on.

Today will be a good day. Today wiiiilllll be a good day. Heck! Today is going to be a great day! Power of positive thinking.
Woo-sahhhhh!
Hahaha

The rest of the train ride to Venice goes smoothly and I was relieved to be unbothered by the French family again. I sat listening to my music and writing for the remainder of the trip. When we were nearing the station, I was amazed to notice we were crossing an enormously long bridge and arriving at the station. I was ecstatic!

Arriving, I grabbed my bag and got in line to get off the train. Of course the French family had been infront of me, so when we approached the door, AGAIN the man lets the door just slam shut on me as I'm struggling to roll my suitcase down the aisle way/ through the door.
Happy. Calm. Happy. Calm. Happy. Calm.
Sighhh. Whatever, I'm in Venice now.

I had no idea how I was getting from the train station all the way to my hotel in San Marcos square, so I figured by just walking out of the train station and looking around, I'm sure I'd figure it out.
Looking out, I noticed something saying "Water bus."
Perfect!

I get in line for a ticket. Once my ticket had been purchased, I remember I have to get my ticket to Ancona for my Tuesday departure. I quickly run inside to reserve my seat for that and then hop on the water bus to San Marco.

While on the boat, I passed some enormous cruise ships, beautifully architected buildings and couldn't help but notice how dirty and cloudy the water was. A beautiful turquoise blue-green but clouded by years and years of pollution. Kind of sad actually.

As we got closer to San Marco, we were suddenly got up in a ton of boat traffic. Boats EVERYWHERE! People honking, helicopters (yes, plural) flying above, such a commotion. What is going on?!

WELL! Turns out I had front row seats to the world sailing race, America's Cup! There were 4 or 5 boats catamarans sailing around at high speed, one almost hitting us. The Italian one had a large Prada logo, the American, Oracle, and another, Fly Emirates among several others. It was so neat! Each catamaran had there own team motor boat close by and they were cruising very quickly all around the harbor. Once arriving at the platform and I watched for a few minutes until deciding to go find my hotel.

As I walked through San Marco square, the area was BEAUTIFUL! The church on one side, a watch tower and long, long decorated buildings forming the square. It took me approximately 20 minutes to find my hotel, stopping here and there to take pictures and lugging my suitcase up stairs and across bridges, over canals. But once I arrived at the Hotel Cavalletto, I checked in and was taken to my small room with twin bed, that overlooked a small alleyway with theatre: Teatro de Gallo. It was the perfect little spot for my two nights in Venice and right beside San Marco square.

I dropped my stuff off in my room then quickly head out to go explore. As I walked by the main desk, I notice they had a board with postings for operas, orchestras and museums.

I had hoped to see an opera at La Scala in Milan but the tickets were completely sold out, so I thought I would give it another shot here. When I asked the very kind concierge, Stefano, he explained that the big theatre here sells out three years in advance!!! Holy moly! So he gave me a run down on the different operas at smaller places, where I found La Traviata! Stefano was surprised i knew what La Traviata even was, "You know La Traviata?!" "Yes, my grandmother loves opera" He gives me a surprised look, "wow! Good girl!"
Stefano said it was quite a beautiful place, serving a complimentary glass of Prosecco during intermission. PERFECT!

I bought my ticket and headed out to walk the streets for a few hours before the show began. I stopped in the Museo Della Musica to look around at some old instruments and read about the history of Vivaldi. It was a small cute little museum, located in a church showing different types of harps, violins, violas, and other string instruments. Also, with a room showing the building process of a violin. It was quite neat!

After the museum, I still had about an hour and a half to kill, so I found a restaurant in hopes of sitting and having a glass of wine. It was a bit chilly out, so I found a small table by the window inside and waited for a server. 5 minutes go by... 10 minutes... 15 minutes, I look at the bartender, thinking maybe I was to go up to him to order, I ask if a server comes here or not to which he informs me a server will come. 20 minutes... 25 minutes.
By this point, I'm grumpy and completely over the lack of service so I find myself another little cafe across the piazza and have a glass of prosecco before heading to the opera.

When I arrived at the building of the opera, I went over a small canal bridge, down a tiny alley way and into an itty bitty courtyard. I made a right through another doorway, up a staircase and found myself with a group of people handing my ticket to a woman in a large hallway. The hallway was full of lit candles, featuring rows of seating, a piano, fainting chair, and a table with a few champagne glasses and bottle. I took a seat by one of the walls where there were only three seats (most people there came in two's, so I thought I would sit where I wouldn't create an odd seat out.)

A few minutes a young girl, looking to be about my age, asked of the seat next to me was free. She spoke perfect english.
Okay, where ya from?
We get to chatting and it turned out she was from Thunder Bay, Ontario! Ha! What a coincidence that I end up sitting next to someone from the same province and I can actually have a relatable English conversation! Wahoo!

The opera began with a quartet of orchestra players until the tenor of the opera came out, waltzed around the room and began to sing. Then shortly after, the soprano came out and they both began a magnificent performance of La Traviata, a famous opera!

Now, throwing a reference to the movie Pretty Woman, when one first sees an opera one will either love opera and always love it or they will just never find a way to appreciate it. Well, like Julia Roberts says in the movie: "it was so good, I almost peed my pants!"

It was fantastic! Magical, even! This was the first opera I had ever seen and I was completely in love. The singers completely interacted with the audience, as if they were apart of the scenes. After Act 1, we were given our complimentary glass of Prosecco and then moved into another room of the "Palace." All three acts were in different rooms for each scene, it was very fun!

Following the opera, Claudine (the other Canadian girl) and I decided to grab a night cap at a nearby restaurant. We talked about our adventures and then head off in our separate directions.

During the opera, my phone had died - I had had no way to let my parents know that I was out late. By the time I plug in my phones and Skype with them to say "happy mothers day" to my mom, they were freaking out! Calling the hotel, hearing I hadn't checked in for some reason, messaging my Anita to see if she knew my itinerary for Venice... I felt bad, I should've emailed before my phone died! Oops!
"it's okay!!! I'm aliveeeeee!! 'Shes aliiiiivee, ahhh!" haha
I skyped with them for a few minutes, then went off to sleep completely exhausted from another long day!

Going across the bridge to Venice, Cruise Ships in sight!

Almost getting hit by one of the boats in America's Cup

America's Cup

Venice Canals & Gondolas

San Marcos Square

Museo de Musica Violin Crafting room

The Hall of the Opera

Day 14: The adventure to Lake Como!

May 12th, 2012 ---

While shopping yesterday, Anita and I had talked about what we felt like doing on my last day with her. She told me Lake Como was actually only a short train ride away and a beautiful area!

I had heard about Lake Como, George Clooney has a house there - duhhhh! Haha Also, one of my friends from school, Keith, always talks about how one of his goals is to eventually have a house there. I've seen pictures too! Looks fantastic, so the idea of Lake Como thrilled me! Hell yeah! Let's go to Como! :)

We woke up at 930, exhausted. I had Elton John's Benny & the Jets song stuck in my head for some weird reason and Anita apparently had been repeating "forchetta" all night (meaning fork in Italian which we had talked about last night).

We quickly got ready, headed to the Garibaldi train station to head to Como! We grabbed our tickets, asked which train would take us directly there and hopped on.
While sitting on the train, Anita seemed to feel like something just wasn't right. We were on the right train, we were going to the wrong place.

This is how we ended up in Lecco.

Hahaha

We got off the train a few stops later and hopped on one that was going to Lecco, another city on Lake Como. She was thinking Lecco was the tourist city of Lake Como and Como was just the suburban one.

Well once arriving in Lecco, we quickly realized it was the other way around and that first train was the right one after all! Bogdan and Anita getting frustrated losing patience, me happy as a clam; Bogdan asked around to find out which bus we had to take to get to Como and from there, our adventure continued!

The three of us are riding in this cramped, hot old rickity bus- practically falling asleep obviously still tired from the night before. The bus takes approximately 45 minutes and when we arrive Bogdan is starving. There was a little super market across from the bus station, so we stop in there and decide o grab some snacks. We buy a few different types of bread, feta, brie, prosciutto and olives. Taking our goodies, we walk to the park just don't the street, finding a sunny, grassy patch where we spread out our blanket and pour our wine!

We enjoyed out nice little picnic for the majority of the afternoon and it couldn't have been any better! It was the most relaxing and enjoyable afternoon I've had my whole trip! I loved it! We were right on the lake, in the sunshine, eating our cheese, drinking our wine, listening to some music with some mini speakers that Anita had had and just kicked back. So fantastic!
While we were sitting on our blanket I noticed on the little barrier wall after the side walk, by the waters edge, was some graffiti. It didn't seem like offensive graffiti so I had asked Bogdan what it had said.
"Te lo ripeto all infinito: Sei unico al mondo." -- "To repeat for infinity, you are unique in the world."
Dawwwww.. How sweet! I snapped a picture and smiled, happy about my little finding.

At some point, it began to get a bit chilly and Anita, Bogdan and I decided it would be a good time to head back to Milano. We took the same path back, but first stopping at the Garden Gelateria and Restaurant that we had noticed before for some gelato and a drink.

After ordering our gelato, we proceeded to sit on the patio. Quickly we're we shoo'd away by the waiter who claimed that eating ice cream on their patio made their establishment look tacky.
Are you kidding?! The gelato place is part of your establishment! We were so put off by the attitude they gave us when explaining why we were allowed to order a drink with our ice cream that we decided to keep walking and go to the little place across from the bus & train station.

We checked what time our train to Milan would be departing and with either 15 or 40 minutes to kill, we decided to go over to the restaurant.
I sit down at our table, waiting for Anita and Bogdan when the waiter comes over to me.
"May I get a Pinot gringo, please?"
"Are you eating?"
"No, I think we'll just be drinking tonight."
And that's when he told us that we weren't allowed to stay unless we ordered food.
Really? What is with this place?!

Anita, Bogdan and I were so frustrated that I made the executive decision to say "Screw it! Let's go back to Milan where we are welcome!"

Bogdan & I take naps on the train. We arrive and make a quick stop at Castello, the castle of Milan. We debated going inside, though as cool as it was, we were all just anxious to get home. So we head straight back to Anita's house where Bogdan makes spaghetti and we shower and dress to head out for our last wine of the night and for me, last drink in Milano!

Anita had told me that around the corner was the Gold Restaurant by Dolce & Gabbana. I was dying to see it! So we decided that would be a fun place to head to.

It was beautiful! The whole place entirely architected in geometric shapes and completely brushed in gold. Gold liquor bottles, gold straws, gold bar top, gold-rimmed martini glasses, gold bar stools. You get the point, everything.. gold! It was so cool! Bogdan and Anita ordered their wine, I ordered some Prosecco as an alternative to the €25/glass champagne and we enjoyed some conversation till about 1am where we called it a night and went home to bed.

Successful day, golden night! Day 14 was fantastic! :)

In the morning, to Venice!

Lake Como

Anita & I

Our picnic! Olives, Feta, Bread, Brie, Potatos, more bread, Proscuitto & Wine

Graffiti: To repeat for inifity: you are unique in the world.

Dolce & Gabbana's Gold Restaurant

Prosecco, Chocolate & Biscotti's!

At Gold!

Day 13: From the Duomo to Repubblica

May 11th, 2012 ---

Anita had to run over to school for an hour this morning because it was the first class and she wanted to make sure she was able to reserve a seat, as well as check out the course. Having known this before I fell asleep last night, I decided to set my alarm for 9, so that I could get up and shower and be ready to go tackle the day when she got back around 10:30.

She ended up coming home around 9:30, explaining that her class ended up being an "Italian day", and because she is one of the English speaking students at her school, she didnt even have to go! So we ended up getting ready and decided to head back to the Duomo!

Even though I had been the day before, we wanted to browse around the area some more, as well as go up the lift in the Duomo. When we arrived, there were two military men at the door asking for tickets. Anita trying to talk to them in half English and half Italian trying to explain we didn't have any but also asking where to get them. They told us we had to head to some little store around the corner.
I swear, they have the weirdest systems of doing things in this city.
We walked over to the store that was behind the Duomo around the corner and got our €12 tickets to go up the lift to the top of the Duomo.

We go back to the entrance, hand the guards our tickets and shoot up the elevator. We walk through a narrow corridor, make a left up two or three small steps and suddenly we're on the lower level of the roof!
Incredible! The view, amazing. We went back through the corridor, up some more steps and are now on the right side. We continue to walk to wear we go up more stairs, Anita beginning to freak out (she's not too good with heights) but we end up on the very tip top of the roof!

The sun is beating down on us, its about 80 degrees and humidity has begun to set in. Being atop the roof though, it didn't even matter! You could see the entire piazza below, as well as the beautiful galleria. You could see all the spectacular architecture, the carvings and details of all the small and large statues covering this cathedral. It was gorgeous! I love how much detail Europe put into their buildings and churches. They care so much about the appearance of their cities. Its really amazing and I can appreciate every bit of it! :)

We headed back down the lift and decided it was time to grab some lunch. Anita works as an assistant to a very wealthy family. One of the many things they own and run is a wine bar a few metro stops away. Anita's boss had told her that since I was in town, that she should take me there. So she found out the address and decided it would be cool to go check it out.

About 20 minutes and metro rides later, we were lost at a large round-about with streets coming off streets and trying to find the one that the wine bar was on. After asking someone, we found the street and the exact address she was given... But was there anything there? Nope. Of course not. Bummer.
We thought maybe it was closed and it was only a night place, so we went to a nearby restaurant and enjoyed some fantastic fazzoli, mine with broccoli, hers with tuna. We ordered wine with our meals, typical in Italy of course! And I ended up with a half litre of pinot grigo! Hahaha Cheers!! Oh Italy...
Part way through my meal, I decided to go use the restroom, to which I didn't realise the bathrooms were co-ed. So when I walked in, there was a man about one of the stall doors.
"oh! I'm sorry!"
He laughed, "No, no!" and he signalled for me to use it...
Uhh.. Okay...
Then when I came out, there was a man standing at the sink, oh you know, just doing up his belt, no big deal.
I was so confused. I had no idea if I really was in a co-ed bathroom or I managed to find myself in the men's bathroom but they were just okay with it. Haha So awkward!
I went back to my table, explaining what had happened and her just cracking up at my awkward bathroom encounter.
But this restaurant got even better.
In Italy, they typically have several plates throughout their meals. They start with bread and pasta, then meat, then salad, then dessert. When our waiter came over, he stood unusually close to the right of me, looking down. I shifted to the left, to give myself a bit of personal space and he asked "Second plate?"
I just laughed because not just 20 minutes ago, he apparently hadn't been able to understand anything we said in English when we were trying to order, and now he was speaking English and standing freakishly close to my arm. Haha weird guy.
So Anita and I laughed, refusing a second plate, the first being big enough. Then we paid and headed off to a small shopping area called De Angeli where Anita wanted to grab her hairspray and look through a few shops.

De Angeli wasn't anything too special. There were a few boutiques that we checked out, the clothing very unique, some a little odd. But it was cool to see none the less. Both of us totally wiped out from the sun, the heat and being out all day, we decided it would be a good idea to head home.

After taking the metro and tram back to her neighborhood, we stopped at a little wine store around the corner, picked up a few bottles and headed back to her studio apartment for a quick cat nap.

The nap turned out to be exactly what I needed! I still have this stupid cold and haven't had the greatest stamina the last few days, though it's nice to wear summer clothes, the heat hasn't really helped much either.
About an hour later, just as I was waking up, Bogdan returned from work and we were popping open a bottle of wine and listening to some great house music while getting ready for the night.
We decided to dress up a bit tonight and head to the lounges of Porta Sempione!

Porta Sempione is beeeaaautifullll! By far my favorite area of Milan! Anita was telling me that the area is part of the fashion district of Milano. Where big designers get their fabrics and have some of the fashion week parties. The street lined with big beautiful trees and unique, round street lamps, and the side walks lined with awnings from restaurants as well as tables and chairs under umbrellas. At the end of the street, you could see a large archway lit up and in the background and big park. The whole area was precious! It reminded me a little bit of Paris even.

We walked over to a place called Ama.Mi. Its funny that I began this trip and blog with a reference to Eat Pray Love because when I walked in, of all songs they could've been playing in this fantastic, brick-walled, candle lit lounge was a song from the movie. The song from when she goes to India and she's riding her bike through the street, her future husband messing with a cassette in his car and then runs her off the road. It's the same song that plays when they meet again at the bar. And here I am, walking into the lounge and on it comes! It made me a laugh, what a funny coincidence that I referenced this movie and now the soundtrack is officially apart of my trip.

We ordered drinks at the bar before sitting at a small white round table. The happy hours in Milan have free buffets when you order drinks, so there was a fantastic assortment of pastas, cheese, salad/ veggies and bread. It was sooo good! Gosh, Italy, you know how to do happy hour! Haha Mmm!

We were there for about a good hour and a half ordering drinks, having some munchies from the buffet (my personal favorite being the cucumbers in oil & vinegar) then headed off to our next spot!

I regularly check out this website called The Cool Hunter. It's a great blog-like website that has pictures of amazing places around the world, places such as bars & restaurants, natural wonders, incredible architecture or design; as well as great fashion, music, art, advertising, etc. It's a really neat site! (www.thecoolhunter.net)

A few months ago, while I was exploring this site, they did a piece on a new trend: Designer Bakeries. They are bakeries that are designed and built in some beautiful way and make incredible breads, pastries and the like. When looking at all of the pictures of bakeries around the world, two that I really liked I had bookmarked and "pinned" on my Pinterest board. (www.pinterest.com/jpond)

Well, one of those bakeries I had recalled was named Princi and in Milan! I was dying to see it and when Anita and I looked it up earlier in the day, we found out it was open till 2am! Perfect!

We set out to find Princi!

It turned out to be a bit farther than we expected but we ended up in a really cool area called Repubblica! It was in the more modern area of Milan, where these enormous glass buildings and condos were all being built up.
In the Piazza, there were tons of bars and clubs all filled with beautiful trendy people. The atmosphere was so fun! There were lots of promoters in the streets calling out to people passing by getting them to go into their clubs. One of the clubs was called Hollywood.
People selling stuff on the streets and promoters were coming up to us here and there, becoming really annoying. So as we walked by Hollywood, one promoter comes up to me and says, in his Italian accent: "Eh! Eh! Come check out Hollywood!"
I didn't miss a beat, and said "Sweetheart, I LIVE in Hollywood!" and just kept walking, him completely stuttering on what to say and Anita & Bogdan just laughing behind me.

We were on the hunt for this bakery, which we ended up getting lost finding it. We asked a few people, some not knowing what we were talking about and others leading us in circles. It didn't help there was some construction going on that made it all the more confusing.

Finally after getting out my iPhone and making a few turns I saw the sign for the place! I was so excited!

There was big glass windows at the store front and white awnings. We walked in, the place rather empty then I had imagined. It was long with a large dark wood wall on the left side - this was where the counter with baked goods was and on the right bar stools lined a long glass wall with wooden shelf to eat, also looking into an area where a baker was cutting up and weighing dough for bread.

Anita and I decided we were going to try a bunch of things since we'd come all that way! We ordered a doughnut, slice of cherry pie, cannoli, tiramasu and water to wash it down.

We sat down on what we noticed were actually ripped bar stools, sampled everything feeling a bit disappointed that none of it was all that extraordinary at all! It was quite the bummer since we had come all that way expecting greatness.

It was now 1am, we were pretty tired from a long day and disappointing bakery adventure. We headed back to the metro station.

When we arrived it turned out to be closed.
Nooooo! Not this again!!! How do we get home now?!

We all stand arguing about what to do when suddenly we see a bus pass by. Yes!!!
We try running for it and miss it, of course, and end up waiting about 15 minutes for the next one.
When we get off the bus, we still have to take the #9 tram back. As we're walking towards the tram stop, we see it approaching and we're along the tracks but we aren't very close to the stop. We're probably going to miss it. Noooooo!!!!
Bogdan runs toward the tram signaling at the tram operated that we want on as Anita and I are trying to catch up behind him. Note: I'm wearing huge wedge heels, running across rocky grass with bumps and holes, praying I don't break an ankle on the way.
Thankfully the tram operator actually was kind enough to wait for us. We jumped on, out of breath, and journeyed back to Anita's apartment where we all passed out almost instantly.

Atop the Duomo in Milan

Atop the Duomo

In Anita's courtyard, ready for happy hour!

Porta Sempione!

Anita & I at Ama.Mi

Ama.Mi in Porta Semione for happy hour!

The bakery: Princi

Our order at Princi: Cannoli, Tiramsu, Doughnut, and Slice of Cherry Pie

Day 12: Milano!

May 10th, 2012 ---

Mornings officially suck.

6am came very, very quickly. It was like I blinked and woke up again, this time with a cold and mini hangover that I believe was worse just because of said cold - either way, the combination made me want to curl up in a ball, blanket over head and give the world my middle finger.

Though, today was no day to flip off the world. I slowly dragged myself out of bed and to the shower, crossing my fingers I would feel a bit better by the end of it. I dressed and got ready only feeling slightly more awake but my eyes still feeling like they needed to close and my nose and head completely congested.
This sucked.

After returning my sheets to the front desk and checking out, I slowly walked my way over to the train station, grabbing an orange juice and a croissant for the ride. Luckily, on the train I had the entire face-to-face seating area (with table) to myself. *phew!*

I whipped out my iPod, began to blog and enjoyed the incredible journey from Switzerland to Milan through the Alps. (Even seeing a small but beautiful waterfall on the way!)

When I arrived, I went into the main area and began to look around for my friend, Anita.

---

Back when I was 16, I was working at this hardware store, called Canadian Tire, on Victoria St. in my hometown of Kitchener. I hated it. I mean it wasn't thaaaat bad, but it just wasn't where I wanted to be.

At the time, my best friend had been working at this clothing store, Urban Planet. She had encouraged me to apply and after finally deciding I wanted a change I applied. I was hired on the spot by the manager that
happened to be leaving to go work at corporate a few days later.

Within three months I was promoted to a part time management position and I loved my job. Shortly after my promotion a new assistant manager came to work at our store. It was Anita. She was a sassy little thing and like me, was also a Leo - so of course, initially we butt heads.

After a short while we ended up realising that we could be great friends. I began to so enjoy going to the store and working with her. She even introduced me to electro and house music, which now, I don't know if I could live without some days. She is awesome.

Eventually, both went our separate ways - she moved to Toronto, I worked at a new store, then off to San Diego and her to Milan to follow her dreams of being in fashion.

---

It's been almost eight years since I've seen Anita. We've facebooked each other here and there, but we were so excited to see each other after so long! I told her the dates I would be in Milano, she offered her home for me to stay in and said she would meet me at the train station.

As I wandered around Milano Centrale Station, I spotted a girl slowly walking and looking around. She had looked exactly how I remembered, long black hair, bangs, layered, fitted clothing and heels. Aa soon as we spotted each other we ran over and hugged each other. It was great!

We hopped on a tram and headed to her apartment that was about 10 minutes from the Duomo. It was a little studio with her bed, desk, kitchen and bathroom and a little courtyard outside her front yard. So adorable. She even keeps her water and wine on her window sill where it stays cold.

After dropping off my stuff, we headed down the street, through a little market with fruits and purses and jewellery to a little cafe, that apparently had just opened called Pandenus. We had some fococcaia bread and roast beef with sparkling water. I love Italian food, so much flavor! So good!

Following, we killed some time by having a glass of wine and a strawberry liqueur across the street before she had to go to work for a few hours.

When she left for work, I was hoping to go wander around the market for a while. Thought, sadly by the time I got back to the market it was closed with street cleaners disposing of all the leftover garbage on the streets. With nothing to do for a few hours, I googled the address of Zara, to see where the main area was, and started walking. It was approximately 15-20 minutes later, I found myself wandering around the main shopping and tourist area annnnnnnd a three-story Zara store! (Hell Yeahhhhh!!!!)

After doing a bit of window- shopping, as I'm walking down the main street, covered in people, I look up. All of a sudden I notice that only a few blocks from where I was standing was the Duomo! Ecstatic, I hurry on down the street. Staring up at it, it's incredible - i think almost more incredible than the Dom in Cologne. It was so large and every single part of it, so detailed. I somehow always seem to discover amazing landmarks whenever I'm not looking for them!

As I stood taking pictures, a man came up to me offering me popcorn kernels to feed to the pigeons. He offered to take a picture of me with my camera and the Duomo in the background. Reluctantly, I said okay and as he held my camera, he told me to bend over and then sprinkled kernels on the ground infront me then began to whistle for the birds. All of sudden, I'm close to the ground with a ton of pigeons all around me! I'm not usually afraid of birds but honestly, it totally freaked me out! I quickly sprung up, laughing and embarrassed by how freaked out I was from a hundred birds surrounding me at my ankles and after thanking him, went on my way.

I got in line for the entrance to the Duomo. I noticed a man that was working for the cathedral looking at everyone's attire.
What's going on?
In front of me, a girl wearing a dress stopping just above her knees and dark stockings underneath was stopped and told that her dress was too short and she would not be allowed in. Looking down at my small dress with crocheted top, I nervously used my pashmina to cover myself. The man looked me up and down, and miraculously let me pass. I was shocked. My dress was no longer than the girl before me, but he said nothing and I waltzed into the cathedral.

The cathedral was enormous! So tall! It reminded me a lot like the Dom in Cologne. Same type ceilings, same layout, just a bit larger in size. Quite incredible! I wandered around, cracking up when I saw a sign that claimed Jesus was on the web, an advertisement for their website I suppose. As I walked through I was approaching the exit when I noticed the outfit of a historic, now deceased, lying horizontally in a glass case that looked much like a coffin.
Hmm.. What's that?
As I get closer I notice that it is not just a costume in there... It's the actual dead body of a priest in his religious gown.
WHAT THE HELL?!
There is a silver mask on the face and covering the head so you can't see a skull, but his now flaky, dry green-colored dead hands rested on his torso. So gross.
Beside this coffin is another, but with this one the mask doesn't cover the entirety of his head so you can still see the side of his head covered in thin patchy white hair. Aghhhh... Soooo creepy!!!!! I was standing 4ft away from a dead body! I'm sorry but ewwwww...!

I leave the church and decide to head back to Anita's to get ready to go out when she got off work. She had given me the keys so I was good to go.

When I arrived at her apartment I had to pee so bad! I put down my stuff and walked into the bathroom, when suddenly I heard what sounded like someone opening the door. I had forgotten that Anita had informed me that her boyfriend would be over after he got off work, so when I opened the door - there he was, this short Romanian guy named Bogdan with an accent, saying hello and apologizing for possibily scaring me.

I got ready and we headed out to meet Anita at her work at 8pm. After meeting her we decided to head to a place called Le Trottoir, about a 10 minute tram ride away. It was a great little place with a happy and small free buffet looking on to a busy street, as well as a piazza with a giant archway in the center. We sat on the patio drinking our wine, eating and laughing/ catching up on everything that has happened in the last little while.

Following Le Trottoir, we walked over to this small Asian corner store where we were refused when trying to purchase some wine. Commmonnnnn! This is Italy!! Wine all day, wine all night! Cheers and vino for everyone! Haha

So we ended up walking some more and found another place where we grabbed a couple bottles and headed over to a place called the 'Columns'.

The Columns, well, its exactly as it sounds. A piazza with a church on one side, a statue in the middle, and a row of columns on the other. Bogdan and Anita explained that this area is a local hangout that everyone comes to. They sit on the ground of the benches (if you can get a spot) and they smoke, drink and socialise with everyone around them or with their group of friends while people come up to you trying to sell you roses or lighters, etc. It was a cool little spot, bustling with lots of different people. We sat and drank our two bottles of wine enjoying the stir of people around us.

On our way home, we passed a place selling crêpes that Anita informed me were the best! So we stopped for a chocolate-banana crêpe, crispy and covered with powdered sugar, which was pretty fantastic, then got on our way!

I was absolutely exhausted by the time we got home, but I wanted to see Anita's fashion designs! I've seen the work she's posted on Facebook and her sketches are incredible! She's very, very good! She came up with these white three-dimensional, geometric balls that are sooo freakin cool and she's going to include them in the collection she has to design for school. So neat! (below is a picture of the balls that I'm talking about)

After going through her sketchbook and showing me all her work, we decided to hit the light and get some sleep for another fun day! :)

The Duomo in Milan!

Accept my friend request on Facebook?

So creepy!

Galleria!

The Columns where we had our wine!

The design on Miss Anita Jax!