Thursday 28 October 2010

roam around rome

Another fine day in Rome. I headed for Vatican in the morning but it was already queuing. Instead, I walked around the area. I had lunch and headed back to the hostel. After siesta, I went out again to see an evening look of Rome. There were less people on the streets but many cars. It's quite dark around seven in Rome. I passed night version of Colosseo and walked to Pantheon. The exterior is under construction now but there is no difficulty for entering the temple. Every visitors are forced to gaze up as they enter. I, of course, did the same. The hole or the Oculus to be precise. I saw nothing but a darkening sky through the window. Though it wasn't just a sky, it didn't bore me staring at it. Oculus means a circular window and it also means eye in Latin. Eye would be more appropriate than a window is what I felt.
I had a light dinner and headed back towards the hostel again. One last peek at the Colosseo on the way back but the place was almost empty by then. Few people taking pictures of Colosseo in light-up or guys selling souvenirs on the street.
I had a good time in Rome. Many things to see but it is easy because the famous things are so famous that I don't have to do research for "what to see", just go.
I will leave Rome tomorrow.picture: above, Vatican and it's queue. below, entering the pantheon.

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Rome

I came to Rome yesterday. Bus to Napoli from Agerola and train from Napoli.
I walked all day today and saw a lot of famous things. Started with Colosseo and moved to Fontana de Trevi, Panthenon, Castel S. Angelo, and Vatican city. Also other famous piazzas. As you can see in the pictures, the weather was fine. Colosseo and Vatican was super busy with tourist and I couldn't be bothered to wait in the queue. The queue for Vatican was so long that I didn't even think about waiting for it.
It's not close to each other but the famous sites in Rome isn't a non-walking distance. Maybe it's easier to walk because it's like connecting the dots by walking.
I saw the major places today so I might go to a park tomorrow and maybe, if the queue is not too bad, I'll enter Vatican.
picture: above, Colosseo. below, Arco di Costantino, next to Colosseo

Sunday 24 October 2010

Amalfi

I moved to Naples from Ravenna and from Naples to Amalfi.
The bus drivers around Amalfi are amazing. To drive a bus on a narrow, steep, winding roads would be a nightmare for me. But the super drivers here aren't scared of it. They know the roads, they'll turn and backup and do everything to reach the destination.
I'm staying at a hostel in Agerola, few kilometers away from Amalfi. I walked to Amalfi today by taking a hiking shortcut route. It's called the path of gods and it has 2700steps(I didn't count it). Going down the steps weren't that much of a trouble. I reached Amalfi around mid day and had lunch. I did a short sightseeing and started the hike back because it started to rain. The rain soon cleared up and the sun shined on Amalfi again. It was hot. Going up the stairs in the afternoon isn't the best time.
Amalfi was very unique. Nothing like the places I've been. I will walk around Agerola tomorrow.
picture: above, part of Amalfi. below, tornado. there is a tiny spot on the right half of the picture where the tornado is touching the surface of the sea. (I think)

Thursday 21 October 2010

Ravenna

I am staying at a town called Ravenna. I came here to see the sea and to see some world heritage buildings.
I thought the ocean was just around the corner from the hostel but I found out that I was wrong since it took me almost two hours to reach it. It was kind of hot so it wasn't a bad walk but it was more exercise than I imagined. The coast was very quiet and nice. Calm waves and the atmosphere was saying that the summer is over. Folded parasols and empty cafes. I sat there and watched the waves.
I walked back to the city and did short sightseeing.
I'll catch a train tomorrow and move further south.
picture: above, taken at the city center, forgot the name. below, gentle wave.

Tuesday 19 October 2010

Venice

One step out of the station and there were gondolas and the floating looking houses on Canal Grande.
I think Venice was one of the most touristy place I've visited so far. It felt like all the people on the street were tourist. People with cameras, shopping bags, and backpacks. It was strange to see doors with no road in front of it. People who are living there would simply hop on a boat from it.
It was fun just walking through a narrow street and walking over many bridges. One thing bothered me was that things were a bit pricey. Other than that, it was okay. Piazza San Marco was just like I saw it in movies or photograph.
I'm now off to grab a pizza.
picture: taken from Ponte di Rialto

Saturday 16 October 2010

Verona

I walked to Austria and got on a bus just after the border. I changed to train and went to a city called Innsbruck. The city was surrounded by mountains and forest. I took the train yesterday to Verona, Italy. There were many grape fields so I could guess that I entered Italy.
Also in Verona I could feel the difference between Germany or Austria, many vespas on the street and pizza restaurant everywhere.
I didn't spend long time in Austria but I'll visit the east part later on my trip. I'll be moving to Venice tomorrow and might work a little bit near Florence.
picture: taken from the train.

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Fussen

Fussen is a small peaceful town located five kilometers from the Austrian border. The town is famous for the beautiful castle, Neuschwanstein castle.
To the castle from Fussen is about one hour walk. I had a bad feeling from the beginning of the walk, this area is so misty that it's like walking through a cloud. As I expected, the fog was so thick that I couldn't see the top of the castle. Shame. But walking back to the town was very nice with the coloring leaves and a calm lake. Autumn had come and gone and now the winter is on it's way.
I came to a town called Schwangau yesterday, only one hour walk from Fussen. I went up a mountain by a cable car, which was absolutely breathtaking. The weather was like the usual, thick cloud and very heavy air. Couple of minutes on the cable car, we were in the cloud. White was everything outside of the window. After a minute or less, we were out of the cloud. Sun. Sea of cloud and layers of mountain for miles and miles. It felt like the starting point of the cable car was another world. I had a walk at the top and enjoyed the sun. Coming back down again was strange. Welcome back to the real world.
I had a very good time here. My recent stops were big cities and I was starting to miss the peaceful countryside. Although the air was dumpy and a bit chilly, I enjoyed my stay. I like winter too.
Since the border is so close, I'm thinking of entering Austria on foot tomorrow.picture: all from top of the mountain (mt. Branderschr.)

Friday 8 October 2010

Munchen

I felt like some kind of fugitive or something coming from Dresden. Twice I got asked by the police to show my passport. When they came the second time (different police from the first ones), I said I just showed it to the other police ten minutes ago. They didn't speak English but a kind man talked to them for me. I could understand if they were checking all of us but it was only me. I guess it was one of those days when you look like a criminal.
Never mind about that, I arrived at Munich around four. Cloudy and dark, not a fine welcome. I walked around the town today. It wasn't a "walk through the park" weather but I went to English garden, one of the largest urban parks in the world. I also went up to the top of Frauenkirche.
Many churches and buildings in Munich. Also many cars on the street. I would say it's a busy city.
I'm moving on again tomorrow. Two hours train trip to a place called Fussen. I'm going to visit a castle there.

picture: taken from top of
Frauenkirche.

Wednesday 6 October 2010

Dresden

Many historic buildings in Dresden. I read that the city of Dresden was bombed very hard during the second world war so that most of the buildings I saw today were rebuilt. I don't know the name of the music the street players were playing but walking through the old buildings with classical music on the back was nice. It was also good because there weren't many tourist.
I'm very close to Czech now but I'll visit there later on my trip. My next destination is Munich. About five hours trip on train from Dresden.
picture: forgot the name… in very center of the city

Monday 4 October 2010

Berlin

The first thing what surprised me entering Germany was that the train from Denmark boarded the ferry like a car would do so. The railway went through into the ferry. I was sitting in the train which was in the ferry, how odd is that. I wasn't expecting that.
When I hear the word "Berlin", the first thing which would come to mind is the wall. Parts are still kept and the visitors can see the remains of it. It has an atmosphere of it's own. I felt it was very quiet.
Berlin is a city where people live. Just ten minutes or so walk from the city center and there would be an apartment block, many of them. Another thing I noticed was that there are many ways to get around inside Berlin. Most unique one is segway I would say. I saw an advert maybe in San Francisco, but I haven't seen someone actually using it for sightseeing. Nice. Good weather, flat roads, I think those who rode them had a good time.
I'm leaving Berlin tomorrow, not yet sure where to go next but somewhere south. Where I can see some big castle.
picture: remains of the wall

Friday 1 October 2010

Copenhagen


Big city after the comfortable little farm felt a bit busy, but no need to be uncomfortable, Copenhagen was a very tourist welcome city. Many big parks and surrounded by water like other Scandinavian cities. I had a fine day today but I could feel the season changing, the temperature is lower and the wind is colder.

It was a short stay in Copenhagen but I had a good time. I was amazed by the number of the cyclist.
I'm taking a train to Germany tomorrow.
picture: above, colorful houses somewhere in city central. below, swan in a pond.