Roma Part Two

Rome has been amazing. Yesterday I saw the Borghese Gallery, and went to Santa Maria del Popolo and the Spanish Steps. Then in the afternoon I visited the two main locations of the national museum. At night I hung out by the Colusseum, which is all lit up after dark. Today I woke up early and went to the Vatican Museums. I saw the entire massive collections, took me around 4 or 5 hours, and it was quite impressive, especially the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. I rented an audioguide and both the Borghese and the Vatican, because honestly my Art History background is a little weak. I visited St. Peters next, and then walked all through Trastevere and all through Rome on a meandering path back to the hostel. I have walked som much on my trip, my knees are starting to feel the wear. I also think I got sunburned my first day here while I was at the Roman Forum. I know it was at the Forum because I rented an audioguide there as well, and my sunburn, which is on the back of my neck, is divided in two by a line of skin that was protected by the strap from the audioguide. I must look super cool walking around Rome. It doesn't help either that I am now out of clean shirts, so I am forced to start to recycle. Oh well, I'm not here to impress anybody.

Roma

I am in Rome now, and my first day was super busy. I woke up at 7, ate breakfast and then headed out. I went to Santa Maria Maggiore and San Giovanni in Laterno, both Basillicas actually part of the Vatican even though miles from the walls. Then I headed over to the Forum and the Colesseum, and stayed there for most of the day. I walked around some more on my way back, seeing Trajan Column, Trevi fountain, and a lot of other places that I could name but you would not recognize. The i went and got some groceries, and headed back to the hostel. Tomorrow it is the Borghese Gallery and then who knows.

Naples

As you may have noticed, I haven't been able to post anything in about 2 weeks. This is due to a lack of internet and broken computers in my hostels. Instead of trying to catch up, I will just talk about what i am doing know, and fill in the rest of my wonderful trip later.

Naples is super interesting. It is kind of what I imagine New York around 1900 to be. Busy, crowded, hectic. My aggressive but vigilant road crossing techniques have never been more necessary. The archeology museum was nice, but unfortunately the mosaic display was closed down for urgent repairs. The hostel is really nice, the best I have stayed at. I can't wait for Pomeii tomorrow, should be great. My flight from Linate to Heathrow has been cancelled because of the British Airway crew strike, so I have to sort that out. More updates to follow, I hope.

Boston, Heathrow, Malaga, Granada

It was an interesting however many hours it has been, all of which i have spent awake. I got to the airport super early, but better safe than sorry I guess. The flight took off on time and there were no problems with ash. I sat next a nice elderly couple, who asked me about tufts, but they were very low talkers. I didn't sleep at all, but i nailed the transfer in heathrow. Flew through the station on to the transit, and then flew through security, got there in plenty of time. Malaga was really nice, i wondered around until i found a bus to the city center, took that, and looked around. I ate paella de pescado for lunch, it was good. I have spoken spanish quite a bit more than i expected, and done much better than i expected. The bus ride to Granada was nice other than the smelly guy sitting next to me, and it took me forever to get to to the hostel from the station. Probably because i didn't want to take a bus so that i could see the city by walking through it, but i will take a bus back for sure. I wandered around the Albacin, the old Arab quarter of the city quit a bit, it is amazing. Tomorrow is the Alhambra, which i am super excited for.

Itinerary

Itinerary for Europe 2010:

May 10: Fly from Boston to Heathrow, transfer to Malaga, Spain
May 11: Malaga, bus to Granada
May 12: Granada
May 13: Cordoba, arrive in Seville at night, meet Suz
May 14: Seville
May 15: Seville
May 16: Seville
May 17: Madrid, Toledo in the afternoon
May 18: Madrid
May 19: Fly to Paris
May 20: Paris
May 21: Paris
May 22: Fly to Pisa, then train to Corniglia, village in the Cinque Terre
May 23: Cinque Terre
May 24: Lucca, the to Florence at night
May 25: Florence
May 26: Day trip to Bologna/Ravenna
May 27: Florence
May 28: Day trip to Siena/San Gimignano
May 29: Naples
May 30: Climb Mt. Vesuvius, Visit Pompeii
May 31: Rome
June 1: Rome
June 2: Rome
June 3: Rome
June 4: Venice for the Day, then to Milan at night
June 5: Fly out of Milan, transfer in London, back to Boston at 1:30