Trip to Italy
05/June/06
We all stayed overnight at Tejo's house. Packed everyone's luggage. Made sandwiches. Started from there at 3:00 am in a cab to Stansted Airport. Flight was at 6:15am. Reached Rome (Ciambino Airport) at around 9:30am. Travelled to the city on a train, to Termini rail station. Finally reached our accomodation around 12:30 noon. Got a day travel pass from Termini and went first to the Colosseum. Its a large stadium made more than 2000 years back, which could seat 55000 people! It's truly amazing, to imagine how it would have been back in time during its heydays.
From the Colosseum, we walked to the neighbouring Roman Forum, which used to be the Roman happening place, with lots of buildings, markets and temples. Its in ruins now, but we cant but marvel at all those remains.
After spending an hour or so there, we walked aimlessly for some time (in reality, we lost the way). Once we found our bearings, we boarded a bus which was moving alongside the River Tiber. we got off and walked to Piazza Novona, which is one of the best places to hang around, in Rome. Its got an ambience which is too good to be true - peaceful and colourful with great live music by some street musicians. we walked to the nearby Pantheon- another great example of Roman architectural brilliance. Its got the largest Dome in the world, really big.
By then, we were all really tired since we hadn't slept at all the night before. I went to the nearby Gellataria (Gellato - icecream) and had an excellent icecream. we rested outside the Pantheon beside a fountain for a long time. Some of us even dozed off. After some time, we decided to go back to our room, rest for some time and then come out again. We reached the room and the next thing we remember, it was the next day morning! we were all so tired everyone slept instantly without even having
food.
06/June/06
Everyone got ready by 8:00 am. we went to Dolly Maami's restaurant (thats what we call her) where we were provided with free breakfast, which was one croissant and a cup of tea. well, something better than nothing!
we went straight to the Vatican Museum since we heard there might be long queues. And there was! we had to wait in the queue for nearly two hours but it was not boring and we had an okay time chatting with each other and watching all the people around, which must have run into ten thousands.
Had an awesome time inside the Vatican Museum. The paintings in Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo are indescribably beautiful.
We had lunch at a nearby South Indian Restaurant - Rani Mahal. Good food!
After having an icecream, we walked to St Peter's Basilica. Had a great icecream on the way.
We visited the St. Peter's Basilica, the heart of Vatican, and of Christianity.
It was a humbling experience.
After spending some time inside the Church, we visited the Tombs of the Popes, including Pope John Paul II.
After that, we visited the Dome of the Church, for which we had to climb some 400 or so torturous steps. But the view from the top was definitely worth all that effort. It was breathtaking.
After coming down, we spent some more time in the Church and finally came outside at 7pm.
From there, we took a bus and tube and reached the Spanish Steps. It was nice, but raining slightly so we couldn't sit there. We walked a little and reached one of the best examples of exquisite architecture of Rome - Trevi Fountain. It was a beautiful fountain with sculptures of horses and people and a lot of stuff, it was too good. We took a lot of snaps there, and then had icecreams from nearby.
Then we took a few shortcuts and reached the Colosseum, half of us getting lost on the way. The Colosseum looked beautiful at night. After spending some time there, we returned to our room.
Had dinner from a nearby kebab shop.
Packed our bags and slept.
07/June/06
Early morning, we checked out, got a bus to the airport and took a flight to Venice. It was beautiful to watch from above. We reached there around 9:30, and got a bus to our room. It was a good hotel, and the locality looked exactly like India.
We got fresh, and started roaming in Venice. Went to the nearby train station and got our day travel card. Took a train and reached the main station in Venice.
Venice was heavenly, it was a completely different world there.
REST OF THE STORY WILL BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW!
CIAU
We all stayed overnight at Tejo's house. Packed everyone's luggage. Made sandwiches. Started from there at 3:00 am in a cab to Stansted Airport. Flight was at 6:15am. Reached Rome (Ciambino Airport) at around 9:30am. Travelled to the city on a train, to Termini rail station. Finally reached our accomodation around 12:30 noon. Got a day travel pass from Termini and went first to the Colosseum. Its a large stadium made more than 2000 years back, which could seat 55000 people! It's truly amazing, to imagine how it would have been back in time during its heydays.
From the Colosseum, we walked to the neighbouring Roman Forum, which used to be the Roman happening place, with lots of buildings, markets and temples. Its in ruins now, but we cant but marvel at all those remains.
After spending an hour or so there, we walked aimlessly for some time (in reality, we lost the way). Once we found our bearings, we boarded a bus which was moving alongside the River Tiber. we got off and walked to Piazza Novona, which is one of the best places to hang around, in Rome. Its got an ambience which is too good to be true - peaceful and colourful with great live music by some street musicians. we walked to the nearby Pantheon- another great example of Roman architectural brilliance. Its got the largest Dome in the world, really big.
By then, we were all really tired since we hadn't slept at all the night before. I went to the nearby Gellataria (Gellato - icecream) and had an excellent icecream. we rested outside the Pantheon beside a fountain for a long time. Some of us even dozed off. After some time, we decided to go back to our room, rest for some time and then come out again. We reached the room and the next thing we remember, it was the next day morning! we were all so tired everyone slept instantly without even having
food.
06/June/06
Everyone got ready by 8:00 am. we went to Dolly Maami's restaurant (thats what we call her) where we were provided with free breakfast, which was one croissant and a cup of tea. well, something better than nothing!
we went straight to the Vatican Museum since we heard there might be long queues. And there was! we had to wait in the queue for nearly two hours but it was not boring and we had an okay time chatting with each other and watching all the people around, which must have run into ten thousands.
Had an awesome time inside the Vatican Museum. The paintings in Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo are indescribably beautiful.
We had lunch at a nearby South Indian Restaurant - Rani Mahal. Good food!
After having an icecream, we walked to St Peter's Basilica. Had a great icecream on the way.
We visited the St. Peter's Basilica, the heart of Vatican, and of Christianity.
It was a humbling experience.
After spending some time inside the Church, we visited the Tombs of the Popes, including Pope John Paul II.
After that, we visited the Dome of the Church, for which we had to climb some 400 or so torturous steps. But the view from the top was definitely worth all that effort. It was breathtaking.
After coming down, we spent some more time in the Church and finally came outside at 7pm.
From there, we took a bus and tube and reached the Spanish Steps. It was nice, but raining slightly so we couldn't sit there. We walked a little and reached one of the best examples of exquisite architecture of Rome - Trevi Fountain. It was a beautiful fountain with sculptures of horses and people and a lot of stuff, it was too good. We took a lot of snaps there, and then had icecreams from nearby.
Then we took a few shortcuts and reached the Colosseum, half of us getting lost on the way. The Colosseum looked beautiful at night. After spending some time there, we returned to our room.
Had dinner from a nearby kebab shop.
Packed our bags and slept.
07/June/06
Early morning, we checked out, got a bus to the airport and took a flight to Venice. It was beautiful to watch from above. We reached there around 9:30, and got a bus to our room. It was a good hotel, and the locality looked exactly like India.
We got fresh, and started roaming in Venice. Went to the nearby train station and got our day travel card. Took a train and reached the main station in Venice.
Venice was heavenly, it was a completely different world there.
REST OF THE STORY WILL BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW!
CIAU
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