measures

It has been exactly one year since my overseas travels, and I can hardly believe how quickly these 365 days passed me by.

I do not care for the endless hours in airplanes, sweaty customs lines or strange taxis, but I do miss that electric feeling as I walk the pavement of a new place. I think perhaps it's time to make some new plans.

the calm

I have seen the inside of many poor hotels in recent months, and I have just now come to a conclusion that hotel bathrooms really are poor examples of what humanity has to offer. Why must they all be so disgusting?

As I sit, this morning, on my cheap hotel bed, eating my fun-pack Coco Pops from a standard issue white mug, I am reminded of the terrible imitation Coco Pops I had the displeasure of eating while overseas.  The Island of Paros - I think that was the worst.

On a day like this, I don't feel that it's too early for chocolate - Cadbury hazelnut to be exact. I forgive myself for my food cravings today.

SB xx

tryin' to throw my arms around the world: the thirst

18th August, 2011

The locals say that it doesn't usually get this humid in Rome. It has been just awful - luckily the streets are a wealth of lovely cool water from the aqueducts, or "the nose" as they are sometimes referred to. I still surprise myself that I am drinking water from the street!

Walking about all day, I get so thirsty. There are fleeting moments where I am overcome with the urge to jump on the next person I see clutching an icy cold bottle of water - it's insanity!

Today we have some guided tours, with a lovely old Italian man named Pedro. He is feisty, telling off anyone not in our group who tries to listen in on his guide talks - he looks around 70 years old but has more go than us 20-somethings, and he's as sharp as a whip! Pedro takes us to the amazing Colosseum, The Roman Forum, The Sistine Chapel, which is incredible - but not how I imagined.

Lunch is eaten at a little restaurant across from the Colosseum. After we are berated by a waiter for our poor pronunciation of 'grazie' we experience a rather comical exchange between my stick thin cousin and the local waiter, when she tries to explain she wants to order two servings of the gnocchi. The waiter counted the number of us at the table, then he counted out the number of dishes. My cousin explain slowly, using hand gestures - "me-two-gnocchi". The waiter calls over another staff member to try to comprehend us crazy tourists - I am sure they are snickering, saying amongst themselves "she will never eat TWO servings of gnocchi - silly girl". They underestimated my cousins love of all things pasta, and the size of her stomach.

We part company with Pedro somewhere on the grounds of St Peters Basilica - our ability to soak up any more historical information - gone. If I concentrate hard enough, I think I can still see his blue flag in the distance, and hear him exclaim "CON-TI-KI.. Follow the right guide please!"

What followed was some souvenir shopping in the surely holy shopping grounds of The Vatican - served by a Nun, no less. Then, onto some uh-mazing gelato, which was almost as dreamy as the boys in the shop serving it! Mama mia!?

SB xx

tryin' to throw my arms around the world: Rome by day, Rome by night

17th August, 2011

We have a day to ourselves today, before our tour is due to start.  We walk the streets of Rome - and it is so hot and sticky.  My poor peaches and cream complexion takes on a permanent angry red colour - very attractive.

By day, Rome is just so hot.  Everyone you see has bottled water - but there are these most amazing aqueducts, all over the city and the water tastes outstanding and is ridiculously cool.  I'm in love with Rome just for this fact.  I'm not usually the type to drink water from the street - but our guide assures us it is safe; my cousin who has been here before, also confirms this - so I though, bugger it 'when in Rome'.. I never look back after my first taste.

While walking the sights we see our fair share of the 'gypsys'.  They can be intimidating and kind of scary - but I get good at spotting them, and really good at saying assertively "NO, grazie!".  I secretly love that I can say that, without seeming like a complete knob. And there are just so many people everywhere, that gypsy dodging can get quite difficult - but I suppose it works in our favour that there are plenty of potential customers for them to hassle.

A lot of places that we go to, have these little mini-markets set up, with all these glorious portraits, sketches and paintings - real talent.  And I wonder if perhaps Rome has a lot of art school drop outs.  Seriously, if I had the room in my luggage, I would've gone crazy!

Other note able happenings from the day - more lovely gelato, and paying five euros for 330ml of coca-cola - ouch, and, never again.

That same night, we go for a walking tour with our newly met tour leader.  We see some of the same sights, however they take on an entirely different vibe as they are bathed in the warm light of the setting sun.  It is dark by time we reach the Pantheon.  I notice over by the building that there are some candles and a little alter set up.  It intrigues me, so I get closer to see what it's about.  I find a Tibetan monk - chanting.  There is a female companion seated next to him, a picture of the Dalai Lama and candles lit on the ground  forming the words 'SAVE TIBET'.  A westerner lady, who I assume is perhaps an escort to the monk starts to explain to some of us what this display is about.  The monk is praying for a fellow brother who took his own life days earlier.  She goes on to explain the monks have been living in very poor conditions since the Dalai Lama's birthday.  The monks celebrated this occasion, against the will of the Chinese government - so they had been punished, with all utilities like gas, water and electricity being cut off.  It was such a strain on some of the monks that, unfortunately some started to take their own lives - in defiance, or desperation.  This particular monk who was being remembered, had set himself on fire.  I just remember thinking how awful - that governments can do this - not be accountable - not care. The westerner lady said we as people have the power to change this, but people have to want to do it.  I wish I had been able to understand what the monk was saying. It was special to see, but sad to be reminded that a difference of opinion can have such dire consequences.

SB xx

tryin' to throw my arms around the world: si pronto Roma!

16th August, 2011

Arriving at Rome airport - I was overwhelmed by the heat, and underwhelmed by the general casual atmosphere of the facility. The man checking passports gave me a half-assed effort of a stamp, which bothered me - because, hey - how many times in my life am I going to enter Rome, Italy?!

Finally we were met by our transfer driver - he was a kind, blue eyed man with a firm handshake, but no name. He drove us from the airport to our hotel - much of the ride, he drove one handed while juggling calls from two separate mobile phones - it was utterly ridiculous! The driving immediately struck me - I couldn't believe the way people were on the roads - every second of every ride, you felt as if you were on the verge of an accident - there are some lights and signs and road markings, but no one seems to obey! Our nameless driver gave us lessons in Rome, and the language - I wished I had the ability to converse with him properly. He was lovely.

Another thing I noticed about Rome, is that there is a lot of dog love - there were dogs everywhere, even at the airport. People were openly affectionate with them, one lady picked up her small dog in the airport terminal, kissed him exclaiming "ciao! ciao! ciao!" - as you would a baby. Fantastic!

I found Rome to be full of good looking, confident people - all of them oozing glamour, even if all they were doing was sitting there eating an ice cream.  It was incredible; whatever they do, it is done in such a way that you feel like you are in the presence of greatness. What power.

Another thing I loved, that no matter what the context, the people talking in Italian all behave as if they are having an extraordinary time - it seems fun - hands are flying, faces full of expression and intensity - I just wanted to be a part of it!

When I arrived in the hotel, I paced the floor for the longest time, all the while in my head repeating - "I can't believe I'm in Rome.. I can't believe I'm in Rome".  I couldn't tell you how many times I looked out the window to check.  My view was nothing particularly spectacular, nothing obviously 'Rome' - I could have been anywhere... but I was in Rome.

SB xx