The other side of Equator 19 march 08

If u have guessed from the pattern from my previous blogs congrats.

Like all my previous trips this has a strange but a interesting story attached to it. Nipping back almost 10 months before this actual trip i watched a wicked film call Motorcycle diaries.The film was a documentary of Ernesto guvera de la serna (che guvera’s) trip across S America.
Saw the film which nevertheless impressed me and wrote to my Brazilian friend about how beautiful his continent was and this is the reply i got.(well this is wht it looked like)

Thanks for ur email yes S America is very nice .Do u want to come here and visit, We both can take holidays together and visit a lot of places
Tell me wht u think
CCB
Funny enough S America was flashing back in my dreams as well (don’t ask me why).Couple of days later google search reveled a £300 ticket to Sao Paulo .Me being too greedy said this

Hey CCB
Thanks for the invite yes , S America sounds good and the plan doesn’t seem impossible. Got some deals and will sort out soon.
C u in Brazil
BBB

But after this email was sent I found out £300 for just a one way ticket and a return would cost over £700 SHIT!!!!!
Several Internet searches later and reading a lot of travel blogs in http://www.travelpod.com/ .I had made up my mind or probably i had reached a point of no return.
After several frantic Internet search (yes by this time i was desperate to see SA) i got a cheap ticket from TAM a Brazilian based airline.Little did i know that they had a appalling safety record with the most recent of crashes in around 2005.All it mattered to me was i got a deal for little over a £500 and a that too to Rio de janerio ehhhhhhhhhh

Well moving onn CCB confirmed since last year that it was a safe airline so went ahead with the booking and fingers crossed will be in Rio one piece.
The time had finally come with Internet searches and found i could hand glide in RIO and CCB being Mr organised planned everything and had got cheap Domestic airline tickets as well .he was joining me the next day.

There was a secret deal between which i won’t propose to revel in this blog. J nothing dodgy mind u

6 Hours before leaving i packed and packed lite .What more would u need in the beaches of Brazil then a swimwear and flip flops :).

I was meeting Natalia the girl who was from Barcelona (previous blog) who was co incidentally was in London the same day i was flying .All she did before flying to London was to tell me she would be waiting in Piccadilly at 2 .

What to say it was a surreal meet up without the use of Modern technology aka mobile phones and stuff. We met for sure and it felt 10 times better when we took the technology out of it .After that i met my other South Korean friend who was now working in London had gorgeous beef bulgogi for dinner in South Korean restaurant .

Flying time

Quick tube from Piccadilly circus was in Heathrow on time and no problems with the Flights .I have to say i was impressed after all the things i had heard , gorgeous Air hostess sorry food or did i say Air hostess , well it was all a taste of things to come!!!!.

Long flight nothing exciting except free drinks and Air hostess (again) .Made it at Sao Paulo at 6 Am and surprising chaos was surrounding me ,tried to calm down and sort myself out.

Voila in South america finally

All the name boards were in Portuguese .Well for those of u who have been in Sao Paulo and Mumbai airports there is one thing common – These are clearly functional airport which are overloaded and none of the instructions clearly written . All i heard was Connections this way i had to run that way and just Cross my fingers thinking i am in the correct line !!!!

Crossing fingers worked this time and arrived in Rio no problems .I would suggest TAM to anyone and everyone decent airline with good food and beautiful well no prize for guessing this time!!!!

Had to go to this hostel called Che lagerto near Copacabana.

Che Lagarto Hostel

Rua Anita Garibaldi number

87 CEP 22041-080- Rio de Janeiro - RJ Brazil
EMail: copacabana@chelagarto.com

Phone: (5521) 2256-2776 / 2256-2778#

MSN: chelagartocopa@hotmail.com

Although there is a bus service to town from the airport me having a laptop didn’t want to risk it the first day honestly Rio has the reputation of being not a very safe destination.

Cab to the hostel . Rio city airport credit due to the people who planned it , there is a dedicated ring road which has no traffic signals until u reach downtown!! As result transit to and from the airport is very quick. Bengaluru airport are u listening???

On the way into Hostel 35 mins on the Cab saw pretty sight of christo redentore(Christ the redemmer) and stuff .Already the city started to impress me Lush green vegetation ,beach , Babes and heat which was a surprising change from London where there was snow.

Checked into the hostel and wanted to call the guy on a hand gliding so went to the public booth.Turns out i had to use a card so called them from my mobile and arranged for a pick up had 2 hours to kill so out on the Copacabana it was .

Initial impression - It was the largest crowed beach i have ever seen so it was all new for me.People sunbathing playing volleyball ,soccer etc impressed me .Here looking good bare chested is more important than life itself. The receptionist at the Hostel was the most hottest looking girl i have seen till date .So chatted up with her and guess what me being an indian ,I was put in close to celebrity status because they rarely get to see indians and very very rare to see and indian backpacker .So chatting with her ofcourse clarifing and going to great lenghts explaing about facts and figures of India (never loose and opportunity eh.....)+ u need to be a good ambassador of ur country u know!!!!

Went in for hand gliding thingeee i must admit inspite of seeing all the fotos and reading about it.I had no idea what i was going to attempt.

Here are the contact details and some info

Email Just fly - justfly@alternex.com.br

Thanks for sending your email to Just Fly.
Take off ramp - Pedra Bonita

Hang glide from Pedra Bonita Ramp, located at the Tijuca Forest National Park, at a height of 1700 feet (520 meters) and the landing is on São Conrado "Pepino" Beach.
The flights last from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the wind and on the weight of the passanger. Weight limit uses to be 100 Kg (220 pounds), but in some special conditions of wind and if the passanger is a good runner we can take up to 240 pounds (110kg)
The whole trip takes approximately from 2 to 3 hours to be back at your hotel.
We are all certified instructors by the Brazilian Hang Gliding Association.It is not necessary any previous experienced. On the ramp, after wearing the harness, you will have a briefing and in few minutes you will be ready to take-off. In normal conditions of weather it is not cold and you can wear light clothes, like t-shirt, either shorts or paints and tennis shoes or a kind of sandal that can be tied on your feet.We can fly from the sunrise to the sunset time, but best times for better flights use to be between 9am and 2pm.
Cloudy days can be even better than very sunny, clear and hot days. The best day to go to the beach is not necessarily the best day for hang gliding. Best flights use to happen right after cold fronts when it is still cloudy or partially cloudy. Of course, there are many exceptions and I will let you know the real condition for flying and will not push you to go if it is not good.
The regular cost is R$240,00 per person. As you are getting in touch directly with me you have 10% discount.
The pick-up and drop-off at your hotel is included.

I offer you a very reliable service, honesty, safety and I will do my best to make a very good flight with you. I don´t push you to fly in a bad wind just to make money. You can read some comments about our service at http://books.dreambook.com/justfly/main.html
You can confirm your reservation by email or you can call me anytime at 2268-0565, 9985-7540 and 9798-1804. You can also talk to me via Radio Nextel ID.: 55*46*13425.
Please, call direct to keep the discount.

I would suggest this company As Paulo the instructor was very friendly and i got from what i know the best price compared to other agencies.Whats more u don’t pay until u complete the flights or just incase u don’t complete u don’t pay !!!!

I signed my life away on a piece of document for a additional 10 R$ was glad to say if i die from a fall from Pedra Bonita these people can continue what they are doing what they do best :)
Went into the Pedra Bonita with a extra crazy driver and made it on top .When i leaned on the ramp this is what i saw !!!!!!!!!!!!

Shit all i could see was clouds and when they drifted i saw the beach far far below .At this point i had a few second thoughs ,Being a from india and a staunch follower of the complex karma principle i forgo all my inhibitions J .What ever will be will be!!!!

Easier said than done
Next came a short clear and Precise safety instruction by OK English speaking Pilot !!! He said and i quote
“ Just one thing just keep running don’t stop at any point in the ramp otherwise we dip , Run even after u finish the ramp”

Dip fuck no i didn’t want to dip from this point so i told him i am a good runner not to worry .Actually i was the person doing most of the worrying. Soon the adrenaline kicked in and again decided this was a point of no return.Looking at a woman having endless fags to cool herself made me feel better .

Point came in all the safety harness checked and was ready to go and we just stood there on the ramp for the cloud fronts to clear .I hated this although i much admit i was enjoying the view of Rio from the top and was a bit apprehensive .

3 2 1 Go is all i heard I was running partly becs i didn’t want that " Dip "and partly becs of my life.We tooooook offffffffffffffffffffff any my god .I was looking at the world below me with wings and it felt bloody good and just saw a bird flying past me at that time all my fear vanished into the humid air of Rio

I would suggest this activity to any one brave of course but young and old alike can enjoy the view of the Mountain ,Beach, City centre and the jungle all from one point - Le SKY and u will definitely be impressed.

Came bak from this experience to the hostel cant remember what time but late enough to check into my hostel.A bit of nibblers in a per kilo restaurant to quench my hunger and later i was casually chatting with some people over drinks when my Messiah arrived - CCB there he was at the gate waiting .

It was a wait a long wait almost 2 years and i had waited 10 months since we started planning this trip to meet him .Over a year of sharing a house i taught i knew him well but meeting him after 2 years after that ,I had not even imagined it in the wildest of my dreams.To add to this i told the people i was chatting with about our stay in Europe and how we were meeting after 2 years .They taught it just happened in movies !!!! but yes true friends do keep in touch no matter what the distance and the fact that we were seeing and managed to keep in touch inspite of being so far off was a point of interest for them.Right there a Turkish girl made a pact with her house mate from America to meet up like us .

Hold on let me tell u the amount of communication happening between us when we planned this trip .It was a couple of emails about the trip but once I got the ticket there was around 4 mails from CCB and Myself to confirm the destination and 2 for hand gliding that's all it was .No fancy phone calls confirmations and all that shit both of us just took the plung hoping the other one would also like it .But being ex housemates we pretty much knew each others likes and dislikes.But yeh that was all there was to planning this trip for 10 Days so it was very surprising to see how each other had changed in matter of 2 years.

Well as soon as we met .We set off to a 24hour juice bar ,these juice bars a concept unique to this part of the world open 24/7 and make fresh juices and sandwiches which are heavenly No i am not talking about the processed Tropicana but exotic fruits many of which don't even have a english name because they grow in the amazons.

I had a kind of a blackberry juice and ham sandwich and next pooled in some girls and guys from the hostel to hit the liquor march and clubbing!!

Turns out that the entrance to the clubs are expensive even by British standards 30 R$ for entry but u get free booze inside and girls enter half price or in some places free.Shit gender discrimination.

But the beer kept flowing american music was blasting out loud when at around 2 i called it a night becs by that time the jet lag and stuff started to catch up with me.

Turns out that i was so tired i was asleep within 5 seconds of getting into bed and snoring out loud !!! ehhh i apologise to CCB and all my unfortunate dorm mates who were subjected to this music.

Next day got out early to explore the mighty Rio .There is something unique to this city which i have not seen anywhere the interracial mix and openness to welcome people irrespective of skin colour ,wallet does give it a vibrant twist.

Ipanema- another popular beach were the beautiful gurias (local of Rio) hang out i could see Y the most popular Bossa nova song " Girl from ipanema " comes from this place

Tall and tan and young and lovely
Girl from Ipanema so lovely

Cristo redentor- one of the 7 wonders of the world u have to go there on a clear day to appreciate the beauty .Much more wonderful was people like myself and CCB lieing down fully flat to get our portrait + the Christo was a gigly sight:)

Sugar loaf -


Another of the cities high point where u can get an arial view and monlitic rock or granite with superb views all round .watched sunset from here would definately recommend it




Maracana

Perhaps the worlds most popular stadium which at one point held about 200000 people, now because saftey concerns they have reduced it to 100000 ohh bugger .Had the fortune of watch 2 best local teams Vasco v/s Flumanes in action and flumanese won 2-1.There were 60,000 in the stadium making the sound of a million.Every time there was a goal or a foul about 10 cans of lager would go in the air so by the end we were all smelling pissed wether or not we were pissed was left to question.The Gurias also taught us how to hurl abuses at the refree like "we know where u live u are a dead meat "ohhh god i wouldnt want to be a refree here

Tijuca forest - World largest artifical forest created

Lapa- A older part of town which at night has the colour of its own :)

Favela - most dangerous and safest part of Rio u would see 15 year olds with hand guns here but surpisingly the favelas ruled by particular gangs are suprisingly crime free since they dont want clashes because it would damage there corporate makeup !!

Another Night out this time it was spent in Lapa the magical part of town goes balistic after 12 where even the roads become places where people show off their capuara and samba skills . This was once in a life time experience for me the whole district was jam packed with local and they were selling Caprinnia (a brazilian based cane alcohol 40%) very strong mind u on the streets .Yet i didnt see one person vomiting on the street which is quiet common in here.

Next day was the day for a cycle tour we rented bikes and ended up going to Ipanema and copacabana and the lagoons around .If u ever wonder y the the song Girl from ipanema has a mention one look at this place and u will know y.

Superb food at the per kilo restaurant and continued my cycling .Night we went into the Barra shopping centre.Here again very similar to mumbai the most riches part of Rio (Barra) is right opposite to the poorest favela.

Dinner in a place called Gourmet- Here we had eat as much as u like Pizza restaurant for close to £6 the intreasting bit is this restaurant litrally makes only pizzas nothing else

Starter- Garlic pizza

Mains - Pizzas with various toppings dont know how much but around 30 of them

Dessert - Banana pizza , chocolate pizza, vanilla pizza

Dont belive me have a look at the PIC

Last day before we left we were lying around copacabana and then went to the Funk party .Now this is no ordinary party this is a party were people from the favela come down and dance the most erotic way that i have seen.

Next day quick look at the beach and then it started raining , bummer and afternoon off to the airport go to Foz de Iguasssuuuuuuu

There are several Cheap airlines in brazil from where u can fly cheap like GO AIR and stuff book early u can fly cheaper than travelling in busses

well coming to trasport - IN this country long distance train travel is almost unheard of so the alternative is luxury busses .I mean proper buses with beds and overhead entertainment system and bed . some of the busses run 30 hrs journey between cities.

ON wards to Iguassu to see the Might of Parana

Problems

Hi

I have completed the 2 travel blogs about italy and spain but cant seem to attach photos .

Whts a travel blog without fotos haaa

So hold on until i find out if its a problem with blogspot or my comp


Bye

Southern Europe - Gaudi city

Voila

Made it to Girona from Rome meanwhile met a Tiawanese girl who is still living in Barcelona.Some wise tips on where to eat what to do and all and the main things.

She took me around in a metro got me to grips with the city.T10 pass with which u can travel any where in the metro 10 times from approx 6 euros was very useful tool courtesy - Natalia.I had a small map to my hostel based on which Natalia told me to get off at a particular station .I did as told

But all that direction i had was for La Ciutat Hotel but i was in LaCiutat Hostel :).So was searching for a non existant road around the station in the dodgee part of town . Luckly met a spanish girl who advised me to go back to the station and have a look at the map rather than randomly roaming around in this seedy part of town at 1 am .

Called the Guy who could only speak Catalan and Spanish .So i could only guess the name of the station Juanic which is Kuanic in catalalon or spanish so next 5 mins where spent around asking people where Juanic was as suppose to Kuanic.One such smartian could see that i was from elsewhere and directed me towards Juanic and corrected my pronouciations.Turns out that i was lucky enough not to be mugged that night , What else can be jucier than a traveller with a back pack and camera and some money !!!!!

Finally found the Road ,Allegra de Delta and then the hostel .Arrived ther at around 2 AM so my mind was just looking at having a nice beer and sleep .Fortunately barcelona never sleeps so was able to honour my wish Tapas and Beer (cerveza) at 3 AM. Cost 6 euros beat tht!!!!
:)

Where i stayed
La Ciutat Hostel
Address: Alegre de Dalt, 66 ,Barcelona 08024, Spain
Telephone: +34 93 213 03 00
Email: laciutat@nnhotels.es
Website: http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/spain/barcelona/4184/


Superb hostel free internet and fantablous breakfast .Honestly u can skip lunch if u have the capacity to stuff in early in the morning.Met some brazilians here they were happy when i told them that i was visiting brazil in 3 months (yes i will write about it)

Bonus Free internet .Altough they had only one computer

Next day fresh Start

Hit the road with a map and Metro pass in hand .Loads of tourists in barcelona no matter when u go !!

Las ramblas is cool - Beware of ur wallets.
But being a gaudi city Park Guel, Sangrada Familia and tibidabo were amazing.

PS dont ignore Tididabo try to get there before the tourist buses 10ish to get a superb view of Barcelona uninteruppted.

A govt hospital and Sangrada famlia

I am not a fan of modern or abstract art but Seeing Gaudi taking Inspiration from nature and combining it in his buildings is amazing. Never have i been impressed about neo modern art(like i would like to call it) like this city.There is something there in this city which i could connect to .Been here just 2 days and i get the impression that if i ever live any other place in this world it would be barcelona(well i have not visited mabut still).People are cool the weather is great ,Great beach
and superb food and a never ending night life.

Came bak to the hostel .Ohh yeeh i didnt tell u , for first time in this expedition did i experience bordem becs there was no one in my dorm , little did i know it was all going to explode the next day.

Came out and met an american travel pair .They just came in so we all went in for dinner out turns out that the hostel is a bit out of the average tourists reach which is good news by the way.

Went to this smoky tapas bar with no english menu when we asked the owner for menu he pointed us at a spanish board which we didnt have a clue . He could understand us so he tried to tell us Sit i will get things for u 5 euros ahead superb tapas and beer .The same thing would cost us 8 or 10 euros in las ramblas.

31st night


This night i will remember for a long time in my life partly becs on how it turned out and partly becs its right there with my crazy nights

Here are the sequence of events.
Came back after walking all over barcelona so was quiet tired .Started chatting with some indian americans whiling away time.ENTER crazy french people calling every one for a party in their room in french .I
being basic french pandit went up and answered in French enquired



Waves Parc Guel



what was happening there .He was ecastic first becs i spoke french second i was indian .Turns out the whole groups of french armature rugby players and some nice girls where from small towns and many of them didnt even speak english and not met a proper indian so i was a celebrity piece for some time .

Next whole night i travelled and partied with them first in the hostel and then in town, Loads of drinks kepts rolling in .The funny thing is becs i was the lucky indian guy(as i was known i didnt have to pay for the drinks the whole night). The party carried onnnn and onnn lots of white mischefs and smirnoffs later.The french boys started flirting with random girls on the street sadly i realised it was 3am (shit ) and i had to catch the plane at 10 So had to say a real sober good bye and off i went with loads of crazy people to catch the metro.

Market and Tibidabooo

First time probably it hit me as to how much alchol was in my blood as i stood thinking where i was and how to get home .Fortunately i had just about enough sense to make it to the hostel In slow motion :)

SOme more wishes later work up early breakfast and after final farewell to the french troop I took the Bus back to Girona trough the Catalyana square with a slight headache.

Rite onwards to cold cold england where i have to make more money for my next trip to S america :)

Southern Europe - Italy

Christmas 07 (warning if there are some typos please ignore didnt have time to correct these)

Its my company policy to take 3 days off so i was left with 12 days potential travel any where between christmas and new year.

Small internet search for good deals , Most of the flights at this time where expensive but i decided to go some where anyway

Another Solo trip

Visa sorted out trought manchesters italian embassy .You would require the return tickets,accomodation details and insurance for the whole trip.

Trip plan

To explore italy and a bit of catalan(spain)

Land in Pisa (leaning tower )- Florence(Frienza) - Venice(Venezia)- Verona- Rome (Roma)
-Possibley Naples and fly to Girona via Roma - Barcelona - London
Number of days 12 approx

Tips
Get a Eurorail pass it would be useful especially trying to cram north and southern italy.I went for a 3 day rail pass which entitles 3 days worth or journey anywhere in italy (subject to checks).I used my pass for 5 days since i played the dumb tourist trick once , Careful not everyone can get away with it!!!! there is a hefty fine if its a strict ticket checker

Note: Italy irrespective of weather u have a pass or not u have to pay a small reservation fees for long journeys and punch the reservation urself on a yellow machine in the platform (otherwise u will be charged).

AND




All the city names are spelt in italian so its better to know them when u are taking a trains .Otherwise there are friendly animated italians ready to help u out even tough they cant speak much english.

Exceution
Landed in PISA minor flight delays seems like every one wants to get to vatican during christmas. NO idea on how to get to PISA centralee (city centre station) from airport.Took a train came down to the city centre


Directions for the leaning tower - got some blank stares, Dumb sharads time had to show them my hand leaning bingooo they directed me ......

Sights and sounds of Pisa over in about 2 hours .I was making my way back when 2 gorgeous Mexican girls approached me to see if i understood english (they had the same language problem) .Plus they didnt have hostel reservation

Me because of my visa requirments and prior internet search found out that there were not many Hostels around Pisa so they came with me to Florence .Think its a 2 hrs train journey (didnt check my tickets or get a resvervation)heheh

Hostel Santa Monaca
Via Santa Monaca 6
Florencep. +39/055/268338
f. +39/055/280185
e. info@ostello.it
Superb hostel a bit pricey but nice clean rooms and quiet central as well

Yummy Pizza for dinner and some pasta and tasty Wine from tuscany , behold guys Pizzas in Italy are heavenly and wines compleatly complements it.
Next day the mexican were off to Roma and me was exploring Florence when i met a Portugese girl in a CAFE :) Joys of solo travelling . We headed off to see florence sights like Ponte Vecchio some churches musems , fort etc very beautiful .

Let me say, U get the essence of italy and its people from Florence and its cobbled streets , small alleyways and nice morning markets filled with tourists. Surpisingly the palace of florence(forgot the name ) which is at a relatively higer place was desolate so we had the privilage of ariel view of Florence to ourselves.

Moving onn some where in this cobbled streets when i asked the girl to take my fotograph . Between holding her hand bag, Her camera , MObile Phone , Gloves and trying to use my camera at the same time she dropped it with the lens open!!!!!!!!!!! Gosh y do girls have so many things to be held in one small hand at the same time

Gutted i was but u cant really do much .

All she said for the next 15 mins was Desculpe (sorrry in portugese) but being a nice girl she bought me a disposable camera , Memory stick for my mobile camera fone and Gelato (these are goergious icecreams that u can have in italy ) again very delecious and it did cool me off .

From now onn i could only take photos in my mobile.............


After a day of exploring the next day i left to Venice .Eurostar this time so took the reservation 15 euros !!!!!!!

Reservation ticket (billetto) has the following

Carrazo(carriage/compartment) Number and the seat number Sit on the right one otherwise u will be entertained to animated movements from italians tell u to move to the rite one

The ticket checker checked my pass and told me to write the date on my pass and threatned to fine me!!! .Pretended that it was my first time and didnt know anything so he let me off (a bit of italian helped me ) so always learn a couple of words atleast u never know whom you can impress and get out of trouble!!!!


Onwards to Venice .There are two stations Venezia mestre(station in italian mainland) and Venezia Santa Lucia (or something) be sure to alite at the St Lucia otherwise u will end up quiet far away from the touristic venice.


Landing in Venice just prior to Christmas was a very wise (fluke ) decision made by me .Altough the town was desolate with not many tourists around and a bit cold . I got to see the Real bare naked beautiful Venice AND my god was i Impressed ,I dont think any other city can match its the charm of this floating city.

Piazze St Marco


The desolate street ,Preety canals and neverending stream of building inbetween cramped spaces ,and all the city seemingleee perqueriously floating with 2 entrances to a
house

One for the boat and one to walk in kind of like a garage or a carpark.


Preety couple getting married in one of the most romantic of places ,The big square St marco where there where more piegeons than tourist (the square shown in the movie italian job) was overly impressive.

Met an Impressive American Traveller Tyler whos was going to india next after 4 months of travellin Europe and 2 morrocian girls
Stayed in a Cheap place

Hotel Marte Biasin
Type: Hotel *
Address: Cannaregio, F.ta di Cannaregio 338 - Venice, Italy
Telephone No.: (+39)041/716.351 or 717.231
Fax No.: (+39)041/720.642
E-mail: info@hotelmarteebiasin.com

Desolate Venice canals

Wouldnt really suggest this but Is certainly cheapest accomodation i could find .


Intresting things

Taxi and bus service in this city between islands is using boats bit like city buses with numbers etc .A bit wierd but in venice thts the mode of transport.

Went to a BAR called BRA BAR yep heard it rite BRA bar.A Jazz bar The cealing of which was compleatly covered with BRAS i first didnt notice this but later when the girls pointed out it all felt a bit strange!!!!!!

Bra Jazz or should i say Bar Jazz

Midnight Mass at St Marco was impressive but sadly i was too tired to sit trought the whole thing.

Came back in the night to collect the keys for my room a wished the Grandma at the Check in desk BON NATLIE (Merry Christmas) , She was over the moon first I was a indian second I was speaking italian .She came over from the check in desk, Hugged and kissed me as if i was her Son !!!!

Some times its just small things like this that really move u .Its not that i had traved so far and long alone and all that shit .Just being able to speak 2 words in the local language got me this and the next day she had told me a list of things including

where to get cheap breakfast
What not to miss - couldnt get most of this since the medium was italian but hey wht the heck that poor lady tried

Sadly had to leave the next day and the lady taught me how to wish happy new year in Italian But will be Spain by that time.

Onwards to Verona and the Train to Roma

This was pretty intreasting as i didnt want to pay 20 euros reservation fee for the EUROSTAR and wanted to meet some real middle class italians So opted for the cheaper intercity Express

Venezia SL - Venezia ME- Blogona Via Frienza - Roma

It was a 7 hour journey after the first interchange . In Bologona my Cabin was full none of them could speak english and all i manged to communicate becs of my brown skin is Moi Indianoo and Tourismooo

Thats it apart from the christmas and new yr stuff . This seemed to impress two old blokes from Napolie and an italian lady and the next thing u know was they were sharing their food and beer with me

Never say NO to free booze and food

After 7 hrs of animated action packed (yep had to draw a imaginary map of india to show where i came from ) becs all they knew was Mumbai and Himalaya !!!!!

ROMAAAA
this is wht i taught it would be
City of Gladiators,Collosium, Julieus Ceaser And the Great Roman Empire

And it was
City full of people in Moped and scooter driving like Lunatics, Traffic in absolute anarchy I even saw a couple of guys cut the signal !!!!

Stayed in
Hostel Asterisks
Via Montebello
47Rome
p. +39 3292059018e
asteriskshostel@hotmail.com

This is the worst dump of an hostel i have ever stayed in .I would not recommend this to anyone else unless u have nothing left in Rome ,which is very rare.There are lots of hostels please go elsewhere...

The person who owns this i think is called Tony(dont remember his name) , looks like he is on estcasy all the time and the same for his 2 assistants.Breakfast contains a slice of bread and some jam thrown around if his associates get up on time...

Still When in Rome there is lots more to see .City was brimming with Tourists and every corner has a piece of history

In order to understand wht difference just one artist could make on a empire u have to see this city
Michelangelo has his touch virtually every where including the Vatican

Dont miss the statue of the Moses and others

The Highlights are

Trevi fountain - Tossed 2 coins and i am already back in this country thrice !!!! not in rome tough but next time i will make sure i will flip 10 coins!!!!!!

Collosium - A magnificent piece of Art a must see for all Engineers

Vatican - this was extra special because u get the feeling of going to a country within a city with its own post office and all .AND its fantablous no one can argue that this view is beautiful and some illegal snaps of the Sisten chapel (u are not supposed to but rules are ment to be broken rite!!!!)
there are lots to see in this city . 3 days for me was not enough Looking back i would spend a bit more time in this city.

Tips

Collisium Usually has a long qeaue of people trying to get in .You will have to wait for Hours like a moron otherwise there is a way out

Spanish steps Collisium

Go to the Pantheon which is 10 mins away from the Collisium here u can get a combined ticket to visit both and u just head straight trough to the collosium entrance . This is because a lot lesser people visit the Pantheon and a lot more people dont know about this combined ticket deal.

Or

Every hour (approx) there is a guided tour in the collisium if u book urself on to that u will cut trough the line direct (a bit of a wait) and u pay about 10 Euros more with a guide. Not a bad offer

Vatican - No matter when u go there is bound to be a big queaue . So is there a way out of it YES, there is Before standing in the queaue hordes of people will come and ask if u want to join for a guided tour .If u join them again for some extra price u will cut the waiting time by about 70% and get a bit of history as well.Needless to say it was a run up to the New yr and loads of people and i took it.This guided tour i got to know tht the romans where quiet liberated in terms of exposure but when these statues where imported to the vatican the key places(knobhead and stuff) had to be cover in mapel leaf!!!!
All this time i was having have gorgeious pizza sold by weight , Pasta, Spagetti bolognese or Tagatelli combined with Cafe Machiatoo (a very strong italian coffee)

Didnt have time to Visit Napolie so that to be done next time .Now onwards to the Gaudi city Barcelonaaaaaa

Sisteen chapel(llegal snap of course)
on top if St Pauls Catherdral
Vatican

Flying out of Rome

Here i come Barca

Travel blogs

Hello

Thanks for the hits.
Have been getting requests to put some more travel related blogs with accommodation details

Will definitely post them

A little bit of patience .......(Take that)


Ciao