OK, so the next country on the list after France, was of course, Italy! After leaving Nice, we headed onto;
Pisa: We just did a quick stop for a couple of hours through Pisa, and it’s really not worth much more than that! Pretty much it’s 3 major buildings (they are interesting and beautiful in themselves) however that’s pretty much all there is in Pisa. 3 Buildings, the surrounding slum suburbs, and heaps more gypsies trying to sell you crappy tourist things. Was glad to see the leaning tower though. A really strange sight! And the other two buildings in that square were spectacular too, but didn’t really look into those. Anyway, from Pisa we headed onto our next stop;
Florence, Tuscany: Didn’t get a chance to do anything cultured by the time we got to Florence the first day. Just headed to the pub, and had an interesting night involving jugs of cocktails and kareoke! J Although we did get a good firs impression of Italian food from the food stops and the hotel dinner!
The next day was exploring Florence. We started the day with a talk on Leather, in particular Florentine Boxes which Florence is famous for. Basically a jewelry box, which when completed in one whole piece of leather, with no metal hinges or latches, made originally for the Medici family (another interesting story if you’re after something to research!).
After the talk we went on a guided our of Italy (It’s illegal for anyone to guide tourists around Italy other than qualified local guides!) and saw Michaelangelo’s AND Galileo’s tombs, which are in the same church, saw Michaelangelo’s house, Piazza del Nettuno with Neptune’s fountain, and about 12 sculptures including one of two replica’s of David. Walked down Piazzale degli Uffizi with statues of lots of famous florentine’s, including Michalangelo, and then headed to Ponte Vecchio.
After the tour we went to see Michalangelo’s David, which was possibly the most awe inspiring piece of art I’ve seen. I’m not a big fan of art, but I loved the statue. The attention to detail was amazing. All the religious paintings in the museum were great too. Then we just walked around Florence.
For dinner we had a Tuscan dinner, at a Monastry. Was a great night, with a monk trio entertaining us, and a soprano singer. And the girl’s on the tour’s first experience of sleazy italian men!!! Hahaha! Also got introduced to Imperial drops. The monks up there a few hundred years ago had too much spare time, and managed to create a drink that is 90% alcohol. You have about half a shot at a time, and it blows your head off… Taste’s alright though! J After dinner went to a cheesy euro ‘Space Electronica Disco’. Good fun to finish the night though! Next day onto;
Rome: Spent the entire day on the bus today! Finally got to Rome about 4 in the arvo. Caught the metro into Rome for the night, which is apparently one of the most dangerous metro’s property wise apparently infested with pickpockets. Headed straight to the spanish steps, which were great. Then went onto Fountain di Trevi. Which was yet another piece of Italian art that was awesome. A HUGE fountain! Then walked into the Pantheon, which was a great building with a huge hole right in the middle of it all! Also had Raphael’s Tomb in there. Was also interesting to see bullet holes from the Nazi’s invasion lodged into the building everywhere. We then walked to Piazza Navona for dinner!
The next day was huge. Left at 7am, and went straight to the line for the Vatican. Went into the Vatican Museum, which just had so much art it’s ridiculous. Some really interesting tapestries. They have a map room, which is wall to wall tapestries of maps of Italy, and also some very interesting tapestries which ‘move’ as you walk past. Of course it was topped off by the sistine chapel, which was just amazing. The guide taking us through, and explaining things and pointing out certain interesting things (such a michalangelo’s face in one of the paintings). Afterwards we went to St Peter’s Basilica, and it was… amazing as well! Just so mind boggingly enormous!!!!! The design for the basilica was done by Michlangelo and he designed it to have all these illusions of perception, which just made it all the more incomprehensibly gigantic!!! Almost surreal. Has an extra appreciation for it after reading Angels and Demons. Saw the swiss guard, saw st peters square, the pope’s bedroom, and all that just In the morning!!!
After lunch we walked all through the Roman Forums, which are all ruins but great none the less. We then walked to the Circus Maximus, then onto the Mouth of Truth, then Rushed back to head into the Colloseum. If I actually wrote about these in detail I’d be going on even more than I have (believe me, I could about Rome!). The next day went to;
Venice: The first day was nothing but bus. 8am till 8pm bus ride!
The day after however, we headed into Venice, and had a fairly fun day. Started with a talk on Venician lace and Venecian ass, which they are famous for, and also saw a demo of glass making which was interesting. After lunch (by now we’re starting to loath Pizza and Pasta) went to the Piazza Sam Marco with so many pigeons they swarm at you if you have food!!!! We then went on a gondola ride in the grand canal and through some side canals which was great fun, after this we finished off the day visiting the Doje’s palace, which was pretty much another art gallery, but with a armory/torture exhibit attached! Good fun! Then we headed back to the hotel.
The next morning we headed off to Vienna in Austria, and seeing as I’ve written 3 pages in Word, I’ll stick with the country by country account of Contiki. Hope you enjoy the post!
Love to all back home! We’re safe and sound at the moment in Wales, and heading to Ireland in a couple of days!
Love Snape & Coles. xoxo
