Climbed-up the St Peters' Cathedral. Boy!!!! is it ever difficult, the near to the top the harder it gets. At one point we needed to use the rope to hang on whie we climbed up the narrow roof. No leg room at all. A good work-out though, better than the Grouse-Grind in Vancouver. This is my shot when we reached the top. So amazing...isn't?
Visited the Veticani Musei on-time. Michelangelo’s artwork, Rafaello Artwork, The "Sistine Chapel" is amazing and peaceful. I have never seen 3D paintings which are almost like a real statutes coming out of the wall. Geezzzzzz… talk about “Art fills with spiritual motivation and emotions”.
Then we went to “Castle Sant’ Agelo”, the real old castle of Rome and its surrounding dams. I can almost picture the olden days”.
Walked-up to Piazza dei Tribunali, took some pictures and crossed the “Ponte Umberto I” bridge. Continued walking to “P.zza Navona”, a great spacious square filled with Roman’s empire decorations and a mythical fountain.
The next block is the “Palazzo Madonna”. Continued to “Pantheon”, one of the real classical Roman architectural buildings which now “Santa Maria” chapel. Took awhile to wrap-around my head on “how on earth olden day’s men could build this"?
Continue walking towards “Piazzo del Popolo”, took pictures and hugs each other. Very romantic place. Saw the “Wolf with two kids” statue again. Then head towards “Trinita dei Monti” but it was under constructions. So just saw some part of it.
Arrived back to hotel at 8:30pm, what a long-walk, but SO WORTH IT. Rome is amazing. If you asked me I said, a good place to shop and a good place for romance. Humbling feeling blanketed me esp. in the “Sistine Chapel”. Wonderful Rome! I am dazzled by it. Took our bags and head out to train-station around 10pm.
Went to the Veticani Musei, but it was too late. So we went to look at the “Fonte Aqua Paola”, where the Italian resisted the French. Very nice view of Rome from it and it has a nice fountain. Also went to “Altar of the Nation”, Victtorio Emanuele II, the war museum, Garibaldi belongings, watched short-film on Italy involvement in WWI.
St.Peters and the Vatican City. It takes half a day to cover everything. But the Vatican museum was closed. Attended the evening service at St.Peters. Rome around town at night and bought a new boot for myself.
Moved back to Hostel and used their kitchen for our stake and egg b.fast! Good meal to start a day! Do nothing but work. Two new projects completed.
The Colosseum (Il Coloseo) and the ruins. It takes 2 hours to see everything in it. Line up was not long at l (winter time), 10 min, the most. Windy day. I was thinking many blood had shed here. But then after reading the history, it was also used for Exhibiting different animals from around the world, hunters show, trading place, fashion show, gladiators, kitchen shows, etc…. So it wasn’t just a killing filed, but also a “marketing” place. Big publicity media and venue.
Moved to “City Guest House” as we made reservation from Floreance. Much better but far away from the visitors areas. Good breakfast though. I had my Yogurt and I’m happy.
Visited Berberrini, walked 7 train-stations and see the untold-story side of Rome city. Pretty dirty, smoky and not-well kept. Streets venders and merchandises surprise me. All the branded items are on the floor. Made in CHINA and Pakistan, mostly. The old-wall from the Roman’s Emperor Rome, still standing. Amazing. As usual, people like to stare.
head out to Roma (Rome). Only one-and-a half hour. FAST! Compare to the trip from Milan to Florence. Settled in a hostel (very-clean and nice), kitchen was a treat.
Walked north to the residential areas. Piazza De La Liberty. S.S.Annunziata, a renovating church, with old-priest. I like his face, so pure and calm. The renovation bars are made of black and gold color not just metal frame look.
Attended mass at the old-Florence-church, St. Lorenzo. The priest didn’t bless me when I crossed my arm during Holy Communion. Visited the University near Piazza Beccaria.
Piaza Michelangelo. Cemetery (S. Miniato) of some sort of big-shots! S.Croce church visitations, etc..
Palazzo Vechio, where David, Madusa, and the rest of the many statues are located....Palazzo della Signoria, or Palazzo Vecchio, as it appears today, is the result of at least three successive building stages between the 13th-16th centuries: the actual construction of Arnolfo's palace, overlooking the square and placed next to the Loggia dei Lanzi; the first alterations in Republican times, and the later restructuration carried out by Vasari, after the coming to power of Cosimo I de' Medici, who moved into the palace with all his family.
An hour train ride to the leaning tower of PISA. I thought I would be surprise to see the leaning tower of PISA, but I didn’t. I took pictures mostly for Raymond. Many honey-mooners. Visited the neighboring churches and museum. Old ruins, walls and stuff.
Fantastic PIZZA and Anti-Pasta at a restaurant is much better surprise for me.
Florence, Toscana: 5hrs train ride from Milano, Lombardio (Milan, Lombard). Jewelry Strip and an evening discovery-walk around town. Discovered their Foundation and Barbarian AGE, The Middle AGE, The Renaissance and the modern history.
Florence modern history: In 1737 Florence became the capital of the Absburgo Lorena family reign also comprehending the rest of Tuscany. When Tuscany was joined to the Sardegna Reign in 1860 the Absburgo-Lorena were driven out. During the following years Italy became an unique State and Florence was the capital from 1865-1871. The remaining history of the city follows the modern Italian history, through the two world wars arriving to nowadays. Florence was not directly interested in the first world war but during the second war German soldiers destroyed a great part of the city while running back in retreat to German. All the bridges were destroyed by careless German bombs, exploding over centuries of art and history. In 1944 democratic Florentine partisans revolted against the German and fascist conquerors, fighting for many days. At the end Florence conquered freedom as the rest of Italy .(with the American and English military support).
Settled in at the Hotel Regina, Euro 40/night, one-star. Not-bad. I love the smell of leather in this town.
Went to the San Siro Stadium, Horse-track (they ride like those olden days chariot-style, Leonardo’s horse (commemoration) and learnt about Mr. Bent’s Foundation and his dream became reality. Leonardo 24’ cement to Bent 30’ copper statue, made possible by LDVHI Foundations.
The weather is getting colder and I need another new boot. Believed it or not, the boot that I bought from Paris (Nov 2005) has now a whole underneath already.
Things you cannot bring to soccer games...I thought Singapore is strick, check these out! Every line-up area has this plate posted left-and-right. Soccer fans are every wild. The Stadio Meazza, more famously known as the San Siro Stadium, Milan, is one of the world's greatest football stadia. The San Siro is also home to two of Europe's greatest football clubs, Internazionale and AC Milan. The San Siro Museum is dedicated to both Inter Milan and AC Milan, and is located inside the stadium (Gate 21).
Went to see Michelangelo’s art, Leonardo Davinchi's work (art-exhibition), national Library (300 years-old), and the most complete library in the world. Oh my. mine…. Leonardo is a genius. Knowing he was alive during the 14th century…but I never knew what he had done in the civilizations until I went to the exhibitions.
Went around town again and see the famous painting “the-Last-Supper”. Leonardo painted this jewel between 1495 and 1497. But as great an artist as he was, Da Vinci (a nickname which means "from the town of Vinci") was not trained in the art of fresco, and so instead of putting the greatest emphasis on the correct techniques and materials, he concentrated on the artistic effect he wanted to achieve, relying on oil and egg tempera, a combination which never really melded with the dry gesso foundation. Over the years, the colors faded, spotted and even fell to the ground. It didn't help, either, that the good monks later decided to cut a doorway right into a corner of the scene! In the 20th century, Leonardo's Last Supper became as famous for its pitiful state of disrepair as for its exquisite artistic rendering.
The setting of this masterpiece may give you your best clue, for it is hanging on the wall of the refectory in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. What is a refectory? Why, it is the large hall where monks and nuns take their meals. Traditionally, the good brothers and sisters were supposed to talk as little as possible during their repasts, and so it was very common to give them inspirational art to contemplate as they chewed. What better subject for a refectory than the most famous meal in the Bible?
Then we headed to the “Castello Sforzesco” which is one of the oldest-14th century castle standing, witness ancient art, amours, weapons, jewelry and its civilizations.
Farmers’ market day in the downtown Milan. Their vegetables are huge and juicy. It is at cheap price and quality cured meats are all over their vans. The Chocolates tasted so Italian and fruits are so pretty.
Jan.09.2006 – The first thing to the Canadian Consulate to collect a new passport for Raymond, the office is organized and the service is excellent. Cost Euro 105.00 in total. Not bad for a 24 hours service. Other than that, today is a working day for us. We have too many new projects…. Ahh!!!
Raymond and I split up to see different things as we have totally different interests in touring the cities. I visited around town on-foot. Places I managed to covers are …. (too may, details…later). The entire town is on SALE! They said this sale lasts one-month, the entire January. There are hundreds of people shopping on EVERY single strip. Designs are fantastic.
There are total of seven universities. In the centre of Milan, you can only park a train. They have orbital motorways system. Coach services cover most of the tourists’ areas. I think Milan brings the best of the both worlds; the business world and the art world. It is modern, rational, cosmopolitan city which nevertheless conserves its Lombardy character; “starts to become romantic as soon as it stops being practical”.
Got a good deal at “Hotel Aurora”, rated 3 stars, right on one of the major-busy Rd called “Corso Buenos Aires”, very good customer service, accept all major credit cards. Cool! Walked to a “Planetario”, planetarium in a Park, we had our picnic. There is a mini-amusement areas for small children, as for adults, places for jogging, birds-feeding, fishing, ponds and plenty room for people to walk-around and off course as well for the dogs. Everyone in the park greets us in Japanese language and we blended in because we both are too hungry to explain.
Head to Milan, Italy by SNCF Direct. Finally, after 6 weeks of travel in France, we managed to say “Goodbye”. Five hours trip, passed by several small towns, mostly tunnels and Mediterranean Sea view up to Genova. After that, the train head north, the sea disappeared and flat surface appears. Especially the town called “Voghera” is just like Manitoba, FLAT! Nothing but plains….Old buildings with no roofs, blown out windows..... Run-down old churches, stables, icy-roads and icy fields. These sceneries remind me of the movie “Schindlers’ List”.
“Pavia” is more of like “old industrial town”, because there are several abandoned old factories, rubber trees, Agricultural fields, new factories, new buildings with security cameras, Layla Cosmetics, AMSA, old-track and filed stadium, etc… One thing common with France is “Santa” hanging on the balconies.
MILANO – The Central train-station, 1925-31, “Stazione Centrale F.S” is grander than churches in France. It’s a mixture of nouveau and eclectic styles, full of decorative sculptures which contrast with the stark metal roofs of the interior. It connects to all major cities in Europe. The most recent building is the “Tetro degli Arcimboldi”, designed by Gregotti and inaugurated in January 2002. The curved astrological symbols are part of the station walls. Milan city is greyer than France, but similar to Amsterdam. The air is not that bad compare to Paris. Paris was suffocating. Vibe? It’s a “happy-town” with more free atmosphere and party mood. I like it!
After a couple of hours navigating… we settled at “Hotel Aurelia”, rated 2 stars, and clean but not very good service. They asked for CASH plus no receipts given. I told them, “I don’t know any travelers who carry CASH”.
Anyhow- we decided to look for another Hotel the next day.
Our 1st EVENNING in Milan - We decided to have a good “Italian” dinner. Walked around town and end up at “La Colubrina”, a lean-and-mean Authentic Italian Restorante. Started off with pachutos, tiny-omelets with red-wine, followed by pasta and then stake. I had ½ liter of white-wine and Raymond had Beer. Everything is “Aldaunte” and it’s so… good, NEVER tasted a good Italian food until now. Everything is “Aldaunte” that it’s so pissing crazy. We looked at each other and oh… boy we sure are going back for the pasta at least. It’s only Euro 40 for the amount of food we ate. The pasta alone is only Euro 6.00. Great food!!
GRASSE, France: We went to Molinard, the perfume factory, tour around the museum, 2 hours long; learn the French History and how they started the perfume.
At first it’s for the leather use, because in the 12th century, people started to wear animal skin (leather) as their attire and it didn’t have a good smell. So they started putting perfume on the leather. Later, there was water pollution and French cannot take a bath. So it started sing for the human skin. Also learnt about the chronology and pyramid of perfumes. Now I know the difference between “eau de toilette”, “cologne” and perfume. The entire distilling process from raw materials to the final products. AMAZING! I also learnt about the stories behind the olden days bottling, labeling and modern packaging. Type of flowers, spices, musk, roots, bulks, which forms the base, heart and top.
Raymond and I got a chance to make our own perfume in their lab. There is a professional called “The NOSE” which normally takes 7 years to complete the course but years to get famous. Very good pay. With 17 different assents and proper measurements…..
Raymond named his perfume his last name and I named my perfume, my first name. We both got “Diplome Atelier De Tarinologie” each from Molinard. Another good thing to hang on the wall, I guess.
Wow… I like learning like this. With a minimal cost (Euro 40/each) we end up with tons of knowledge and one-personalized perfume each. Mine is “fresh” scents mostly. Raymond chooses “fruity & sweet” scent.
Raymond washed his PP... how nice?
We met the Consulate and she said the passport will have to be collected in either Paris or Milan, where the Canadian embassy is. We chose Milan. The consulate in NICE is a smaller office so they do not issue passport, but only 24 hours passport to leave the country. We filled up all the necessary forms, papers. Head out to NICE police station to get “Police Report”, a necessary document to cross the border France and Italy. Being Canadians so cool, one can basically travel around EU countries (off course except Switzerland and England) w/o passport. We are learning….
