Hello All and Sundry. Today is my final day in the romantic city of Paris. My flight is due to leave later this afternoon and while I'm looking forward to London, I'll be sad to leave this city, in particular, the excessively cultural and lively area of Montmarte. Last night, there was live music to be heard through my open window, as the main street came alive as the sun set.
Earlier in the evening, having returned from a long day out and about, I had taken a turn about the streets in order to get some mineral water. Not really being bothered to dress too appropriately, I left my shorts and t-shirt on, donned my Birks and set out. Big Mistake. As I walked past the numerous cafes along the street I drew more than a little attention! Apparently, daggy typical Australian dress is unacceptable in the trendy area I've been living in! Haha!
Yesterday was full on! I got up and decided to go straight to the Lourve, which I suspected would take up most of my day! I was right! Thankfully the line was small and I managed to enter without waiting too long. The view from inside the glass pyramid is amazing. As I descended into the lobby there was hundreds of tourists milling around and I could see the main three entrances to each of the wings. I felt like an expert entering this famous building. I had duely done my research thoroughly: a copy of the DaVinci Code in my hotel room! I got my ticket, joined a tour and began. The tour went for about 2 hours and highighted the main points of interest in the museum! Definately would recommend this one! The climax was of course the Mona Lisa. There was dozens and dozens of people around it, all taking photographs! It was quite funny really! the Lourve is one of the first museums that I've been to which actually allows photographs! Most places, even churches, forbid it, and if it is permitted, you have to take pictures without a flash. Apparently, after years of almost constant flashes, even the paintings get damaged. At the Lourve however, according to the official rules, pictures are allowed but flashes are "strongly discouraged", whatever that means! After that, I wandered around the museum for a few hours with an audio-visual guide taking it all in. Finally, I'd had enough, and probably having missed more than half of the collections, I left. It would be impossible to see it all in even a full day, there is just way too much!
After this to clear my head I took a stroll towards Champs Elysees which is a huge shopping strip. There is a FIVE STOREY Louis Vuitton shop which looked amazing. I paused outside to take a picture. It was DEFININATELY not the kind of store that one strolled into to have a look around, judging by the security guards and the clientele exiting the store! After walking up and then down for a couple of hours, exhausted, I headed to my hotel.
On the waym on the spur of the moment, I stopped past a hairdresser to see about getting a trim. It was an older guy doing the cutting. When I sat down, he asked me if there were many Lebanese people in Australia. I said there were, and then rather forcefully announced that I wasn't Lebanese! I was getting sick of everyone assuming that I was middle eastern! He, however was, and while he didn't seem to take my declaration offensively, he did continue talking about Lebanese people in Australia and France losing their cultural identity. It seemed a perfect conversation for Leon, I however was so tired, I almost fell asleep! He cut my hair for what seemed like forever! Everytime I thought he was finished, he just picked up another tool and went back to it! At one point, after the cut, he was washing my hair, and with his armpits virtually in my face he seemed to belatedly remember to offer me a drink. His hands stopped their washing and he paused mid-sentence to offer me a coffee. I politely refused just wanting the whole thing over with! Ha!
Having experimented with French cuising already, I felt too tired to sit through a restaurant meal and so opted for Subway! (I know!)
This morning I'm going to take a stroll around the neighbourhood and take some snaps and then off to the airport in the afternoon to catch my flight. I had wanted to visit the Moet Chandon cellars in nearby Epernay, but unfortunately I won't have time for that now. Next update from good ol' London town!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Long Awaited Moment...
Well today folks I finally did it. It wasn't planned, in fact, it was rather last minute and spur of the moment, however I have now experienced the wonder and amazment of one of France's most popular and well known institutions. I am speaking of course, of escargot. Yes my friends, snails. More on that story, later in the program.
Firstly, today was meant to be an early start. I'd set my alarm for 8am, thinking to get a jump on the tourists lazing away in their hotel beds. I however, turned out to be one of these said tourists, lazing away. Damn. I rose at around 10am and popped downstairs and out to catch the metro and get my bus tour started. The open topped bus I found is a great way to get your bearings and find the most commonly visited locations. I'd planned to complete a full circle, listening to the commentary, but when I saw the massive figure of the Eiffel Tower, I couldn't resist. I jumped off the bus and joined the queue at the North tower to get to the top! After about 45 minutes of waiting in line, (notice that everyone says how FANTASTIC all these famous landmarks are, but nobody says how long they had to wait in line for most of them!) I was able to take the first elevator to the second level. After waiting for another 20 minutes, I took the second elevator to the very top and low and behold there it was! All of Paris was laid out before me as if I was in the biggest IMAX theatre in the world.
The top was a little crowded, (as various signs had warned it could be) but the view was just majestic! It was so difficult to capture on photo, but I tried and will insert some here soon.
After descending I jumped back on the bus and completed the trip. We passed most of the famous Parisian landmarks, including the Lourve, Notre Dame, the Arc di Triumph etc etc. I again got off at Notre Dame and had a look around. Having experienced lots of amazing churches in Italy, in particular the Domes at Siena and St Marks in Venice, as well as the Lincoln Cathedral, I was prepared to be a little bit un-impressed. Boy was I wrong. The church itself was beautiful, but what made it even more so was that there was a service in progress when I entered. Most Italian churches forbid entry during these times, so you rarely see what actually happens. Not so here. The sound of a beautiful choir reverberated around the entire building and added a spirituality that I couldn't have imagined. I felt as though I'd been transported back a few centuries. If not for the hundreds of tourists, anyway!
I passed by a statue of a woman that intrigued me and upon further inspection, realised it was Joan of Arc. There were quite a few candles lit in front of her altar. A really beautiful experience.
After a full day driving around Paris and exploring these massive monuments, I headed back to the hotel. I popped out for dinner a short while later at about 10pm. I had no idea which restaurant to choose, so I passed by a few and ended up choosing a little tucked away place that looked packed on the outside, but a little quiter inside. A brisk waitress with a clipped french accent and bushy hairstyle sat me at a table by the window under a light, (I'd brought my book).
I started to order a glass of wine, and the waitress immediately wanted to make sure I was eating as well, "This area only for eating" she said with a thick French accent. I quickly assured her I was and to make good on this, picked up the menu and asked for her help in selecting my meal. I'd wanted French cuisine, and that's exacly what she helped me pick. Firstly, for entree, escargot. When they came out, she placed a weird pair of tongs in front of me and a little fork. There were six shells, covered in what was unmistakably a VERY garlicky butter sauce. I was a little embarassed, but had to admit to the waitress that I'd never eated escargot before and could she show me how to eat them? She quickly obliged with a small smile on her lips and demonstrated how to grasp the shell and scoop out the fleshy worm of the snail.
She then had to dash off to serve another customer and I was on my own. After the first two, I looked down at the plate, and realised I had another 4 to go! AHHH!! By the end I realised that they were actually ok. Quite like oysters really, in that they're a bit slimy, and most of the taste is usually in the sauce. Thank god that was over, I thought!!
For my main, quite predictably, I suppose, the waitress had said that there were two menu items that were the specialty of the kitchen. Without even asking, I could've said which ones they were as they turned out to be the most expensive on the menu. However, Lara has taught me well, and generally, it's a good idea to trust the person who's serving you the food. One was a beef steak, and the other, duck breast with a honey sauce, coming in at 18 euros each. Not being a huge steak fan, I ordered the duck, and believe me it was WELL worth it! Succulent breast cooked medium, with potato, salad and the most delicious honey mustard sauce I've had in my LIFE! I have pictures of both these meals which I'll pop up soon!
For desert, my trusty waitress recommended another French classic, Creme Brulee with vanilla bean ice cream, which, while not super fantastic was still tasty none-the-less. With a couple of glasses of wine, my bill was a smidgen over 40 euros... money well spent in my books! I decided to be nice and left a tip, and the waitress ran after me in the street to wave goodbye and thank me.. "Merci Beaucoup Monsieur!!"
Plan for tomorrow, the Lourve and a tad of shopping! (Just a tad, I promise!)
Firstly, today was meant to be an early start. I'd set my alarm for 8am, thinking to get a jump on the tourists lazing away in their hotel beds. I however, turned out to be one of these said tourists, lazing away. Damn. I rose at around 10am and popped downstairs and out to catch the metro and get my bus tour started. The open topped bus I found is a great way to get your bearings and find the most commonly visited locations. I'd planned to complete a full circle, listening to the commentary, but when I saw the massive figure of the Eiffel Tower, I couldn't resist. I jumped off the bus and joined the queue at the North tower to get to the top! After about 45 minutes of waiting in line, (notice that everyone says how FANTASTIC all these famous landmarks are, but nobody says how long they had to wait in line for most of them!) I was able to take the first elevator to the second level. After waiting for another 20 minutes, I took the second elevator to the very top and low and behold there it was! All of Paris was laid out before me as if I was in the biggest IMAX theatre in the world.
The top was a little crowded, (as various signs had warned it could be) but the view was just majestic! It was so difficult to capture on photo, but I tried and will insert some here soon.
After descending I jumped back on the bus and completed the trip. We passed most of the famous Parisian landmarks, including the Lourve, Notre Dame, the Arc di Triumph etc etc. I again got off at Notre Dame and had a look around. Having experienced lots of amazing churches in Italy, in particular the Domes at Siena and St Marks in Venice, as well as the Lincoln Cathedral, I was prepared to be a little bit un-impressed. Boy was I wrong. The church itself was beautiful, but what made it even more so was that there was a service in progress when I entered. Most Italian churches forbid entry during these times, so you rarely see what actually happens. Not so here. The sound of a beautiful choir reverberated around the entire building and added a spirituality that I couldn't have imagined. I felt as though I'd been transported back a few centuries. If not for the hundreds of tourists, anyway!
I passed by a statue of a woman that intrigued me and upon further inspection, realised it was Joan of Arc. There were quite a few candles lit in front of her altar. A really beautiful experience.
After a full day driving around Paris and exploring these massive monuments, I headed back to the hotel. I popped out for dinner a short while later at about 10pm. I had no idea which restaurant to choose, so I passed by a few and ended up choosing a little tucked away place that looked packed on the outside, but a little quiter inside. A brisk waitress with a clipped french accent and bushy hairstyle sat me at a table by the window under a light, (I'd brought my book).
I started to order a glass of wine, and the waitress immediately wanted to make sure I was eating as well, "This area only for eating" she said with a thick French accent. I quickly assured her I was and to make good on this, picked up the menu and asked for her help in selecting my meal. I'd wanted French cuisine, and that's exacly what she helped me pick. Firstly, for entree, escargot. When they came out, she placed a weird pair of tongs in front of me and a little fork. There were six shells, covered in what was unmistakably a VERY garlicky butter sauce. I was a little embarassed, but had to admit to the waitress that I'd never eated escargot before and could she show me how to eat them? She quickly obliged with a small smile on her lips and demonstrated how to grasp the shell and scoop out the fleshy worm of the snail.
She then had to dash off to serve another customer and I was on my own. After the first two, I looked down at the plate, and realised I had another 4 to go! AHHH!! By the end I realised that they were actually ok. Quite like oysters really, in that they're a bit slimy, and most of the taste is usually in the sauce. Thank god that was over, I thought!!
For my main, quite predictably, I suppose, the waitress had said that there were two menu items that were the specialty of the kitchen. Without even asking, I could've said which ones they were as they turned out to be the most expensive on the menu. However, Lara has taught me well, and generally, it's a good idea to trust the person who's serving you the food. One was a beef steak, and the other, duck breast with a honey sauce, coming in at 18 euros each. Not being a huge steak fan, I ordered the duck, and believe me it was WELL worth it! Succulent breast cooked medium, with potato, salad and the most delicious honey mustard sauce I've had in my LIFE! I have pictures of both these meals which I'll pop up soon!
For desert, my trusty waitress recommended another French classic, Creme Brulee with vanilla bean ice cream, which, while not super fantastic was still tasty none-the-less. With a couple of glasses of wine, my bill was a smidgen over 40 euros... money well spent in my books! I decided to be nice and left a tip, and the waitress ran after me in the street to wave goodbye and thank me.. "Merci Beaucoup Monsieur!!"
Plan for tomorrow, the Lourve and a tad of shopping! (Just a tad, I promise!)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
A Terrifying Taxi Ride and a Near Death Experience...
Well friends.. I address you now from the 'computer suite' of my new hotel in Paris! Yes I actually made it, and this time with no last minute rush, in fact, I was perfectly on time! (I thought the check in time was 90 mins prior, however was only 40... oops!)
This time, I'd thought ahead, and organised for an 'airport car' to pick me up. For a mere 20 Euros, they pick you up and drop you off at the airport in a semi luxury car. However, my triumph at so ingenious a plan was dampened when the driver started taking the most ludicrous way to the airport. I had a rough idea where we were, (basically, without Emma around I have to spend half my day staring at a map!) and this so called 'professional' was going through backstreets and up and down hills, at top speed mind you. It didn't take long for my overactive imagination to kick in, and as I tend to do, I started wondering if this driver had kidnapped me! (This has happened before in Joondalup for those who might remember...) I realised that no one knew where I was, and I formulated a plan while in the back seat. I started paying intense attention to landmarks and signs, so that incase I had to make a break for it, I was prepared with where I was! Ha! It was at this point that I noticed that the lock on my door was down.. I was locked in! Now I started to panic. I was just planning a potential escape through the window at traffic lights when I saw yet another sign, saying AIRPORT!
I managed to board my plane without incident and by sending a few key items home early, I was able to save myself the extra baggage charges at the airport... yes!
I arrived in Paris, a little daunted! Such a huge city, and I had some rather vague directions from my hotel indicating I needed to take two different Metro lines to get here. In the end, I ended up taking an AirFrance bus, and then a taxi, and while it was definitely a bit more expensive, the ease of the ride was well worth it! I took a photo of my first sight of the Eiffel Tower. I also got to go around the Arc di Triumph TWICE, once in a giant bus, which was bad enough, and then in the taxi! It was the most amazing/crazy driving experience I've ever had!! All cars going in vaguely one direction in about 8 different lanes all trying to merge! It was such a mess that there were spectators around the edges just watching the action! I think that Parisian drivers may actually be worse than Italians, and that's saying something!
I did however think that Prague was beautiful, and if it is, then Paris is spectacular! (Disclaimer: well, what I've seen so far anyway!) Tucked away little shops and cafes around my area really exude a sense of French culture and charm. The beautiful tree lined streets and stunning monuments are breathtaking!
My hotel is just around the corner from the Moulin Rouge, which while not exactly super central, is certainly accessible. Tomorrow the plan is to take an open top bus tour to see everything and then enjoy evening around one of the many arty and cute cafes that there are around my hotel. They don't call it Montmarte, for nothing!
This time, I'd thought ahead, and organised for an 'airport car' to pick me up. For a mere 20 Euros, they pick you up and drop you off at the airport in a semi luxury car. However, my triumph at so ingenious a plan was dampened when the driver started taking the most ludicrous way to the airport. I had a rough idea where we were, (basically, without Emma around I have to spend half my day staring at a map!) and this so called 'professional' was going through backstreets and up and down hills, at top speed mind you. It didn't take long for my overactive imagination to kick in, and as I tend to do, I started wondering if this driver had kidnapped me! (This has happened before in Joondalup for those who might remember...) I realised that no one knew where I was, and I formulated a plan while in the back seat. I started paying intense attention to landmarks and signs, so that incase I had to make a break for it, I was prepared with where I was! Ha! It was at this point that I noticed that the lock on my door was down.. I was locked in! Now I started to panic. I was just planning a potential escape through the window at traffic lights when I saw yet another sign, saying AIRPORT!
I managed to board my plane without incident and by sending a few key items home early, I was able to save myself the extra baggage charges at the airport... yes!
I arrived in Paris, a little daunted! Such a huge city, and I had some rather vague directions from my hotel indicating I needed to take two different Metro lines to get here. In the end, I ended up taking an AirFrance bus, and then a taxi, and while it was definitely a bit more expensive, the ease of the ride was well worth it! I took a photo of my first sight of the Eiffel Tower. I also got to go around the Arc di Triumph TWICE, once in a giant bus, which was bad enough, and then in the taxi! It was the most amazing/crazy driving experience I've ever had!! All cars going in vaguely one direction in about 8 different lanes all trying to merge! It was such a mess that there were spectators around the edges just watching the action! I think that Parisian drivers may actually be worse than Italians, and that's saying something!
I did however think that Prague was beautiful, and if it is, then Paris is spectacular! (Disclaimer: well, what I've seen so far anyway!) Tucked away little shops and cafes around my area really exude a sense of French culture and charm. The beautiful tree lined streets and stunning monuments are breathtaking!
My hotel is just around the corner from the Moulin Rouge, which while not exactly super central, is certainly accessible. Tomorrow the plan is to take an open top bus tour to see everything and then enjoy evening around one of the many arty and cute cafes that there are around my hotel. They don't call it Montmarte, for nothing!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
100 or 1000? Those Extra Zeros Really Count...
Hello again. Well this is my second full day in Prague. After spending yesterday on an all day tour around the city, today I plan to relax and revisit the sites that I most liked. Yesterday morning I had breakfast and set out to Wenceslas Square where I met the tour guide and group. There was a mix of different nationalities, the one that stood out however were lots of Irish people. I also stood out as being the ONLY person who was alone on the tour! HAHA! Prague though is definately a beautiful city. Tree lined streets and beautiful squares and buildings everywhere. It's fascinating!
Our tour-guide's name was Suzanna, and her English was very good, however she had to typical habit of Eastern Europeans to add 'yes?' to the end of every sentence. She was hysterical though, (I thought). During the tour we walked through the old and new towns and saw most of the main sights. The Astronomical Clock, the Charles Bridge, several churches. We also took a boat ride along the river to see the view of Prague from the water. After this we stopped for lunch at a semi-traditional restaurant where two lovely guys from Dubai took pity on me and insisted on sitting with me at lunch. We started talking and I discovered that one of them was in "corporate communications" while the other was an orthopaedic surgeon who was now specialising in spinal surgery. An older American guy who was nearby joined our conversation and we learned that he was travelling with his daughter. (I had just been assuming the entire time that he was a sugar daddy for this young girl). I however managed to keep my composure, while one of my new friends (the "surgeon") said "Really?!?" It turned out the American guy was in charge of distribution in the US for a multi-national liquor supply company!
After this, buoyed by the consumption of beer, I was a little more chatty to the rest of the group and they were mostly quite nice. There was another American on the tour, some sort of professor, however the only thing I like about him was that HE didn't like Bush!! Ha!!
Suzanna was even more hysterical later on, and I wished I'd been able to capture some of her funnier comments. At one point she was telling us about a famous story... (skip the next paragraph if you're not interested)...
There was a King of the Czech state, hundreds of years ago, who suspected his wife of infidelity. Suzanna mentioned that it wasn't KNOWN if she vos unvaithful (v's are deblierate) and so the king questioned his wife's priest and ordered him to divulge anything his wife had disclosed in confession. Saint John, refused at the time to disclose anything, and as such the King then threw him off the Charles Bridge (famous Prague icon). Suzanna remarked that he vos now the patron saint of swimmers and, I quote: "But maybe he should be the patron saint of NOT SWIMMERS, yes?" As we all stared at her with blank faces, she added: "Because he drowned, yes?"
Maybe I just found it hysterical after my two pilsners with lunch....?
In the evening I went to a nearby restaurant for dinner. It was traditional Czech cuisine and I wish I'd brought my camera along to take a couple of pics. It seemed quite reasonably priced too, although it's very difficult to work out conversions when you're dealing with all these ZEROS!! I withdrew 3000kc from the ATM when I arrived which is roughly 200AUD. A 2 L bottle of water from a mini mart was like 14kc which is roughly 1AUD. I ordered a beer, (which came out in a .5 L glass mug!) an entree a main as well as a side salad. I settled back to read my book and waited. I was seated outside and the weather was beautiful!!
My entree came out and it was huge! Just as I finished it I was thinking I'd need a break between that and the main, but the waiter just brought out the main as I literally finished the last bite of my entree. I waited a while and ate my main. All of it was very delicious and very filling. It definitely wasn't what you'd call, 'light food'. At the end I relaxed for a while reading, and then asked for the bill. When it came out I got the shock of my life. The bill, quite clearly I thought, read 2341kc. This is roughly 170AUD!!!
I was outraged! The bill was hand written, and it was clear to me that the amounts scribbled couldn't possibly add up to this much. I went to speak to the waiter, whose English was limited and asked him to explain the bill. He clearly thought I was an idiot as he proceeded to check the amounts against a menu and show me the individual sums were correct. I tried to convey that it was the total I was concerned about when he suddenly said the total as 234. What I had interpreted as a 1 was infact just a dash or comma of some sort! It turned out my entire meal, with two courses, salad, sprite and half litre of Czech pilsner was only about 17AUD, and this guy thought I was complaining about that! Ha!
I quickly apologised and tried to explain that I thought it was 2 thousand, not 2 hundred, however I don't think he got it. I quickly paid, thanked him and left.
How embarassment... once again!
Our tour-guide's name was Suzanna, and her English was very good, however she had to typical habit of Eastern Europeans to add 'yes?' to the end of every sentence. She was hysterical though, (I thought). During the tour we walked through the old and new towns and saw most of the main sights. The Astronomical Clock, the Charles Bridge, several churches. We also took a boat ride along the river to see the view of Prague from the water. After this we stopped for lunch at a semi-traditional restaurant where two lovely guys from Dubai took pity on me and insisted on sitting with me at lunch. We started talking and I discovered that one of them was in "corporate communications" while the other was an orthopaedic surgeon who was now specialising in spinal surgery. An older American guy who was nearby joined our conversation and we learned that he was travelling with his daughter. (I had just been assuming the entire time that he was a sugar daddy for this young girl). I however managed to keep my composure, while one of my new friends (the "surgeon") said "Really?!?" It turned out the American guy was in charge of distribution in the US for a multi-national liquor supply company!
After this, buoyed by the consumption of beer, I was a little more chatty to the rest of the group and they were mostly quite nice. There was another American on the tour, some sort of professor, however the only thing I like about him was that HE didn't like Bush!! Ha!!
Suzanna was even more hysterical later on, and I wished I'd been able to capture some of her funnier comments. At one point she was telling us about a famous story... (skip the next paragraph if you're not interested)...
There was a King of the Czech state, hundreds of years ago, who suspected his wife of infidelity. Suzanna mentioned that it wasn't KNOWN if she vos unvaithful (v's are deblierate) and so the king questioned his wife's priest and ordered him to divulge anything his wife had disclosed in confession. Saint John, refused at the time to disclose anything, and as such the King then threw him off the Charles Bridge (famous Prague icon). Suzanna remarked that he vos now the patron saint of swimmers and, I quote: "But maybe he should be the patron saint of NOT SWIMMERS, yes?" As we all stared at her with blank faces, she added: "Because he drowned, yes?"
Maybe I just found it hysterical after my two pilsners with lunch....?
In the evening I went to a nearby restaurant for dinner. It was traditional Czech cuisine and I wish I'd brought my camera along to take a couple of pics. It seemed quite reasonably priced too, although it's very difficult to work out conversions when you're dealing with all these ZEROS!! I withdrew 3000kc from the ATM when I arrived which is roughly 200AUD. A 2 L bottle of water from a mini mart was like 14kc which is roughly 1AUD. I ordered a beer, (which came out in a .5 L glass mug!) an entree a main as well as a side salad. I settled back to read my book and waited. I was seated outside and the weather was beautiful!!
My entree came out and it was huge! Just as I finished it I was thinking I'd need a break between that and the main, but the waiter just brought out the main as I literally finished the last bite of my entree. I waited a while and ate my main. All of it was very delicious and very filling. It definitely wasn't what you'd call, 'light food'. At the end I relaxed for a while reading, and then asked for the bill. When it came out I got the shock of my life. The bill, quite clearly I thought, read 2341kc. This is roughly 170AUD!!!
I was outraged! The bill was hand written, and it was clear to me that the amounts scribbled couldn't possibly add up to this much. I went to speak to the waiter, whose English was limited and asked him to explain the bill. He clearly thought I was an idiot as he proceeded to check the amounts against a menu and show me the individual sums were correct. I tried to convey that it was the total I was concerned about when he suddenly said the total as 234. What I had interpreted as a 1 was infact just a dash or comma of some sort! It turned out my entire meal, with two courses, salad, sprite and half litre of Czech pilsner was only about 17AUD, and this guy thought I was complaining about that! Ha!
I quickly apologised and tried to explain that I thought it was 2 thousand, not 2 hundred, however I don't think he got it. I quickly paid, thanked him and left.
How embarassment... once again!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Awesome Foursome's Final Goodbye...
Well, greetings again friends. I am now scribing this missive from the airy and pleasant surrounds of my Prague Hotel. (Please forgive any typing errors in this entry as the Czech keyboard is a NIGHTMARE!!!)
Anyway, I've just arrived at my hotel which is quite nice, (by that I mean it has an elevator). Last night was spent in Mestre, (which is essentially the mainland of Venice) in a dingy hostel with a shared bathroom. My tiny room was nice, other than the fact that it was on the THIRD floor! I had to carry my two bags (I've acquired another one while in Florence) up 3 flights of stairs!! Slightly nightmarish, particularly as I had to bring them down the next morning!! The flight over was non eventful, I flew with Sky Europe, one of the budget airlines here and had to pay an extra 24 euro due to the fact that my luggage case was 3 kg over the 20k limit! After almost missing my flight here, in typical Danny fashion, I have arrived safe and sound and am enjoying a bottle of sauvignon blanc (I'm not alcoholic, they just don't sell it by the glass!)
The last week was our last in the lovely city of Florence. Emma and I have now parted ways, and while she is in Vincenza visiting with cousins, I have arrived in Prague. Our last night in Florence was spent in style however. Emma, Margarita, Naomi (new friend from Canada) and I went out with a few friends from school and drank and danced the night away in Florence. We went to a few different places and ended up at a bar known as '21' which is a major hangout for foreigners in Florence. Not really our thing, however the drinks were cheap and there was great dance music! Only drawback was that many guys (usually Americans) were continually hitting on my attractive lady friends! One in particular was keen on Naomi and I had to intervene. Fearing a bloody brawl in the street outside was going to be unavoidable after this, I quite calmly told the guy to back off. As I prepared myself for the ensuing argument, he just left. I think it might be because I look middle eastern. Johan (one of the stylish Swedes) told me he thought I looked quite scary when I first walked into the Italian class! HAHA! Anyway.. it was definately a FABULOUS night!
The next day I awoke with the WORST hangover I've ever had. I think it was mainly because I'd failed to throw up the night before. If I'd managed that, I think the next morning would have been fine... haha! Thankfully I'd packed most of my things. Emma and I did a quick trip to Vivoli's for our final slice of heaven and then I went to buy another bag (because I'd bought so much in Florence my stuff will now not fit into one!) and then we left on the train. Emma got off the stop before mine. We hugged goodbye and promised to keep in touch.
The end of my trip is now in sight. I have three days here in Prague, then three in Paris. I'm then staying a night in London to see the sights, and then I have 5 or 6 days at my Auntie's house in Lincoln. I'm very much looking forward to seeing her again, and spending some more time in Lincoln.
Anyway, I've just arrived at my hotel which is quite nice, (by that I mean it has an elevator). Last night was spent in Mestre, (which is essentially the mainland of Venice) in a dingy hostel with a shared bathroom. My tiny room was nice, other than the fact that it was on the THIRD floor! I had to carry my two bags (I've acquired another one while in Florence) up 3 flights of stairs!! Slightly nightmarish, particularly as I had to bring them down the next morning!! The flight over was non eventful, I flew with Sky Europe, one of the budget airlines here and had to pay an extra 24 euro due to the fact that my luggage case was 3 kg over the 20k limit! After almost missing my flight here, in typical Danny fashion, I have arrived safe and sound and am enjoying a bottle of sauvignon blanc (I'm not alcoholic, they just don't sell it by the glass!)
The last week was our last in the lovely city of Florence. Emma and I have now parted ways, and while she is in Vincenza visiting with cousins, I have arrived in Prague. Our last night in Florence was spent in style however. Emma, Margarita, Naomi (new friend from Canada) and I went out with a few friends from school and drank and danced the night away in Florence. We went to a few different places and ended up at a bar known as '21' which is a major hangout for foreigners in Florence. Not really our thing, however the drinks were cheap and there was great dance music! Only drawback was that many guys (usually Americans) were continually hitting on my attractive lady friends! One in particular was keen on Naomi and I had to intervene. Fearing a bloody brawl in the street outside was going to be unavoidable after this, I quite calmly told the guy to back off. As I prepared myself for the ensuing argument, he just left. I think it might be because I look middle eastern. Johan (one of the stylish Swedes) told me he thought I looked quite scary when I first walked into the Italian class! HAHA! Anyway.. it was definately a FABULOUS night!
The next day I awoke with the WORST hangover I've ever had. I think it was mainly because I'd failed to throw up the night before. If I'd managed that, I think the next morning would have been fine... haha! Thankfully I'd packed most of my things. Emma and I did a quick trip to Vivoli's for our final slice of heaven and then I went to buy another bag (because I'd bought so much in Florence my stuff will now not fit into one!) and then we left on the train. Emma got off the stop before mine. We hugged goodbye and promised to keep in touch.
The end of my trip is now in sight. I have three days here in Prague, then three in Paris. I'm then staying a night in London to see the sights, and then I have 5 or 6 days at my Auntie's house in Lincoln. I'm very much looking forward to seeing her again, and spending some more time in Lincoln.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
It's Time to Make a Change...
Greetings All. Well this is probably the last time I'll write a blog entry from the lovely/annoying/beautiful/busy city of Florence. This has been our last week at Italian school and on Saturday, Emma and I are parting ways. Emma is departing for Vicenza to spend some time with her Italian relatives while I hop on a plane to Prague to explore more of Europe.
Last weekend wasn't as busy as I thought it would be, however, there was still lots to do. Thursday night Emma and I went to a performance of Cats in the Giardino di Bobili (Bobili Gardens) which is a MASSIVE garden south of the river in Florence. The performance was open air, (we were really lucky that it didn't rain!) and the performance was amazing! I've never before seen this show, and the garden was the perfect setting for it.
After the show, Emma and I commenced the walk home. We were planning a short detour to try to meet a friend of Emma's at a bar called the 'Red Garter'. En route to said bar we passed under a very small verandah. Just as we did there was a wet splat! and I saw a couple of drops hit the pavement. I asked Emma 'what do you think that was?' to which she replied 'who knows, water probably.' What I had not at this point mentioned to Emma was that a massive blob had also hit me on the head! I asked Emma to have a look as I could feel something slimy sliding down my temple. Emma had a quick look in the dark and declared that she couldn't see anything and so off we went. I could however, still feel something there, so when we reached a street lamp, I asked Emma to take another look. In the weak watery light of said street lamp, the story changed dramatically. Emma emitted a sharp gasp, at which point I began to panic.
You see faithful followers, it was NOT, in fact a blob of harmless water that had fallen on my unsuspecting head. It was infact a brown substance that closely resembled poo or garbage muck.
Let me give you a moment to recover from the fit of laughter your are no doubt experiencing at my expense.
Emma promptly went into action, ripping a sheet of paper from her notebook and scraping off the worst of aforementioned 'muck'. It was however in my hair, and there was no way to completely get it out other than washing. We still however, proceeded to the bar where I sat upon a stool, (pun unintended) trying to remain very still so as not to precipitate further sliding of the muck perched on my head.
After we had determined that Emma's friend was not there, we left, dodging the spew on the front step and trundled home, where I promptly washed my hair quite thoroughly.
On Friday, we had planned to go to the Uffizi (world famous museum) however, when we got there, we realised that it was closing early and we'd only have 1.5 hours to explore, so we ditched the booking and went to get our favourite gelati at Vivoli's. I can honestly say that I dare not do the math on how much I've actually spent on Vivoli's as I think I might actually have a heart attack. It would easily be at least €75 ($150AUD) over the last 6 weeks.
Sunday was spent lounging in the Bobili Gardens of which I have some fantastic pictures to be added soon! I actually fell asleep lying on the soft grass underneath a tree!
Funny moment: on Monday in class we were covering 'reflexive verbs' and had to write a brief summary of what we did the day before. I at one point wanted to say 'I was running late' which is 'ero in ritardo' (was in lateness). However, I decided to say it in a reflexive way (which wasn't required) and said 'mi sono ritardato' (I was retarded - kind of). As soon as this came out of my mouth I realised my error, and while Emma and Margerita (friend from the States) burst out laughing, I couldn't think of the correct way to say it. Finally, after recovering from laughing himself, our teacher, Marco corrected it for me.
How embarassment, again.
Hope all's well! Next post most likely from Prague. Ciao!
Last weekend wasn't as busy as I thought it would be, however, there was still lots to do. Thursday night Emma and I went to a performance of Cats in the Giardino di Bobili (Bobili Gardens) which is a MASSIVE garden south of the river in Florence. The performance was open air, (we were really lucky that it didn't rain!) and the performance was amazing! I've never before seen this show, and the garden was the perfect setting for it.
After the show, Emma and I commenced the walk home. We were planning a short detour to try to meet a friend of Emma's at a bar called the 'Red Garter'. En route to said bar we passed under a very small verandah. Just as we did there was a wet splat! and I saw a couple of drops hit the pavement. I asked Emma 'what do you think that was?' to which she replied 'who knows, water probably.' What I had not at this point mentioned to Emma was that a massive blob had also hit me on the head! I asked Emma to have a look as I could feel something slimy sliding down my temple. Emma had a quick look in the dark and declared that she couldn't see anything and so off we went. I could however, still feel something there, so when we reached a street lamp, I asked Emma to take another look. In the weak watery light of said street lamp, the story changed dramatically. Emma emitted a sharp gasp, at which point I began to panic.
You see faithful followers, it was NOT, in fact a blob of harmless water that had fallen on my unsuspecting head. It was infact a brown substance that closely resembled poo or garbage muck.
Let me give you a moment to recover from the fit of laughter your are no doubt experiencing at my expense.
Emma promptly went into action, ripping a sheet of paper from her notebook and scraping off the worst of aforementioned 'muck'. It was however in my hair, and there was no way to completely get it out other than washing. We still however, proceeded to the bar where I sat upon a stool, (pun unintended) trying to remain very still so as not to precipitate further sliding of the muck perched on my head.
After we had determined that Emma's friend was not there, we left, dodging the spew on the front step and trundled home, where I promptly washed my hair quite thoroughly.
On Friday, we had planned to go to the Uffizi (world famous museum) however, when we got there, we realised that it was closing early and we'd only have 1.5 hours to explore, so we ditched the booking and went to get our favourite gelati at Vivoli's. I can honestly say that I dare not do the math on how much I've actually spent on Vivoli's as I think I might actually have a heart attack. It would easily be at least €75 ($150AUD) over the last 6 weeks.
Sunday was spent lounging in the Bobili Gardens of which I have some fantastic pictures to be added soon! I actually fell asleep lying on the soft grass underneath a tree!
Funny moment: on Monday in class we were covering 'reflexive verbs' and had to write a brief summary of what we did the day before. I at one point wanted to say 'I was running late' which is 'ero in ritardo' (was in lateness). However, I decided to say it in a reflexive way (which wasn't required) and said 'mi sono ritardato' (I was retarded - kind of). As soon as this came out of my mouth I realised my error, and while Emma and Margerita (friend from the States) burst out laughing, I couldn't think of the correct way to say it. Finally, after recovering from laughing himself, our teacher, Marco corrected it for me.
How embarassment, again.
Hope all's well! Next post most likely from Prague. Ciao!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Like Sands Through the Hourglass...
Hi again all! Just a quick update. Not much has changed in the last week or so! Emma and I are continuing our scholarly pursuits (which includes studying endless amounts of verbs!) as well as our culturally enriching pursuits (which includes museums and shows!). Tonight we're going to a performance of Cats in the Boboli Gardens here in Florence. Apparently the show is finishing it's run soon (after something like 20 years) so it's now or never for me!
Emma spent last weekend in Sardegnia (an island off the coast). Margarita and I went on a day trip to Venice. We managed to see inside the Basilica di Sant Marco (which Emma and I missed last time) and it was fantastic. The floor undulated in waves, apparently after centuries of tidal shifts. I went back to my favourite bookstore and bought up big (yes!). Margarita and I almost missed our train however! In a moment of dejà vu we got lost and had to catch a water taxi to the train station to make it on time! (Exactly the same thing happened to Emma and I in Venice!) If I'd been even a minute longer in the bookstore, we would've missed our train!
This weekend we have a HUGELY busy schedule planned. Tomorrow we're going to Lucca, a nearby town which has an incredible reputation as a beautiful Italian village. Friday we've booked into the Uffizi which is potentially the most famous museum in Italy with lots of important works particularly from the renaissance. Saturday we're planning to visit a nearby Mall, yes I know, but this one is like a Harbourtown with ONLY the major designer labels. On Sunday, will spend the day relaxing in the Bobili Gardens and visiting the Palazzo Piti (another museum!) AHHH!! I'm tired just thinking about it!
In addition to this, I've now booked my flights to Prague and Paris, the two cities I'll visit before returning to London and then flying home! Time is running away from me.. I can't believe I've been here for over 6 weeks!
Emma spent last weekend in Sardegnia (an island off the coast). Margarita and I went on a day trip to Venice. We managed to see inside the Basilica di Sant Marco (which Emma and I missed last time) and it was fantastic. The floor undulated in waves, apparently after centuries of tidal shifts. I went back to my favourite bookstore and bought up big (yes!). Margarita and I almost missed our train however! In a moment of dejà vu we got lost and had to catch a water taxi to the train station to make it on time! (Exactly the same thing happened to Emma and I in Venice!) If I'd been even a minute longer in the bookstore, we would've missed our train!
This weekend we have a HUGELY busy schedule planned. Tomorrow we're going to Lucca, a nearby town which has an incredible reputation as a beautiful Italian village. Friday we've booked into the Uffizi which is potentially the most famous museum in Italy with lots of important works particularly from the renaissance. Saturday we're planning to visit a nearby Mall, yes I know, but this one is like a Harbourtown with ONLY the major designer labels. On Sunday, will spend the day relaxing in the Bobili Gardens and visiting the Palazzo Piti (another museum!) AHHH!! I'm tired just thinking about it!
In addition to this, I've now booked my flights to Prague and Paris, the two cities I'll visit before returning to London and then flying home! Time is running away from me.. I can't believe I've been here for over 6 weeks!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
To Rome, to Rome (to Eat Like a Pig)...
The next morning, having woken up late, we caught the next train available to Rome, (the EuroStar) which is extremely quick! It's also more expensive, however, and while I won't bore you with the details of this story, suffice it to say, Emma and I didn't have the right ticket. We narrowly avoided arrest and jail as well as international (Shapelle Corby-esque) fame by paying a penalty and the difference in fares!
When in Rome however we were met my Emma's lovely cousin Roberto, and his partner Mary. They took us to a lovely little converted contenental deli turned boutique ristorante. We waited to be seated in a lovely old building. The room was small, but the walls were lined with bottle after bottle of wine from in and around Italy! Lara and Vince would've loved it! It was possible to order meals from the menu, but the specialty was plates of cold meats and cheese. We had a plate of proscuittos, salamis and hams as well as a cheese plate which we all shared with a bottle of red. The meats were exquisite! Each plate had a different selection of the meats to try from the specialist continental deli.
After this, Mary and Roberto took us for a quick tour of Rome. We saw the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon as well as a few other places. We stopped for coffee and gelati along the way, (the gelati however was not as good as Vivoli's - the best gelati in Florence, further detail to come in a future post!) and after a long day Roberto and Mary dropped us at Emma's other cousin, Micheale's apartment, where we were staying. The apartment was quite close to the centre as such things go which was fantastic! Michaele came that night and took us to dinner at a little place near where he works. It was a FRENZY. The waiters took your order as quickly as they could, yelling 'Grazie grazie grazie!' over their shoulder as they ran back to the kitchen! Without fail, they would almost throw the order down on the table when it arrived. Our caraffe of white wine was so forcefully plonked on the table, a good measure of it slopped over the side! None the less, it was a fantastic atmosphere to be in! We finshed the dinner with 'macedonia' (fruit salad) that the waitress had massively talked up but turned out to be forgettable as well as a 'takeaway' Limoncello! We were then rushed out as there was rather a long line of people waiting for a table and took a walk about the city.
We walked past the Colosseum as well as the Roman Forum and stopped for a moment at a War Memorial that was erected by Mussolini (I think). Micheale was keen on helping us improve our Italian which meant he was speaking it as much as possible! Emma had nearly no problems, and I would nod and smile and hope that he would then translate into English, which he invariably did!
The next day was spent in a line at Piazza Saint Pietro (in the Vatican City) for almost 2 hours waiting to see Saint Peter's Basilica. Well worth the wait, the basilica is filled with treasures and beautifully decorated. We climbed to the top of the tower to see the view which again was AMAZING! (Photos to come soon!) In addition to this we wandered the Pope's tombs were all the Pope's are buried. Of particular note was John Paul's tomb. Everyone wanted to stop, but there were two Vatican employees calling out 'avanti, avanti!' (move on!). People were allowed to remain if they were praying however, and there were several people on their knees in front of the tomb, many with tears streaming down their forlorn faces.
The Sistene Chapel was closed that day so to kill some time before dinner we went to see the Trevi Fountain (beautiful) and then, if you can believe it, to see a MOVIE!! Emma really wanted to see Sex and the City, and I was happy to tag along, so we found a movie theatre that showed what they call here 'original language films' and bought two tickets. The movie theatres here are very different to back home. The Candy Bar is tiny, and there was no need to pass it to get to the cinema. In fact, the biggest part was the bar, where you could buy alcohol and coffee. There was also a little alcove where you could sit down and play poker machines! In the foyer! It was hilarious!! (Again I have some photos!) We also found some Choc-Top equivalents and there was of course, the obligatory Coke and popcorn! The movie meanwhile was fantastic! Extremely funny!
The next day, we tried to get up early to see a parade that Michaele had recommended. (It was a public holiday and the President was in a parade down the main road in the city) however, alas it was not to be. We headed straight for the Vatican Museum line which went for almost a kilometre. (This is where the Sistene Chapel is). Luckily we were able to dodge this by joining a tour. Definately the way to go! It was a bit more expensive, but we had the MOST fantastic guide named Alex, and really got our moneys worth! The tour went for almost three hours and the best part of course was the Sistene Chapel itself. While very crowded you were able to see everything. It was difficult to imagine Michaelangelo spending three years of his life on his back, painstakingly painting this ceiling. I learned that in fact, he had never picked up a brush prior to this point and had been forced into the project by the Pope of the time. There is however, much symbolism in the paintings which I definately would've missed if not for the guide.
Indescribable.
Following this we grabbed something to eat and headed home. The return train took 3 hours and 45 minutes! (Needless to say, was NOT EuroStar!) and by the time we got home we were pooped!
Congratulations for getting to the end!
When in Rome however we were met my Emma's lovely cousin Roberto, and his partner Mary. They took us to a lovely little converted contenental deli turned boutique ristorante. We waited to be seated in a lovely old building. The room was small, but the walls were lined with bottle after bottle of wine from in and around Italy! Lara and Vince would've loved it! It was possible to order meals from the menu, but the specialty was plates of cold meats and cheese. We had a plate of proscuittos, salamis and hams as well as a cheese plate which we all shared with a bottle of red. The meats were exquisite! Each plate had a different selection of the meats to try from the specialist continental deli.
After this, Mary and Roberto took us for a quick tour of Rome. We saw the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon as well as a few other places. We stopped for coffee and gelati along the way, (the gelati however was not as good as Vivoli's - the best gelati in Florence, further detail to come in a future post!) and after a long day Roberto and Mary dropped us at Emma's other cousin, Micheale's apartment, where we were staying. The apartment was quite close to the centre as such things go which was fantastic! Michaele came that night and took us to dinner at a little place near where he works. It was a FRENZY. The waiters took your order as quickly as they could, yelling 'Grazie grazie grazie!' over their shoulder as they ran back to the kitchen! Without fail, they would almost throw the order down on the table when it arrived. Our caraffe of white wine was so forcefully plonked on the table, a good measure of it slopped over the side! None the less, it was a fantastic atmosphere to be in! We finshed the dinner with 'macedonia' (fruit salad) that the waitress had massively talked up but turned out to be forgettable as well as a 'takeaway' Limoncello! We were then rushed out as there was rather a long line of people waiting for a table and took a walk about the city.
We walked past the Colosseum as well as the Roman Forum and stopped for a moment at a War Memorial that was erected by Mussolini (I think). Micheale was keen on helping us improve our Italian which meant he was speaking it as much as possible! Emma had nearly no problems, and I would nod and smile and hope that he would then translate into English, which he invariably did!
The next day was spent in a line at Piazza Saint Pietro (in the Vatican City) for almost 2 hours waiting to see Saint Peter's Basilica. Well worth the wait, the basilica is filled with treasures and beautifully decorated. We climbed to the top of the tower to see the view which again was AMAZING! (Photos to come soon!) In addition to this we wandered the Pope's tombs were all the Pope's are buried. Of particular note was John Paul's tomb. Everyone wanted to stop, but there were two Vatican employees calling out 'avanti, avanti!' (move on!). People were allowed to remain if they were praying however, and there were several people on their knees in front of the tomb, many with tears streaming down their forlorn faces.
The Sistene Chapel was closed that day so to kill some time before dinner we went to see the Trevi Fountain (beautiful) and then, if you can believe it, to see a MOVIE!! Emma really wanted to see Sex and the City, and I was happy to tag along, so we found a movie theatre that showed what they call here 'original language films' and bought two tickets. The movie theatres here are very different to back home. The Candy Bar is tiny, and there was no need to pass it to get to the cinema. In fact, the biggest part was the bar, where you could buy alcohol and coffee. There was also a little alcove where you could sit down and play poker machines! In the foyer! It was hilarious!! (Again I have some photos!) We also found some Choc-Top equivalents and there was of course, the obligatory Coke and popcorn! The movie meanwhile was fantastic! Extremely funny!
The next day, we tried to get up early to see a parade that Michaele had recommended. (It was a public holiday and the President was in a parade down the main road in the city) however, alas it was not to be. We headed straight for the Vatican Museum line which went for almost a kilometre. (This is where the Sistene Chapel is). Luckily we were able to dodge this by joining a tour. Definately the way to go! It was a bit more expensive, but we had the MOST fantastic guide named Alex, and really got our moneys worth! The tour went for almost three hours and the best part of course was the Sistene Chapel itself. While very crowded you were able to see everything. It was difficult to imagine Michaelangelo spending three years of his life on his back, painstakingly painting this ceiling. I learned that in fact, he had never picked up a brush prior to this point and had been forced into the project by the Pope of the time. There is however, much symbolism in the paintings which I definately would've missed if not for the guide.
Indescribable.
Following this we grabbed something to eat and headed home. The return train took 3 hours and 45 minutes! (Needless to say, was NOT EuroStar!) and by the time we got home we were pooped!
Congratulations for getting to the end!
History of Florence 101
Hello Faithful Friends. Apologies for the lengthy delay since my last post, however I've been busy! Since last weekend, Emma and I have spent the week exploring some of Florence's landmarks. We went to the Palazzo Vecchio (The Old Palace) which is a museum that dates back several hundred years. You may have heard of the Medici Family, who lived in it at one stage. Now it's the seat of the city's municipal government and contains lots of old artifacts and remnants from centuries ago. Wandering the halls of this palace is amazing. There are rooms with ceilings that are covered in gold leaf, kilos of the stuff!! The main hall in particular has a ceiling covered in giant paintings that are absoloutely HUGE!
Unfortunately, it was a little strong for my taste, however, Emma had no such issue and was able to drink the whole thing. (It did however take almost 2 hours! LOL!) After this we took a long walk back to our apartment and went to bed ready for Rome in the morning!
A garden outside Palazza Vecchio
We also paid a visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce. It's one of the oldest churches in Florence and was built by St Frances of Assisi! Not only that.. it's said that a piece of Christ's cross is kept there, (although we weren't able to see it). The church is huge and stately and several famous people are buried there including Michelangelo, Machiavelli and there's also a memorium for Dante (who wrote the Divine Comedy). I also had a photo with a piece of St. Francis of Assisi's robe that is framed behind a glass case in the church! Next on our list this week is Il Duomo - the most famous church in Florence.
Me with St. Francis' robe & Looking pensive beside Michelangelo's tomb.
On Thursday it was the night before Emma's Birthday and Emma, Claas (a German student we met) Margerita (an American student) as well as a Brazilian student and I went out for drinks. We ended up at a little known place called La Luna Rosso (The Red Moon) where we had cocktails. Emma and I even had a shot each! As it was a school night and I was already quite tipsy (3 x Sex on the Beach will do that to you - the drink people, the drink!!!) we headed home at about 1.30am. The next night we went out again. (I know!) Dinner was at a little place called La Casalinga - Lara and Vince, ring any bells??? and then for a drink at Pop Cafè (a place our teacher Marco had recommended - think the Exeter in Adelaide). We ordered Negronis (not knowing what they were) and was shocked when the barwoman (with massive dreads mind you!) proceeded to pour our trendy plastic cups full of spirits. I was waiting for the mixer to go in until I realised the cup was full... there WAS no mixer!!!Unfortunately, it was a little strong for my taste, however, Emma had no such issue and was able to drink the whole thing. (It did however take almost 2 hours! LOL!) After this we took a long walk back to our apartment and went to bed ready for Rome in the morning!
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