A quick update! No really! Watch!! Watch the state of affairs declinemiraculously over the course of my tales of the past fortnight…Despite the circumstances that I am about to outline, I have neverbeen happier. Don't expect me home any time soon!
BERLIN 18th-19th: Can't really remember so I won't waffle on… Speakingof which, they have good waffles in Berlin! You eat them with gingerice cream and puree apple. And there are always plenty ofplaid-wearing Swedes to keep you entertained with their views onkangaroos as you devour them at 5o'clock in the arvo (the waffles, notthe Swedes or kangaroos. They would be too tough methinks)
ZURICH 19th-21st: Booooooooooring. It was all clocks. Not even muchLindt around. I spent the first night watching the movie Coffee andCigarettes on my tiny ipod screen in my hostel room (kudos Blair forkeeping me sane), and the second night I went to bed when it was stilllight… That said, I was really REALLY sick. Not being able to open myeyes they were so puffy, type sick. I guess my body hadn't alloweditself to fully realise the cough that it had developed into a properillness. And then I got to Switzerland. And there was nothing else Icould do but BE sick and sleep all day. So perfect timing! However,the land WAS beautiful, but when a bottle of water costs you $7 or 8dollars, you just feel a little ripped off for what it gives back…
MILAN 21st-24th: Stayed with Maria Teresa in her GOREGOUS apartment ininner Milano. For the little I had been eating (sans waffles, Danishpumpernickel bread, peaches and pretzels) and the huge amount I havebeen walking, she certainly made her best effort to fatten me up! Andthis was the beginning of what was to be Italy… A land governed by thekitchen table. But when the gelato is this good, who cares?! The firstnight we had dinner with the FABULOUS Paolo who is FABULOUSLY gay; thesecond night with her nephew, with predrinks that included snacks thatwere big enough to quantify a meal on its own; and the last night wewent a little out of Milano to a town called Modena (I think that wasit…) to Antonella's place for dinner. She is Maria Teresa's youngersister, and I swear that there were at least 5 courses… I was VERYwell looked after as a guest, and taken to art galleries (FrancisBacon retrospective changed the way I think about contemporary art –"deeply ordered chaos". Welcome to my life Mr. Bacon), concept stores(I heart 10 Corso Como), and markets (where I ate mangos like theIndians do… And got very very messy!) Unfortunately the mozzarellashop that she lives basically on top of was closed… Which was sad formy taste buds, but probably good for my kidneys. All in all, my 4 daysin Milano were like being back home with my Italian mother. I wasnurtured, fed, and allowed to stay in my Pjs til noon, drinking teaand watching the end of the Olympics. Thank you MT!
ROME (deserves a breakdown) 24th: Get into this stunning city at about6pm. Get lost, as I always do, before ending up at the hostel. Meet aCanadian, a Brazilian, and 2 Melbournians, and quickly turn into aquintet. 7 hours later, we are wandering around the foot of thecolleseum in awe. It really is breathtaking… More about this later.
ROME 25th: Wake up early wanting to go back and see the Colleseum byday. I have no money, so I go and change a bunch of my traveller'scheques in bulk to avoid a heavy commission fee. It's a beautiful day,and I'm strolling along, very content in the mid-morning sun. Andthen. And then. AND THEN. Every backpacker's constant, pathologicalfear: I was robbed. It's SUCH a long story, and I'll tell it to thosewho want to hear it, but I won't waste time here… But it was quite ashaking experience. Essentially, it all happened very quickly, and Iimagined myself running down the street, throwing my shoes at thebastards and screaming POLIZIA POLIZIA!!! But instead I just stoodthere in shock. I went to the police station, where I was surround bysleazy cops (there was 1 at the start, but by the end of me fillingout my forms, there were 5 in a semi circle around me). They tried toblackmail me into going out for drinks that night with them, sayingthat they couldn't find my stuff unless I went on a date with each ofthem... Then they took down my number from the official documents Ihad just filled out, and told me that they would call me to meet upthat night. This stuff is too good to be made up! I'm living in my ownsoap-opera, I swear! (But it's a GOOD one Jane!!). That night, Iturned my phone off, and didn't really leave the hostel for the next24 hours. I felt so embarrassed and violated and stupid andvulnerable… Just the perfect time for the so-called 'officials' to beabusing your emotions and rights… Welcome to the Italian police!!!
ROME 26th: In the morning after a sleepless night, I figured I wasalready up early and should take advantage of it. So I sum up mycourage, grip onto my bag for dear life, and head towards the Vatican.I got there at 8.30 after an hour's walk, but already the queue was atleast 500meters long to get inside… But I patiently waited, andpracticed my Japanese aural skills to pass the time. I got inside, andwas a little disappointed. I guess that I was still frazzled by theincident yesterday, and so didn't really enjoy myself. It was all alittle over crowded and over hyped… I swear that there are no Romansin Rome!! That said, the city is still BEAUTIFUL. There are honestlyruins on every corner… It is simply DRIPPING in its own historicaljuices. Then, that night, I went out for drinks with the daughter of aman who had calmed me down after my anxiety attack at Heathrow 2months beforehand (a little risqué, I know. But that's me). And. She.Was. RAD!!! Margherita and I would be super close back home. She was alittle punky, very alternative, and had a very strong anarchisticattitude. Not necessarily LIKE me, but the type of person who I loveto spend a big night with. And all of her friends that I met were verysimilar, and loved complaining about politics and the homogenisationof Italy through its position of the EU, etc etc. In English! Oh yeah,and they drove me around in vespas all night… I can now do that wholehair flip when I take off the helmet ;)
ROME 27th: Marghertia picked me up on the bike the next day, and wentto the Colleseum with her friends. They have never been – can youimagine?? They walk past it EVERY day, but they have never been! Thenagain, when was the last time I went to the top of the Rialto…? But Ihave to say that it is probably more spectacular from the outside. Theinside is a little more worn out, but you can still look around, andjust half expect a lion or Russell Crowe to peep out from behind someof the columns… It's HUGE too. You can't help but imagine what itwould have looked like, covered in marble and gold inlay in 80 AD.Yes. That's only a little under 2,000 years ago… Then that night, Imet up with Kirsten and her new fiancée, Sam! Who knew that we wouldbe in Rome at the same time?? Not us apparently… I had the joy ofbeing one of the few family members to have the pleasure of meetingthe enigma, and to celebrate, we shared a good amount of wine andpasta, before taking some happy snaps by the Trivi Fountain (which Irefuse to throw a coin in on account of me not being terribly quick towant to come back…). Then Marg called again, and told me that all ofher 'punk' friends had heard about me (apparently having a newAustralian best friend takes you straight to the top of the socialhierarchy…). So she vespaed me over to meet them. And it turns outthat punk isn't punk in Rome. It's mod. Like, MODsquad mod. Haircuts,shoes and all…
ROME 28th: And then I left to come here – LONDON! First Englishspeaking country in nearly 6 months, first decent cup of non-chai tea,and first normal keyboard… Bliss. Pure Bliss. And Mama is here toshare it with me! Plus I'm at a HOTEL (fancy schmancy… HOT WATEReven!!). It's the perfect timing, because if you think that thingswere pretty bad, they got worse today. I flew into Terminal 5 atHeathrow. And travellers know what that means. Yep. That's right.They've lost my luggage. I officially have nearly zilch possessions!!
Oh well. At least I have an excuse to go shopping ;)
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