Rome, Italy

So I crashed with a guy who happened to live 2 minutes walk to the Vatican. And, as it turned out, the Vatican museum is free the last Sunday of each month--the day after I got to his place. I could not pass on such luck. Expecting a massive line for the freebee I show up at 9am to a 4 block/.25 mile line that dropped my jaw. Expecting this, of course, I had no intention of waiting in line for the museum to close in front of me at 2pm. So I stepped in about 10 mins away...as you do...
Again, I am not one for art, but the shear size of this place, fully encased in art, was mind boggling. The scale of the art, filling entire rooms, entire hallways, was quite impressive (impossible to capture in camera).




The jesters guarding the joke...


Went to the Di Vinci musuem. Man that guy was ingenious. He designed a self enclosed octagonal mirror that lets you see yourself forever in all directions. What better way to watch yourself dance! Cause I know he was just waitin for glow sticks to be invented with this one.


Ok, so I am one for ice cream and I really came to Italy to see for myself what the hoopla was about with their 'Gelato'. But, after at least 20 samples in 30 days, I gotta say, between Spain and Italy, I think Spain takes the cone. Blasphemous, I know.
Rome

vs.
Spain

For the most part, though, I just walked around the city, as I have been for a month or so now....

Florence, Italy

On the way to Florence, I stopped in Pisa...for a few hours. It was on the way.

Got lost in the rain without a map (keep forgetting to pick 'em up in the train stations) trying to find my CS host's house. Fortunately he was officiously nice and made me feel welcome when I finally got there, because the weather outside did not.
The next day, with still soggy shoes, I headed into the throng of tourists and well-dressed chimneys that are the Italians.
From outside the (wet) Duomo.

From within the Duomo (a hellish part of the domes interior--from very close up ;) ).

From atop the (100m, 463 step nave of the) Duomo.

Lucky me, this weekend in Florence it was free to go to any of the state museums. I went to the Uffizi. I ginourmous gallery of mostly renaissance sculpture and painting that I couldn't begin to appreciate.

Cinque Terre, Italy

A series of 5 towns perched along the Mediterranean, the Cinque Terre was just the Italy I was looking for. Quiet, beautiful, small. Although heavily touristed and ideal for couples, these romantic towns were just the break I needed from the many cities Ive been through.
Starting in the northern most town, Monterosso, I stayed for 2 nights in a little coughin of a room; but for €25/night, the best deal in town. There were real beaches this time, crystal clear water (perfect for my new €5 mask) and real sand. Monterosso is quite an idyllic little Italian beach town.

The real glory of this area, though, is the walk between the 5 towns.
here seen behind me.

I met an Italian girl at the beginning of the hike and we stuck together the rest of the way; much nicer to have someone to share the views and the little towns with--especially with someone who speaks Italian. It turned out to take us about 6 hours. And with my 25-30 pound pack, the climbs up and down were a good old fashion "hello, how ya doin" for my legs. I loved it though, besides I've been walking almost everyday anyway, so the all day walk wasn't much new.
The landscapes were great.




But the best views were of the little towns, perched precariously on the side of the cliffs.
Vernazza:

Corniglia:

Manarola:

Riomaggiore:

Torino, Italy

Crossed over to Italy on an overnight train that, like a 13 come 26 train ride I once did in India, took a lot longer than it should have--going real slow and stopping for no apparent reason. To my favor, though, I met a bloke from Venezuela about my age who I got to talking with in Spanish and we set off to kill some time before we caught up with our respective hosts. We did a good 6-7 hours walking about, talking in both English and Spanish--practice for both of us.
Come nightfall I met up with my couchsurfing host and we went off to dinner with another couchsurfing guest/host pair. Twas nice, I got a good lesson on Italian food and costum, and for my part, they were keen to hear about Chinese medicine and my experiences with it so far.
The next day I met the others living in the flat and had a blast walking over to the local market, the Porto Palazzo--what i am told is one of the largest markets in Europe.
Here, a vendor of only the stinkiet of cheese.

My hosts were most amicable and, with no shortage of knowledge of Italian/European history/culture, gave me some insight into where I was: The strong and rigid fascist makeover Mussolini gave the Center of Torino in the 20s, the influence of Moroccans on Italy, the shroud of Torin (which covered Jesus on his death bed and is said to hold an impression of him) held in a church we stepped in (only a copy is on display)....

Many thanks to Simona, Alvise and Paola for a great stay in Torino.

Barcelona, Spain

I stayed in Barcelona for 5 nights, which was a nice change from the otherwise flighty itinerary I have been maintaining. A schedule that has, at times, gotten a bit stressful: figuring out where I want to go, how to get there, where or with whome i will stay, etc. But I think I've sorted out the next couple weeks of my trip and will hopefully be able to spend more of my time on being where I am instead of planning on where I will be next....

As for Barcelona...
I didn't quite think that the Alhambria deserved the prestige of being one of the 7 wonders of the world. I did, however, think that the Sagrada Familia deserved the prestige. I am not usually so taken by art, it´s just not my thing (e.g. the Joan Miro museam in Barce), but, between Guell park, La Pedrera, and the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi really impressed me. His works are fantastic--surreal, imaginative, visionary.... Barcelona is worth visiting if for nothing less than to just check out his stuff. Having assimilated some of natures wisdom into architecture, via e.g. waves, skeletons, hanging chains, etc., I am surprised I have seen little else like his work around the world. For it is both asthetically and practicaly ingenuiative, making very utilitarian structural accomplishments presposessing. quite a feet.
(mind you, it is not possible, of course, to capture the works in photo--especially mine)

a crashing wave inspired tunnel in Guell park

the backside of the sagrada familia (one cannot even begin to take a single photo...)


the frontside of La Pedrera

Barcelona is quite the tourist city. It almost seems designed to attract tourists. The Magic Fountain is a good example. Esconced within an esplanade of stairs that lead to a castle, it is a spectacular fountain that makes a show of colored lights shooting through dancing jets of water, with John Williams´scores playing on the soundsystem

Then there was Las Ramblas: a walkway filled with street performers (and pickpockets) doing all sorts of weird things for change.



There were so many that is seemed some just threw on whatever strange costume they could find, put out their hat and did something weired in hopes someone would give them money....but there were some really neat ones too...

And there´s a beach to boot. Only about a 30min walk from the hostel, what were probably man maded beaches were so very made for a man like me. I love the beach, regardless. and I had the pleasure of the company of two Brazilian girls I met at the hostel.
here eating at a beachside restaurant. (I've taken a hiatus from my vegetarianism for this trip, for I would not want to forsake the opportunity sample the tastes of different cultures.)


It´s funny, doing the backpacker thing and staying in hostels, youre far more apt to meet people from countries other than the one your in (the couchsurfing route is far better for meeting locals). The Australians, Germans, and Pommies (English) seem to be doing the most travel around here now. But you do meet a heck of a lot of people whom you can visit next time you end up in their neck of the woods.

Alicante, Spain

I stayed with two guys from couchsurfing.com who spoke little english but had a lot of hospitality to offer. Went out with them friday night and hung out in 'el barrio' drinking and doing well to practice spanish with all of them. my first couchsurfing experience, it was a great time.

smoking shisha (flavored tobacco) in hukkas is popular in spain, evidence of the influence of Morocco--so said my hosts.

the castle of santa barbara

Granada, Spain

Granada was great, thanks Sr. Pedini for suggesting I go.
More winding alley streets, although this time on the sides of mountains with a changing view of Alhambra and the city below. Granada is a city of Andalucia known for its tapas bars in which they give you free tapas with any drink. Which makes for great cheap eats; although i´ve yet to figure out how they can afford it.

Little plazas scattered amidst the residential backroads.


Drive if you dare.

Grafiti that often made use of the landscape.

And sometimes made you think twice.

The Alambra by day.

And by night.

Albaicin, the area in which I walked during the day, seen from the Alhambra.

And after a long day of walking...Emm, Spanish ice cream.

Cordoba, Spain

Cordoba is a small, quaint town. The narrow roads of Cordoba, although less trafficed than those of Seville, sometimes force you to hug the wall so a car can pass. Needless to say, pretty much all the roads through the city are one way and there are no FUV´s.

That there were so few cars, though, made it a very pleasent place to walk about; and you could pretty much walk the whole town in one day--which i did twice.
The first day i walked around most of the town in about 4 hours. then i spent about 3 hours hanging out in the hostel courtyard talking with an Argentinian guy in spanish. i practiced spanish as much as one does in a couple months of school, i reckon. it was good fun but mentally taxing--as his english was quite poor and sometimes trying to figure out what the hell i or he was talking about left us both a little weary.
The second day i walked the town with two Belgian girls who, although never bothersome, maintained positive conversation and giggling that one could not help but find endearing. they were impresivly well informed and quite worldly. i was smitten.

And the back alley tapas bars were quite nice too.

Sevilla, Spain

Met a few Ozzie chicks at the backpackers, as there are many, and took off following an Italian bloke in search of some (free) flamenco. Despite the fact that he didn´t realize it ended at 11, just before we got there, the cruise about the esplanade and the alleys that is Seville was really quite nice. Apparently people go back to work in Sept and things close earlier than they do in june-july, according to our italian half, anyway. It being in the 40s· by day and a beautiful 34· by night, the streets are livley with people living the tapas life, so the there was no loss of adventure hanging out the 4 of us.

By 2 or so, the italian bloke and i split with the aussies and we swooned the alleys of seville looking for cualquier cosa (whatever). and with his english as good as my italian, we managed pretty well with the spanish--our skills strengthened by a few cervezas. After a basement bar and another bear garden we headed back to our hostel about 3 only to find one of the many cervezarias (small beer places) was still open and had seemingly spontaneously poured out into the street-alley with a lively throng of people... gino was not one to pass up his chance to work his italian charm. so we hung around for a bit until we both finally admitted that our early morning bus was coming all too soon...to Cordoba

medicine chest

This is what happens when you travel after having just finished a degree in Medicine--you take all the medicine/etc. you might need....for yourself and those you meet.


It was great to see you Josh, Carol, etc. before I left. It felt good to check in with my childhood home base of before taking off.