Photos Saturday, 5 May, 2007
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Photos of my Easter Vacation Madcap Traveling Adventure are all up! In three sets: Rome, Pompeii, Florence, Athens, Santorini, Prague. Click, click, click and enjoy!
Prague Friday, 4 May, 2007
Posted by paperdoll in places.8 comments
Day 12 was arrival day in Prague/Praha. Took the bus to take the train to take the tram (trams are cute!) to Czech Inn- one of the top hostels in the world. It really was impressive.(Incidentally, I have also stayed in other top hostels featured on previous trips.) Took a long restorative shower. Ready to face the world again, I headed straight for the Mucha Museum- a pilgrimage. I love love love his art. And then I did what I liked to do best in an unknown place- wander. I walked and walked and marveled at how much Prague reminded me of Edinburgh- the slim monuments with the pointed tips in the sky, the slopes on which buildings stood in neat rows of architectural beauty, the wide pavements, the cleanliness… … I ended up at the Vltava river at Charles Bridge. There, I fed swans and ducks and drakes low-fat cocoa biscuit sticks from M&S (one more reason why Prague reminded me of Edinburgh) (I had found the biscuit sticks unpalatable.). It was most idyllic. In the evening, I went to a huge Tesco supermarket for a bit of food shopping and then went back to conk out. Was awoken in the middle of the night by an unruly room-mate who was piss-drunk and talking loudly while retching in the sink in the room. Yuck. Fell back to sleep quickly enough.
On Day 13, I had to check out of Czech Inn (haha I so like the name of the hostel) in the morning after a long shower (I would not have another one till I arrived back in Paris the next morning). Found a handphone lying around and was honest enough (why oh why oh why) to give it to the guy at the reception, who was genuinely surprised that I would do such a thing. We agreed to split the profits should no one claim it by the end of the day. (Didn’t happen.) Walked first to the biggest English bookstore in Prague, a cute little place called Shakespeare & Sons, A Synove and Sons Bookstore & Cafe. Bought three books that I have really enjoyed. Took the train then to a part of the river where I had brunch while gazing at the fairytale Prague Castle. Then wandered around aimlessly again, ending up at the Old Town for a bit of shopping and then on to the Old Town Square to see the Prague Astronomical Clock/Praha Orloj. Passed by a couple of parks, where I sat for a bit, just enjoying the beautiful day in a beautiful city.
Night 13 and Morning 14 was spent in the Prague International Airport alone, waiting for my 6am flight back to Paris. It was alright… couldn’t really sleep and so was reading my books and listening to my iPod. Checked out a photo exhibition in the airport as well. And then I was finally on board yet another skyeurope.com flight, bound for Paris. Arrived in Paris Orly Airport and discovered to my delight that there was a public bus that would take me right to Savigny-sur-Orge, my town in the Parisian suburbia. It was good fun, and then it was good to be back.
Santorini–>Athens–>Prague Friday, 4 May, 2007
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A journey long and quite arduous, and therefore deserving of its own post.
Santorini–> Pireaus: 8 hours on an overbooked ferry ride with irritated old folks, crying kids , passengers of all ages. BAD. Finished the Nora Roberts book I had… realizing towards the end that I had indeed read it before sometime ago.
Pireaus–> Athens International Airport: Waited for the bus from 12mn to nearly 1am. You can imagine how I was feeling a little antsy, being an Asian (sticking out sticking out!) girl (gulp) alone (gulp gulp) waiting for a bus that late (gulp gulp gulp). I started to think that there wouldn’t be a bus that late, but one did come in the end, so all was well.
Athens International Airport–> Prague: Brushed teeth, washed face, checked in. There was later some problem with the check-in for the Americans and some officer on a power trip was really rude to them. Our skyeurope.com flight left late, as a result. I was so dead to the world on the flight that the air-stewardess had to put my seat back in the upright position for me and only then did I awake from the jerk. I’d arrived in Prague. It was 6.30am.
Athens & Santorini Friday, 4 May, 2007
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Day 7 was spent traveling, essentially. From Florence to Rome by train, from the train terminal to the Fiumicino airport by another train, from the airport to another airport, then finally the train to meet Fang at our hostel in Athens. I just have to say that the short train ride from Roma Termini to Fiumicino costs 11 euros! And no one checked my ticket! The cost can only be completely justified if it gets checked! (It’s not just me who thinks so, is it? Even if it is completely silly.) Anyway, reached the airport, checked in, saw a Zara Home store for the first time in the waiting area, ate a cannoli, boarded my Alitalia flight bound for Athens. Spent the flight reading in-flight magazines and listening in on the conversation two singles in their early thirties sitting next to me were engaged in. Eavesdropping couldn’t be helped- what lives they lead!
Arrived and took the very new very modern train to the station Acropoli, walked un petit peu et voila! I arrived at Athens Backpackers, and there I saw my Fang, who had arrived much earlier in the day. Weee! Caught up over an excellent dinner nearby (I had my first whole fish (skeleton and head served with the meat) since I left Singapore- it was yum!) (She had melt-in-the-mouth lamb.) Then we walked in the light rain towards the Acropolis, with the Pantheon atop, through the winding sloping streets. Returned to the hostel after a bit to see it from the rooftop. It was lit and oh so magnifique. After baklava and sour cherry juice, it was time to wash up and get some much wanted shuteye.
Day 8, we woke up quite early, although really an hour later than planned, since I’d forgotten to adjust the time from French/Italian to Greek. Oh well- a bit more sleep is always welcomed. Walked to and up to the Acropolis to the all-famous Pantheon. Free! Because we’re both students in the European Union. This was to be the case for all the attractions in Athens- a very nice change from the super-expensive-no-special-treatment Rome. The Pantheon so high up and against the sunny blue skies was impressive. It was way too windy (so windy!) and crowded (so crowded!) to be thoroughly enjoyed, though. Eating big juicy strawberries on our way down, we walked back to the hostel to get an extra jacket each. Next up was the Temple of Zeus- just a collection of pillars now, and its magnificence greatly marred by the surrounding buildings and the noisy traffic. Still- the Temple of Zeus, in a garden filled with white and yellow wild flowers. On then towards the city square for a spot of lunch. Had to go to a Gyros! Paris is full of them and it was simply necessary to try it where it all began, In the end, Fang had the kebab-y stuff and I had baked chicken with oily potatoes- the best I’d ever had, I dare say. Strolled about before stopping for ice-cream in a cute little shop owned by a cute big woman on the quaintest calmest street. Stayed longer than planned, mostly to stare at a modern Greek god seated at the next cafe. Drool.
Onwards to the Museum of Kerameikos, a cemetery. Came across this stretch of export fashion shops on our way there, all manned by Chinese, all selling almost the same designs- most bizarre. Fang had to read every plaque, which was rather amusing. We went to a food market after this and bought fat raisins to much on. Passed by Omenia square where a dashing young actor was being filmed (he was taking out luggage from the boot of a coolass car and he just swung it out without pretending that it was heavy at all- horhor). Shopping time! Zara & H&M (everywhere in Europe, I go to them). Champion Supermarket for next-day supplies and then a very classy-yessiree dinner at KFC! Returned and chatted with a much older Canadian couple in our dorm room- they were really sweet.
Awoke 5-ish in the morning on Day 9 (traveling can be energy-sapping! To awake early to take the earlier transportation option to save money and maximize the time at any one place) to go take our Blue Star Ferries ferry- huge! Just like a cruise ship. To Santorini, yeah! Froze from the wind after sitting on the top open deck for a couple of hours and so went inside… but the view while we were up there was spectacular, especially with the sun coming up. Some 8 hours later, we arrived in Santorini. Qu’elle est belle! The port that greeted us was a dramatic one- cliffy. Stelio from Stelio’s Place where we were staying drove us over the cliffs to the other side and the view of the sparkling blue waters as we went up, up and up was WOW. We put down our bags, Fang and I, and headed for the beach- a mere 2 minutes’ walk away- what a beautiful beach! Filled with teeny-tiny smooth ovals of black, brown and red. On the whole, the Perissa Beach looked a very exotic black. We had calamari and cold drinks in a cafe overlooking the beach. Walked to where the shops were, saw a few asses and goats grazing along the way. Went to Champion yet again for fruits and the yummiest Finetti dark chocolate wafer sticks. Dinner of fried finger food washed down with Mythos beer at another cafe nearby, while criticizing the fashion shows of yesteryears that was being shown on a big screen nearby.
On Day 10, we took a bus to Thira, the town centre- breathtaking views! After lunch, we returned to the beach to enjoy the sun on our new beach towels (printed on them was a view of Santorini with its characteristic blue domes and white walls on a cliff against a background of the surrounding waters). Ate my Finetti, read my book, listened to my iPod, slept, applied sunscreen over and over and turned like a rotisserie chicken. Since it was off-season, we had a stretch of the beach all to ourselves! A grand afternoon. Fang went off to use the internet at an internet shop some distance awa,y while I opted to trundle back to our room to nap. She came back with dinner of moussaka and calamari (we do so love calamari). Showered, watched a bit of Miss Congeniality with Greek subtitles and drifted off to a deep, long, satisfying slumber.
Day 11 was the day of departure from sleep Santorini (sleepy only because it was not quite the hot (in all senses of the word) season yet. We heard it would be teeming with people very soon for months. We had brunch at a laid-back cafe looking out on the beach. Then, we sat on a swing on the beach while eating ice-creams. And then, alas, it was time to leave:\
Florence Thursday, 3 May, 2007
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Day 6: Florence. After a three-an-a-half hour train ride from Roma Termini, I arrived at Firenze S. M. Novella (S. M., in case you are curious, standing for Santa Maria). Upon arrival, I immediately went in search of my hostel to put down my bright pink duffel bag and to clean up a little. Boy was this a difficult hostel to find. It was right next to the Piazza Repubblica, surrounded by high-end and high-street fashion shops, but it was also tucked away and the directions given were so misleading. After many scusis to ask for better directions and also a moment to gawk at the stunning Duomo, I arrived.
At the hostel, I immediately made friends with 2 Aussie girls who, over lunch, told me about the stocky, smelly, surly young man at the reception (who had checked me in earlier in the most rude and incompetent manner imaginable) who happened to be, lo and behold, sleazy too. An ass four times over, so to speak. The story was that one night, he had grabbed one of their butts and thereafter had the cheek (get the joke get the joke?) to ask if she needed anything else fromm him. Seriously.
After lunch, I went with one of them to the Galleria dell’Accademia to see… … David. Ah David. David David David. Gorgeous. We totally checked him out. I’d had high expectations but they were surpassed. Mmm.
Having come from Rome and having seen David, I was in no condition to see any more grandeur… for that afternoon anyway. Besides, I’d come to Florence specifically to see David, and saw him I did. So I didn’t go to the Galleria degli Uffizi (also the queue was nuts) and instead, walked… like I like to do. I wandered out of the touristic area and into the residential. It was nice to feel the sun and the breeze while looking at the pretty dwellings.
The night passed uneventfully enough, only that the hostel was crap (floor dusty, mismatched creaky beds, no hot water between 12mn and 7am) and the Americans were noisy and guests who had forgotten to bring their keys out had to press the buzzer and since there was no one manning the hostel (!!), other guests had to let them in. How dangerous! Me, I just read my book and then went to bed. Minded my own business, in short.
I awoke 5-ish in the morning, left my key on the reception counter, let myself out, and walked through the quiet streets to the train station to take my train back to Rome for my flight to Athens. It was really nice to walk through the streets at that time- the Duomo was particularly stunning in the peekaboo early morning light.
Rome & Pompeii Saturday, 28 April, 2007
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So the plan to finish the last paper by tonight fell through. (Like I have nothing to do with it, eh?) I went for a run in the late afternoon and then went grocery shopping for the third time this week and then cooked dinner and then had dinner and then watched The Island (what a disappointing ending) and then hand-washed my running gear and then packed for my weekend trip (I’m going away for a petit vacance this weekend, I am) and am now talking to Shu and typing this too, so SCREW IT. I will have a slight panic attack on Sunday evening and finish the paper then.
Now then. Shall we get on with mes vacances?
First stop: Rome.
Day 1: After a morning of classes and an early afternoon of mad last-minute things, met Hui at the CDG airport. She brought with her slices of chocolate-and-pear cake that Celine had made, which was yum. Boarded our Air France flight, yakked away and captured a picture (naughtily) of a man sleeping with his mouth opened- it was a hilarious sight and begged to be captured. Arrived in Rome and took the train from the airport to the termini station, from which we walked to our hostel. Bought the yummiest thin-crust pizza nearby and ate them hot and crispy. Fell into bed for much wanted sleep.
Day 2: Got up, got ready, got out. For our guided tour of the Vatican Museums that we’d booked on viator.com . Entered the Vatican Museums after a spot of walking with our rather big tour group. The museums were FILLED with amazing things to see. Everywhere one turned. Man. Statues of men, to begin with. In styles both classic and hellenistic (the more muscular of the two). And painting after painting, in frames, on tapestry, on the walls, on the ceilings. It was insane. Our guide, a British who spoke fluent Italian (we heard her go off in Italian to the security guards and to her fellow guide) was excellent. Learnt a lot from her and it was all so interesting. Particularly about Michelangelo and how he didn’t really want to paint the Sistine Chapel, and how he suffered for it because it was fresco painting (wet plaster- think about it) and how he added impish touches to the added painting on the wall. The Sistine Chapel was the highlight of the Vatican Museums for me. There’s just something about standing in it and looking above you and around you and feeling complete awe. Sent a postcard to the brother from the Vatican City post office, which was pretty cool. Emerged into the sun, had delicious gelato at Old Bridge Gelateria quite near the entrance of the Vatican Museums. Checked into our next hostel, after which we did some grocery shopping, went back to our previous hostel to grab our stuff and finally made it back to the new hostel to settle in for the night, only to realize that we were now in a place which shared a courtyard with a club. So the music thumped through the weekend nights (and mornings) and I realized to my surprise and delight (in equal parts) that I could sleep through it all with nary a stir.
Day 3: Awoke early to go to Galleria Borghese by myself. Had to walk through the park to go to it and it was so beautiful and peaceful that time of the morning. The museum was wonderful, if only for the four Bernini marble sculptures. They were breathtaking. Really enjoyed Pluto and Proserpina. It looked like his fingers were sinking into her soft thigh. Imagine that. Since the museum only allowed a number of people to be in the museum in any 2-hour period, there was a long moment when I was alone in the room with Pluto and his prisoner. I really enjoyed that. Thereafter, I walked the park a little, and then hopped on a train to go to the Colosseum. Went in with a tour guide, who wasn’t very good, but being in the Colosseum was pretty great. Too many tourists, though… they kinda took away a little bit of the grandeur. After that, as an added bonus for paying for the Colosseum tour, there was a university student who served as a guide to the Palatino grounds. That was really interesting- the guy was knowledgeable and entertaining. After this second tour, I was pooped from listening+looking+walking, so I sat myself down on a flat rock in a grassy part of the grounds, and just basked in the sun. Met Hui after for a spot of dinner, and then we went back to thumping music and fitful sleep.
Day 4: Awoke (early again!) to catch our train to Naples, en route to Pompeii. Naples was a little dodgy, from what we saw at the train station, as well as out of the windows on the train to Pompeii from there. Glad we weren’t staying. Did you know Naples was where pizza was purportedly invented? Did you know too that I had the worst pizza I’d ever had there? ‘Tis true. Pompeii was wonderful. We were greeted by the biggest fattest juiciest lemons and oranges at the entrance to Pompeii and we couldn’t resist buying cups of them juices. With our thirsts quenched, we entered the ancient city. You know it’s well-preserved, but still, it amazes you. It was really something else. There was, for example, a room that had a near-complete mural. It was just wow. It was at the same time sad to think of the volcano eruption that ended off what appeared to be prosperous happy lives in Pompeii. There’s a sad sort of feeling hanging about there. Waiting for our train back to Naples, we got to rest our feet on an unused train track overgrown with grass and flowers while sitting on the platform enjoying the sun. Very cool indeed.
Day 5: Today, like Saturday, was our be-in-Rome-alone days. I walked and walked and walked. Nuts. This was a really hot sun-beat-down-on-one’s-back-mercilessly day, but boy was it a good change for a girl who was sick sick sick of the winter cold. So I walked everywhere! From Piazza Barberini where there was the Fontana del Tritone, I walked to the Spanish Steps, then the Tempio Adriano, the Pantheon, Fontana di Trevi (the best gelato there I ate while looking at the sparkling fountain water. After my feet were well-rested here, I walked past all the ruins leading to the Colosseum and took a train from the train station there to the other side of the river, where I then walked more than half (I kid you not) of the border of the Vatican City, to arrive at the Basilica S. Pietro, where the chairs for the Pope’s Easter Sunday Speech were still in the square. It was a beautiful sight, the square. Did my walking end here? Nope. I walked on past Castel Sant’ Angelo and Palazzo di Giustizia to (wrong direction but I was blissfully unaware, awed was I by all the sights that I was passing by) Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori, before asking for directions (I had had enough of wandering around for the day and now wanted clear instructions for getting to a train station) to go to the nearest train station, which was Spagna. I walked back through Campo de Fiori, through Piazza Navona, then through narrow streets with short buildings and beautiful purple flowers, past Mausoleo Augusoto, where I should have turned right for Spagna but for some stupid reason did not, and so through Piazza del Popolo to finally reach the train station Flamingo. And here I gladly boarded a train and gladly took a seat and rested my dirty feet (was wearing my Havianas and the dirt had inevitably collected from my day’s worth of walking). Hui and I sat down to a nice pasta meal at a restaurant before heading back to pack and have a last chat with our nice room-mates (loved the two Canadians amongst them).
Day 6: I left early for my train bound for Florence.
A continuer! See you again after the weekend, my friends. I promise the rest of the story by the end of Tuesday night (my time). Plenty more to tell- Florence, Athens, Santorini and Prague. Goodnight for now. Am too sleepy to type anymore and I have to get up early for the drive to my weekend destination. Bon weekend!
Hot in Suspense Friday, 27 April, 2007
Posted by paperdoll in places, poo poo.6 comments
It’s been hot hot hot in Paris, babyies. And I mean hot. Like Singapore hot. The day before yesterday, it was actually 32 degrees celcius in the afternoon. Imagine being in a classroom in this condition- windows shut (cars vrooming by drowning out the teacher’s voice), door closed (heels clack-clacking on the wooden flooring in the corridor), sans fans (what are those?), let alone air-conditioning (more heat?)- hot, stuffy, nearly fainted. The other days of the week, it hasn’t been much lower… usually peaking at 30 degrees. Mad. Was winter not only a few weeks ago? People are walking around in summer fashion, not spring. Although it has been nice for running; my nose does not drip and I actually sweat. I’ve missed you too, my short fbt shorts.
I know I promised detailed recounts of my fortnight away by yesterday/today, but there’ll be a slight postponement. How about tomorrow? I’m on my way to finishing my fourth paper of the week, which is no mean feat, I’ll tell ya. See you in a day with the stories then!
Spring Sunday, 22 April, 2007
Posted by paperdoll in prance.2 comments
Am back- have been for a few days now. Am resting and working on papers. Would prefer to only rest, but that’s the way things go. And what’s there to complain about when Spring is here!
Spring spring spring. The weather is gorgeous and so is the city and so is my little town. Temperature’s in the low 20s, the skies are blue as can be with nary a cloud in sight, the trees are full of oily green leaves, the flowers are crazy in bloom. I love Spring! And outfits one can wear and will be wearing in Spring.
Really do have a lot of work to take care of at the moment, so will post on my fortnight away this Thursday and/or Friday, with accompanying pictures(:
White on Black Monday, 16 April, 2007
Posted by paperdoll in places, prance.3 comments
It’s been not so great at some points in time, but all in all WOOHOO! Rome, Pompeii, Florence, Athens, Santorini, now Prague. Be back Paris in almost exactly two days. Will share with you my adventures then(: Take care, everyone.
A little teaser: guess who was tanning on the black Perissa beach in a white bikini? Herherher.
Traveling is exhilarating.
Exceptionnel Sunday, 8 April, 2007
Posted by paperdoll in people, places, poo poo, prance, pretty.6 comments
Finalement, I have in my hands my carte de séjour.
The road to finally holding this residency permit in my hands has been a long and trying one. Of course, it also had to end with a are-you-kidding-me-give-it-to-me-already morning.
I give you the morning of 4 avril:
A) Take 7am bus to commissariat at edge of town. Registered. Told by policement that they do not sell the special 55-euro stamp (le timbre OMI). We have to go to the trésor publique to buy one. Fine.
B) ZY and I brave the very strong very cold winds to go to this trésor publique. About 20 minutes later, we arrive and this is, wait for it, the sign on the gate:
Fermerture Exceptionnel
4 avril (mercredi)
Murphy’s Law, darlings… Murphy’s Law. Itàs the system here in France, I hear.
C)Take bus, drop off at biggest post office near the town hall. Stamp is to post office what bread is to bakery, non? Non. Useful info attained nonetheless: tabacs sell them. Thus, with renewed hope,
D) Walk to train station, where there are 2 tabacs. Yes! They do sell them! But oh they have both run out. Ok breathe.
E) Take train to next town, Juvisy. Walk to trésor publique there and purchase the damned stamp.
F) Take train back to Savigny-sur-Orge. Catch bus to commissariat, have been passed over and so need to wait for everyone else to be done before seeing the one woman in the one-woman office and receiving with tired elation) yes it is possible to be elated in a tired manner) my carte at noon. Weeee!/pffft.
*
I am in Rome now, my carte de séjour safely in my bag. Rome has been overwhelming so far in its splendour. So far, I have been notably to the Vatican Museums, the Borghese Gallery, the Colosseum and the Palatino. I nearly cried in the Sistine Chapel looking up at the ceiling, but all the stories on Rome and the subsequent places I am going to will come properly later(:
I am on the timer now in an internet place run by Indians. All the internet places in Italy I have been to are run by Indians… it is a little odd but then not really.
The emails that have come my way, you may have to wait a little bit before a reply comes your way, but thank you for them(: Love mail.
