We regroup with the crew at the Imperial forums near the Colloseum for a tour. It's really nice to see everyone again! The tour was incredible. We have a tour guide named Petro. He's 77 years old and has been giving tours of Roma for the past 57 years! Needless to say, he knows everything there is to know about the places we visit and gives us beautiful stories of the history of the ancient city of Roma.
We are shown the Old Roman senate where senators would meet up to discuss issues. He also showed us where Julius Ceasar's body was put on public display after his murder and the temple where his body was cremated. One of the very few Pagan temples were, the where the females lived, who were virgins. Their mahi was to live out their lives in these quarters, in preparation and conditioning for their ultimate sacrifice. So interesting. We then went into the Collesuem - it's breathtaking! It was built in 72 AD and ook 8 years and 40,000 builders (slaves) to build. The colloseum brings a feeling of nostalgia, an eerie wairua that reminds you of how old this place really is. It was used (if you've seen the movie the Gladiator, you'll know) for the games where animals and warriors would be unleashed against each other, fighting to the death. The building itself is remarkable, it has withstood 21 centuries and numerous earthquakes and natural disasters, and still it remains (the majority of it). I found this place to be hugely impressive.
After the tour, Tu & I decided to escape one last time by ourselves and go back to our favourite restaurant, Luzzi. We found this place when we were first in Roma and its amazing and cheap. We had pene pasta, roman style chicken, 1L of vino, desert, and the a lemoncello to finish! All for 29 Euro. On a bit of a buzz we decide to buy a bottle of champagne and sit at a restaurant across from the colloseum, and marvel at it before we leave.
The next morning, we are taken to St Peters Bascillica at St Peters square. The movie Da Vinci Code or Angels and Demons (I forget which one) comes to mind when they are searching for the bomb in Vatican City... Anyway! We were given a tour by Petro again of this beautiful city. So the Vatican City is a city within a city. A country really... it has it's own flag, it's own law, it's own ruler (the Pope). We went into the Sistene Chapel and marvelled at Michaelangelo's masterpiece. We walked through the halls of the Vatican, casting our eyes on the artworks, tapestries, elaborately decorated rooms, doors and walls, the marble and gold and colours filling my eyes. Then we walked into St Peters cathedral with the domes and the statues, and the place where St Peter is buried (his tomb) and the famous Michaelangelo sculpture that some idiot tried to destroy back in the 70's and smashed the arms off Mary Magdolin. Breathtaking. To imagine this place of worship back in the days, to the millions of people who have visited it over the centuries... An amazing tour filled with so much history, it reminds me how 'young' we are at home in our building structures and architectures.
The afternoon is spent in a bus driving to our next destination - Florence!
Florence
Our next stop on the Contiki is Florence. I've heard a lot about this place... it's beauty in the architecture and the people, very different to Roma, but still as modern and filled with history just less people. I heard the kai was amazing here too so... I've got high expectations :) The first night we have out in a while and we go karaokeing. LOVED IT! Ridiculous cocktails (1 litre), bad singing and dancing the night away, we head home for some much needed rest.
The next day, we visit a leather making talk/show - very fascinating. The people there are famous for their jeweller boxes - and the lady giving the korero askes the group why the top of the box are made as such... Tu busts out - they are the hills. Wow! In three years, no one has asked that question correctly. Boom!
Florence is a beautiful city, built upon all the old Roman structures, because of the river floods that were prone to happen. The famous Charles bridge - with gold, silver and jems. The statutes there are amazing - such detail, size, weight and pure genius. Michaelangilo's David, and many other masterpieces by these old Italian artists. Dinner is set in 'Tuscany' as we dine to a 5 course meal of pasta, wine, antipastis, chicken, dessert and limoncello. DELICIOUS! Tonights outting is to Florence's largest club. We call it an early night, since we are pulling in the reigns on our budget, and we have a rather long drive to Switzerland tomorrow.
Switzerland
Just briefly, we have had a very quiet time in the city of Lucerne, visiting the Swiss Alps and going up one of the maunga to see the snow. The maunga here are amazing! And to the Aussie's excitement...snow! Our full day in Swizterland starts early and we are ready for her! Tim our tour guide gives us some interesting facts on the country and we make our way for Mt Platius. Up the gondolas, we are in the ALPS! At the half way point we erupt into a snow fight! Always nice seeing people get smashed by flying snow balls.
After some morning exercises of throwing, we jump on a larger gondola up to the summit... Wow! Suddenly some of the Aussie boys drop their dacks for a nudie run in the icy conditions! Very entertaining! We also have a delicious Swiss meal of cheese fondue, Swiss beer, sausages and 'rosti' (apparently this is a tradit Swiss meal).
Now, Switzerland is QUIET. Where we are staying there's not much clubs or anything, so we decide to stay in again tonight, besides... it's going to be a BIG weekend in Paris #cityoflove
Paris
The last official leg of our contiki tour was into Paris... There were plenty of 'recaps' from Tim and reminiscing...
Day 1
After a long day travelling, we pull into the Ibis budget hotel, and are given 30 mins to prepare for a night tour of Paris, by night. The bus is buzzing off the place that is Paris, its buildings, culture and lights! We take the last of the patron and head out!
The two highlights of the trip have to be seeing the Eiffel tower for the first time... Tim plays a joke, telling the bus to look left at the army barracks in search for something... and then boom on the right of the bus! There she blows! Lit up at night, it is beautiful! And the second highlight was the surprise escargot (snails) and french champagne... When in Paris eh! We need hurry home, for a surprise visitor Mahinaarangi Baker! We have drinks in our room, and korero for hours! Great night! Maybe nudged it a little too far... but thats the 'single ladies for you'.
Day 2
After a dusty start, and convincing the french ladies to allow for us to have a late breaky (830am) we venture on the Paris metro system... We've taken so many metro systems since being on this trip - all part of the experience! The Eiffel tower at night was amazing, and in daylight it is just the same! The views from the Eiffel Tower are amazing. The sprawl of the city is far and wide! Stunning! This steel beast is hand painted every 7 years. We try some creme brulee, 'french' fries haha and some typical Frenchie food before Tu and I solidfy our City of Love padlock on the famous Love Bridge. It's pretty cool, you put the padlock on, throw the key over the bridge into the water (imagine how many keys are in that river) and solidfy your love :)
We catch Mona Lisa at the Lourve and then hire some bikes with Mahina and cycle around Paris! It's such a stunning city and to see it by bike... Amazing. It's nice to take in a city and its sights from another perspective. We joyrided around the city, stopping at bike stops (it's free, as long as you park the bike back in the rack). Luckily enough, we head out for a real Parisian dinner... of french onion soup (OMG amazing), duck and french wine... so good. And then... to the MOULIN ROUGE! I've loved this movie since forever and couldn't wait to see the actual show, of course it's nothing like the movie, but is filled with cancan girls and guys, bare breasted, circus acts, singing, dancing and amazing flexibility haha. We have bottles and bottles of champas which was a nice little treat for the end of the trip.
Contiki - while it's a youngin kinda gig, Tu and I really enjoyed cruising with a tour group, with activities and accommodation and transport organised and not having to think too much about travelling. It takes the stress out of traveling, even for a moment. The majority of our travelling is largely us doing it on our own so this has been a nice switch up. Thanks to all the Contiki whanau for making mine and Tu's time so memorable. Europe - TICK!
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment