AHH ITALIA

Last night my friend and I downed two cocktails each and decided to watch a movie to let our alcohol-blood levels settle down before going back home. We watched "Love is all you need". It was a typical romantic drama, but it was surprisingly enjoyable because very little English was spoken. It was mostly in Italian and Danish. I love love love foreign language films. I don't know why, I just do. Part of the movie was set in Denmark and part of it was set in Italy. It was really refreshing.

Since watching the movie, I have just been thinking about Italy non-stop. I really want to go back. It is such a magical, beautiful country. I have been going through my photos and it feels like it was all dream. It feels so far away. But it isn't. Is it? Hmm I guess geographically, it IS quite far away. But then again, it's only a 24hr plane ride away. It's not too bad...

Also, I can't believe I took all these photos. I suck at taking photos, but in Italy it is really hard to take a sucky photo.

Florence rooftops. Taken from the top of the Duomo.

Bologna produce market

Gondolas in Venice!

Venice was amazing. I can't believe this place exists on earth.

SEE YA ITALY

Not going to say goodbye.
See you later, is more appropriate.
I will be back.

Bologna airport is small. It's like a mini shopping mall with the addition of magical gates to different countries. 

Bologna countryside fields and farms

Tear. 

Scrumptious airline food, once again cheered me up

AN AFTERNOON IN BOLOGNA

Such a beautiful walkway 

Wall mural! 

Cute orange scooter

Little dogs taking a walk

I think this is a residential apartment building

Aperitivo at Zanarini. Apparently the cool place to be seen in Bologna.

Mr Pigeon on the table next to ours. What a hipster-pigeon, eating at Zanarini.

Mr Flatgreenbug. Also such a hipster-bug, hanging out at Zanarini.

THE VATICAN

Again, limited time, limited internet.
Photos of the Vatican are everywhere online.

I would 100% recommend following a tour guide in the Vatican. Even if you think you know everything and even if you think you have the most perfect itinerary, a tour guide is essential on your first trip to the Vatican. I joined a tour group and it was the best tour of anything I have ever had in my life. In fact, it was probably the most informative, amazing, arty, historical, gasp-filled day in my life.

Here is a photo of me sending a postcard to myself from the Vatican post office.
It will probably arrive in Auckland around the same time as me!

NAPLES AND POMPEII

Again, just a quick short post. Limited time and limited internet!

Went on a day trip to Naples and Pompeii. I went with the tour company, "Viator". From what I hear, Korean tour companies include much more stuff and provide a much more comprehensive tour for the same price. But they speak in Korean only. 

Super-tanned men in Naples

Sleeping dog in Naples. (She's not dead. I saw her wake up and walk off somewhere later)

Pompeii!

 This was amazing, freaky and sad at the same time

Old mosaic tile floor being restored

BACKPACKING IN ROME

Despite what others have warned, I did not get scammed in Rome. I didn't come across a single scammer and did not even get 1 Euro stolen from me. And I am a small, fat girl, travelling alone, with "tourist" written all over me. So I think Rome is pretty safe haha.

I took a gazillion amazing photos during my 3 days in Rome but they are all touristy photos that are identical to all the other photos of Rome on the interwebs. I've got limited internet and limited time at the moment so I've decided I will only upload around 5 memorable, meaningful photos of each city from now on.

This photo is meaningful because it shows the bag I used to backpack around Rome. Thank you backpack, you were very helpful.

This photo is meaningful because it is a topless guy playing basketball in Rome. That is all. 

This photo is meaningful because this is the moment I nearly died from the excitement of actually seeing the Colosseum in real life for the first time. I just stood here for around 20 minutes.

This photo is meaningful because it captures many buildings, ruins, and monuments in one shot. So I don't have to upload separate photos. 

This battered stone path is meaningful because it is so ancient. Think about all the people who have walked here before me. 

All the Ancient Roman architecture and sculptures I studied about during Classical Studies classes in high school – I actually got to see them in real life. It's still so unreal. This particular photo was taken inside the Pantheon. I still cannot believe I was in here.

VENICE

I can't believe this place is actually for real. It actually exists and it actually looks like this. And these are actually photos I have taken. I took a gazillion photos today. All of them were spectacular, because Venice is spectacular.

Oh and the food: other-worldly-sort-of-delicious. Seriously. Venice is utopia.

Hello Venice!

Boat parking areas

Gondolas

Sweets and desserts

Ultra mega super duper delicious lunch

Venetian masks

THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA

Yeeeeee!!! These buildings look unreal. 

Bought myself a touristy bag from one of the stallholders.

Me, my new bag and a chopped leaning tower of Pisa. 

This is one good photo. Probably the best photo I've taken in my whole life. 

BOLOGNA MARKETS

Grocery shopping would not be a chore if I lived in Bologna. It would be a magical mini-adventure. I would go grocery shopping everyday.

Oh and there are homemade, artisan gelato stores every 100 metres. Seriously.

I don't think Bologna is a major tourist attraction. There aren't many tourists here. It's nice and relaxing. Everything seems really authentic.

 

FLORENCE! FIRENZE!

A day-trip to Florence!

In my opinion, one day is not enough. Need to spend at least 2 or 3 days here. Or maybe a year.

Such a beautiful city

Hehe little doggie living the good life

Climbing up the Duomo staircases. Incredibly exhausting but 100% worth it.

At the top of the Duomo! The bad thing about travelling alone is that you don't have someone to take photos of you. 

I had a similar expression on my face when I got lost and only had 20 minutes left to get to the train station 

Managed to get on the train!