Roma

 

I've finally recovered from our first taste of summer in Rome – Imperial ruins, rich history, delicious gelati (ice cream), chocolately pastries, high tourist prices, perfect weather, european style, high fashion, and of course plenty of pasta.

We had booked a little apartment for the week that we were in Rome, and as usual with accomodation booking sites you are a little dubious until you have the keys in hand. We arrived in Rome late at night after a few delays along the way, and made a few apolgetic calls to our "landlord" and made our way to Trastevere – the "old" part of the city.

Surprisingly we found the place rather quick, except that the front gate to the apartment was locked. I called the contact number I had to be greeted with "hello? hello?"

"Hi, this is Paul again, I called earlier. I'm waiting outside the apartment."

"I'm sorrry I don't understand, who is this?"

"My name is Paul, I'm renting an apartment in Trastevere from you. Here to collect the keys"

"What? Sorry, I speak English but don't understand you."

"Can I please speak to Barbara" – who was the contact name we were given.

"Barbarba? Who is this?… Hang on…"

I hear rustling, and banging. Hushed conversation, and more sounds. A pause. Then and the door at the end of the hall opens.

"Paul Cook?"

"Yes!".

Yay. The joy of confusing accents on both ends of the phone line, but it seems they figured out enough to tell those waiting in the flat that we were outside. The daughter of the owner meets us and we play charades between limited Italian and English conversation about prices and deposits paid. All is quickly sorted and we are left we the keys to our new home for a week.

I won't list through the sights and sounds of Rome as you've probably been there or seen it on TV at some point. The area we were in was very cool and probably my favourite thing as we got to know it so well over the week. Full of narrow alleys painted in grafitti and occupied with continous scooter traffic and  Nona's/Nono's (grandparents) minding children. Walking along, there are no signs protruding onto the street, shops, bars, and restaurants are hidden behind doors, which opening at all different hours changing the street scene throughout the day. The maze of streets slowly became familar and each day we found something new. Building up to the weekend, the street stalls and buskers increased, along with number of familiar faces as slowly recognise people each day. A place of many moods and vibes.

We managed to mix plenty into the week we had, and weren't quite ready to leave at the end. Definitely good fun to live in one area and experience it nightly as we returned from the tourist crowds and sights around the city. Travelling (when not tired) is always fun as you are continually looking around, amused by the similarities and differences of your normal daily life, taking endless photos, trying new foods, and enjoying a cold beer at the end of a long day…

5 Hours Delay

I see some of you noticed my absence from the site for the last few weeks (cheers G & D). The reason, we have been down in Rome for the last week on our holiday for the summer. 7 days of sunshine, culture, american tourists, queues, overpriced souvenir's, and tourist inspired menus of "Romana Typica" – or typical roman food e.g. Like what the locals actually eat but not quite as good and for twice the price. Besides all this, each day is always better than sitting in an office all day long and it really felt like summer is here.

All things come to an end, and ours was like an extendend uncut version. We arrived at the airport with plenty of time to go, to find out our plane was delayed an extra 3 hours. Ok, fair enough. Probably the next flight slot that they could fit in at the control tower. We wandered the shops until closing time, then found a cafeteria to share a meal with off-duty airport workers, feeling like a scene out of "The Terminal" before another delayed flight invaded. We headed to the Gate and waited only to see another 2 hours added to the departure time. That's 5 in total. Yay. So we waited, waited, and waited… and eventually the plane arrives somewhere on the other side of the airport and we actually had to bus to get to it. Still not sure why.

But we finally made it, flying into Edinburgh at 4am with a glorious sunrise greeting us on the horizon. It was the first one i've seen in Edinburgh. Even better was the taxi ride home to my bed for an exhausted sleep. The best kind possible. 

Rome stories up soon.

Playing Tour Guide

My parents are up in Edinburgh for a few days so i'll be showing there a few of the sights around the city, plus a little drive up into the Kingdom of Fife (thats what the signs say it's called – not some name I made up).

Accompanying their arrival was a delivery of Marmite, the high grade NZ sanitarium stuff. They actually stock English Marmite and Vegemite in the supermarkets here, but a weaker version which just isn't the same.

Solar Bags

How cool is this. A backpack with solar panels and a built in battery for all those power hungry travellers out there. This thing lets you charge up as you walk. Free energy too, can't go wrong.

http://www.voltaicsystems.com/

Summer Plans

With the trip to Ireland putting me a good tourist mood for the last few days, we are thinking about whats coming up for the summer, places to go, things to see, etc. After coming over here in time for winter due to visa reasons, it has been a long few months as it was a continuation of the NZ winter that we just left. Its weird how the seasons affect your mood, and as soon as the seasons change, energy levels soar and there are plenty more smiles around the place.

The next month should be a good one – my parents are here this week on their trip round the globe, visiting us for a few days then heading down to Morocco for a week long tour. Then in two weeks we are heading to Rome for a whole week. This is our main trip for the year (besides being in Edinburgh which itself is technically a big trip), and having missing out on Italy the first time around it should be good. After that a few friends are passing through on holidays which will be cool to catchup once again. As I travel more, its always fun to see people I know in a new place and sharing a travel memory. Plenty of Scotland to see along the way as well.

Our current plan for whenever we leave here is to put everything into a box, load up the backpacks and wander off around the world. There is plenty to see, taste, and smell, cultures to experience, history to learn from, ruins to clamber over, hostels to like and dislike. A few of you out there have done the round-the-world and inspired us along the way, so I've printed off some social studies maps of the world and started plotting where to go. These days I find cultures even more and more fascinating, but I guess its the difference of actually being somewhere, rather than just reading about it.

If anyone has suggestions of where to go, whats fun, whats not, etc would be welcomed. I love hearing stories.

Hope everyone has had a good summer, I haven't hear from many of you, so you must be out having fun. After Rome, I'll be in touch to swap some stories and see how everyone is

More Photos

I've put some pics on the photography page. Nothing excessive – just one or two from some recent trips.

Soup and Sandwiches

With a long weekend nicely disrupting the flow of work we decided to take a few extra days and cruise around the spring green Ireland counties. Packing 5 people into a car, we headed out to County Clare on the West coast. The main "highway" was a bizarre mix of motorway, country roads blocked by tractors, and regional roads, which is a two lane country road. We completely underestimated the time it would take, and made it over to Galway sometime early afternoon. Since the west is known for its seafood, we decided to track down a fine eating establishment (a.k.a. a pub) in one of the smaller towns on the coast.

We walked in, and asked for a table to be informed that they stopped serving lunch at 2:30pm. The nearest clock read: 2:36pm. Damn. The waitress quickly informed us there would be bar food available from 3pm. Deciding this was better than nothing, we sat down just glad to be out of the car and we needed to eat somewhere. We grab a few drinks to relax and start waiting it out. The bartender brings round menus as the time approaches, and we open them mouthwatering selection of food – prawns, fresh mussels, seafood chowder (renowned apparaently), chicken, steak, salmon, trout, etc.

Doubts are quickly raised as we wondering exactly what is the "bar food" and I check with the staff. Everything is available to order. Pure heaven for the hungry person. A fantastic meal, leaving us speculating over what was on the main menu. Continuing on our way we arrive in the tiny village of Doolin to enjoy a night of traditional irish music, beer and a minimal dinner since we were still full from lunch. The next day, we cruised through the sights of scenic ireland – stone houses and walls, castles, ancient monuments, towns, pubs, weird road signs, and the common tourist with calls of "hey guys, photo-op over here".

We arrive in Limerick, a rough looking town but with a small pub that serves seafood but again we arrive just after the 2:30pm deadline. "Soup and sandwiches" at 3pm we are told. Ignoring the hunger this time we continue, making a pact to stop at the first small town. Along the highway we find a collection of four pubs. Wandering from each to the next we walk in to be met by curious stares of the locals watching the tourists imposing on their turf. Not a look of concern, but more of "what the hell are you doing in this town?" We are finally directed down the road, to enter a pub for the start of the big hurling game on TV, to find only soup and sandwiches on the menu once again. We accepted our fate and ordered lunch.

Continuing along the roads for the next few days, we abandoned all seafood hopes and restored to a picnic outside Kilkenny castle (with a drink of Kilkenny in the pub beforehand, for the novelty value), then further into the mountains of Wicklow to spend the night. The small mountain town of Rathdrum offered no more than five pubs on the main road, and the friendly feel of the small town. Like all over Ireland, its nice to see a place where strangers are always made to feel welcome, all the locals know each other, there is alway laugther, merriment, and smiles.

We finished the trip with a day in Dublin, wandering the shops while getting various flashbacks from my other times there, all to be forgotten again during the drunken night out in the Temple Bar. Good times in Ireland, and back to work for a two day week, which has quickly passed to continue the good holiday vibe into the weekend.