PAASSSTAAAA!

PART ONE

So we all know how terribly suck monkeys the journey to Italy was. Once we arrived though, things began to pick up.

I have made a habit of having at least two gelati a day. They're just too good. The fruit flavours are definitely better - much more refreshing. There's a place in Rome with seventy flavours on offer, and I'm indecisive anyway. They even have a watermelon flavour that tastes like the actual fruit, not that weird flavouring! In Florence, a scoop cost €1!

So, Venice - Busy during day, practically dead at night. Expensive. Small streets. Packed. Sunsets were gorgeous. Golden light. Probably nicer with more money and a special someone.

Verona - When I saw you in Verona... Six Euros on the train from Venice. Hot. Asked for bus tickets to the city centre in Italian. Was understood. Saw amphitheatre. Hot.

Florence - Loud snorer in hostel room. Almost comical except at 2am. Saw Florence in a day. Counted 17 churches. Lots of icecream was eaten. Florence might be wasted on me, because I don't care hugely for art. Besides, there's a copy of David in a square.

Beggars - Everywhere. Often with dogs. But thee dogs look really healthy. You'd think if you were really poor, your dog would be too. They are expensive animals. I suppose you could always be like that Tongan guy who ate his.

Besides, where's my money? I'm poor, don't speak the language, young, and in a foreign country with no income. If I sat on the side of the road with a paper cup, would you give me money? It's a big scam anyway. I refused to give a woman 1/4 of my €5e pizza, and as she walked away, I saw new Nikes under her shawl.
Sod off.

It's illegal in Italy to give them stuff. We saw a pamphlet on a train about thievery and on of the traps is "telling sad stories in expectation of money". I wrote this on a train to Naples, and a woman just came up to me with a piece of paper which says how her daughter is sick n a hospital in Rome with glaucoma. Why are you on a train to Naples if your daughter is sick in Rome? At least use some logic.

Pisa - Saw the leaning tower. I didn't expect it to be surrounded by so much other stuff. There's a cemetery, mausoleum, basilica and a baptistery. And all the idiots posing for photos i which thy hold up the tower. I wanted to run around and high-five them all, but I thought of it too late.

Rome - Mitfahr to Rome cost €10 each. Just caught the last metro. Hostel was rugged - no locks on the doors to the rooms, four showers for 27 people (2 with hot water), and a sleazy receptionist. Free net, and close to the Vatican. On our last night there, we shared our room with a bunch of girls from Manchester, who all said "crumbs" for me.
I regret not sticking with Italian at uni; it sure is a nice language.

You've heard what I think of the Vatican already on Facebook, more so of what Emily thinks (or doesn't, but will fight to the end for), so I won't go on about that here. Though I do wonder if Egyptian museums have anything in them - all their treasures are in the Vatican or the British museums.

We did Rome in a day - Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, Arch of Constantine, Pantheon (which is now a Christian monument), Trevi Fountain (which was massive) and much more. Naturally I ate some gelato (berry and plum) and pulled faces on the Spanish Steps.