The last day

Having stayed up late writing last night, and the fact that I'm not quite 100% yet (although a miraculous improvement from Friday), I was fairly tired and not feeling great this morning when I woke up.  So I stayed in bed and fell asleep again.  After I woke, I went downstairs and had some breakfast and skyped Todd.  By the time I got out for the day it was really too late to do anything, and I was planning on going to the Burj Khalifa, but I wouldn't have enough time to get back in time for my desert safari tour.  So instead I just went to the mall and had a pedicure (desperately overdue), and a spot of shopping!

When I got back to the hotel, I quickly changed and then the phone call came through that the tour guide was there to pick me up.  The front seat of the land cruiser was vacant so I claimed the seat as mine.  

The drive out to the sand dunes was a good 80 kms, and I felt weary.  I just wanted to sleep.  But as we got nearer and the landscape changed, I perked up from the excitement.  I also noticed loads of other land cruisers driving in the same direction.  

When we got there, the guide stopped the car to deflate the tyres.  With the tyres well and truly flat, we were off.  For some reason leading up to the drive, I had no hesitation or fear at all.  But suddenly us he started going up and down and around these dunes, and by that I mean sideways... you could say my heart was pretty much stuck in my throat the whole time.

It was a pretty bumpy ride, to say the least, and there were a couple of times where I thought I was going to get whiplash.  But other than that it was fun.  But the funniest thing of all was when we saw another land cruiser stop and an Asian lady and daughter got out the car.  One was dry-reaching, but the daughter threw up.  Hilarious!!  And seriously, it wasn't THAT bad!

There were a couple of photo stops along the way, but the sunset stop.  Wow, the sunset stop.  So stunning, I think it was the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen.  I don't believe I managed to capture it on camera though.  I'll see when I get back home.

As an aside, I saw so many land cruisers on the dunes, that I reckon there were hundreds of cars out there.

Then we got to our 'camp' where we had a camel ride.  Getting up on the camel and being on the camel was fine, but when he stopped and bent down for me to get off, I thought I was going to go flying off instead!

Dinner was buffet style of traditional food which was pretty bloody awesome.  I also went and got a hanna tattoo on my left hand.  And we were also treated to some traditional dancing including a belly dancer.  She was gorgeous, and I wish I had a belly like hers!

Back in the car for the drive back and Abdul our driver started questioning this Indian guy in the group about where he had been and what he knew about where he had been.  There was a lot of banter back and forth, but Abdul came out with heaps of facts about Dubai which were really interesting.  He told us that there are 69 shopping Malls in Dubai.  One of them is 1.8 kms long, and is being extended (he drove us past it).

Anyway, I got back to the hotel, showered and packed my bag.  I am now at the airport and my gate has just opened.  So, I'm going to say Goodbye to Dubai, and goodbye to the blog.  Until next time.

Thanks for you die-hards for reading and checking in on what I've been up to.  I hope my writing hasn't been too unbearable, and that if anything you may have also been occasionally entertained for your efforts.  (Sorry, no photos again.)

Arriverderci amici.  xx

Dubai and other crazy things

I am writing this on Saturday night Dubai time but probably won't be able to post it until the morning.  I haven't blogged since Wednesday night Italy time.  You'll see why.

On Wednesday night after my Verona and other Northern Italy treats I had started to get a sore throat. By the time I was going to bed it was feeling like razor blades and Claudia gave me a medicated lolly which helped.  I was already dreading my Thursday as I was leaving Italy, nay Europe, for Dubai.  But because I had changed my arrangements after booking flights; to get to my flight in Venice, I had to catch a train from Bergamo to Briesca, change trains and get to Venice, get on the transfer bus to get to the Venice Airport, all whilst lugging 20 kgs of luggage.  An extra early start was also required as I booked the trains with plenty of time to spare just in case of train delays.

Claudia and Sabrina dropped me off, and Sabrina stayed with me to help me with my luggage, until my train arrived.  We said our goodbyes and Sabrina said we shouldn't cry as we would see each other again.  The trip was uneventful (I think I wrote Wednesday's blog on that leg).  And when I got to Briesca, I had enough time to go to the ticket office and see if I could catch the earlier train.  (I had booked the early train from Bergamo in case there wasn't enough time to change trains/platforms.)  I wasn't feeling great, but I wasn't yet really sick, but I could feel it creeping up on me.

Waiting for the train to Venice, I noted that I was going to be in Carriage nine, so I walked to the end of the platform that I thought nine would be at.  Except I was wrong.  But in my defence if you're facing the train, and you know the train is heading left of you, then you would think carriage one would be at the front (left), and carriage nine would be at or near the end (right).  Right?  Apparently not.  So of course when the train got there I had to run past about seven carriages to get to mine.  Sigh.

Nearing Venice, the train stopped at Venice Mestra.  I checked my ticket and it said I needed Venice Santa Lucia.  I suddenly wondered whether Mestra was closer to the airport, but I tried to remember when I booked the ticket whether I had explained that I was going to the airport and I was fairly certain I had, so I figured Santa Lucia was correct.  When I got off at Venice Santa Lucia, I went and had an espresso and a final cornetto (he gave me one with jam instead of custard damn him), then went out to find the bus I would need to transfer me to the airport.  When I stepped outside I was shocked and yet pleasantly surprised to find that I was actually on the Island of Venice.  But with 20 kgs of luggage, there wasn't really a lot I was going to see.  But it was enough to remind me how beautiful Venice is.

I couldn't see a sign or information (surprise surprise) for the bus, so I had to go to the tourist information desk, which had a long line up out the door.  I was suddenly grateful I had gotten onto an earlier train.  When I eventually reached the front, I was directed to the bus station.  A five minute walk away (without luggage I presume).  That meant lugging the luggage over a bridge.  With STAIRS.

I got to the ticket office, lined up for a ticket, and got served by the ditziest Italian I think I've ever met.  She was looking everywhere except where she should have been looking, i.e. at her customers!  Seriously.  After I eventually got a ticket off her, I had to KNOCK on the glass window separating us to ask her what platform I might find my bus on, and what number bus I needed.  This woman is WHY there is a glass window separating the customers from the service officers, because if it wasn't there, I would have felt compelled to slap her a couple of times to make sure she was awake.

The bus to the airport left at midday and took about 40 minutes, but I'm fairly certain I glimpsed a sign somewhere half way to the airport saying 'Mestra'.  Nevermind.  At this stage I was just grateful for allowing plenty of time in the agenda, because you wouldn't want to cut a trip like this one too fine.  Especially not in Italy.

On the plane I watched a couple of movies, and I think I may have even slept for 20 minutes.  This was after I had moved seats - the crew had asked if I wouldn't mind as that would give the lady next to me with a toddler, two seats.  No, no I don't mind at all.  And where I got moved to had a vacant seat next to me anyway, so I was very pleased.

We got into Dubai at 11.30 ish from memory.  At customs the guy asked me my name, and I said "Natalina", he, with a grin said "I know that".  So I said, "I know you know that".  I like a customs officer with a sense of humour.  He was very sweet.

The drive to the Novotel 'Mall of the Emirates' took about 30 minutes, and the driver took the 'Abu Dhabi' road.  I was starting to wonder where the hell my travel agent had booked this hotel (the only one booked by the travel agent, I did the rest of the accommodation myself).  Anyway, we got there, I checked in and pretty much crashed immediately.

But it was a restless night, waking quite a few times, and when I woke Friday morning, I was completely zapped of energy, head-achy, tired and coughing.  I then slept on and off until about 3.00 in the afternoon.  I didn't think I was feverish, but my muscles and bones were really aching and I knew I just needed to get some panadol.

I showered and dressed and made my way downstairs and asked Reception for the nearest pharmacy.  They said Mall of the Emirates which was one block away.  I walked outside and the weirdest thing happened (that I now find completely hilarious, and cracks me up, every single time), my sunglasses fogged up.  Yep.  From the heat and humidity.  Instantly.

Now you all know Dubai is hot right.  Did you also know it boasts 98% humidity as well?  Actually, I don't know if that's true, I'm just making that up, but it's probably true, and the hotels here could do us tourists a favour.  They could just shower you with water the second you walk outside.  That way your expectations are set.  Because in minutes, you're going to look like a drowned rat anyway.  You will literally sweat that much.  I mean, the backs of my hands sweat (not just my palms), the front of my knees (not just the back of my knees) sweat.  All of me.  Sweat.  No point doing your hair straight, it will literally curl in seconds.

Anyway, I've digressed, but on purpose.  I just needed to set the scene a bit.  So, I was feeling like shit and I had to walk a block away in 35 degree heat with 98% humidity.  I was already feeling weak, and my bones and muscles were aching, but particularly my lower back.  I was so sore, I felt as though I was walking at a snails pace, and I probably was.

When I got to the mall I was relieved to find ATMs near the entrance as I didn't have any Dirham yet.  I tried one ATM and it gave me an error.  I tried another ATM...that took for ages and then didn't disperse any cash either.  By this stage I seriously didn't think I would actually be able to stand much longer.  I was quite distressed.  I lined up for a third ATM (thankfully there were six all in the one spot), and this one delivered.  

I knew this mall wasn't going to be small, so I had to find an information desk to fast track me finding a pharmacy.  And there was one nearby, and a lady directed me to the closest one.  I had to go up to the next level, and I made my way there ok.  When I got there, the pharmacist gave me panadol, cough medicine and I grabbed some strepsils.  By the time I walked out of the shop though, I was ready to collapse, I didn't think my legs could carry me much further.  I finally found a seat next to the 1st floor exist.  I swallowed two panadol immediately.  But it was too late.  I sat for a while thinking that as soon as I felt better I could walk back to my hotel.  Then a lady and her child came and sat next to me.  I felt awful, really really weak.  I just wanted to lay down.  Then, all of a sudden I started to get pins and needles through my body, but it suddenly got really bad in my hands and arms.  And by that I mean that it felt as though my hands and arms were vibrating.  These were no ordinary pins and needles.  I don't know if I started to sweat, but I was wiping my brow and trying to concentrate on breathing, for what reason, I'm not sure.  Maybe to stay calm because whatever was happening to me, was scaring me.  I have never ever had this feeling before.  I couldn't stop looking at my hands, I felt like I was in a movie and an alien was going to burst through my body!

I clearly looked a sight.  The lady next to me (dressed in traditional black dress with just her face showing) asked "are you sick?".  I said yes, I told her what I was feeling and that I didn't know what was wrong with me, and that I thought I needed a doctor.  She went and spoke to one of the traffic controllers outside (for a taxi), he came and asked me a few questions and I said I needed a taxi to go to the American hospital.  He told me where I could get a taxi from, but I didn't have the strength to go to the other side of the mall and I said I would sit here until I felt better as I had just taken some panadol.  He said then, as soon as another taxi came to this entrance he would come and get me, but that it could take 20 minutes.  So we left it at that.

Then the lady's husband came by and she got up and said goodbye to me.  I could see them then talking about me, but about two minutes later, the whole family came back and the husband asked me  whether he could take me anywhere.  We spoke for a while, he seemed in disbelief that I was completely alone, but finally accepted the fact when I said I had been travelling and Dubai was a stopover before going home.  I convinced him I would wait for the taxi and go to the hospital.  But by this time, I was actually in tears, however I mustered up enough courage to give him smile to assure him I would be ok.  This seemed to do the trick and he smiled back said goodbye, I said thank you a few times, reassured them again and then they left.

After a few more minutes, the 'pins and needles' started to ease off, to my great relief.  I figured the panadol was kicking in.  Then the traffic guy came back with another guy who suggested they would get the paramedics to come have a look at me.  I convinced them that I thought I was feeling better now, and that the panadol had started to work, and there would be no need.  Again they required convincing, but accepted my explanation.  After about 10 minutes they signalled that they had a taxi available.  I walked into the heavy heat of the car park and apologised to the driver that it was only a short trip to the Novotel (I decided I was going to go back to the hotel), but that I was too weak to walk there.  As we drove out of the carpark, he asked me to confirm the direction, and I just said yes although I didn't realise what I was saying yes to until a few minutes later.  And the road he got on was a highway going in a particular direction, and he couldn't turn back.  I could see my hotel so I just told him I would walk.  I paid him 10 dirham (for getting me out of the Mall car park) and walked back.

By the time I walked back I was feeling considerably better, and in actual fact hungry!  There was a cafe across from my hotel so I decided to get something from there.  By now it was probably around 5.00 and I hadn't eaten a thing, and barely sipped some water all day.  First, I ordered an espresso!  And a Chicken Focaccia and a coke.  I only ate half (although it was delicious), and by oh boy did the coffee then coke go down well!

I went back to the hotel figuring I should rest which I did, but not long after, I had improved so much, that I thought I would actually go back to the Mall of the Emirates and have a look around!  And I did!

--------------------------------

And that brings us to today!  It's late now, so I'm going to keep this short.  When I woke up at 7.00 this morning I realised I had had a good night's sleep which brought a smile to my face.  So given that I had lost a whole day yesterday, I needed to get cracking!  I got up, showered, and went down for breakfast.  All the while, disbelieving how bad a state I was in yesterday and, today, yeah, still a bit sore (sore back), and still a bit of a cough, but otherwise feeling not too bad.

After breakfast I organised a safari trip for tomorrow night, and then headed back to the mall where I would get on the 'hop on, hop off' bus.  Definitely the best way to see everything in a short amount of time.

My first stop was the Cloth Souk.  A couple of the vendors picked up that I am Italian and started calling me Maria, asking me to go into their shop.  I found this very amusing.  Then I stopped at the Gold Souk and bought myself a little something.  We'll see if I got a good price when I get back home! Then I stopped at the Spice Souk but didn't buy anything for fear of customs confiscation on entry back into Australia.  

We drove past a whole lot of interesting sights including the Burj Al Arab, but I was most thrilled to be on 'The Palm' (the man made islands), what an architectural feat!  But talking about architecture, the high rises of Dubai.  My oh my... reminiscent of New York!  Impressive.  Of course, most impressive though is the Burj Khalifa.  My plan was to have afternoon tea in the Burj Khalifa, but given I have lost a day, I don't know if I'll have the time.

I made my last stop the Dubai Mall, which is linked to the Burj Khalifa.  An incredible shopping mall.  So elaborate, and ornate.  But classy at the same time.  Chic in fact.  I headed to the 'shoe level', but didn't buy a thing.  Two reasons.  Most of the shoes I liked had heels to high, and if the heel wasn't high, then the price was.

I grabbed a bite to eat, then headed to see the Dubai Fountain which I understand is based on the Fountains at Vegas.  Very impressive, but whilst I did see the sign that said you could be sprayed with water, I really didn't care that much.  Because a) it was still stinking hot, and b) I already looked like a drowned rat.

However, whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the two shows I watched, and I didn't care that I got (more) wet, I think my camera maybe wasn't so happy about getting wet.  So whilst I have written war and peace, and you've stuck with me to the end, I'm afraid I can't show you a single photo.  I'm getting a communication error trying to get the photos onto my ipad!

Verona, Bardolino e Lazise

Sabrina, my darling cousin was my tour guide yesterday.  She knew I was keen to go to Verona, so on her day off she drove me to three beautiful towns.  First stop Verona after stopping at an Autogrill for a coffee (hers with ginseng).  A second stop for GPL (I haven't heard of cars that use GPL in Australia).

When we arrived in Verona, we needed to park the car.  Sabrina drove into a multi-storey car park and asked whether we had car parks like this in Italy.  She was being serious because she thought Australia was so large that we didn't need them.  I thought she was joking, so I sarcastically said that, no, I've never seen one before.  She thought I was serious.  

We first walked to the Verona Arena.  What a sight to see.  Magnificent.  Then we walked through some streets housing some lovely shops, to see Juliette's balcony.  From there through the Piazza and to the Torre dei Lamberti for a panoramic view of the city.  So lovely, and I told Sabrina that I didn't realise how big Verona was.  I thought it was just a small town.

We wandered on to the bridge to see River Adige, and we had lunch nearby by.  From there we decided to make our way to the next town of Bardolino, but not before stopping to get a gelati.  I got caffe and bacio, which was truly another fantastic gelati, but the texture was not as creamy, and it reminded me of the gelati I used to eat in my childhood.  Delicious.

At Bardolino we walked through the shops as I was determined to buy a pair of good quality shoes in Italy and I was fast running out of time.  But not seeing anything truly classic that I wanted except some gorgeous handbags, we walked on to see Lago di Garda.  The girls tell me that this lake is more beautiful than Como, and they don't understand what all the fuss is about for Como.  When I saw it, I saw for myself how beautiful it is, although I cannot compare to Como.  From our walk, even Sabrina suggested that I might be better off purchasing a bag instead of shoes, at least I will have something, and I had resolved that I would buy one of the bags we had seen.  When we got back to the first bag shop we had seen, even Sabrina purchased a bag for herself.

From there we got back in the car and went to Lazise, another gorgeous little town on the lake.  We had a quick wander around before heading back home, but not before driving through the small town of Peschiera del Garda, where the water from the lake was clearer and more of a turquoise colour.  Just beautiful, with lots of lovely flowers well maintained.

Another long day, but it was not as tiring as going to Torino the day before.  And I got to see a whole other perspective of Italy.  A different look at a most beautiful part of the world.

Back at home, I packed my suitcase and we had diinner together.  Who knows when we three will next be together again.  I will miss these girls so much.  

I love you Claudia and Sabrina.  Come visit soon.  You have a hoard of cousins waiting.  xxxxxx

Grand Torino

A very early start for me this morning.  Up at 6.40 in order to go to Torino for the day.  Claudia was dropping me off at the train station on her way to work, and we left at around 7.05.  I got to the station early enough to catch an earlier than planned train, as there would be little time to change trains at Milan Central.  I needn't have bothered as when I got to Milan, I found that the train was 20, then 25, then 30 minutes behind schedule.  In one way it was good because it allowed me time to get a 'Cornetto' and cappuccino.  Surprisingly, the cornetto wasn't great as the custard inside was a bit too runny.  

I enquired whether I could catch another train to Torino, but the other one would still have got in after mine, despite the delay.  I was going on the high-speed train.

At the Torino train station I found the Information desk, got myself a map, and enquired about the hop on, hop off bus.  I decided, given how little time I had in Torino that the bus would be a good idea.  Outside the terminal I had to find the stop and a gentleman saw me looking at the map and asked if I needed help.  At least, that's what I think he said, as I didn't quite get what he said.  Anyway, he assisted me and told me where I needed to be, but turns out the lovely man was wrong.  I then saw another information desk who directed me back to my original spot, except across the road!

The bus however, only departs once every hour, so I had to hang around for about 30 minutes for the next one.  The bus arrived and I listened to a bit of history and saw some lovely buildings and piazzas, but I got off at the Castello.  In hindsight, I really should have done the whole circle first, then got off, because, as it turns out, I didn't get back on for the rest of the day due to wrong timing, so pretty much wasted the 15€.  

From the Castle I went to the Royal Palaces (right next to each other).  This is where it got interesting and the understanding that Torino was Italy's original capital was accepted by my brain.  The palace was grand.  As it should be.  There is no other word apt to describe it.  However, given the short timeframe I decided not to get a ticket to see all the rooms inside.  I figured if I had time, that I would go back.

From there I walked down via Roma to Piazza San Carlo and saw the twin churches of Chiesa di Santa Cristina and Chiesa di San Carlo. At this point I won't bother you with all the detail.  But I saw much regality, grandeur, beauty and architecture.  Torino, definitely deserving of the title it once held.  However, it did appear to me to be quite 'dirty'.  It does look like it needs a good scrub.  I saw more graffiti than I would have liked.  But you know you're in a rich town when you see beggars, and there were quite a few of them.  Sabrina had told me this yesterday, and I certainly don't recall seeing any beggars in Calabria!  Via Roma is full of big name stores like Armani and Prada, but I don't know if it's just because we're coming out of the tourist season, but there certainly weren't hoards of tourists around, so that was nice.

In my wanderings I entered the grounds of the National Museum (del Risorgimento whatever that is), and I was approached by a lady, and talking to her, she asked me where I was from.  I simply said from Australia, except I used the dialect form of the word 'from'.  She immediately picked up on it and asked if I was Calabrese, and she then said that she too was from there, and to speak the dialect, as we would 'understand each other well'.  She was from Gioisa which is near where my parents are from.  We spoke for a bit before saying our goodbyes and shaking hands.

I went and saw the Mole Antonelliana which houses the cinema museum, but I bought a ticket for the lift to the top of the building for panoramic views of the city.  It was a hazy day, but it was still worth the trip.  It was an awesome sight when I turned the corner and caught sight of the Dome.  Stunning.  This building is on the 2 cent coin, and is the symbol of the city.

From the Mole, I walked to the River Po and through Piazza Vittorio Veneto, made my way back to Via Roma via a couple of other piazzas and viewed more grand buildings and private buildings along the way, witnessing once again, how much money is in fact in Italy, despite the 'crisis'.

At Via Roma I stopped for an espresso at a really fancy cafe which had tiny tiny cakes.  I had a cream puff the size of, oh, my thumb!  And it was divine!

I needed to make my way back to the train station to get my train by this time, but I decided I needed to have a gelati.  And I stopped at a place that claimed authentic or original gelati.  Whatever it claimed, I can vouch that it was bloody excellent (trying to compare it to the one I had at Cinque Terre, and it potentially rates first....or second....in my all time best gelati).  It was caffe and nocciolo.

Torino wasn't originally on my itinerary for Italy.  It should be for yours!

Beautiful Bergamo - a new love

Yesterday morning the girls got up and went to work leaving me to rest in bed.  At around 8.15 I got up and made myself an espresso (bellissimo).  After savouring that for a I while, I went about and did some chores and put a load of washing on.  I then made myself another coffee and enjoyed that too with a brioche for breakfast.  I then decided I would go out and do some grocery shopping for the girls.  It was the least I could do.  So I left the apartment and headed in the general direction where the girls said the central part of town was.  I soon saw a supermarket and I got things like toilet paper, dish washing liquid and the like.  I also bought them a tin of illy coffee which I was astounded to find was only 6€.  That's half the price what we pay in Australia.  HALF!

I walked back to the apartment and dropped the shopping off, and went back out for a caffe latte, at a little cafe around the corner.  Went back to the apartment and waited for Sabrina and Claudia to come home.  Needless to say they berated me for going shopping, but I was pretty chuffed that I could finally do something for them.  We had lunch and then Sabrina and I left for the afternoon for her to show me around Bergamo.

We walked to the central part of town, and on the way we stopped at a specialty coffee shop where we had an espresso flavoured with a syrup.  I chose caramel and Sabrina had nocciolo (hazelnut).  It was delicious.  We looked around at a few shops and I found Bergamo to be quietly stunning.  We then made our way to the train station as the girls had suggested I go to Torino for the day today.

Nothing and no-one had prepared me for the sight I would see as we turned onto a particular road and you could look up and see 'Citta Alta' (the old town built on a hill).  The sight literally took my breath away.  So beautiful.  The colours were not the colours of Italy that I know which is why I think it took me so much by surprise.  The autumn colours have also commenced, so I'm not sure if my perspective is changed because of that.  I also had never heard of Bergamo before the girls had moved there.   I certainly don't remember learning about it at school, nor any travellers recommending one visit.  If you are planning a trip to Italy, I strongly recommend a visit, especially if you are planning on going to Milan, as it is only an hour by train and you could explore it in a day.

After purchasing the tickets for Torino, we started the walk towards the old town.  We saw many beautiful buildings and architecture along the way.  We then had to make our way up the steep climb towards one of the gates to the city.

In Citta Alta, I was mesmerised.  I simply cannot describe the beauty of this place, and to me, it seems very different to other towns in Italy.  We wandered through squares and streets and made our way to the Duomo (an uninspiring building), but next to the Duomo is the Chiesa (di Santa Maria Maggiore).  The church is comparable to any of the great churches in Rome, on entering, once again I was floored because I wasn't expecting to see such beauty.  Also the size of the outside of the building doesn't prepare you for the size actually inside, due to a small adjacent church hiding some of the frontage and deceiving you.

We wandered on, and passed a small shop selling 100% cashmere.  We went in, and there were a couple of Americans trying to communicate with the assistant.  Between the five of us we were able to translate everything, but not without it being a small circus.  The assistant had to ask Sabrina in Italian, who had to then translate it to my dialect, so that I could then translate that to English.  Can you actually believe that went on?  Hilarious.  I then tried on a few jumpers and purchased one.  So soft, so lovely.  After wandering around the old town for a bit more, we made our way once again down the old wall to central Bergamo.  A bit more shopping and then we walked the rest of the way home.

At home we chatted for a bit before going out for a pizza.  This time we drove up to the old town, but to a higher point than we had walked earlier in the day.  Apparently on a good day you can see Milan, but it was night, and a hazy day so we saw the lights of Bergamo and surrounding towns.  Inside the restaurant we also had a table with a view.  Sabrina and I ordered pizza, and Claudia a calzone.  Mine was with eggplant, and hands down, it was one of the best pizzas I have ever eaten.  Claudia and I then shared a Tiramisu which was exquisite.

Leaving Croatia

Yesterday was fairly uneventful.  I packed my bag, checked out, arranged a taxi for the airport etc. before going to get a last espresso and Krafna from the local bakery.  

I also arranged to meet Isabella from the sailing tour for coffee at 11.00, and I had one last wander around the old town of Split with her before leaving for the airport.

Croatia has been wonderful.  So beautiful, so much history.  The people are fantastic.  The language barrier hasn't been a problem as they all appear to speak English (gosh we didn't even bother to learn to say please or thank you, Isabella pointed out).  The coffee has been great as well as the Krafna and Strudels.  The Sailing trip has been one of the most relaxing times in my life.  It is a wonderful way to travel, with the weather being perfect the whole time. 

I was very nervous about my flights as I only had a 45 minute transfer.  I was flying from Split to Vienna, and from Vienna to Venice.  But I needn't have been concerned.  It was one of the most seamless transfers I've had, and on the plane from Split the screens showed which gate to go to for each transfer.  It all worked like clockwork. 

Landing in Vienna was similar to flying into Dublin, you could see green everywhere.  Landing into Venice however was simply amazing.  You could actually see the whole Island, and I could even see the tower of San Marco.  It was one of those times I was actually grateful to have a window seat (I usually prefer aisle).

Waiting for me at the Venice airport were my cousins Sabrina and Claudia.  They had come to pick me up to take me to Bergamo where they live.  We had to drive 2.5 hours to get there.  That means they spent 5 hours in the car just to pick me up.  I don't know what I can do for them in return.  When we got home (late), we had a bite to eat and went to bed.  The poor girls are at work now, probably exhausted.

I don't think I took one photo yesterday.  So there is nothing to see here.

Walking Split

I had a lazy morning in this morning and had biscuits for breakfast.  There are these wafer biscuits you can buy that I tried on the boat the other day, which I just can't get enough of.  After my shower I went out for my daily espresso.  Then wandered past the fish market, and then went to the green market for some fruit.

The weather was cloudy, but quite hot, and I was expecting rain from the forecast.  But given the heat, I decided I should make my way to the beach.  So I went back to the apartment, got changed and walked to the beach.  It took about half an hour to get there, and yes Todd, I actually got in the water!

When I got back to the town it was really quite late so I wandered around to find myself a salad for lunch (after all the biscuits I'd eaten, I didn't need more than a salad).  I ordered a greek salad, but I've had better.  From there I went to do a walking tour.  The next one was till 5.00 so I had to wait around for a bit.  

The tour guide eventually arrived and he proceeded to show us around the town, providing us with an excellent history and the stories behind all the old walls.  Split's old walls are now UNESCO heritage listed, and for good reason.  So there is a mish-mash of architecture and there is lots of renovation going on, but mostly you notice all the walls of the old Empire or their remnants scattered about the place.  It was a really interesting tour, and whilst I had seen most of the town already, I now saw it with new eyes.  Fascinating.

There was a girl on the tour from Auckland and after the tour ended, we walked some way together.  I was about to ask her to join me for dinner, but she wouldn't let me get a word in edge-wise, so when I did get a word in, I said my goodbyes.

I went back to the apartment and changed into jeans and searched on-line for a restaurant recommendation.  A couple of sites strongly recommended Restaurant Nostromo, and I had seen the restaurant and knew it was close to my apartment so I went there.  It is near the fish market and apparently the owners of the restaurant are also owners of the fish market.  I ordered the prawn risotto, but I have to say I enjoyed the bread (on which I drizzled olive oil and balsamic vinegar) more!  I also thought the waiter was a bit rude so I didn't bother leaving a tip.