it takes much self cotrol to not errupt into a giggle fit and blush, when youre sharing a room with three quire good looking dutch men who think nothing of stripping down to and roaming around in thier undies, armani emporio no less.
QUITE a foreign experience, if you will.
and you have to love men who are unapologentic about their bodies and allow their asses to wiggle freely from under thier undies.
also, they've been using my body wash in the shower.
teehee!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
24th June 2011 Riomaggiore
and my first full day in riomaggiore begins. the place is beautiful and quirky, almost like a pile of building blocks just about to topple over.
the weather is pleasent as shit and the water looks just so inviting that i will just have to take a dip soon.
today perhaps a train to somewhere and back. at 5 a train back out again to La Spezia with new friends. the day looks promising and my legs are prepared for the uphill.
the weather is pleasent as shit and the water looks just so inviting that i will just have to take a dip soon.
today perhaps a train to somewhere and back. at 5 a train back out again to La Spezia with new friends. the day looks promising and my legs are prepared for the uphill.
22nd July 2011 Ravenna, Italy
Ravenna today. just walking out of the Mausleo de Galle Placida, tomb of the empress.
Beautiful byzantinian mosaics. the windows were covered with panles of amber to let in the daylight in dim gold.
part of the mosaic really caught my eye, it was the border lining the room of the mauseleum. it looked like one long strand of DNA.
another thing was the ceiling, littere with mosaic gold stars, on the four corners the four animals of the apocalypse (lion, calf, man and raven) and in the middle a golden cross.
i dont really know the whole meaning behind this approach but it was very different than what i have been seeing in italy this entire time. its nice to see a different approach to christianity worship and dipiction.
21st june 2011 Florence, Italy
this morning after dragging myself out of bed, i caught the train to Firenze at 12 30 and i reached a little after 1pm. the line to get into the Uffizzi was 2 hours long, but my entire reason for visiting florence was to get into the uffizzi, so i waited that out as patiently as is possible.
after the tedious line, i finally got in and explored the museum. the brith of venus (which was the whole point of the uffizzi) was pretty but i imagined it bigger. i did see many other boticellis, davincis and _______.
i did also see some other very beautiful works of art. i wish i could have gone with a guide or someone who could give me more historical and contextual information about the pieces i was looking at. but i did massively enjoy it in any case. but, by the time i was done, as much as i did enjoy it all, i am turely sick of seeing painting after painting of jesus and mary, with the same expression, except in a few. jesus mostly looks like a waise ass psoilt little kid, with abs no less, and mary looks bloody nauseous like you think she would if she had just spent the night trying to pacify a crying infant and then was asked to pose for a million pictures.
i am very intrigued by saint sebastian. i have never heard of him before, but he seems to dominate the roman empire alot. he is always depicted with two arrows piercing out of his body, but while he looks all sulled, he also seems fully functional, as if the arrows dont make a difference.
another painting i really did like was Leda and the Swan by ________
the story goes that zeus was quite enchated with leda, but his wife, hera, was (understandably) jealous (who could blame her, zeus was a slut!). So in order to hide from his wife, zeus transformed himself into a swan and conceived four children with leda, out of which one turned out to be good old helen of troy.
another set of paintings i did fall in love iwth was la fortezza by boticelli. its a pianting of five women, one canvas for each woman, with the virgin mother in the centre. all the women are depicted so strong, elegant and vibrant. it was one of his first pieces, and in my opinion is his strongest. its a gazillion times more beautiful than the birth of venus.
one more, michaelangelos "adoration of the magi". really genuis, i think.
so after the museum, i roamed the streets of florence aimlessly until 6 30 when i stopped at trattoria del guido to have proscuitto e melone and a 1/2kg florentine t bone steak, and boy was it good. the steak was charred to perfection on the outside, rendering it crispy and msokeu, and still soft and red inside, so juicy i could have married it and had all its babies. and with a glass of the house red i had a very satisfying dinner and now i travel back to bologna.
i am happy.
my mind wanders nowhere upsetting, and i constantly invariably, randomly keep smiling to myself like the villiage idiot. and i have been doing just that since crete, standing on my balcony looking out into the sea and hills.
tomorrow ravenna. i have a feeling im going to fall asleep quite quick and tomorrow will be another long day. and then cinque terre!
i dont want to have to go back!
after the tedious line, i finally got in and explored the museum. the brith of venus (which was the whole point of the uffizzi) was pretty but i imagined it bigger. i did see many other boticellis, davincis and _______.
i did also see some other very beautiful works of art. i wish i could have gone with a guide or someone who could give me more historical and contextual information about the pieces i was looking at. but i did massively enjoy it in any case. but, by the time i was done, as much as i did enjoy it all, i am turely sick of seeing painting after painting of jesus and mary, with the same expression, except in a few. jesus mostly looks like a waise ass psoilt little kid, with abs no less, and mary looks bloody nauseous like you think she would if she had just spent the night trying to pacify a crying infant and then was asked to pose for a million pictures.
i am very intrigued by saint sebastian. i have never heard of him before, but he seems to dominate the roman empire alot. he is always depicted with two arrows piercing out of his body, but while he looks all sulled, he also seems fully functional, as if the arrows dont make a difference.
another painting i really did like was Leda and the Swan by ________
the story goes that zeus was quite enchated with leda, but his wife, hera, was (understandably) jealous (who could blame her, zeus was a slut!). So in order to hide from his wife, zeus transformed himself into a swan and conceived four children with leda, out of which one turned out to be good old helen of troy.
another set of paintings i did fall in love iwth was la fortezza by boticelli. its a pianting of five women, one canvas for each woman, with the virgin mother in the centre. all the women are depicted so strong, elegant and vibrant. it was one of his first pieces, and in my opinion is his strongest. its a gazillion times more beautiful than the birth of venus.
one more, michaelangelos "adoration of the magi". really genuis, i think.
so after the museum, i roamed the streets of florence aimlessly until 6 30 when i stopped at trattoria del guido to have proscuitto e melone and a 1/2kg florentine t bone steak, and boy was it good. the steak was charred to perfection on the outside, rendering it crispy and msokeu, and still soft and red inside, so juicy i could have married it and had all its babies. and with a glass of the house red i had a very satisfying dinner and now i travel back to bologna.
i am happy.
my mind wanders nowhere upsetting, and i constantly invariably, randomly keep smiling to myself like the villiage idiot. and i have been doing just that since crete, standing on my balcony looking out into the sea and hills.
tomorrow ravenna. i have a feeling im going to fall asleep quite quick and tomorrow will be another long day. and then cinque terre!
i dont want to have to go back!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
21st June 2011
i like doing this, for the millionth time. it makes me feel peaceful and whole. like full circle. the last five years in singapoe seem almost nightmarish, but i rarely think about it and am consumed by where i am and what i am doing now. at times it overwhelms me close to tears. such a pussy.
this is some sactinty in this experience. it is a temple with a god, priests and worshippers.
at last my heart feels full of something, large and open. i feel like i have soul, like this is a chnace for redemption, for all those i have wronged and all those who have wronged me. this is only the beginning to a larger biggerbetter.
this isnt usual. this upbeat, way to positive, rainbowandlollypops talk. but can it be helped if a girl is actaully this happy?
fuck no.
its all ive been feeling, and i am it. emphatically satisfied.
this is some sactinty in this experience. it is a temple with a god, priests and worshippers.
at last my heart feels full of something, large and open. i feel like i have soul, like this is a chnace for redemption, for all those i have wronged and all those who have wronged me. this is only the beginning to a larger biggerbetter.
this isnt usual. this upbeat, way to positive, rainbowandlollypops talk. but can it be helped if a girl is actaully this happy?
fuck no.
its all ive been feeling, and i am it. emphatically satisfied.
20th June 2011 Bologna. Italy
my first full day in bologna, and i feel shitty for waking up as late as i did. i finally dragged myself out at 3pm and have come straight to bar bianco cafe mexico as fast as my feet would bring me. ive had all my meals here so far. they serve the best panini's ive had yet. my favourite is the frustina with ham, mozzerrella and roket. so much sheese it oozes out and the bread is so freaking good. i always am a sucker for a good sandwhich.
and while it does matter what you put inbetween the bread, i think the ultimate test of a sandwhich is how good the bread is.
that-a-way to the strip clubs
i like bologna. its got this peaceful vibe, and after arriving from tourist crazy rome, this feels pretty great. i havent done much at all, but i already feel happy that i did change plans and come here instead of rushing between florence, perugia and ravenna. this way i can day trip around. maybe begin with ravenna tomorrow.
but for today, i think im going to be as cheesy as it gets and take that shiney red bus with no roof that takes you around the city.
also HAVE to find a nice place for dinner because i am craving some good spagetti bolognaise. i am in the best place for it afterall!
[NP: everything i had at the restraunt was great, except the spagetti bolognaise. my mom makes it better :S]
19th June 2011
the outskirts of rome, the regions of campagnia, all spread out before me, covered by grey, gloomy skies, allowing only pinpricks of sunlight though, which crown upon the grounds.
its a pretty sight, even on a dark day; all grey and blue and green.
[mum- awake on a train (the few times shuffle has been appropriate)]
this comes so naturally to me. i have to take a second to emember what it is im doing, and then i cant help but smile and feel very pleased with myself.
diagonally opposite me are an old gay couple, and until they fell asleep i wouldnt have wondered even. but they fall asleep on shoulder on head, and their arms grasp each other in a comfortable and firm embrace. and i could be here or any place in the world, and small things like this remind me that through all the differences, there are so many parallels between all cultures.
the clouds begin to beak up and the sun tries a little harder
[jeff beck- nadia]
i have already met so many people. those little moments that are worthless but you know theyve been etcheded in your head. like the other night in the common room when all of us stopped talking at the same time because somewhere in the distance in the faintest of volumes the harry potter soundtrack came on, and once it was done we all resumed conversation like nothing had happened and the giggled about it later. or last night when the chinese canadian girl crashed herself down on the chair next to me and screamed about her roommates snoring. and then the walk to the station this morning with the sweetest german girl with the longest legs, who said very matter of fact-ly that 'mostikoes' always bite her because 'my blood is sweeter i think.'
the hills spread out before me in patchwork green. they make me calm. all this reminds me that i am finally climbing out of the hole i fell into 5 years ago.
that feeling of time running out, i dont feel it anymore. the crazyness that is rome, the cobbled roads and the perfect blue skies, it all makes me so much more adamant on living. i am living in true flesh, blood and so much soul.
everything sit so well in my eyes.
its a pretty sight, even on a dark day; all grey and blue and green.
[mum- awake on a train (the few times shuffle has been appropriate)]
this comes so naturally to me. i have to take a second to emember what it is im doing, and then i cant help but smile and feel very pleased with myself.
diagonally opposite me are an old gay couple, and until they fell asleep i wouldnt have wondered even. but they fall asleep on shoulder on head, and their arms grasp each other in a comfortable and firm embrace. and i could be here or any place in the world, and small things like this remind me that through all the differences, there are so many parallels between all cultures.
the clouds begin to beak up and the sun tries a little harder
[jeff beck- nadia]
i have already met so many people. those little moments that are worthless but you know theyve been etcheded in your head. like the other night in the common room when all of us stopped talking at the same time because somewhere in the distance in the faintest of volumes the harry potter soundtrack came on, and once it was done we all resumed conversation like nothing had happened and the giggled about it later. or last night when the chinese canadian girl crashed herself down on the chair next to me and screamed about her roommates snoring. and then the walk to the station this morning with the sweetest german girl with the longest legs, who said very matter of fact-ly that 'mostikoes' always bite her because 'my blood is sweeter i think.'
the hills spread out before me in patchwork green. they make me calm. all this reminds me that i am finally climbing out of the hole i fell into 5 years ago.
that feeling of time running out, i dont feel it anymore. the crazyness that is rome, the cobbled roads and the perfect blue skies, it all makes me so much more adamant on living. i am living in true flesh, blood and so much soul.
everything sit so well in my eyes.
18th June 2011
i woke up this morning lazily at 10 30 am. i believe i owe it to mysefl after yesterday. i also belioeve i owe my self a proper lunch after surving only on a panini and gelato for breakfast and lunch, and yogurt and beer for dinner yesterday.
so a true sit out wholesome lunch for me today. I'm waiting on my prosicutto e melone (ham and melon) and margharita pizza (eat your heart out).
the day is sunny and warm. the head you can see, but not above the road, but much higher at the windows, almost making me at times wonder if im seeing things.
i didnt carry my camera today, puposefully. i want to just see and take in and BE. after lunch to the spanish steps and the pantheon. which fool should come to rome and not see the pantheon? not me thats for sure.
![]()
(NP: i never did see the damn pantheon.)
so a true sit out wholesome lunch for me today. I'm waiting on my prosicutto e melone (ham and melon) and margharita pizza (eat your heart out).
the day is sunny and warm. the head you can see, but not above the road, but much higher at the windows, almost making me at times wonder if im seeing things.
i didnt carry my camera today, puposefully. i want to just see and take in and BE. after lunch to the spanish steps and the pantheon. which fool should come to rome and not see the pantheon? not me thats for sure.
spanish steps
Monday, July 11, 2011
17th June 2011 Rome, Italy
i go through contrasting stages of craving familar company and being ecstatically happy about being on my own. often enough i long to be able to share what i am experiencing with someone who is doing the same.
but there is power in being alone this way. there is strength to gain from it. this sort of lonliness is pngent but in a way different from what i have felt before.this sense of freedom feel painful, sweet and fresh.
i miss everyone and i miss no one. i feel constantly learning from myself, always challeneged. and the feeling of waking up in the morning with so much to do, but no obligation to do a damn thing, that is overpowering and makes me mindlessly happy.
vatican ceilings
now sitting the the vatican gardens under the bright dry roman sun my feet ache. ive been up and on them from 11am, walking to breakfast on Via Settembre XX and onwards to the Vatican.
i got to see the fantastic school of athens. i have always wanted to see it and had no idea it was housed here, always believing it to be housed at the Lourve. the sistine chapel too, again i stood, head craning up and mouth open like a blowfish.
evenings down quattro fontana
im not quite hungry yet, but i look forward to finding 'allbridge' or 'oldbrige' the gelato place, highly recoommended by too many roommates.
after a 30 min wait in the sun, i feast on the best freshly made coconut, mint and black cherry gelato there is in italy. FTW!
im so looking forward to being in venice.
after a month in lazy greece, city life feels so noisy and so up close and personal.
saint peters basillica next and pont d'angelo.
pont d'angelo (bridge of angels)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)