i love rome !

despite the initial hoo-haa with the cancelled train ride, i managed to visit rome over the last weekend. the journey was a long and tiring one - 10hrs by train and interchange at milano station, but i did not regret a single bit. at the end of the day, the cancelled train ride did turn out to be a blessing in disguise. if not for it, i reckon i will not be able to cover so much in rome with a one day itinerary.

wat i did in rome mainly toggle between 2 activities --> stop & stare O_O. and of cos, everytime after i regained from awe, i will then start snapping pictures. it was at that moment when i really like to have one of those pro-looking camera and can go around taking pictures like some national geographic photographers haha ... but then again given one, i doubt i know how to use it.

the beauty of rome is undefinable by words, as quoted from their mayor 'un vaggio che non finira mai di stupire' - translated to english 'it is a journey that will never cease to amaze you'. i got so much to tell, but so little i can write ... anyway, i will try.

the trip din start on a happy note, in fact a rather stressful one. first, my fri nite was wasted at the train station, waiting for my sleeper train and later getting to know that it was cancelled due to a strike in italy. after knowing that i can still get a morning train to rome next morning, i went back to my hotel and started amending my plans. tat nite, i din sleep well as half of the time i was anxious to wake up early next morning to be on time for my 7am train. i did wake up early and the sky was still dark, it was a very chilly morning due to a drizzle. after previous nite and experiences with zurich train station, it was not difficult locating the track to board the train. but guess wat, i almost board the wrong train to lugano instead of milano !!! luckily at the eleventh hour, i decided to alight and confirm my ticket with the train attendant (dun ask me wat made me decided to re-confirm, there must have been a guardian angel by my side all this while and i am very thankful). after happily settling in the correct train, i thought i can finally catch some peaceful sleep. but i was wrong again, instead there was lot of anxiety as i have learnt from the train conductor that they are not sure if there will be train from milano to rome later in the afternoon due to the strike experience from yesterday ... wat if i get stranded at milano (-_-!)

at 1130 am, i reached milano interchange. there was a terrible crowd at the station and everyone was looking at the departure/arrival board. i joined in and waited anxiously for the board to display the track number for my train to rome. it was the longest 15 mins in my life and wala ... finally the train came ...*relief* i am going to rome !

Places tat i have left my footsteps:

Colosseum is one of the must-see sites if one ever goes to rome. standing at one of the most important archeological monument, i tried hard to imagine wat it was before. of cos with my limited imagination, i can only traced my thoughts to the movie "Gladiator" (i later learnt about its bloody history of being built by Jewish prisoners and being the primary site of carnage - both human and animal, through Roman gladiator games). with my rome pass, i managed to skip the long queue and took a walk around the site with an audioguide. it felt so strange standing on a ground that has such ancient history and looking at wat is still standing after centuries. i was so intrigued by its history, i even got a guidebook *grin* at the bookshop and i passed by colosseum twice jus to catch it during the day and night.

close to Colosseum stands the Arch of Constantine - the largest triumphal arch preserved in rome. i have only one word to describe it "tall".

within a 5 min walking distance from colosseum, there is also the Palentino and Foro Romano (heart of ancient rome). the best thing to do here is to walk around, look in all directions and sniff the air of the antic rome. it was strange to see wat remains from a place tat used to be overflowed with administrative, legal, commercial and religious buildings. if i ever set foot here again, i promise myself to get a guidebook. it will be definitely interesting to find out what corresponds to each section of wall, columns or ruin that still stand.

other than ruins, another trademark of rome have to be "fontana" - english equivalent fountains. for every piazza i visited, i will find a beautiful fountain located nearby. at piazza navona, i saw fontana del nettuno and fontana del moro. it's a pity that the large central fontana dei fiumi is under restoration and i can only saw bits and pieces of the fountain through some glazed openings.

and of cos when it comes to fountain, how can i possibly not mention Trevi Fountain. this fountain is really one of the super hot favourites, there are tourist around it 24x7 every day every week. looking at it, i can understand why it is such a popular site. the fountain is jus so beautiful and one could jus sit there and look at it all day long (at least i could hee). i had gelato at one of the cafes nearby ... yummy !!! singapore's gelato is nothing compared to those i had here, even those i had in gold coast were no where near. i am already starting to miss it ha ...

Pantheon is another preserved ancient roman building (*yey* free entry) and its architecture is simply amazing. standing in the centre, i looked up into the top of the dome and wondered how they built such a building.

once one got to piazza di spagna, it wont take long to locate the Spanish Steps. you will jus see lots and lots of people ... (pic - below: find jo)

my last stop at rome was the Vatican City Museum ... in order to skip the queue (known to be at least 2 hours wait to get in), i opted for a more expensive alternative. i joined a half day tour that cost 75 usd and i m glad that every dollar was well-spent. other then skipping the long lines, i get to learn so much about the famous paintings, sculptures and artwork pieces in the musuem from our guide, michelle. i will never be able to appreciate Sistine Chapel if not for the elaborate illustration provided by the guide. though it was a mad rush later getting from the vatican to train station (i have to catch a cab in order to be in time for my return train), i am glad i visited the Vatican. and i will definitely go again the nex time i go rome. i was so fascinated by the artists michelangelo and raphael, i wanna read all about pope and all the paintings in vatican (though i probably cant appreciate them as well as an artist)!!!

People tat i have acquainted with

after staying by myself for close to 2 weeks, i mus say i felt kinda restrained living in a dorm. nonetheless the experience was memorable, sharing a common room with girls from other parts of the world (australia, madrid, china, england). whether if they are alone or with frens, they are always friendly to share their travel experiences and advise on good places to find food. in fact, i even paired up with one of my dorm-mates (who was also alone in rome) on my sunday day out. it's great having someone to walk along with ... though she is kinda sotong haha imagine someone who is worse in direction/orientation than me hee.

it has definitely been an incredible journey this weekend. after all the walking and the long hour train rides, i mus say i am glad to be back in zurich ... to be reconciled with my tv and be back to familiar grounds - "home sweet home"