First Day in Rome

I arrived in Rome at 715am and found stayed at this hostel called Alessandro close to the Termini main train station in Rome. I was very nice, just like a hotel (swipe card to enter room, clean bathrooms, breakfast include, well you are sharing a room) but i couldn't check in till three. So i had not slept much in the last three days, two overnight trip and a party night on thursday in Paris. So i decided to walk to the Colloseo. Most parts on Rome are walking distance. The Vatican is the furthest which may take you about 1 hour or more. With a map and the help from an Aussie girl, i found my way there. Amazing but tourist everywhere. I decided not to go in, i was tired and didn't want to deal with things. Next i walked up Via Nationale, a major street and did some window shopping. Later that afternoon, i made it to the beach and some major soccer tournament. Pictures to come.

Train ride Paris Rome

This was an amazing and at the same time humbling experience. First the amazing part. keyboards in europe are driving me nuts. i can't a find a colon or open parentheses. ok side thought. so the amazing part was the ride from Paris to Torino or rather Milan which was the first leg. The scenery was breathtaking, the skies were blue and the people we saw along the way just seemed to be relaxing on the terrace of the waterfront homes. I mean what more do you want. In France, there are the white mountains, the pictures posted do no justice. The first city in Italy we stopped in is Torino, i believe a city where the winter olympics have been hosted. I didn't get a chance to step out and see the city but i heard it is very diverse. What was also fun about the first leg was this 2 and half years little girl. She was going back home to Torino after a 3 month spell in Paris. She spoke to everyone and was quite entertaining too.
The next leg from Milano was another story. No one spoke any english. It was interesting trying to purchase my ticket from Milano to Roma and getting something to drink or eat. I thought in french, spanish, english. Next was finding a bathroom. I saw these 2 girls who looked American. I saw the look on their faces as i approached. They thought i was going to ask them a question in Italian. The first instance i was glad someone spoke english. So they pointed me in the direction of the bathrooms, i get there and realized you have to pay to use the bathroom. I then figure i need to get out of this station. My train is in 2 hours so i walked out and the first thing i spotted was a mcdonald. I came so close to getting a burger but decided not to. I used the bathrooms in mcdonald (thanks to them) and then went next door to get some food. Another interesting point. No english. I was getting frustrated. Then came time to board the train, the ticket doesn't state which car to enter and what seat number. I asked five conductors (no english) and they just pointed me to the end. So after 30 mins of walking back and forth, the last conductor i ask spoke english and told me to just get in any car and sit anyway. What i forget to mention was the destination was Napoli (Naples). We left at 2320 and arrived Rome at 715am.

Corporate Rides

So i had to drop my friend at his job at la Defense (which is where most major corporations are located). The picture is how most commute to work. I mean you see this guy on a bike all dressed like a serious biker but then he takes off all the leather gear and emerges in some posh business suit.

Only in France

Paris, beautiful, serene and at the same time, complicated. Before arriving in Paris on thursday, my friend had hinted me about the train strike in Paris, hence i knew sightseeing was going to be a bit challenging. Going to the Effiel Tower was out of question since i was all the way in Colombes and i was extremely exhausted given i had barely scraped up 10 hours of sleep since monday. Arggh how one values sleep in that moment. Well as luck would have it, a friend had a business appointment in Bastille so i took advantage by riding with him(slept most of the way). We get there and realised the roads were blocked because that where those striking congregated. I mean there were people everywhere. Most just hanging out and gallavanting the streets. You could tell those who were part of the associations leading the strike and those who werent by the clothes the wore and as usual, the cafes where full. Ah only in France.

Les Rues

well i will restart again but i've got to catch a flight. Following another passion. This a picture of my suitcase. I am impress with all the room i have left. I will take one on my way back. More to come with pictures. ciao