Monday, August 15, 2005

Bhaarathame !

Nedunthooram Sendralum
Ninaivazhaigal Oyaathu ...
Naatkal Karaindhalum
Yen Nesam Maarathu ...

Yendrum ...
Khadhaludan

Vande Mataram !

posted by ATS @ 9:51 AM 4 comments

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

"... life is short and the world is wide ... "

Long voyages, great lies. - Italian Proverb

Back again .. with updates on another adventurous tour. We 5 girls: Indu, Rathi, Sheeba, Sumi and me started the journey on July 21st morning from Stockholm and reached Rome by 11 AM. We took a transport bus to the city (as Ryan Air terminal was a wee bit away from the city centre ... as usual). We were lucky tht we got dropped somewhere close to our hotel. Checked in and sat down for our kattu sooru when the cleaning lady comes barking asking us to clear off soon. We try explaining to her telling her to give us some 15 mins ... but she wants us to speak in spanish or italian 8-. Then our great Sheeba comes to the rescue, and to the woman she says, "NOW U GO ... 30 MINUTES AFTER ... WE GO YOU COME" (Thalaivar style eh!) ... MANN! She understood it ... :-)) and left us in peace ...

Now a detailed report ...

21.07.2005
Equipped ourselves with tram tickets and headed straight to The Vatican, St. Peters church. We made an entry into John Paul II Tomb and phew ... ! Were there so many Popes !!! Having never been an ardent history student ... couldn't make out much of the Popes ... just passed through the innumerable tombs and was happy to be out finally in fresh air ... Then we went into St. Peters Church n was mesmerized with the architecture. Mike is Dheivam !! His Pieta ... I dont have words to describe it. Mary was serenely sitting, holding Jesus in her arms. Hes given thought to so many minute details such as Jesus's veins running through his hands and legs, the folds in Mary's dress ... to the expression in her face. All I can say is ... I was stumped ! Anyone planning to be here ... take a free guided tour ... it was very informative. We then roamed till we saw every inch of the church and we accidentally met a Srilankan guard there ... who always seemed to be everywhere ... inside and outside the church .. calling to us to say "Chennaiiiiiiiii !!!" ... ;-)

And it was scorching hot almost like Chennai. Thank goodness ... Rome had cool drinking water running down from pipes in every street corner. Actually ... Romans built the water pipes with taps for people to quench their thirst in summer. Since they were all copper pipes ... the water was nearing boiling temp making it unfit to drink in peace ... so the clever Romans removed the tap and the water keeps flowing down like a fountain always ... Being chennaite I actually panicked a bit when I saw that there was no way to stop the water ... then later realized it ... hehehee

We planned on trying out an Italian Pizza for lunch ... im warning the Veggies ... if ur bent on havin a pizza in Italy .. find out a decent restaurant here ... else be happy that you hav tasted the most spicy and yummy pizza at Pizza Hut back home ... Italian (Veg) pizza sucks !!! We then headed to St. Mary Maggorie church ... this happens to be the first church built for Mary.

From there we reached The Pantheon, a Pagan temple that was later turned to a Chirstian church. The speciality abt this place .. well it has an open dome that lets light into the church and during rainy season, they hav very tiny holes on the floor that drains water from inside the church. We then walked to Piazza Novonna ... another fountain .. From there ... straight towards Piazza Venezia ... spent some time relaxing in the lawns and headed to Trevi fountain. The fountain depicts Neptune,the sea god(Ruler of Pisces), riding a winged chariot driven by sea horses through the gushing waters from the Acqua Vergine aqueduct. Legend has it that if you throw a coin into this fountain it guarantees your return
to Rome. And then ... we proceeded to the most happening place in Rome ... the Spanish Steps. Scalinata Spagna (Spanish Steps - a gathering place for foreigners) was built with a legacy from the French in 1725, but named after the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. The steps lead to the French church, Trinità dei Monti. Foreingers gather here and get to meet their life partners and propose at this place ... we actually saw 2 proposals happening in a span of half an hour .. :-)) We called it a day and left to the Hotel.

22.07.2005
Headed straight to the Piazza Venezia (a monument for great warriors of Rome) and then to Colloseum. Took a guided tour. Tour'a vida guide super'a erunthan ;-). Pity that the great historical structure got destroyed and is still getting eroded away by pollution. Next continued to the Arch of Constantine, the Palentine hills nearby and then to the Roman Forums. I got carried away by them and not realizing in my excitement to picture them... actually somehow got out of the Forums through some stupid exit which was a waaaaaaaaay bit far from the entrance (were the other 4 were resting). And since it was almost evening, n my bad time ... they closed the exit and refused to let me in. Atleast I had my brains to take my mobile with me, so finally got in touch with them and we headed straight back to the hotel after booking tickets to Pisa.

23.07.2005
Left to Pisa early in the morning and reached there by 11 AM. Got the tickets to climb the tower (@ 2:30 PM ... no other go :-( .. it was time stamped ) and spent time looking around the church and the museums. Had a better Pizza from one of the shops(like r muniyandi vilas) and started the photo sessions .. pushing the tower, holding the tower .. phew ! Crazzz ppl ! ;-) Climbed the tower at 2:30 PM. Some got slightly dizzy when we rose up the tower cos of the inclination. View atop was amazing. Photo sessions again and we climbed down after 40 mins. Mini shopping spree and we left to Pisa Centrale.

Luckily there was a train to Florence immediately and we ran to catch it just in time. There was an hours time in Florence and hence sumi sheeba n me went again for a mini shopping nearby the station and was back in time to take the next train to Venice.

Reached Venice by 11:30 PM and passing time by bullying Sheeba throughout the journey. The city was buzzing with activity and was full of lights. Venice was glowing from the reflection in the waters. We took a water bus and checked into the dorm. Took a short break and started touring the city, to satisfy the souls who were dying to see the city at night. We took a ride through the Grand Canal and got off at St. Mark's Square. The bustling people everywhere and the soft lights with romantic tunes from the orchestra gave us a feel we were in a wonderland.

By 12:30 our bus tickets expired and we had no other way than to walk back to the Dorm. We waded our way through the streets and bridges trying to read our thundu map under the street lights. We crossed the Rialto bridge and somehow made it to the dorm.

24.07.2005
Checked out of the hotel. Myself, sheeba n sumi checked in our baggages into the train station and the rest at the hotel luggage room.(This created a mega fun at the last minute). We first visited St. Mary Salute, Bridge of Sighs and the prison, St. Mark's square, The Doge Palace, The Basilica of St. Mark. After shopping, we hurried back to the station with 20 mins for train to leave. Myself and Rathi made a sprint to the hotel and returned back with the luggages rite in time to catch the train to Milan. phewwww ! Did some more shopping at Milan and took the flight to Stockholm.

Finally I made it to ITALY :-D ... And now my soul will rest in Peace !!!!

posted by ATS @ 6:30 PM 4 comments