Venice and Bologna

I went to Bologna and Venice this weekend... Loved Venice, even though there are way to many tourists!!! Bologna was beautiful, although a complete contrast. Everything, and I mean absolutely everything in the historical city seems to have been built out of Red Bricks and all the walkways are covered!!! Not that this was ugly or anything... just completely different to what I am used to in Florence. I did the obligatory climb of the 92 meter tower (with a 1.3 meter lean) for a beautiful view over the city... the tower next to it had to be shortened because the foundations were so awful, that there was a risk it would fall on the city!!! The climb up the porticoed walkway (well at least the last 2 kms) to the Basilica Santuario della Madonna di San Luca on top of the hill overlooking Bologna is amazing... Not the best walk to do when you're in a hurry, but it was definitely worth all the pain!!! Unfortunately the hostel (well camping ground) was well outside the city and I had to catch a bus there (only one bus.. the other one involved a ½ walk) and the last bus was at 8:30 (somehow I managed to make it, even though I had a sit down dinner in a wine bar – yes I had Lasagna with Ragu sauce aka Bolognaise sauce).

I set of to Venice early the next morning on a regionale (again) with some apprehension (someone had said something about a trainstrike…) hoping that the train would run, and that I would in fact get to Venice. The train was even on time!!! But packed… I ended up sitting next to this African-italian guy who attempted to start a conversation with me and explain something in this book he had… but as my Italian is like non-existent, and his English was worse this didn’t work too well… He did give me his e-mail and phone number to call whist I was in Venice (ok… so we can’t communicate on a train, but I’m still supposed to call you… wtf?)

I managed to buy a ferry ticket and get on the right ferry without any problems, but reading the map and finding the hostel was quite difficult (if only the Venitians could put up street signs!!!) but luckily, a friendly Caribinieri told me which way to go… I met up with Tal and Morann in the afternoon and we climbed the tower (well… took the lift cause there were no stairs) and wandered into the Basilica (for some reason there was no line when we wanted to go in) before they headed back to Florence. I visited the Gallerie dell’Accademia for an overload of religious art (I swear I can only see so many versions of the Madonna and Child before I go crazy!!!) before trying to find a restaurant for dinner which served food at slightly less than the 15 euros for a pesto pasta than most of the ones on the tourist route… I spent the evening going up and down the Grand Canal in the Ferries, trying to get some night pictures, but failing miserably as each time I went to take a picture, the person in front of me would stick an arm or elbow into the shot… (Bloody tourists!!!) I spent the next day in Murano, and Torcello visiting the Glass makers and the oldest standing church in Venice on Torcello with 2 amazing glass mosaics (one behind the alter of the Madonna and Child, and on the rear wall the Assumption). I also stumbled across the German Embassy in my search for some drinking water in the afternoon, before visiting the grave of Titan, as well as his Ascension.

Rome

After 3 days at home, and a couple of classes, I was off again to Rome this time for 5 days. After another early morning regionale train, we arrived in Rome 3 and a half hours later. After checking into our hostel, which is best described as something close to an American Fraternity house with people coming and going all the time, we set off to see the Colosseum and Roman Forum. After a half and hour wait to get our tickets, I discovered again the benefits of my German Passport, as I was able to get in for almost half price.

The Colosseum was amazing with its sheer size and architecture. We were able to listen in on a couple of the tours going through which was really interesting, hearing some of its history. The Roman Forum was equally amazing with dramatic ruins in the middle of the city with many other monuments and landmarks in the background, as well as numerous more modern buildings.

We spent the next day in the Vatican, and had lunch on the roof of St Peter's Basilica, which was another amazing church... although the masses of people there didn't let you enjoy it nearly as much as it deserved. It was the first cathedral (or basilica) I’ve actually been in where it is warmer on the inside than outside simply because of the masses of people. After being crushed by a number of tour groups pushing past us to see a number of the significant artworks in the basilica, we climbed up to the roof for an amazing view over Rome. After our picnic lunch on the roof, we headed into the Vatican Museum where we had about 2 hours to see everything including the Sistine Chapel… After speeding though a number of exhibits, and pausing briefly in the Rapahel rooms, we spend a considerable amount of time (along with all the other tourists) admiring (and in awe of) Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, trying to work out which paintings depicted which bible story.

The next day we wondered around the streets of Rome, getting soaked by yet another big rainstorm (the third that week...) and headed out to the Catacombs in the afternoon. The Catacombs represented an interesting part of Rome's history during the time of the oppression of the Christians, and the catacomb we visited, San Callisto originally contained the bones of Saint Cecilia and also apparently one of the early pope's was also murdered in the chapel in the upper level of the catacombs. Unfortunately we managed to get into the biggest tour group ever and couldn’t really spend much time looking around.

Our last day in Rome contained the obligatory visit to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon as well as the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Concezione, a church which houses a graveyard of a particular order of monks who used the remains of 4000 of their brethren as wall ordinates to prove that we are mortal. Both the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain were beautiful, however completely overrun by tourists (and the african’s selling “cheap” toys, watches and of course roses…) which was a shame, as it was difficult to enjoy the beauty of these “artworks”. The Pantheon, was absolutely amazing!!! I am still awe-struck at the sheer size of the dome, and much of its artwork. Unlike many other churches I have seen in Italy (especially from the Renaissance period) it is fairly simply decorated and allows the architecture to be its main attraction, which is simply amazing…