When in Rome
Trip Start
May 18, 2010
1
2
Trip End
Ongoing
Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Saturday, August 7, 2010
I am writing this entry from my hostel in Vienna, Austria. The weather is grey and gloomy, much like my head after the huge bender last night, but damn it was fun.
I finished the 6 day charter on tuesday and stayed an extra night on the boat before having an interview for a deckhand job and jumping on a flight to Rome on wednesday afternoon. I met up with my AFL mate Dean at the Rome train station and we headed out for pizza. After catching up on old times we headed to a pub crawl that we got told about which turned out to be laaaaame. Apparently there were 60000 German altar servers in town ready to be blessed by the pope at some ceremony. Our pub crawl was full of them and Dean and I couldnt help but think of how bored all the bullies in Germany would have been. With every German dork on record in Rome, the bullies surely would have noone to steal lunch money off and beat up.
I woke up the next day in my underpants starfishing the poor group of asian girls staying in my hostel. Needless to say, I think I ruined their vacation. I met Dean at 9am and we set out to tackle Rome in one day.
The first site we visited was the Colloseum. It was cool to see an ancient wonder close up, escpecially because it is something that I have seen so many times but seeing it in person really put the size of it into persepctive. To think that this stadium held 80000 spectators is mindboggling. We strolled around the ancient district coming across modern and ancient monuments alike. One of the coolest things about Rome is the fact that a modern city has been built around the remnants of an ancient empire. To see Vespas flying past 2000 year old pillars of crumbling marble is a strange sight to a native of a country with only 200 years history.
In the afternoon we visited the Vatican which was a real highliught. Our tour guide was unbelievable and gave us invaluable insight into the famous works of art surrounding us. The sistine chapel, with the famous roof painted by Michelangelo, is probably the most memorable sight that I have ever visited. Itś beauty is truly indiscribable and I left with a sore neck, haveing srtared at the ceiling for so long.
In the evening we tossed a few coins in Trevi fountain which apparently ensures that we will one day return to Rome. We also passed some time sitting on the Spanish steps watching people (ok the hot Italian women) stroll by. Our first chance to sit and actually take in the cities vibe, it occured to me that I really liked Rome, even with 60,000 Rod and Tod Flanders clones singing church songs on every street (Im not joking).
After grabbing some pasta we headed to our seperate hostels, that was the plan anyway. I stayed on the bus well past my stop and ended out in the sticks. It turned out to be a long night.
Yesterday we caught a super early flight to VIenna and spent the afternoon eating schnitzel, drinking coffee and watching the worl go by (Ok, the Viennese women). Last night we headed oiut till 5am with a crew from the hostel and had a blast. I ended up walking home in the pouring rain but it didnt really bother me.
I have managed to lose Dean somehow so I thionk I am just going to head out for a coffee and read my book. I am reading Long Way Down by Ewan Macgregor and his mate Charlie. The book is unreal and super inspiring. I love it when you find an amazing book that can complement your travels.
So thats the update. Itś great to be on the road again and it also looks like alot more deckhand jobs are popping up due tot he end of the yacht season here. Whether I push on for a full time job or head home is still undecided but right now I am just going to tak this trip one day at a time as we head for Berlin tomorrow.
anyone that was a fan of sipping jetstreams the sequel,Castles in the Sky, is out now and well worth a look. Rob Macahdos movie, the drifter, is also worth a peek even if it is a but corny and lame. Send me a fb
