That's Italian - Italy

Digg this page | Save This Page | Stumble It!

Italy

September 12
I was a little late for the Mount Etna eruption as that occurred earlier in the summer. I wanted to see running hot lava but I was able to feel only hot rocks. The tour guide put paper next to some rocks and it did start on fire. I met a guy, Spencer, who just joined the Peace Corps, and we did some hiking in the area. Once the smell of sulfur got too strong we headed back to our 4X4's. It took a couple hours to get back down to Catania. It was supposed to be a tour but it wasn't much of a tour, just driving us up to the mountain.

I went back to the hostel and heard a lot of rumors about what happened yesterday. Someone had said the Japanese Red Army had taken responsibility for yesterday's attack. Others were e-mailing friends in other countries and there seems to be a shutdown or at least slowdown in every country. Most of the attention has been on bin Laden and his background.

September 13
I got woken up today by the guy that slept in the top bed of our bunk bed. He fell out of bed and his body crashing against the floor woke me up. I moved on to Palermo today. The city was obviously nice at one time but has fallen into decay.

San Giovannia is the nicest building to see in Palermo. It is a mixture of Arabic and Christian design as the Arabs had taken over Sicily at one time. There are also nice courtyards in the complex. The Cathedral in Palermo is big but is a cathedral like most cathedrals. They also have a nice opera house. The market is largely a fish and meat market with several animals getting chopped up.

September 14
Rome has a lot of security. I don't know if it is because of 9/11 or it might always be like this. The first place I went was the Coliseum. It looks better from the outside than the inside, which looks more deteriorated. I went to the second level and walked around for a while. Obviously, heaps of tourists and you can take a picture with a Roman gladiator who fakes like he is stabbing you but I passed.

Very close by is the Forum. Since there are so many tourist groups, I listened along with a couple as I walked around. It's a good way of doing it as you don't have to pay and can come and go as you please. There is a lot of marble here. I saw where the Senate used to meet, where Caesar addressed audiences and many temples. I spent a lot of time here and enjoyed the history associated with it.

I was trying to buy travel books for Asia because all my books were stolen. The bookstore I wanted was near the embassy, but I couldn't find it. I kept walking past the embassy and I think the officers were about ready to shoot after they kept seeing me. I found the bookstore but it was closed.

There is so much more to see in Rome. I threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain and also made it to the Spanish Steps. There are many piazzas to go to also that are tourist attractions in themselves.

September 15
I went to the Sistine Chapel first as it closes at 3 p.m. It's a bit strange as I was walking through the hallway with beautiful paintings and it seems like it's the chapel already. But after a long walk, I finally arrived at the crowded Sistine Chapel. As I entered, security told me to be quiet even though I was not talking. Everyone looks up at the painting of The Final Judgment. It's funny to see everyone rubbing their necks because it gets sore quickly. One woman had a good idea, she had a mirror in her hand facing upward and just looked at the mirror. Then I went through the rest of the area around the chapel called the Vatican Museum. There is a huge amount of sculptures and art but I have seen a lot of that lately.

St. Peter's was my next visit. I liked the sculpture of Mother Mary holding Jesus which is supposed to be the only with Michelangelo's signature. It's also behind a bulletproof case because "The Mad Hungarian" attacked it in 1972. Walking to the top, I got a panoramic view of the city.

Vatican City is the only country I know that sells papal blessings as a souvenir. Leaving Vatican City, I wandered the streets. I went past the nearby castle and went to some of the non-tourist parts.

September 16
I saw most of the things I wanted to see in Rome. I was going to go to the Catacombs today but it's a little complicated to go to so I passed. I saw the Catacombs in Paris already, so it's OK. I was a bit tired so I didn't do much. I did go the south side of Rome and looked at San Giovanni, which is another cathedral. There were a few anti-terrorism posters hanging up. Basically showing the Italians and Americans together and saying we're with you.

Speaking of terrorism, I returned to my hostel and was talking to a bunch of Americans trying to get back to the US. They can't get any flights back. They keep asking me why I'm not going back and I ask them why should I? The chance of me dying in a terrorist attack is the same as me getting hit by lightning - twice. That's pretty good odds. People just don't seem to be thinking things through. I've thought things through and decided it was time to move on to Greece.

September 17
Brindsi, Italy is little more than a transit spot to take the ferry to Greece. I didn't reserve a ticket so I couldn't get the first ferry and then everything closes at 4 so I had to wait. It is supposed to be a haven for crime but I did not run into a problem.

I heard that war will happen in a week and I can see some military actions around here. I heard a rumor that they handed out candy to children at a Turkey football game after they heard about 9/11. So there is a lot of rumors we will see what reality is like.

I talked with a Czech couple on the ferry and we talked about eastern and central Europe for awhile. I slept on the floor of the ferry; not the best nights sleep. Most people had sleeping bags, I didn't.

September 18
I made it to Patras, Greece today. A lot of travelers said to spend as little time on the Greek mainland as possible and head to the islands if possible. I was just so tired today that I stayed in Patras and will go to Athens tomorrow. It's not a bad city. I tried to reserve my airline tickets, but like Brindsi, the shops are closed most of the afternoon. I toured the still standing ancient auditorium and fortress overlooking this port city. I also saw more pro-Communism and anti-government, anti-West propaganda. Most of today was spent sleeping as I recovered from last night and got prepared for a busy day in Athens.


Digg this page | Save This Page | Stumble It!