Really Italy...

It was indeed another fun trip in Italy...this time the cities in nothern and middle part of Italy namely Arona & Lake Maggiore, Pisa, Florence and Bologna

                                                       A view in Arona at Lake Maggiore

Rendezvous with my Cousin

I must say...Italy was once a country that only reachable by imagination - a place famous for pasta and pizza ( it's pronounced as 'pit-za' not 'pi-za' ) and no doubt of her histories and arts ~ where the Renaissance was evoked - has now even became a meeting place with my cousin! Oh...how ironic things can be.

Spent a good 3 days of catching up with each other's life after 2 years from the last meeting, savouring good food and wine and enjoying some holiday's mood in a beautiful place call Arona...so pristine and calm...a city by the great Lake Maggiore, overlooking the Alps from the Swiss' border...a mesmerising weekend indeed.

Bidding adieu to him...I went on solo to visit the city famed by mens' art blended into nature's will ~ voila...Pisa (now this is pronounced as 'pi-za' ) and her leaning tower - the onced was one of the 7th wonders of the world.

Me...the Leaning Tower of Pisa...and...the lady with style

Who say Pisa is boring as the only thing worth to visit Pisa is to see the tower? Well, I can't deny that fully but you have to have some local to help you in diving Pisa more...not literally...I mean for real. So I went down the beach of Pisa for some sunbathing, "eye"-bathing and a swim on this hidden Italian coast with my kind CS host.

                                    

                                                             Down at the Pisa beach

Done with Pisa, headed on to the city of Renaissance ~ Florence. The city of Leonardo Da Vinci, Michangelo, Galileo Galilei, the Medici family and the least ancient, Florence Nightingale is no doubt a charming one. I could just sit by the side of the square and be fascinated away by the intricate façade of the Duomo.

The 'il Duomo'

And not to be missed is also to check out those market that sells leather goods...aah..felt as if back in KL's Petaling Street...

Florence's Petaling Street

~ psst...don't forget to bargain...it's all the same technique in Europe & Asia ~

We are almost done here. Last leg- Bologna. This medieval city is grand...I mean the architecture. Never come across a city with huge rows of shop-building and covered walk ways- over 45km of roofed "kaki lima".

                                                     

                                                             The Walkway all the way...            

Iconic Two Towers

                                  *the shorter one is actually more lean than the tower in Pisa

As to close the story about my trip...let's check this out ~ Bologna hidden mystery

                                  Notice the what's more on the up that the down doesn't have?

Of couse no, you....ish ish...it's the same statue! ~ the famous Neptune Statue in Bologna, it's just the hand and it's finger from different perspectives. It has a history and interesting story behind...so I leave it for you to check it out yourself! Ciao!

Along the Way

A typical saying- "Hour ticks away, day passes by,month comes and goes but memories are here to stay". It is true indeed when you don't realise, time just flew by. The transition of the peak of my 1st year final examination period to my much anticipated weeks of travelling then back again to reality of life of summer clerkship happened like just in a blink of an eye. The past weeks although I had ventured wider across Europe, it is no doubt more than just a journey. To over 5 different countries and 8 different cities, I must admit this is no easy feat but we had all conquered them with victory. As for description for each places we had been over the 2 weeks period of hardcore travelling...I will try my best to highlight although not in-depth.

Let's begin from my 1st stop, Budapest. With new acquaintances but of common souls...I stepped into the city with the "Charlie's Angels"- Fiona, Christine and Ivy. It is also the only place we had CS-ing experience and again, a wonderful one from a nice lady named Judit.

2 cosy nights at Judit's

Budapest indeed is much more than anticipated...of sights of course!

                                 

                                                        A caption of Parliament at dawn...

A day after,with a bus...we are in Vienna- famous for music and art- an elegant city with distinctly pretty architecture...totally different from the norm of any Eastern Europe cities...not to mention the prices too. Also, you would not miss a sights of Mozarts from chocolates to miniatures.

                                           

                                                Even a Fake Mozart is not to be missed!

It's rare to be able to get a cheap flight connectng Vienna and Milan but with the "house-fly" plane(FlyNiki)...we buzz it thru. Milano- the centre of world fashion is no joke...but it's see-no-touch for us. Best area would be the Duomo region and the Gallery...where you can find the bull! In Milan, 2 new faces, Sam and Candice join in the voyage and that had boost the journey to greater excitement and fun.

                                     

                                           Me and the famous Bull with a hole right there...

                                                                   

                                                             Sam and Candice into the fun!

From Milan, we also made a day trip to the city of Juliet- Verona. Beautiful medieval city away from bustling city atmosphere, it's certainly worth the 2 hour train ride on purpose.

                                 

                                                                  Beautifully Verona....

Done with Milan and Verona, it's time to the ancient city of Athens. Although just a short 1 day trip roaming on the ruins and rubbles of Zeus and Hercules' city...we saw mostly all of them including the Olympic Stadium as well as tasted some authentic Greek food- best is Mousakka.

                                    

                                                                 Parthenon- the original...

Tired already? No way, more to come...after Athens, we took a 9hr ferry to one of the most beautiful island in Aegean Sea...Santorini. Sunset there is just breathtaking, not to mention the sea, the hill, and the houses...oh...Santorini.

                                    

                                                                          Santorini's Icon...

                                     

                                                      Volcanic sand beach, sea and people

                                                 

                                                                          Testing the water...

                                    

                                                                           Sunset in Oia...

It was indeed a long journey to and fro this amazing island but it's all worthwhile. Credit to Miss Ngui for suggesting such place which had never cross my mind as a travel spot...what's more to visit for real. Our stay at Tony's, food at Uncle Miami's and tanned from Santorini's sun made the stay even more memorable.

That was all for Greece, and now Espanol! Barcelona is our final stop for this euro trip. Everyone was nothing but tired and exhausted. Although this last leg hasn't been explored too much, but all essentials are done. Managed to enjoy some Gaudi's and had some real good seafood feast...worth the price...worth the price.

                                                   

                                                            Me & Ladies in Sagrada Familia

                                            

                                               Savouring my 1st lobster in La Rambla! Mmm...

                                         

                                            A day out to Montserrat, Barcelona (1hr train away)...

A pretty relaxing 4 days 3 nights in Barcelona wraps up the series of episodes of my Euro tour with 4 ladies and a buddy.

To have made a 2 weeks trip, covering over 5 countries, almost 8 cities for 6 persons...it's certainly a task nearing to that of Herculean...was glad I wasn't alone in making this trip a reality. Additionally, it is the people that had fill this trip with the essence of laughters, sweats and tears, and above all...it is the process from strangers to friends that brings about a friendship that was built over mere 14 days and are meant to last forever that matters the most.

                                     

                                                                   From a friend to friends...

Glad to have you both as my guests, companions and friends throughout the journey...

                                             Hope it did leave us all a memory to be remembered...

                                    So long ladies, also to Sam and Candice....till we meet again.

Dedicated to my companions ~

Ivy Koh

Fiona Ngui

Christine Ng

Sammuel Chan

Candice Ti