Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Milano, Venezia and Roaming Rome

The turbulence dies down, my body bounces as we land and suddenly, the plane comes to an abrupt stop. An uproar starts from the applause and then the red seatbelt light turns off. I look to my left through my plastic-covered plane window and I know, I'm back home in Rome.
Two weekends ago, I was in MILANO. It snowed and it rained. It tried to blow me away with its winds but I still managed to see its wonders. I went to a science museum because only Milano has one right? (sarcastic) and then I went to an actual tourist spot, The Da Vinci Museum. I saw fashion, I saw style but just like Firenze, it made me appreciate Rome more. Sure there were no cobblestones in Milano, no wonder they could wear heels but I wouldn't compare Rome's richness. I stayed in a hotel that was owned by Brazilians and the last night I slept in Milano's train station. Let me take a second to explain that experience... I really do need a moment for this one.
I was locked in with homeless people, who apparently use the train station as a sleeping ground. Imagine my surprise. The bathrooms closed down and yet we were locked in. A man that I was sure was a drug addict kept circling me as if he was a shark, but I did as the divers always advise, just float and pretend to not be alive.... Try figuring that one out. Anyway, from 11:30 p.m. until 4 a.m., I was there and I could not sleep a wink. Not only because I was with a population of people that didn't make me comfortable, but because as it turns out, it was -1 degrees Celsius!!!! WHYYYY!!!!??!!! It had to be the coldest I had ever been. I was shaking, my teeth chattered. I wish I was being dramatic but this is indeed how it was. And then as I was worrying about my lack of warmth, I hear a woman in the next bench behind a small, dividing wall screaming in Italian at a man for harassing her and not letting her sleep. Oh man...
However, my group and I got out just fine at 4 a.m. and vowed to never sleep at a train station again. Lesson learned!
Two days ago I got back from my last travel adventure, VENEZIA. The carnevale was magical. The small, curving streets made me feel as if I were in a maze. The water glistened and the boats made me feel as if I were back in Miami, even if it was for a second. The smell of the ocean was amazing. I did come to wonder one thing. If the city is right by the water why is the seafood still very expensive? Tricky tricky, that one.
A flood did occur my last night there but that made the city unpredictable to me. The beauty of the costumes, the masks, the lights, the brightness of it all. My favorite city so far. Though I wouldn't want to live anywhere other than Rome. My only complain of Venice is geared to the city's people. Are they sick of tourists? Or are most of them just grouchy? Every store, restaurant, bar and gelateria was the same. They spoke to me in a hurry, were rude and didn't look me in the eyes. They actually spoke down to me. And no, I would speak to them in Italian not English. Why mean to me?! "I love this city", I wanted to shout. I won't take it personal, BUT I made a note of it Venetians.
Now I'm back in Rome. I enjoy walking in this city more as the days pass. The Romans now seem pleasant to me and heartwarming. Funny how that happens... I notice how every day there are more than a handful of girls with their hair not done, as if their hair hadn't even been touched since they woke up in morning yet they wear very stylish and chic' apparel. Men and women alike wear this one-of-a-kind puffy thermal jacket (normally in black) that has an incredible shine to it as if coated with gloss. Do they all go to the same store? I also notice how the dogs are in heaven because they dispose of their bowels where ever they may please in the city. I can't fail to acknowledge how every one in this city demands exact change when paying. The displeased looks from vendors brings me down. But this all part of the game. And if I want to play, I should suck it up and learn to do as the Romans do.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Firenze, I Shall Give You Another Try

Florence, Florence, Florence... Well, I can't say it wasn't beautiful, it was. I can't say it wasn't clean because it was compared to Rome. The city was well lit at night and the people were much friendlier. However, I am ever so glad that I decided to study abroad in Rome. Firenze made me realize that I prefer big cities and the challenges that come with it. For example, in my experience, English is much more common in Firenze than Rome. It's rare when I find someone who chooses to speak English to me. But in Firenze it was English here and English there. English in the morning and English at night. Americans here and Americans there. Americans with green eggs and Americans with ham (small reference to Dr.Seuss).
In anycase, The shopping was fun and the gelato was delicious! I enjoyed my time there but it could have been better if I knew someone there to take me out. Nightlife was a disaster but I don't blame it on the city. I blame it on the lack of knowing where to go. I saw about a hundred Americans roaming the streets and alleys of Firenze without a clue of where to go. The cold was almost unbearable and I came back to Rome with a cold. I even decided to leave a day earlier because I felt like I had seen all of Firenze. The city really is small. Though, I would not mind going back, but only with someone who knew the city like the back of their hand. This weekend coming up is Milano... hopefully, I have an amazing time there.