Work
Intense. An event at work was cancelled and was labelled as "risk to children", ouch, what a way to state it and publicly too. Um. I would have used another term instead. This really hurt the participating parties. Meanwhile, internally we are trying to grasp how we would like to celebrate "multicultural", I would say equal opportunity would suffice, since tea parties does not really make people feel good, it is more like a slap in the face.
PoGo
The events are bland and not exciting. Arthur and I have gone into lazy mode. Just not catching as much and really sitting back.
Dating
The apps bore me at this point in time. I keep coming across scammers-liars.
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The vacation.
Europe round 2. Italy - 10 day mediterranean sea cruise - France.
Day 0 - 21 March 2024
A hot day. Tiding up little loose ends. I will be taking my Kathmandu two piece jacket as it can be cold on aeroplanes and it might rain in cities. Climate change has changed seasons and making everything unpredictable and more wild weather.
At Changi airport, terminal 3, gate 16, there was a hot water dispenser instead of a cold water one. The ladies and I who were in the queue could not help but laugh at how insane that was. In the end, we did find cold water to fill out water bottles. Bro suggested it might be for warming up milk bottles because it was located next to the parents room. I watched some movies on the aeroplane: Nun 2, Death in Venice, Barbie, Past Lives, Equaliser 3, and Priscilla. Bro found sleeping upwards a challenge. I could not help but doze off while watching movies.
Day 1 - 22 March 2024. Rome.
Bro and I hit up the usual historical spots upon arrival. The Trevi fountain, Patheon, 3 fountains in Piazza Di Navona, Colosseum, Basilica San Pietro, Castel Sant Angelo. We admired them from the outside. Lunch at Pasta el Vino - Palombella near the Patheon. They made gluten free pasta for me. I had cacio e pepe and it was delicious. Bro had porchetta tapas. We went into a church. Basilica Di Saint Andrea Delle Valle. The ceiling was beautifully painted and decorated. There were many ceramic sculptures at this church. Plus it was free to enter too. Also, it is located on the main street. Dinner at Mama Eats Lab near Castel Sant Angelo. We tried to catch a bus back but the lady at the metro sold us a one way card board ticket instead of the 10 trip ticket booklet.
Day 2 - 23 March 2024. Bologna.
Bro and I popped over to Padova after missing 1 high speed train in Rome. I bought a pair of sunnies from the market by Prato della Valle. Ducked into Abbazia di Santa Giustina and The Basilica of St. Anthony Basilica di Sant'Antonio di Padova (omg! U get to touch S’Antonio tomb!). After a donation you get to take home an olive branch.
We missed my booked train at Rome. Upon arrival it stated platform 27 then it changed to platform 10 in the last 10 minutes before departure. It was too far away to run for. The staff at the office box was able to book us on to next the train. Phew. While on the train the ticket inspector came by and said you have activate each person pass individually and add journey in advance and turn it on, even if you have paid for a seat reservation ages ago. The inspector showed us how to do it. Still I had to pay a fine of EU 100. Ah. My fault for not mastering how to add a journey and validate my fare. Well, at least we have a seat on board the train and we will get to our destination on time.
After having dropped the suitcases off, we went to catch a train to Padova. It has really beautiful sculptures and small streets. It is the basilica that won bro over. Antonio tombstone. You were allowed to touch it without payment or a ticket! Wow. Visitors would bring a photograph of their children and pin it to the board. The painted ceilings. The gold relics. Metal gates in front of each chapel. Quite spectacular. No photograph allowed. Sad. The fountain Prato della valle was pretty. Surrounded by youth gathering around in clusters. Also, there was a Saturday market selling discount clothing, accessories, fruit, and flowers. We purchased sunnies and mandarins. We had to catch our train back to HQ and had to skip Scovergni chapel. Not enough time to browse and gawk. Also, ticketed entry. The tram was always packed! Lots of fare evaders here. Meanwhile, there were plenty of buses on the road. They go beyond the tram line. Just need to flag them down and you are good to go. Padova is a busy transfer station. A sea of youths would rush on in every hour. You gotta watch for pick pocketing people.
Day 3 - 24 March 2024. Bologna.
Another sunny day in #Italy. Bro & I sussed out the #Bologna mercato. From Despar, Coop, to Mercato di Mezzo. Stroll thru Basilica di San Petronio, Santuario di Santa Maria della Vita, Basilica Collegiata dei Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano, and Santuario Madonna di San Luca.
The mandarin from the Padova market was nice for breakfast. Cools the throat. Basilica di San Petronio was Huge! Much of the area was sectioned off for mass attendees. It made sense. Sacred areas. One must respect their choice. Mercato di Mezzo was a small food hall. Oh. That’s what it is. Similar to Granville Market but smaller. We had a bite of some fried anchovies chips and they were salty delicious. Around the corner from Mercato di Mezza was a deli selling panino with fresh cuts of meat. It was called Tamburini. (Via Caprarie No. 1, 40224 Bologna). I had the mortadella e mozzarella bufula panino was very fulfilling and fluffy soft. Bro had the porchetta. The meat was buttery without needing to butter bread. Yum. We were unable to find the third arrow along the passage way. The more we walked along we came across the Basilica Collegiata dei Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano. It was a cool spot to rest your feet. Note: there was no bench in sight.
Then we went past Museo musica before walking to find bus 20 to go to San Luca hill. There we took the stairs up 1600 arch ways to the top to see Santuario Madonna di San Luca. It was gorgeous! The views of rolling hills, farms, and mountains were beautiful. Fresh air. Nothing but blue skies above this amazing structure. The interior was magnificent. We were allowed to walk up to the altar! The Madonna was encased in gold frame. Small as the painting of Mona Lisa. Hee hee. They had fresh water for bottle refill, a church shop, and toilets.
I noticed all the churches hand over olive branches to visitors to take home with a simple request of a donation. You don’t give the branch to god though. You just take it home.
We took the bus headed home, purchased some water bottles. The Coop supermarket had self check out machines but to get out you have to scan the barcode on your receipt against the pole or get stuck. A local kindly showed us what to do. We decided to rest and only wake up at 9pm. Since it was Sunday most late night joints were closed. We went to a pizzeria bar by the corner. Our pizza came out soggy.
Day 4 - 25 March 2024. Florence.
Bro purchased a pistachio creamer croissant. It tasted yummy.
The Bologna train station has monitors everywhere so you can watch if your train switches and arrives on another platform. Much better than Rome. It even has screens indicating coach numbers. Saving you time on working out where to line up. Feels just that little bit smoother. Now we know why the locals hang around the giant television screen each time they arrive at the train station.
The morning walking tour was great. I learnt a great deal about influence and workmanship it took to build this city great architecture. Rings around old building were for horses. A crest was a family business marketing tool.
The windows placement were designed by Michael Anglo for the
Medici family and he desired symmetry, support beam, mini roof above each one. All this was for the people’s well being. Each arch way makes a perfect square. Building design can bring about well being?
Porchetta with salsa verde panini from a store in a window and it was delicious. The meat was cut from a whole roasted pig. Bro and mine were close to the head of the pig. Ew and Wow at the same time. The skin was clacking beautiful though.
Grom ice cream was decent. Still it cannot beat Gelato Messina.
The procession finally took off at 3pm near of the squares with a carousel. We saw men wore different outfit from the ages. Some carried flags, weapons, and even wheeled a small cannon. To see the changes that took place shows great maintenance of culture and language.
The evening walking tour was also great. I learnt about merchant built churches. Crest. Monograms. Symbols. Shows of wealth and branding.
Monday is not a good day to look for local produce, most of tiny food eatery were closed. Especially outside of Florence city center.
The Mercato centrale was a big food hall. It had two floors of seating. A bar waitress would come around to take your drink order. How amazing. Bro and I had a glass of rose and coke cola. For dinner we ordered rigatoni carbonara and beef brisket with potato. Tiramisu and mini pistachio layer cake.
Day 5 - 26 March 2024. Venice.
The cafe at the train station served us hot drinks very quickly and tasted delicious. Pay at central counter and pick up by drink section.
Marchini time (bar passticceria) near the Rialto bridge sold me a pistachio cookie with chocolate chips. Yum but dry. You have to be pushy to place an order here.
Bro found a public toilet and once we made it in. A group of Chinese tourist tried to barge in. The staff at hand was very cool and heard the group. However, the tour guide was slack in clamping down her herd of people. I told one at a time and slowly in taking turns.
The buildings here look a bit common. Only the few listed as tourist attraction were grand on the outside. The queues were long and bro didn’t want to line up. I didn’t book in advance just he didn’t want to see it.
While on the water bus we saw lots of private gardens. When we walked around the narrow streets and come across bridge we saw how low the rooms are to the waters.
The streets all blend into one. One can easily get lost here. Not great for people with bladder problem, heart issues, or need ambulance help. Rainy days make the place a slip hazard. The churches here prefer the grey appeal. Amazing ceilings. Grand chapels.
Florian cafe was beautiful and classic service was top notch. The food was delicious too. Those who cannot withstand cream or need gluten free option might want to skip the dessert.
Lots of glassware not robust or friendly for air travel sadly. A few scarf on sale. Some of the designs were tacky looking or plain for the price. Once you seen and touched fabrics from Japan, everything seem to be of poor workmanship. Overall, it seems Italy only has churches and paintings of Christ. It makes you wonder else are there here to do.
Oh. Racism exists outside the touristy area of Venice. I kid you not. There this place refused to sell a cookie tin. Those who came after me ordering coffee got responses. Cf. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tqrk5tGgVw7etWe66?g_st=ic
The water bus is fun way to experience and see Venice. All day ticket is a great. There are some
Fare evaders here. Lots of school groups and walking tour groups.
By the time we got back to Bologna, we put down our bag and went to dinner in the city centre. Bro said it was my fault for not telling him to bring warm clothes. I said I’m not your mother and I would never buy clothes for you or tell you what to wear. I’m a traveller who carries all season layered clothing. That’s how I’ve been rolling for 20 years. How can I teach someone who won’t listen and just watches YouTube all day long? Seriously? There is the Internet and it tells you the weather everyday and forecasts. For fuck sake learn to look up information on your own.
Day 6 - 27 March 2024. Milan.
The day started off rainy and cold. Upon arrival we were greeted with a giant station and you had to go 3 to 4 floors below to reach the Metro station. There we brought the 24 hr transit ticket for 7.50 Euros. Which is cheaper than city pass 15 Euros. We saved 50%. Hooray!
We got to the Milan Duomo on time. We entered with no problem. Only a small section was open to the public. The centre and the altar was off limits. The crypt and roof is an extra cost. I got the combo ticket online. We had to exit the church and go to gate 1. From there security found bro had a pocket knife in his bag. Why would anyone carry that to church. Anyways, security took it and we were allowed to proceed up to the roof top. For someone who is into hotels and travelling overseas totally forgot the rules of prohibited items. Also, there is no point in yelling at me. I’m not the idiot traveller. Besides who needs to clip his nails in public! I just sand down my nails, I’ve never clipped them in public.
Besides the minor drama. The view from the rooftop was amazing! Way better the duomo in Florence. Every spire was adorn with a sculpture. Every inch of the way was slippery due to rain. You can easily fall off the balcony. The marble staircase was steep. No chance of filming it. It would be a balance problem to be holding your mobile phone and grappling the walls. Definitely an experience. More than a dome. More than city views. It is praying on a rooftop. Wait! How did those monks in robes move around this duomo? Hmm. The coin souvenir machine asked for 2 euro and 5 cents. I had no 5 cents. Oh well. No Milan Duomo coin then.
After the journey of the booked and paid for visit to the rooftop. We went to the old open mall to use the toilet and eat ribs n burgers for lunch. The place had high end brands and some restaurants. Most of the tourist and I posed in the centre on top of the shield. I twirled anticlockwise and posed in the centre of the old Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and made a few people laugh. I hope good luck will come my way.
We then walk to Uniqlo to buy bro some warm clothes and jacket at the lowest price. Those he could have bought clothes at Padova market for a fraction of the price. Oh wells. Two jackets and merino wool jumper later he felt better.
The Castello Sforzesco was huge! Free to enter. I saw four cats. The park behind it had squirrels. We headed to the giant arch and went to catch tram 10. As we got closer to the tram stop bro said he has misplaced his day pass. Ugh. Dude learn to put things into pockets. We are travelling here. Found it after a tram has left. Lucky they were frequent and you can hop on any time before 6pm.
The canal was empty on one side and full of eatery offering happy hour drinks with buffet. I took a break to try gelato made by CioccolatItaliani and it was yummy. A whole hazelnut can be found in the chocolate ice cream. The frozen chocolate on the wafer and drizzled on my ice cream looked like magic chocolate as it harden. I chose the dark chocolate option.
There were two bridges where tourists can pose and one had pad locks on them. At least we found it. After a short stroll, the canal was empty of shops and bars, becoming a residential area. We proceed to find a tram stop to take us to a shopping strip street. It had lots of brands and bland clothes. We got bored and went back to the main station for a light dinner. Venchi store has delicious chocolates, it had either filled orange jelly or pistachio nuts in the centre. I got mom a book box. Yay!
Day 7 - 28 March 2024. Civitaveechia.
The regional train to Rome had no baggage storage facility. So much families on board. Poor bro had to sit by the corridor. We will need to book our transfer train once we arrive in Rome. The regional train to Civitaveechia was packed with people with suitcases. There isn’t much space for all. We were just able to find pull out chairs by the doors. Meanwhile, the suitcases were left in the pram area. Heh. Wrong I know.
Civitaveechia is a port town with rough waters. Otherwise, it could have been a beautiful beach town. They actually close restaurant between 2-6pm around here. There is a shuttle bus to cruise for 6 euros. The hotel has a personal shuttle bus that leaves at 11am for 15 euros and direct to the door.
We took the regional train back to Rome to eat gelato one more time and buy two more book boxes. Venchi spoils me. We had a light lunch and when up a hill to look at the Colosseum up close. One more time. The lasagna from a cafe set off the hives in me. I took my medicine and sat by the stone bench shaking. It took 2 hours for it to settle down. We walked back to the station to buy some snacks and caught a train back to Civitaveechia.
Day 8 - 29 March 2024. Civitaveechia.
We had brekkie at the Mercato Central. L’Angolo Della Carne. 2 Porchetta sandwiches. Spicy herb sauce. The butcher offered bro a sample of the pork jerky. The streets around the market were lively after 10am. People would fill the streets and cafes. We did not wonder too far, as we had a shuttle bus to catch.
The shuttle bus from the hotel did take us directly to the entrance of the check-in for the cruise ship. Neat.
Some of the Princess packages were 50% off when you purchase on board via the QR code or queue up and speck to the cruise’s guest service desk staff. We skipped it.
There were no general ship tour. Only back of house kind of tour available said Lee. The stateroom guest room attendee.
Corinne. The ship entertainment director gave a presentation.
Dial 5555 - dining reservations.
Deck 6 & 7 - Formal dining style.
Deck 8 - Americano. 10pm. All day meals. No booking required.
Deck 9 - The Eatery (buffet).
International cafe - 24/7 food. The drinks are not included.
Nive. The customer service manager. Lead a tour showing the main eating spots. Horizon hall has 3 floors. The specialty restaurants have limited seating so reservation is a must. A few of the bars will offer live music. Princess Live small room offers entertainment and demonstrations through out the day.
I went and proceed to walk around the ship a bit longer. I learnt only through the midship lift can you find doors on deck 17 and 18 that leads to pools. Which you then take outside stairs to deck 19.
Bro found the laundry mat and went to line up. He felt bored and stressed. I told him, he can go to deck 9 to eat anything and drink anything he liked. It was the buffet station. He started to calm down a little after that. Bro spent most of his time doing laundry and returning to his room to sleep. While I waited for the sail away party and it was so so. Felt like shopping centre level entertainment.
In the evening, Bro and I attended a jewellery talk about diamonds and received a green stone sun pendant. We watched David Myers and musicians perform. It was brilliant. Dinner at Horizon Hall was ok, service was slow, you have to be pushy be noticed. The staff refused to answer if a meal was an additional cost for those who did not buy the food package. It frustrated Bro.
Bro went for smoko. I went to watch Movie under the stars. The staff setup different lounge chairs and placed a blanket on each one. Tonight’s movie was Avatar: The way of water. Bro later joined me and watched the ending of the movie. He enjoyed the experience of sitting outdoors and watching a movie.
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Day 9 - 30 March 2024 at Sea.
When you don’t buy a package or upgrade or stay in the signature suites. Your questions goes unanswered in the apps. Quite the discrimination. Oh the messages comes through at 8:52am! Omg. Woke up to watch My Big Fat Greek wedding at 10am. I had an early lunch from The Eatery. Attended another shopping talk and fell asleep in it. I got another black stone sun pendant from it.
The eye treatment session was delayed and then cancelled. We had a introduction to Spanish lesson. Bro went back to room to nap. I went to watch Snowball bingo and Music Spoon lesson in the Irish O’Malley bar. Then I went and did 30 minutes of brisk walking on deck 19.
The captain champagne reception was well received. A lot of people dressed up informal gear for the evening event. We had free bubbles for once. So many events here seem to skip on the bubbles when it was listed in the program. Johan Anderson sang Winners Takes All in Swedish language. Wow. Quite the good arena show. After that we watch the rest of the movie Megan. Bro was shocked by its advancement and hilarious dance moves.
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Day 10 - 31/3/2024 at Sea
Slept in. Then proceed to The Eatery for a fish curry and Thai green curry, and strawberry mousse for lunch.
We went to another sparkle event. I learnt about the table head of the diamond is old and dated. Americans prefer dome top diamond. The brand that creates it was called Crown of Light. Run by Diamond International company. I have never heard of them. I can see why people rob those who have been on a cruise through the Carriabeen Sea.
2:30pm, Dk4, The Landing. Spanish language lesson. We had a good lesson on placing a food order. H between two vowels is not pronounced. Accent letter means we emphasis that syllable. Ción = Sion. 1 glass of white wine. Cameraro por favore, un copa vino blanco. Paella = Paell-yo-a
3:30pm Dk 19. Topple the Giant Tower.
A group of us took turns to take a block without toppling the tower. The wind would like a turn too. The first attempt ended pretty quickly. The second time in a corner we managed to do 1 and half rounds. A few time the wind wanted to topple the tower. Luckily, we had 4 people who knew to how to play it. It was so much fun.
Rest in room. Bro watched The Bullet Train.
6pm, Dk7, P/Live. Genoa w Destination Expert Johanna. The expert cannot tell me where to buy bus ticket. They only know about excursions and trains. Odd.
7:30pm, Dk 6, dinner. They had an Easter theme dinner. Cool. The food was bland.
8pm or 10pm, Dk, Arena. The Trawlermen: Furious Folk. Scot and Irish performers. Doing cover songs. Quite a few patrons left the arena after the first two songs.
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