I added some videos...

...to several posts. Check them out! It's good to be back in the states but I sure miss Italy.

Great aerial view of Venice

Arrivederci! Until next time!

Scooter suitcase

Found this in Europe's version of Sky Mall. I like how the model is using it wearing her Louboutins. Yeah.

Boobies send-off

Just when I thought I had seen enough beautiful things in Italy, I was greeted with these lovely cannolis at Venice's Marco Polo airport. Ciao ciao!

Arrivederci, Italia!

Time for me to go back to New York. I had a lovely time in your country and hope to visit again soon.

Italian demonstrators

Just my luck, as I'm trying to rush back to my hotel, I am stuck in the middle of a demonstration. Didn't know what they were yelling but I cheered them on regardless! Can someone understand what they're yelling?
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Cannoli crema

I realized that I had been in Italy for 15 days and haven't even had a cannoli yet. So, on my way back to the hotel, I bought a cannoli crema from a side street bakery filled with locals. It was different than what I had had in the states. Not a typical tubed shell and the filling wasn't ricotta cheese. It was still very delicious. So delicious that I savored it and took pictures with it throughout my journey.

Glamorous way to collect garbage!

The quintessential Venice

Colorful buildings, sparkling canal, and a gondola.
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Scala Contarini del Bovolo

The remains of this palace is not a popular tourist attraction as it is small and hard to find, buried in a small side street. However, I saw a picture of it in my tourbook and I just had to see it. "Bovolo" means "snail" and the facade of the spiral staircase is suppose to resemble a snail.
I was glad I found it and it was even prettier in person. I was bummed that it had not yet opened because the top of it is suppose to offer a great view of Vnice. Oh well, at least I succeeded in my scavenger hunt.
I also found an adorable bed and breakfast right next to it. It's in a quiet secluded courtyard. Good to know for future reference.

Finding my way back to San Marco Square

When I first set foot in Venice 2 weeks ago, it seemed like a maze with winding narrow streets and bridges that led to nowhere. Equipped with a map and my GPS-enabled blackberry, I was ready for a difficult exploration this morning to Piazza San Marco. I had to see it again before my flight back to NY. To my pleasant surprise, Venice was a lot easier to navigate! For one, there were numerous signs pointing to San Marco. Also, you basically just walk in the direction you want to go and when you face a dead end, just find another road. I ditched my map midway through and was able to find everything I wanted to see!

The real merchants of Venice

@ the famous Mercato di Rialto (Rialto Food Market)

Buon giorno, Venezia!

Saved the best for last

My parents were sweet enough to offer to book a super nice, 4-star hotel for me in Venice. The Amadeus Hotel, situated right by the main Santa Lucia train station not only had great service but also very Italiano rooms. Just look at the masterpiece above my bed! There's also this built-in TV controller in the wall. Pretty neatto! Thanks, mom and dad!

Good bye, panini

My last authentic Italian panini. Sad.
But, 'inoteca in NYC offers very comparable paninis, so I'm not terribly bummed.

Venice at night

I'm spending my last Italian night in Venice and after being away from here for almost 2 weeks, I had forgotten how beautiful it was! However, it is much colder here than Rome. Tonight was about 45 degrees. Soo brrrr that at the train station, a nice old Italian man and I bonded over saying "freddo" at the same time, meaning "cold."
At the end of my train ride, a young man started talking to me in Italian. He soon switched to English when he noticed my blank stare. Clemente spoke superb English. 30 years old, lives with his dad in Mestre (land area of Venice), and went to NYC once by himself because there was a huge airfare sale.
Clemente asked to show me around Venice. At first I hesitated at this stranger's gesture, then I took a leap of faith and went with it. I set off our journey by mentioning my made-up "husband.". He was intrigued and began asking many detailed questions ("How long have you been married?" "Where did you get married?" "When do you want kids?"). I have to say, I have a pretty solid made-up marriage!
Clemente showed me some of the cool areas, such as "Campo Santa Margarita" where the college kids flooded the streets on a Tuesday school night! Then we took the water bus around with some amazing night views of the city. During our ride, Clemente explained to me his impression of Romans vs. Venetians. His views were exactly as Aziz described: Venetians are hard-working and money-driven. Conservative in nature and culturally-protective. Romans are seen as wild, liberal, not money-driven but willing to spend money, welcoming of immigrants and generally "crazy." We ended our journey with a picture together and an invite to find him on Facebook. I politely nodded knowing that that would never happen. Nonetheless, it was a very enjoyable tour!

Not the fastest ciao ciao

I am now on my way back to Venice and fly back to NYC tomorrow. I first took the Leonardo Express train from Rome to the airport, which took a brief 30 minutes with no stops. Pretty awesome for 15 euros. Then I breezily checked in at the EasyJet counter where the beautiful Italian EasyJet representative surprised me by speaking perfect Mandarin! Her vocab was limited but her pronunciation was amazing! She told me she learned Chinese through her job because she encounters a lot of Chinese people daily.
So while I thought it was going to be an easy trip to Venice, I am now waiting for a plane that is still now here, about an hour after the scheduled departure time. Oh well, it's still worth the mere 26 euro plane ticket.

Ciao ciao, bella Roma!

Covered motorbike

Look at its designated parking spot!

Lunch break at work. In Italy.

I was fortunate enough to be linked up with my friends Beth and Ruph's friend, Aziz. He works at FAO ( Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) in Rome and was nice enough to treat me to lunch at FAO's fantastic cafeteria and chat about Rome.
I was particularly impressed with the grill section and opted to get a freshly cooked salmon with a side of caprese.
Aziz then showed me the beautiful view from the building's terrace that showcased the city in a 180 degree view.
Some interesting things we discussed:
- mostly everyone owns a car (even the poor ones)
- newcomers and young people like to live in the city, but people with families tend to live on the outskirts (just like Manhattan)
- Rome operates as a big city but somethings don't function like they should, such as public transportation and the post office
- there are so many side streets with statues and fountains that the best way to discover them is to get lost walking around. Aziz has been in Rome for 12 years and he's still discovering new streets!
- there's a distinct cultural difference between northern (Venetians) and southern (Romans) Italians. Romans view Venetians as conservative, formal, square, and close-minded. Somewhat "countryside." Northerners view Romans as crazy, aggressive, loud and liberal.
I'm going to have to take my new found knowledge with me when I return to Venice and see if it is true!

Last look at the Tiber River

Looks like a painting, doesn't it?

No love for McDonald's? Good.

While walking through another beautiful residential area called Trastevere, I spotted remnants of a has-been McDonald's. I take it that it was not welcomed by the locals. I have to say, this is probably the first failed McDonald's I've seen!

Mercato di Testaccio (where the locals go)

On my last morning in Rome, I had the pleasure of visiting a popular local market, Mercato di Testaccio. Situated in the residential Testaccio area, old little Italian ladies and men shopped for fresh meats and produce while some browsed the sparse shoe and clothing vendors. It was so much fun getting a peek in the daily life of a Roman and seeing how nice the vendors all were!! Most of them didn't speak a lick of English so I just smiled and nodded while observing the scene.
P.S. I also found the zucchini stuffed with minced meat that I ate at Maccheroni. Must be a popular dish! *Pat on back*

Morning love coffee

Pretty yet strooong

Lie detector - Roman style

According to legend, the Bocca della Verita (Mouth of Truth) situated at the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin will close on the hand of a liar! Do you think I lost my fingers?

Aperitivo, again!

I had a tiring day so I rewarded myself to another night of aperitvo at Blanko, right by the Spanish Steps. I ordered a whiskey spritz (I did not know it was whiskey, I just ordered whatever the waitress said that I didn't understand). Then with my 10 euro drink, I was off to enjoy a free buffet of even better goodies than last night. Some highlights include: caviar on bread, minced meat rolls, zucchini baked bruchetta, and eggplant! Happy tummy!

Spanish Steps

The famous Spanish Steps. Yup, I was there. That's my head in the picture. That's enough.
I mean it was pretty but Rome is all kinds of pretty, so I wasn't particularly that impressed.

Why it's easy to fall in love in/with Rome

While shopping (yet again), I ended up at Piazza del Popolo, a traffic-free oval space translated to "square of the people." Right above it, I climbed the Pincio Terraces that gave a gorgeous panoramic view overlooking the city. It was obviously a popular spot for lovaaaahs.
Then behind that was the gorgeous Villa Borghese, a public park in the shape of a heart!
Too bad it was dark 'cause you can rent bikes there for 5 euros/hr.
What a super romantical spot. It's hard NOT to fall in love.

Piazza Navona

Most famous baroque square in Rome. Known for Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers.

Cutting in line (again) at the Vatican Museums

I knew I had to face my ultimate nightmare: the ever popular Vatican Museums. Because it was raining out, I knew it would be a go-to place for tourists. However, being that is a weekday, I was hoping for a lighter showing. Not so much. The line had wrapped around the building and estimated wait time was 4-5 hrs.
With no Chinese tour groups in sight, I swiftly joined a group of Spanish-speaking tourists wearing yellow stickers. They went through a "reservations-only" line that had no wait. Having no sticker, I thought I'd get caught but figured if that happened, I would just visit tomorrow early in the morning. But to my delight, I was in within 2 minutes! I also showed my old student ID which allowed me to buy the ticket for 8 instead of 15 euros. My lucky day!
I know the Vatican Museums house some of the most important works of art but it was a clusterf*ck of people inside. It was hard to just move. I finally got herded inside the Sistine Chapel, which was almost like a campground 'cause people were literally sprawled out all the floor like they were going to be there overnight. I quickly went to the middle, snuck a picture of the famous ceiling and bolted out of there. I then made pit stops at Stanze di Raffaello and Pinacoteca, and caught a glimpse of Belvedere Torso (what inspired Michelangelo's rendering of Christ in The Last Judgment, in the Sistine Chapel).