When I was originally planning my trip to Europe for 2001 I was planning to go to Portugal. I decided to go to Italy instead. I am very glad that I did. There is something about Italy that goes beyond the geographics, architecture and history. These people have a way of living that goes beyond anything that I have seen in North America. Italians always seem to be living life to the fullest yet they do not seem to have to really work at doing anything to achieve that state. It just comes naturally.

My trip was planned during the months of June, July and August. I had a very extensive itinerary which would take me around the North-West part of the boot. I was to leave on October 3rd. I never felt like I would not go but September 11th sure made me skip a heart beat. I know that I am not an American but Atlantic Canada has always had a close relationship with the North-East States. I actually lived in New York state for a short period and started school there. The scenes which were broadcasted over the television were mind numbing. Even today the thoughts of the events and how it unfolded are impossible to believe. I was told at work that a plane hit the towers. As I watch on live TV the damage from the impact a second jet flew into the second tower. This was beyond my ability to equate as reality and then the events went one step farther and I watched the towers fall one by one. After that day I have not been able to watch any footage of the day. Whenever the anniversary date hits it seems all the TV channels air specials to remind us but I just turn it off.

The reason that I mention this event is that it impacted my trip to Italy greatly or at least my thinking. Before I left a lot of people felt that I should not go or that I should go at another time. The thought of a possible terrorist action on my flight or trip really did not bother me. I felt if I let it that it would bother me for the rest of my life. I never thought about changing my plans.

The Flight:
The flight itself was very uneventful. It was long but I would not say that I felt tired. If anything once I landed I never stopped from the time I got there until the time I left. I landed in Milan which is suppose to be the fashion capital of the world (Okay - If you say so). Several days after I landed a plane crashed at the airport in Milan. One plane crashed into another as one was landing and the other was taking off. The question of a terrorist action quickly entered many conversations.

The Place: Once I landed I took a train from the airport into Milan. I needed to find a hotel called Hotel Trieste on a small street called Marco Polo. It was hard to ask for directions since nearly zero percent of the population spoke English. However, I was lucky and the first person I asked was actually English. Even more lucky was the fact that he knew where I was going and the street. So I walked about 20 minutes to the hotel. The walk was very quiet since it was early morning. Milan itself was very bland since most of the more historical buildings were lost during heavy bombing from WWII. The city had a very new modern look.

I would have to say that I loved Italy and the people. Everybody was very friendly, and helpful, even though I spoke zero Italian and they spoke zero English. I hope to go back someday and perhaps after I retire I will find a place and stay there a year or two. I am planning to retire in 2016. That is not far off and one can never start to plan for such things to early.

Milan
There were a few places that I visited on my trip that I did not fully appreciate at the time. Milan was one of them. I thought that the place was very uninspiring. The great thing about Milan is that it is a great starting place to visit much more beautiful places. I walked around Milan and found the place to be more of a business center. The restaurants, cafes and bars lacked atmosphere when compared to other places that I stayed.

While I was in Milan I got my taste of the first protests which were a little anti-American but more anti-war. The police appeared, to me, to be like a joke. They had a very unpolished look and were a little comical (But well dressed). The protests were seen in other places. They carried similar flags and signs. I am assuming that this was a well organized protest. Such protests would soon get larger and more confrontational. In years to come the same individuals would be seen clashing with police and there would be deaths and injuries (dumb f*&ks - all of them).

Cinque Terre:

The next day I set out to find the train station. This was a different one from the train I came in on from the airport. The train station was actually very close to where I was staying in Milan. So I managed to find the station and buy a ticket to my next destination, Cinque Terre. This is on the west coast of Italy. The term "Cinque Terre" stands for five villages and this is what it was. It was five small villages carved into the rocky hillside of the coast. Three of the villages could only be reached by foot or train. There was no auto traffic into these areas. Even if there was auto traffic it was limited. The only vehicle that I saw in the town I stayed in was a micro delivery van.

I had booked a room, months before, in the local hostel which was at the top of the hill. As I left, Canada, I emailed the hostel and they emailed me back (I was all ready gone) to tell me that my credit card numebr was not valid. I had booked months before and in the mean time the card company issued a new card with the same number but a different validity date. The hostel had the wrong validity date. So when I got there I was I was told the room was rented and there was no space at the inn. This caused a little stress seeing how I was in the middle of nowhere and the sun was going down quickly. I was lucky that the owner was very understanding and said he would do what he could.
The apartment

He phoned around the town looking for an available room. While I could hardly understand a word he was telling me I got the fact that he found a room for me. There was an older lady that would be waiting for me at the bottom of the hill (and she was). I got a new place to stay for less then I would have paid at the hostel and rather then a room it was a complete apartment. What Luck! It was great. This small town was one of the high points of my trip and a place I will never forget. A number of the places that I stayed in made their own wine and this place was no exception. I seldom drink wine but I was in a wine making/drinking country and when in Rome. So I drank a my share of wine on the trip. I also ate very well.
Pictures of two of the five towns

After I got settled into the apartment I decided to get something to eat. I went down to a outdoor restaurant. I always order simple to eat foods since I do not like to eat and public and I do not like to have to work to hard at eating. I ordered spaghetti - simple right. I got instead Linguini...with crab legs..still in the shell. I never would have ordered this in a million years. An especially after the lobster incident of 95. Anyhow, I told the waiter. He said that was what I ordered but apologised and offered to take it back. I said it was okay and so he charged me for the spaghetti only. I should have sent it back since I knew the problem I had with shell fish and should have known that history would repeat itself. I was going along well and was on my third leg. At some point, as I was trying to extract the meat from the leg, the leg exploded. It was 1995 all over again. I had crb meat all over myslef. Which I could have lived with. But when I looked around I had crab meat all over the guy sitting behind me as well. He had his back turned to me thank god. I neevr told him the difference since it would not have helped. So I finished the linguini but past on the rest of the crab legs.

Rome
My next stop was Rome. I was looking forward to Rome. I had booked a hostel, run by Americans, which was a 5 minute walk from the train station. However, there were a few things that I learned along the way. Lesson 1: There are little yellow boxes which you will pass as you go to get on a train. These are used to validate or stamp your ticket. They will stamp them on the train but they will fine you as well. So the train came and I had missed stamping the ticket. So he said he would fine me and I said I would go back to the box. The box was about 100 meters from this particular train stop. Of course the train was gone when I returned. So I waited in the #$%^ing hot sun for the next train. It came some time later but I was stamped and ready. The train ride was quick amd comfortable. Which brings me to the next thing I learned. Lesson 2: The main train station in major cities are usually indoors and covered. This is important since there may be several stops into a city like Rome, that say Rome but they are not covered and therefore are not the main station. In any case do not get off until the train enters the covered station.

Getting off in the wrong location is not a big deal if it is not getting dark and if you have an idea where you are going. At this time it was getting dark and I had not idea where I was going. I only knew that I was not where I was suppose to be. No problem - I would ask for directions. Of course nobody speaks English. The only thing that saved me was that the train stop connected to the subway system where there were large city maps on the wall. I would like to say that it helped but that would be stretching the truth a little. The map got me to behind the Colosseum. This should take about 30 to 45 minutes to walk. Then there was a "road" located in the upper lefthand side. A "road" my #$5. I must have circle back and forth for about an extra hour (actually two hours but I don't want to sound totally stupid) trying to find my way. The "road" turned out to be steps which I did eventually figure out. But then the notes I took from the map on the wall got a little fuzzy. I walked up and down a number of streets before I finally realized I had passed the place I wanted to be about three times. Which bring me to Lesson 3: Whenever you enter a new location the first thing that you should do is buy a map, regardless of the cost. I would have bought a map but I was not aware lesson 3 until the next day when I thought about all the things that I did wrong.

I finally got to the hostel and here I got a little lucky. When I had booked they said that they did not have rooms at this location but at a second location about a 15 minute walk. When I got there they said that they did have room at this location. I got to my room, left and got something to eat and then after some drinking when to my room for some much needed sleep. This bring me to Lesson 4: Alway allow one full day for travelling from one place to another. I had figured I would get to Rome early and then have some time to see it at night, one more full day and then leave later on the third day. I did not do anything the first night and left as early as possible on the third day. I really should have stayed three full days. I loved Rome and it was no more expensive then any of my other stops. I will have to go back (I highly recommend the The Beehive hostel to the budget traveler).
Pictures of Rome
Pictures of Vatican City More pictures of Vatican City

Florence
Florence is a very beautiful city. I got off at the main station and I bought a city map. It is easy to get around in and there is a lot to see. I stayed at a hostel which was once a Nunnery; The Seven Saints. This was a very nicely run hostel. The person who ran the place was a retired police officer. I managed to learn the city bus system. This made getting back to the main train station with luggage a easier. If I had it to do all over again I would have stayed mostly in Florence and made day trips to places like Rome and Sienna. The train system ran very well in Italy.
Pictures of Florence More pictures of Florence

Turin
Turin was very different from Florence, Milan and Rome. This city was a little further north so it was a little colder. This was fine with me since 30+ a few days before in Rome was a little warmish. Turin was slower in everything that it did. The traffic was the first thing that I noticed. Here they would actually stop and let you cross the road. I still ran from one side to the next. I do not trust drivers in any country including my own.

The thing that I noticed next were the parks. There were a lot of green areas and they were very will kept. I could sit all day and watch the older men play Bocci Ball. Besides old men there were lizards. Even though it was colder the lizard ran through the park. They were small, measuring about 10cm in length. They were interesting to watch as well.

The other thing that I noticed was that the people had no problem with public shows of affection. This I watched as well. Hell, its a free world.

The place was very relaxing. This was something that I did not fully appreciate at the time but later looked back on those long afternoons sitting under a shade tree. This place was much more of a working class community.

Other trips - 1999 Lithuania \ 2004 Prague, The Czech Republic \ back to seemyroots
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