1st May 2008

Gooo Deebie, Its yo' Birfday!!!!!

The busiest birthday evvvver. Up early to meet the Frenchies for ticket selling for the big blowout. I was there til around 2pm then met Julian at my place. He had a lovely Tiramisu birthday cake for me so I blew out my candles and then headed off to Scotts for a quick birthday lunch. It was really, really nice. We go there every second day but today was different. We ordered some wine to drink there (which isnt usually allowed) and had yummy sandwiches, olives and chorizo. We sat there, drinking for what seemed like hours enjoying the sun coming through the window and the alcohol dripping into our blood. jaaaajaaaa. Oh, did I mention my birthday presents?! A beeeaaaautiful biiiiiig Orchid from Julian. I love it. Gregor bought me a cool German dvd which I cant wait to see. The time had come around 4:30pm where the relaxing and drinking had to stop - we needed to be at the bongo club to decorate. So, there we were, blowing up balloons and painting paper til 7pm. What a birthday eh.

We had been home to change and arrived back by 10pm. Just a little deco to finish and we were ready just after the doors opened at 11pm. The place looked GREAT.. really, really great. Everything was good to go.. we just needed some people to show ;)

In the end, we had around 100 people there and we broke even. But it was such a fun night, I really enjoyed it. Got dome fun pictures to match too. All this work for a uni project, and on my birthday. PFFTTT!
I would do it again though.. cool night.

Monday 28th April 2008 - Italia

Well, up early as usual.. this time 6:45am to make sure we had time for shopping, coffee and a relaxing drive over to the airport. It felt strange this morning.. I woke up, had a shower and walked around a little packing my stuff with my window wide open. I love the air there. So, packed up and said my goodbyes to the lovely Monesi parents.. then we headed to the supermarket to pick up some yummy mozzarella, parmesano, meats and olive oil. Felt pretty knocked from last night.. but breakfast in Claudios home time soon prepped me up - a cappucino and gooey pastry. The sun was shining in the cool morning.. felt perfect. We didnt have so much time and soon were back in the car on the way to the airport. We blasted the tunes, put down the windows and enjoyed. We stopped off quickly at this strange road that has some even stranger gravity effect. It pulls water in a certain direction. You can even stop your car and it slowly gets pulled in the direction. Maybe its hard to understand reading it.. but even researchers cant explain what's going on.. so how can I? :)

Well, reached the airport in good timing and queued up for my tickets. Things went reasonably smooth and the flights seemed to be on time. Only problem was all the food I bought at the shop.. it wouldn't fit in my bags and there was a bit of a struggle to jam it all in. Success! Thanks to Claudio! We said our goodbyes and parted ways at security.. it was sad. We talked for 4 days straight and had such a nice time.. part of me was sad to leave - such a magical holiday. I saw the most beautiful city I have EVER seen, met a WONDERFUL family, tasted GREAT food and had the perfect host.

Thank you Claudio................... Roma e la piu bella chitta del mondo... e... grazie mille!!!!

With Love,

the Albino.. Debbina :)

Sunday 27th April 2008 - Italia

Well... the final day in Roma. Im sad. But still one full day of fun to be had. An early start at 7am to catch the train to Napoli. With bedtime at 3am, it was a pretty early start. The drive to the train station was so beautiful. It was around 9am and the sun was peaking out of the sky.. the roads we drove along were so 'typical' Italian countryside. Everything that I had imagined. I cant even describe. But there we were, washed, breakfasted and standing in the queue to buy our train tickets. We didnt have so much time to waste and there was a veeery irritating woman taking 15 minutes at the front of the queue asking endless questions. Eventually the queue had developed and there was 10 people waiting for their tickets to the train that was arriving in just 2 minutes. So as you can imagine.. the mob starting getting a little angry. Everyone starting shouting stuff at her in Italian and soon an argument broke out. So funny. But, our train arrived, we got our ticket and bombed it to our train on the other platform. We made it. We even thought we'd be cheeky and dump ourselves in the first class lounge.. of course expecting to be chucked out at any minute. The inspector came along, checked our tickets, smiled and went along his way... greeeeat. So comfy I managed to catch a few ZZ's. Over 1 hour later we arrived in Napoli.

When we arrived Claudio got a little protective and told me the tales of the dangerous mob-gang-land they call Napoli. It took us a while to get sorted with our tickets etc, but after 40 minutes, we were walking through the streets toward the city centre. I was surprised by the city.. honestly, I didnt like it so much. but im glad I got to see it and experience it. Anyway, on our 1 hour trek to the city we stopped by a pastry stand and I tried a typical cake. Actually I didnt like that so much either.. Maybe I was just in a bad mood ;) We reached a beautiful castle/city hall type building and Claudio wanted to play a game...

So. I stand facing the castle and I close my eyes walking forward to it and should walk in a straight line to land right on the doorstep. Hahhahahaahhahaha. Well. Guess where I ended up????? Facing in the complete opposite direction. I soooomehow did a 180degree turn and started walking away from the castle. It was soooo funny. Im such an idiot! We walked around Naples and sat by the water for a short time. Had another yummy espresso and found a special restaurant located in a small ally with a man playing his violin with the sun beating down. Claudio had been here quite a few times and bigged up the pizza and mozzarella. Well, he was right.. delicious. Running out of time we bolted back to the train station to catch our ride to Pompeii. We got there and walked around for hours. By then my camera didnt want to work, so I missed out on a lot of nice pics. Pompeii was always a childhood dream of mine.. so it was wonderful to visit. We headed back to the station, but got lost, so missed our train. In turn we missed our connecting train to Roma. We waited in the sun with some fresh lemonade and got the next train to come by. We then had to wait about 40 minutes in Napoli station. We did... we were knocked.. and the train was gonna be 20 minutes delayed. Sheisse. We waited more.. it arrived. but it changed arrival track, so we had to once again, bomb to the right platform with about 50 other people. We got on the train which was jam packed full. We realised after 1 hour that the train hadnt stopped at any stations it was meant to, and then it happened.. drove right past our station. We ended up in Roma which 30mins away from where the car was parked. Daaaam. We arrived late and ran to our connecting train to see it pulling away.. how lucky. We then waited 30mins and got on our train. We were finally on the way back. It was past 11pm by the time we got home for dinner. Starved. Claudios parents and doggy were there to welcome us and his mother, to feed us yet another delicious meal. So, so delicious, and such a lovely lady. I was lucky girl....

After dinner and catchup it was past midnight. By then we Claudio was yawning with tears of sleepyness streaming down. I wasnt far behind. Walking aaaall day really knocks you out. But there was one last thing I should see before I left Roma. We packed on as many jumpers and scarfs as possible and jumped in his car. Soon after we started on the drive, I was sleeping. I woke up 20mins later and we were on our way up a windy hill. We arrived at a tiny city in the hilltops with a view over Claudio's town. How many times have I said the word 'beautiful' in this trip??? Too many. But yet again.. a beautiful, beautiful view. The cold wind woke me up and we got back into the car and continued up the hill to an even higher point. We stopped at a hill that was covered in the most intriguing rock formations. We then drove up a windy road and reached the highest point in the area. Claudio pulled down his roof and we sat back and gazed a the Italian stars. Bella, Bella, Bella. On the way back down we passed a bakery, that was preparing for their day ahead. We tried to get some freebies but it just wasnt happening!!!!! We headed back down the windy roads and finally to bed around 4am. With a rise at 7am, I fell asleep even quicker than in previous nights. So maybe within 1.5seconds...

Saturday 26th 2008 - Italia Day 3

I set my alarm for 8:30am today, but when it started signing the song I couldnt do it. I was so completely knocked from yesterday, so closed my eyes a little longer and the next thing I knew Claudio was standing there smiling telling me it was almost 11am. I really didnt wanna sleep.. I had the intention of 'sleeping when I was dead'. Didnt quite work out like that :) After finally dragging my bum out of bed, Claudio prepared a yummy pasta for lunch. We enjoyed some bread with their very own olive oil and then a cheeky espresso before heading for the train to Roma for the last time. We got there and I was so excited again. Maan, do i love this city. Again we walked around. We walked and walked and soon headed for my most favourite.. The Colosseum. We were approaching it and we stopped for a drink at the top of a hill. So there we were sitting on a rock in the baking sun looking down on the Colosseum with an iced tea. Could it be any better????????

We went into the Colosseum today to have a look inside. It was, as expected, spectacular. So much history under your feet. We walked around in the baking sun, I was snap happy and slowly we made our way out and into my second favourite place in Roma - the Forum and Palantine hill. We walked for hours upon hours amoungst the ruins - breathing the same air and walking on the same paths that Romans ancient and elite once did. Oh what an incredible feeling. Hours later we headed for an espresso and ice cream. Here was my very favourite ice cream to date. 2 delicious scoops of Mint Choc Chip. Yum, yum yum. We made our way to the Vatican City which took forever. When we arrived it was dark, but still wonderful to see. Maybe even more special. It was now around 10pm... so far maybe 20km of walking this trip :)