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James and Ellie Discover life outside Suffolk
hi all, ok so we have some spare time while we are here in munich and the hotel has free internet so we will give you a final update while we are on the road...
07/08/06
Day 20 Grimaud - (St Reaphael) - (Ventimiglia) - Genova
Well here we are in Italy. We left Chris and Gills house at 1 to take the coastal road to St Reaphael. Once there we got a train to Ventimiglia, just inside Italy. We thought we would change in Nice but it went straight through, then we changed for the journey here. About 5.5 hours in all and still free. We arrived here at 9.15. I think we are both in a bad mood because we are tired and hot and missing home. Staying with Chris and Gill also gave us a taste of home and now we are back to relying on ourselves. But anyway we arrived and thought we would pop into a 3 star place to ask where a cheap hotel would be but it has twin rooms with brekkie and air con for 65 a night. A bit expensive but we are well under budget so we can afford to splash out. Plus its close to the station and they speak english - can you put a price on the hassle that saved.
08-08-06
Day 21 - Genova
Very lazy day today. We got up for brekkie which was tasty but then went back to bed. We got up again at 12 but stayed in bed until 2 watching athletics. After a shower we went to the station to get tickets to Bologna for tomorrow. After we wandered around to find food we headed back fairly quickly because it was raining. Other than that we have done nothing but we needed a relaxing day. It has definatly been that. We havent seen much of Genova but what we have seen of it is very nice.
09-08-06
Day 22 Genova - (Voghera) - (Piacenza) - Bologna
Another mission today. We had our tickets booked for 12.10. We got to the station a little early but when the platform was shown we went to it and got on the train waiting there. When it left 20mins early we were slightly concerened and we realised we were going in the wrong direction. So we got off in a random place called Bogiasco and waited half an hour for a train back to Genova. So we missed our train but we thought "no problem we will get the next one in half an hour". We got to Voghera at 3ish (when we should have been arriving in Bologna) and found the next train we wanted was at 6. We asked and found that if we waited an hour we could get a train to Piacenza and then to Bologna. So at 6.40 we arrived in Bologna. We walked for 1.5 hrs trying to find somewhere to stay. The cheapest in the city is 62 with no e-s brekkie or air con (all inc. in Genova). Since we left Grimaud we have just wanted to go home.
10-08-06
Day 23 Bologna - (Florence) - Pisa
End of day 23! Scary. But we are still ready to go home. Not in such a negative way but all the same... we have 5 full days left, not many. Today we got up and headed straight to the station picking up food on the way. We waited a couple of hours and then got a train to florence. It was a nice train, compartments and air con. Once in florence we found the next train to pisa was 5 mins away. We got on - it was hot and crowded but we survived the trip. Pisa is hot and we went on a hours treck rather than a 10 minute walk but we found somewhere to stay and then went to the leaning tower. Its smaller and prettier than i thought. i didnt go up cos i dont like heights when theyr straight, let alone at a 5m overhang. J went thought and came back with some very cool pics. Another good nights sleep is needed tonight and its onto rome tomorrow.
11-08-06
Day 24 Pisa - Rome
Another day gone in a flash. We were up early to have brekkie and leave early for the station. We stopped on the way for lunch stuff for a couple of days. While waiting for the train we gave in to the temptations of McDonalds and had a chips each. We got on the train and before we knew it 3.5 hours had gone and we were in rome. This trip has definatly made us more patient in waiting for things. When we arrived we picked up tickets to naples and then headed out to find accommodation. We were turned away from Fawlty Towers, the next place wanted 90euros so we went to "Enjoy Rome" the english tourist office, who booked us a place. Its decent, twin with air con. This evening we went to the coloseum. We didnt go in but it was amazing just to walk around the outside. After a wander we headed back for tea and an early night. ps js sandles smell alright because i filled the bidet with water and a bottle of shampoo and soaked them - much to his dismay!
12-08-06
Day 25 Rome - Naples
Up at 6 this morning for an early start to the Vatican. We concentrated on St Peters Basilica which was amazing. The decoration was beyond belief and the size was immense. We saw all the tombs of the popes including the last pope who was in the tombs underground. People were at his tomb crying and kissing the ground which was rediculous. Then we went up to the top of the roof - 560 steps. We chose not to take the lift and it was a mission. The views were well worth it though. After that we picked up our bags and went to the station for our train to naples. Once here we went through the usual rigmarole of trying to find somewhere to stay. All the Italians were on holiday because its a national holiday so we are staying in a dump (to put it nicely). J and i arent going to risk the shower - its horrible. A shame for our last night in Italy, but we will have to put up with it. A sh-t end to a brilliant day.
13-08-06
Day 26 Naples - Munich
Today has been fairly shocking. We had quite a good nights sleep (purely because we were so tired) until 6.30 when there was a almight y thunderstorm. We got up at 9 and dropped off our bags at the station. Then we got the metro to near the national museum of archaeology. We had to walk a little, we were really pleased there was a break in the rain which had been chucking it down for most of the day. We passed countless alcamahol bottles and used syringes - and this is supposed to be a good part of the city. The museum was rubbish but it wasted a couple of hours. After that we headed to the station (waiting ages for the metro again) where we sat and whiled away 5.5 hrs doing not alot. Finaly we got on the train at 7.30. The cabin is decent, the beds arent too bad. We are definatly glad we paid 25 for the bed - better than a seat for 13hrs. So yeh - our first night train and the begninning of the journey home. And we are excited!!! Naples was the worst place of the trip but weve left and in 2.5 days time we wil be home!!!!!!!!!
this is def our last post but we wil be seeing you all the day after tomorrow. ciao xxx
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