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10 days since our last blog already and only 4 days till Christmas!!! Homesickness is definately kicking in. Ann is already missing her mum's Baklawa and Greg is thinking longingly of his mum´s chocolate fudge... Roast keeps intruding on both our thoughts.
Florence feels like a long time ago now but after settling into our spacious hotel room the first day was spent having a look through some Christmas markets. We checked out the famous Ponte Vecchio -a bridge lined with at least 60 or so jewellers (..VERY expensive!) but it was once lined with butchers until one day some rich family decided it was too smelly and turned meat into gold -of course. We had yiros for tea that had hot chips inside it and we enjoyed a coffee at a funky bar.
The next day was a full day spent art gallery and museum hopping... we saw three versions of the statue of david -we couldnt get away from him... then on the gold shop bridge we saw a random golf competition being held with golfers driving golf balls into the river.. wierd but fun! Then we went into a museum of royal appartment that were decked out with famous art works like Raphael and Michaelangelo... Then as daylight was starting to slip away at 4pm Greg decided that we were going to run up to the square of Michaelangelo up a very big hill so we could see the sun set over the city... we were sweating in 4degree weather!! it was odd but a great view from the top!
Our day trip to Pisa was on Saturday.. we arrived early in the morning and the weather was beautiful and sunny! (..but still bitterly cold -so much so that we both bought new beanies and ann another scarf!) To escape the cold we decided to have a really early dinner which ended up lasting for 6hrs and involving a lot f red wine and an American guy and politics and hang man... we were a bit worse for wear until late the next afternoon... Our hangover cure involved a 500gm t bone staek and retail therapy...
So on Monday it was off to Barcelona -but first we had to go via Genoa and Nice -ended up being 16hrs of travel all up.. lots of cool views of rich people´s homes especially going through Monte Carlo in Monaco but no famous ppl seen -sorry Liz:)
After a late night the night before, the next day began with a sleep in... a pattern which was to continue for the next four days! As this hotel didnt offer breakfast we had to settle for pastries from the nearby bakery... best crossants ever! .. thus another pattern which was to continue for the next four days! Barcelona -when we finally got out to see it -was a very vibrant, busy yet friendly city -just being in the streets is entertaining. The area we're staying in seems very alternative -heaps of ppl with dreadlocks and gothic style clothing and tattoos gallore. On every corner there are ppl trying to sell you beer. Every night seems like a Saturday night where every pub that you walk past is filled with music smoke and ppl drinking! Except outside for some reason there are council ppl wetting the streets -hosing them down with fireman style hoses. The thing is though they don't really clean any of the dirt -they just create puddles and you think its raining everytime you walk outside.
On the tuesday night we went to the waterfront which seemed like a much posher area -to Ann´dissapointment it was way too cold to walk barefoot along the beach and way too expensive to eat at all the pretty lit up restaraunts -but luckily we managed to find ourselves a classy little seafood restaraunt in the fisherman's quarter where we had some WICKED prawns and a hearty paella -as you do in spain!
On Wednesday we found a market unlike any other we've been to -it had piles of huge lobsters, prawns and crabs half of which were still moving on the ice you could buy them off!!Ann was scared! There were whole rabbits being skinned in front of your eyes, bags of snails and live chickens. It was fresh, buzzing and colourful Unfortunately later that day we found out our train to Geneva didn't exist anymore -after much stress and talking in broken english to a cluless train tiket seller, a contingency plan was established.. hopefully all will be well and we will be in Lucerne for Christmas..
That night we went to an excellent picasso museum where there were 100's of pieces of his work... Ann was inspired while Greg was confused and did't understand the 'complexity' behind this great art. Sorry dad G i don't seem to have your genes -but maybe Ann will make up for it... We finally had our first taste of tapas at a funky bar we found near the beach (miles away from home as we seem to do). The food diary is ever growing.
Yesterday we finally got to go to the famous half built church in the centre of Barcelona. It first started being built 140 years ago and is still not finished! But its ginormous and thats before the tallest tower has even been started -they rekon it will be finished in the next 12 years... We got into a lift to get to the tallest part of the church as it exists today -and Ann realised yes she is DEFINATELY scared of heights and reminded herself of mum S when she held onto rails really tight and told greg to get away from the edge! Of course there were MORE christmas markets at the church where we bought ourselves a Christmas wreath and candle to light on Christmas day!
After once again roaming the streets for ages to find the tea that we wanted (think w're a little fussy!) as Greg's stomach rumbling got louder we gave into one of the worst dinners yet -basically a fish and chip shop trying to be a restaraunt... but at least it was cheap.
After much indicision but realising it was now or never at 12 midnight Thurs night we decided we had to test out the Barcelona night life -you may think that this was leaving it a bit late but according to the lonely planet guide book things only get going at 2am ...so we were early! The first place we went to proved the lonely planet right with a pub filled to the rafters.. Ann enjoyed cocktails (no more red wine this time!) while Greg found Coopers Pale Ales sitting at the bar in front of him... it was a Godsend... turned out the bar was owned by a South Australian!!
After meeting all the english speaking ppl in the pub (2 dutch guys and their 60 yr old dad as well as an american friend) together we continued on to a club where Ann could finally dance!!! Although it was fun Ann expected much more 'spanish' style dancing -only to find it was similar to Melbourne or Sydney.. like Adelaide but busier.
This morning got home at 5am and slept until 1pm -have to get up at 6:30 for a train tomorrow morning... will be like jet lag all over again!!!
Having lots of fun but missing you all lots!
Love you all lots
xxA&G
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