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Ciao All
Wow, what an experience so far in Italy. As most of you kno, Im in Italy to attend a International Leadership Conference for 18 - 33yr olds....about 35 people from all walks and places of life. Youthline was amazing enough to actually support me to attend this conference so its massive. The conference didn't start till Sunday so...
I arrived in Rome, Italy on Friday night and spent all Saturday touring and roaming in Rome hehe. As I only had a day I had to really plan where and what I was going to explore, so my morning started off with a brekkie on the run to join the massive line outside Vatican City (which by the way is the smallest country in the world, I only just discovered this). It was stunning....Standing in Vatican Square was quite mind blowing, so much history and its just so grand. I was actually spechless, I know...me hehe....
Then it was off too central Rome to visit the Colosseum, ancient ruins etc....quite honestly I could have walked it to these sights, but it is so hot I splashed out my precious euros to get a hop on hop off bus ticket....a good investment hehe. Its about on average 32degree. The photos will speak more for the places I see so check them out.
I ended my day at a cafe for dinner, for one hehe, just outside Vatican City gates then wondered back to my double bed room for one hehe.
I must say, I am so proud of myself. Coming to Italy alone, staying 2 nights in Rome alone, exploring Rome alone...its massive for me to do, so much courage and for the majority of it...was totally comfortable doing. The only time I felt bit vulnerable was being alone and getting from A to B at night time. Which I only had to do twice, but just being smart about it (oh I think Im gonna regret writing this coz I can hear my mum and Anna telling me off hehe) For example, I arrived about 930pm Friday night and I had to catch a 45min bus to central Rome then a a train for 15mins to Vatcian City then walk 10blocks with my heavy ass backpack at night hehe. By the time I got to central Rome and tried to figure out how to get the train to Vatican City, I trusted my instinct and had to bite the bullet and fork out for a taxi to my motel. Another huge obstacle was negiotating public transport with limited Italian, its kinda hard to find where to catch buses, trains which station is right etc....but most Italians super nice and speak enough english to kinda get and idea of where and how you should go.
So on Sunday morning, after a train from Rome - Florence then Florence to Lucca (which is in Tuscany) I am at the conference.
The venue is divine...seriously, I have never been in such a lavish place in my life. Its a villa mansion on the side of Tuscany's beautiful hills. We are surrounded by trees, olive trees, vineyards, swimming pool, every meal is cooked by amazing volunteers and its all vegetarina and organic. And the people, my gosh, such a diverse group. Its actually quite funny coz everyone wasn't to sure on arrival what to expect, what this programme was actually really about hehe and it felt just like a set up for a reality show hehe. We are in day 2 now and I am getting a sense that it is about providing a space and community for discussion, debate, exploration, self development and leadership...pretty much the programmes I help run back home but on a more global level. Its so nice to be a participant for a change instead of a facilitator. Although, it is hard to get out of the mode of thinking that way hehe.
But it is such a gorgeous place, and you feel so free to be you and do what you like....I know so many of you would just luv it.
So yeah, I have gone of for quite abit and I don't think many people come visit me on this site now =0(...hehe but thats ok, this is for my recording too.
Ill put photos up soon, thinking of you all, luv you all muchly....
Gracie
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