The next day, we did a little sleep-in, and then did some sightseeing in the centre of Torino, while Giacomo ran some errands. We had our lunch of gnocchi al ragout, for lunch. Then, we had our first gelato in Italy -- it was delicious! No gelato in Italy has disappointed me yet!! We walked around the centre, around the plaza, and near the river. Then, we walked back to the main square and wanted to check out the palace, but of course the palace gardens were closed for renovations. We randomly walked into Giacomo again in the square, and we went for some Italian coffee at the oldest Cafe in Turin. Not long after, Martino bought us the best gelato Ive ever had in my life. It was pistacchio flavour and nut flavour. SOOO good. *drool
We did some more sightseeing by car, up the hill to a church, and then had a drink by the riverside. We also checked out this big park near the university, where there was a medieval castle. Eventually, we made it up to Giacomo's mother's house for dinner. We probably spent about 3-4 hours having dinner. Italian dinners usually consist of: an appetizer, a first course of pasta, a second course of meat, then some salad or some other small dish, then some dessert, then coffee, and finally a hard liquor to wash it all down. They also have cigarettes in between to take breaks. Our particular dinner consisted of some bread with salami and mozerella cheese, then some pasta with vegetables, then some sort of meat loaf, then some salad and fruit, then some bonnet (flan-like dessert), then a coffee. Ionly skipped out on the cigarettes and hard liquor. Nonetheless, I have never been so full in my life! I was still full the next day...
August 11th
Despite sleeping in until 11am, and not going out for lunch until 1pm, I was still full from the previous night's dinner. We still went to have a huge lunch. Again, typical italian, with some bread and salami to start, then some pasta, then some sausages, a salad and green beans, then some coffee to wash it all down. So good, but sooo full!
Then we just chilled at Giacomo's mother's place for awhile, to use the internet and play with her cat. I was so OUT during the ride. Major itis...
Later, we drove up to the football memorial, where the Torino FC team crashed in the hill where the church was. Apparently, it was the best football team Torino has ever had. The people of Turin are very proud of their football team. At this church, some filipinos started talking to me because they thought I was flip. Ouch... lol
Then, we got a ride to the station and hopped on the train to Milano. It was about 1.5hr train ride. Not too bad. I think I was passed out anyway =P
Milano -- August 12th
The previous night, we were too tired from finding the hostel the previous night, to go sightseeing. So the next morning, we checked out and went to check out the centre. We went straight to the Duomo, which is the biggest attraction. It is a huge church, and its absolutely stunning. We walked around a bit, but I wasnt too impressed by Milan.
to be continued...
It's already 11.30pm in Madrid, and the computer lab shuts down, so I will have to continue later. However, much of Italy was mostly touristy touring... next time, I need to go visit with locals...
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Italian food -- oh so good.
Italy --- August 9th - August 17th August 9th
We drove down to Turino, Italia, with Giacomo, a fellow teacher, Joey, and Martino (Giacomo`s friend). It was only about a 4-5 hr drive from Arosa to Turin. The scenery while driving was awesome. Switzerland is so beautiful! Joey got motion sickness from the 365 turns around the mountain sides as we descended from Arosa. We passed the border between Switzerland and Italy, with border guards checking out each other`s cellphones, casually looking up every once in awhile. Giacomo couldnt find any cigarettes to buy from duty-free; there really wasnt a duty-free shop. One could see the immediate difference between Switzerland and Italy. The housing was immediately denser, and the land was a bit flatter. Although there are some mountains in Italy, it almost appears as if the mountains separate Italy and Switzerland. The temperature began increasing as we continued driving south.
We finally made it to Giacomo´s mother`s at around 5 or 6pm? in the evening. We had our first Italian coffee at his mother`s and met Theo the cat. Then, we made our way back to Giacomo`s to settle in. He let us sleep in his bed and he slept on his couch. His flat was in a neighbouring town-village called Almese. He had a beautiful outlook from the balcony. We took some great sunset shots. We chilled around for awhile, then made our way to dinner at around 9pm. The drive in was about 30 minutes, and when we made it downtown, all of Giacomo`s friends were already there. We had our first real Italian pizza and it was oh so delicious, just like the other pizzas we would try. The dinner lasted from 10.30 until about 1am. I thought that the dinner took a long time because Giacomo hadnt seen his friends for 2 months; understandable. Apparently, this is an Italian custom. We would find out the next day...
to be continued... (tired and there are other people waiting for the rare free internet at this hostel.. =P)
We drove down to Turino, Italia, with Giacomo, a fellow teacher, Joey, and Martino (Giacomo`s friend). It was only about a 4-5 hr drive from Arosa to Turin. The scenery while driving was awesome. Switzerland is so beautiful! Joey got motion sickness from the 365 turns around the mountain sides as we descended from Arosa. We passed the border between Switzerland and Italy, with border guards checking out each other`s cellphones, casually looking up every once in awhile. Giacomo couldnt find any cigarettes to buy from duty-free; there really wasnt a duty-free shop. One could see the immediate difference between Switzerland and Italy. The housing was immediately denser, and the land was a bit flatter. Although there are some mountains in Italy, it almost appears as if the mountains separate Italy and Switzerland. The temperature began increasing as we continued driving south.
We finally made it to Giacomo´s mother`s at around 5 or 6pm? in the evening. We had our first Italian coffee at his mother`s and met Theo the cat. Then, we made our way back to Giacomo`s to settle in. He let us sleep in his bed and he slept on his couch. His flat was in a neighbouring town-village called Almese. He had a beautiful outlook from the balcony. We took some great sunset shots. We chilled around for awhile, then made our way to dinner at around 9pm. The drive in was about 30 minutes, and when we made it downtown, all of Giacomo`s friends were already there. We had our first real Italian pizza and it was oh so delicious, just like the other pizzas we would try. The dinner lasted from 10.30 until about 1am. I thought that the dinner took a long time because Giacomo hadnt seen his friends for 2 months; understandable. Apparently, this is an Italian custom. We would find out the next day...
to be continued... (tired and there are other people waiting for the rare free internet at this hostel.. =P)
Friday, August 1, 2008
Planning is stressful!
Now, we've come down to only one week left in Switzerland. We leave Arosa on the 9th, and leave St. Gallen on the 11th. We have all of the hostels in Italy booked already. Now we are just figuring out how to get to Barcelona from Rome, and as we plan, I see my bill rising and rising and rising!
Not only is it expensive in Europe, our proposed salary was no longer what it was. The contract was written incorrectly, and we get about $1000cdn less than what I had budgeted at the beginning. Just travelling in itself will probably cost up to $1000 CDN. 60 euros between Berlin to London, 40 Euros between Madrid and Paris, and probably around 100 euros between Rome and Barcelona. However, we must buy train tickets while in Italy, Spain, France, and Belgium. Well, let's hope I don't return with a debt of more than $2000!!
As for the job, we will likely NOT have a day off next week because there are only about 6 teachers left for 80 students. We're here for the long haul! This is of course, after not having a single full day off since I've been here! I don't know how Joey does it, I think he's meant to be a teacher or something. He always volunteers to help out even when off duty. I just need my solitude and alone time, without kids screaming and whining around me. Of course I've had my share of great moments with some of these kids, but nonetheless, I need my peace and quiet.
Today is National Swiss Day, so there is a special program to take the kids out to see fireworks. That means, that I have been off since about 1pm, and will be back on duty at about 6pm (when dinner begins), as there will be conversation class afterwards, followed by all teachers helping out with bringing the kids out to watch fireworks. I am probably just considering it work too often (possibly because of the screw-up with the pay etc.), but I am a poor student who has to figure out how to pay tuition after all!
I've finally managed to get photos up for Zurich, Munich and Vienna. I haven't been able to blog as much as I wanted to. Now, I've forgotten what I had wanted to say about each! haha. Oh well.
Missing home now; especially the food. Oh Asian food, how I miss thee!!
Speaking of food, yesterday we went out for dinner, shared a plate of pasta for 21 Francs (21 CDN) and had tap water for 6.50 Francs. High standard of living whattt!
That's all for now!
Not only is it expensive in Europe, our proposed salary was no longer what it was. The contract was written incorrectly, and we get about $1000cdn less than what I had budgeted at the beginning. Just travelling in itself will probably cost up to $1000 CDN. 60 euros between Berlin to London, 40 Euros between Madrid and Paris, and probably around 100 euros between Rome and Barcelona. However, we must buy train tickets while in Italy, Spain, France, and Belgium. Well, let's hope I don't return with a debt of more than $2000!!
As for the job, we will likely NOT have a day off next week because there are only about 6 teachers left for 80 students. We're here for the long haul! This is of course, after not having a single full day off since I've been here! I don't know how Joey does it, I think he's meant to be a teacher or something. He always volunteers to help out even when off duty. I just need my solitude and alone time, without kids screaming and whining around me. Of course I've had my share of great moments with some of these kids, but nonetheless, I need my peace and quiet.
Today is National Swiss Day, so there is a special program to take the kids out to see fireworks. That means, that I have been off since about 1pm, and will be back on duty at about 6pm (when dinner begins), as there will be conversation class afterwards, followed by all teachers helping out with bringing the kids out to watch fireworks. I am probably just considering it work too often (possibly because of the screw-up with the pay etc.), but I am a poor student who has to figure out how to pay tuition after all!
I've finally managed to get photos up for Zurich, Munich and Vienna. I haven't been able to blog as much as I wanted to. Now, I've forgotten what I had wanted to say about each! haha. Oh well.
Missing home now; especially the food. Oh Asian food, how I miss thee!!
Speaking of food, yesterday we went out for dinner, shared a plate of pasta for 21 Francs (21 CDN) and had tap water for 6.50 Francs. High standard of living whattt!
That's all for now!
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