Why do people feel compelled to try to guess my nationality no matter where I go? It's not even remotely polite like, "Where are you from?" It's always, without fail, stare, "Japanese? Chinese? Korean?" The order is never the same. Sometimes I get Taiwanese or Filipino. I never get Vietnamese. I always wondered why and then it dawned on me today after I had another guess-my-nationality-guessing game with some security guys at the Vatican today. Yes, the Vatican.
It's because Vietnamese people, for real from Vietnam, don't have the means nor the freedom to travel abroad. Therefore, people in other countries rarely meet Vietnamese. The other Asians of Asia are all over the globe. But the Vietnamese are not.
Now that still doesn't explain why foreign dudes are always trying to guess.
Today is my last day in Rome and it was one straight out of my Latin textbook. Even the trees by the Colosseum looked like they were copied from the cover of the textbook I used in high school. It was breath taking to step out of the Metro exit, on to the street, adjust to the sunlight, and see the Colosseum right there. Cross the street and there it is. Pretty damn cool.
Vienna tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Buona Sera, Rome
Ok people, hell has officially frozen over.
Someone asked me out to drinks today.
In Italy.
While I lingered at an outdoor cafe.
Who am I?
This has never happened to me in my regular life and now it happens to me in my awesome travel life?!?
I, of course, declined. I'm so paranoid about going out at night and my hotel isn't anywhere close to the city center. But the encounter did put a smile on my face. And guy was kinda cute.
Ahh to be fabulous for a moment.
Someone asked me out to drinks today.
In Italy.
While I lingered at an outdoor cafe.
Who am I?
This has never happened to me in my regular life and now it happens to me in my awesome travel life?!?
I, of course, declined. I'm so paranoid about going out at night and my hotel isn't anywhere close to the city center. But the encounter did put a smile on my face. And guy was kinda cute.
Ahh to be fabulous for a moment.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Buon Pomeriggio, Rome
Made it into Rome after taking a water bus, train, and a regular bus.
Venice was interesting. I didn't go there with specific sites in mind like I had with the other cities I've been to. I figured the site to see was the city itself and I was right. I wandered around. Other than Saint Mark's Square, I didn't have an agenda. I would start my day there and just walk until lunch, eat, and then spend the rest of the day finding my way back. Most of the time it was cool, walking into a church, window shopping, seeing some beautiful buildings, all by accident. Occassionally scary when I ended up down some dark, narrow alley with not a soul around.
St. Mark's Square, while world famous for it's beauty and splednor, may be my nightmare come true. I will explain. I hate birds. They crowd together, on what seems like whim will collectively take flight in massive groups, they poop wherever they feel like, and they could kill us all if they ever wanted to. What I hate more than birds are pigeons. And apparently they called St. Mark's square their home base because they were everywhere. And vendors sold bird food to tourists to encourage these monsters to fly right on to people's arms and heads. Shudder.
Tomorrow Rome. I dedicate this leg of my journey to my high school Latin teacher, Ms. Cherry. She is the reason I know why SPQR is all over Rome (Senātus Populusque Rōmānus: "The Senate and the People of Rome"). She passed away last year and I remember I was sitting in edit 15 mastering a promo when I got a call on my cell phone from my high school business law teacher, Ms. Haynes. She told me the very sad news. Ms. Cherry was older but you always think people are around forever. I had her for four years and she was one of those teachers you would go back to visit high school for.
Anyways, whenever I think of Rome, I think of Ms. Cherry.
Venice was interesting. I didn't go there with specific sites in mind like I had with the other cities I've been to. I figured the site to see was the city itself and I was right. I wandered around. Other than Saint Mark's Square, I didn't have an agenda. I would start my day there and just walk until lunch, eat, and then spend the rest of the day finding my way back. Most of the time it was cool, walking into a church, window shopping, seeing some beautiful buildings, all by accident. Occassionally scary when I ended up down some dark, narrow alley with not a soul around.
St. Mark's Square, while world famous for it's beauty and splednor, may be my nightmare come true. I will explain. I hate birds. They crowd together, on what seems like whim will collectively take flight in massive groups, they poop wherever they feel like, and they could kill us all if they ever wanted to. What I hate more than birds are pigeons. And apparently they called St. Mark's square their home base because they were everywhere. And vendors sold bird food to tourists to encourage these monsters to fly right on to people's arms and heads. Shudder.
Tomorrow Rome. I dedicate this leg of my journey to my high school Latin teacher, Ms. Cherry. She is the reason I know why SPQR is all over Rome (Senātus Populusque Rōmānus: "The Senate and the People of Rome"). She passed away last year and I remember I was sitting in edit 15 mastering a promo when I got a call on my cell phone from my high school business law teacher, Ms. Haynes. She told me the very sad news. Ms. Cherry was older but you always think people are around forever. I had her for four years and she was one of those teachers you would go back to visit high school for.
Anyways, whenever I think of Rome, I think of Ms. Cherry.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Ciao, Venice
I took an overnight sleeper train from Paris to Venice, it took about 14 hours (while Im writing this, Wham just came on over the speakers "Wake Me Up"). This is one of the most interesting social situations I have ever been in. 5 people, including me, who seemingly have never experienced this before. We had to collectively figure out to fold up the seats to make the middle bunk (the compartment sleeps 6) and everyone spoke a differently language so there wasnt much conversation, more gestures and nervous chuckles.
I slept terrible. I was paranoid something would happen. I wasnt sure what I thought might happen, just something bad while I slept.
I get to Venice and the train station is literally on the water. You exit, and there is water. I looked up directions to my hotel before I left but still, I was all disoriented and just hoped I had gotten on the right water bus (Now Kenny Loggins "Footloose" came on). Luckily Im staying near San Marco square so the chances of me finding my way back to my hotel at the end of each day are pretty high.
My hotel has tiny packets of Nutella out on the breakfast bar. Pretty much my heaven on earth.
Since internet in Venice is grossly expensive, expect to hear from in a couple days when I get to Rome.
Laters.
I slept terrible. I was paranoid something would happen. I wasnt sure what I thought might happen, just something bad while I slept.
I get to Venice and the train station is literally on the water. You exit, and there is water. I looked up directions to my hotel before I left but still, I was all disoriented and just hoped I had gotten on the right water bus (Now Kenny Loggins "Footloose" came on). Luckily Im staying near San Marco square so the chances of me finding my way back to my hotel at the end of each day are pretty high.
My hotel has tiny packets of Nutella out on the breakfast bar. Pretty much my heaven on earth.
Since internet in Venice is grossly expensive, expect to hear from in a couple days when I get to Rome.
Laters.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Au Revoir Paris
Tomorrow is my last day in Paris. It's been really nice to be able to go out into a city that isn't yours and come back to a homebase that feels like home. My aunt, uncle, and cousin have been awesome. Opening their home, feeding me ridiculously well, making sure I'm set to see the city. Once again I am amazed how I've lucked out and have such generous people in my life.
What I did today:
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Walked around Montmarte, tried to find the bar Amelie worked in but got lost
Moulin Rouge, which turns out to be surrounded by Paris' red light district
Saint-Honoré to window shop all the designer stores
Louvre (closed so just sat outside)
Palais Royal
Opéra Garnier
Bought what are supposedly the best baguettes in Paris
Tomorrow evening I get on a sleeper train for a 14 hour ride to Venice.
What I did today:
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Walked around Montmarte, tried to find the bar Amelie worked in but got lost
Moulin Rouge, which turns out to be surrounded by Paris' red light district
Saint-Honoré to window shop all the designer stores
Louvre (closed so just sat outside)
Palais Royal
Opéra Garnier
Bought what are supposedly the best baguettes in Paris
Tomorrow evening I get on a sleeper train for a 14 hour ride to Venice.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Marche Paris
Anyone who knows me knows that music is an integral part of my life. My ipod is always with me. Whether it's playing on my commute to work, before I fall asleep, or when I'm traveling, my ipod is surgically attached to me.
I am obsessed with the idea of soundtracking my life. Very specific memories are evoked when very specific songs play. There are songs that will always remind me of beach week my senior year of high school (Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way," Maxamillion's "Sexual Healing"), driving around Europe with my family spring break 9th grade (Anything from the Cardigans first two CDs), and the list goes on. One time I was on the train up to NYC, reading a book, and Nada Surf's "Paper Boats" came on and it blew my mind because the song talked about riding a train and reading a book!!! I know, crazy, right?
So today, as I walked to the Tour Eiffel, along the Seine, and around the Latin Quarter, every so often I would put on the soundtrack from Amelie and it was magical. I stopped myself several times from swaying to the music whenever I was at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. It made what was a truly lovely day even lovelier.
Anyone who hasn't seen Paris, je t'aime, you must. It will make you want to come to Paris ASAP.
What I did today:
Tour Eiffel
Walked along the Seine
Hotel des Invalides
Pantheon
Notre Dame Cathedral
Hotel de Ville
Latin Quarter
And a really long lunch that ended with chocolate mousse.
I am obsessed with the idea of soundtracking my life. Very specific memories are evoked when very specific songs play. There are songs that will always remind me of beach week my senior year of high school (Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way," Maxamillion's "Sexual Healing"), driving around Europe with my family spring break 9th grade (Anything from the Cardigans first two CDs), and the list goes on. One time I was on the train up to NYC, reading a book, and Nada Surf's "Paper Boats" came on and it blew my mind because the song talked about riding a train and reading a book!!! I know, crazy, right?
So today, as I walked to the Tour Eiffel, along the Seine, and around the Latin Quarter, every so often I would put on the soundtrack from Amelie and it was magical. I stopped myself several times from swaying to the music whenever I was at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. It made what was a truly lovely day even lovelier.
Anyone who hasn't seen Paris, je t'aime, you must. It will make you want to come to Paris ASAP.
What I did today:
Tour Eiffel
Walked along the Seine
Hotel des Invalides
Pantheon
Notre Dame Cathedral
Hotel de Ville
Latin Quarter
And a really long lunch that ended with chocolate mousse.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Ensoleillé Paris
First, to address Bootros' comments:
Brocade - a class of richly decorative shuttle-woven fabrics, often made in colored silks and with or without gold and silver threads. The name comes from French "to sew".
Shift - a straight dress with no waist shaping or seam (1960s)
On to travel news...today was my first full day in Paris and I did A LOT of walking. After having a great breakfast of fresh french bread and pâté, I got dropped off at Versailles, Turns out everyone had the great idea of enjoying the sun and not too cold temperature and visit. It took an hour to get a ticket and finally get inside. I love the style and the history of this time period. I've always wanted to dress up like Marie Antoinette for Halloween.
After walking around inside, I made it out back to the gardens. Again, the grounds must be stunning when everything is in bloom. I sat on the steps and ate the lunch my aunt packed. She's awesome. As I ate my chocolate croissant, I listened to the soundtrack to Marie Antoinette while looking at Versailles. I felt pretty awesome in this moment in time.
I spent another hour just walking around the gardens and then I got picked up. We drove back to the city and they dropped me off right in front of the Arc de Triomphe. I made my way down the Champs-Élysées all the way to the Place de la Concorde. And then I walked home stopping in every open patisserie, drooling at all the cakes and tarts.
Lots more walking tomorrow...
Brocade - a class of richly decorative shuttle-woven fabrics, often made in colored silks and with or without gold and silver threads. The name comes from French "to sew".
Shift - a straight dress with no waist shaping or seam (1960s)
On to travel news...today was my first full day in Paris and I did A LOT of walking. After having a great breakfast of fresh french bread and pâté, I got dropped off at Versailles, Turns out everyone had the great idea of enjoying the sun and not too cold temperature and visit. It took an hour to get a ticket and finally get inside. I love the style and the history of this time period. I've always wanted to dress up like Marie Antoinette for Halloween.
After walking around inside, I made it out back to the gardens. Again, the grounds must be stunning when everything is in bloom. I sat on the steps and ate the lunch my aunt packed. She's awesome. As I ate my chocolate croissant, I listened to the soundtrack to Marie Antoinette while looking at Versailles. I felt pretty awesome in this moment in time.
I spent another hour just walking around the gardens and then I got picked up. We drove back to the city and they dropped me off right in front of the Arc de Triomphe. I made my way down the Champs-Élysées all the way to the Place de la Concorde. And then I walked home stopping in every open patisserie, drooling at all the cakes and tarts.
Lots more walking tomorrow...
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