The Cube

Some travel guide said that to visit Italy, it may be best to fly in to Venice and travel down to Rome, so that there isn't such a big shock. Then again, in my opinion it may be better to experience Rome first. Sad to say, Rome isn't my favourite destination. Maybe it was due to the over crowded tourists (sorry I contributed to that), or that huge difference from hospitality we received from the Dutch, or the-not-very-bright metro stations, or we didn't spend enough time to grow a liking to it. In Rome, I started to carry my backpack in the front, being paranoid of pickpockets as I can't lock my backpack. It wasn't the most comfortable way to carry a backpack but better be safe than sorry.

Regardless, we bought an earlier train ticket to Florence than what we planned initially. That, was probably a good move. Now back to me saying that it may be better to experience Rome first... we went to Florence with the same expectation that it would be similar a situation as to what happenned in Rome. I was glad that say that I was wrong. People were less harsh and much nicer. Staffs manning the information counter were more helpful, the man selling bus tickets were less grumpy, people were nicer. A particular Italian lady were so kind to help us pressed for the bell in the bus for our stop and told us the direction to our B&B. She was speaking in Italian at all times but tried so hard to help us. I like Florence already :)

Even more so when we saw this beautiful building at the end of the street.



Side note: TGIF!

Vatican City - can be easily reached via bus or short walk from metro station. We heard stories of long queues and hours of wait to get into the attractions of Vatican City, but somehow it doesn't really make us wake up early to beat the crowd.

I thought the itinery of only Vatican City would make it a more relaxing day, translated to less walking required. And of course, it potrayed that impression to my poor sister :P How wrong I was, we walked and walked... that Vatican Museo is huge!

Upon approaching Piazza San Pietro, there were many guides approaching, asking, "Do you speak English?" We marched straight on and once we stepped into the piazza, the queue was so long that it went all the way to the opposite of the entrance.


Umm... maybe we should've woke up a little earlier. Grin, I was glad it wasn't too bad. The queue was actually moving rather quickly, maybe because it wasn't a queue to buy tickets but just for security check to get into St Peter's Basilica (Basilica Sancti Petri).


By the time we exited the basilica, and hang around the post office (Vatican City has their own stamps), it was noon time. Not knowing how big that musuem was and that we brought some plum cakes, we thought that would do till we get some lunch. Strangely enough, there wasn't a long queue to get into the musuem.

It is amazing how much effort and work was put into a room. Paintings so detailed and filled up the whole of ceiling, and somehow it gives the 3D feel to it.



The most famous room is Sistine Chapel, the ceiling was painted by Michelangelo. Photography is forbidden in this specific room and it was noticably darker. However there were people not only taking photo but used flash as well. It was then followed by announcement in multiple languages to remind that no photography is allowed :P

Vatican Museo was so big... by the time we finished the musuem, we were tired of walking and it was almost 5pm!

We were hungry but not wanting to grab food near Vatican City as it was noted to be expensive, so we travelled back to get some food. On the second night in Rome, we walked in to a nearby restaurant but food was bad, hence today we decided to give the pizzeria recommended by the B&B owner a try.

I ordered ravioli and was a little disappointed that the portion was small. I was starving!

There were only 5 of them (this must be entree portion!)

However menus in Italy were divided into entree/starter, followed by 1st main, 2nd main and dessert. Lucky for me, sister ordered the salmon spaghetti and the portion was much more filling, so I get to share :D Both the ravioli and spaghetti dishes were under the 1st main. We tried a second main dish which was a beef dish, and it was yummy!!


The price was reasonable and it was a good dinner especially we didnt have any lunch aside from the two plum cake. Plum cake is like another version of Apollo Cake :P


Side note: I like Windows 7 :)

The first visit the next day was the Trevi Fountain.


This the fountain that said if you throw in a coin, you will return to Rome. Likewise Colosseo, there was a huge crowd sitting around the fountain, under the sun with no shed. We treat ourselves to some gelati, took pictures of the fountain, help people take pictures with the fountain, looked at some touristy souvenirs and moved on to the Pantheon.

Further along, next stop was Pantheon. Like every other monument, it was on restoration. It was said that restoration work were usually done in May so that it would be ready without all the scaffolding come August with the high influx of tourist. By the look of it, not too sure if its this August or many years to come. Shrug.


Piazza Navona is where artists have their stalls set up, a good but but likely expensive place (comparatively) to sit at the nearby cafe and people watching...


... or people dressed up and pretend to be a statue (I'm sure there is a nice name to it that I don't know)


And I dropped the map here... we walked the whole piazza left, right, up, down, circle but unable to recover the map :( But lucky we have a spare one as it came together with the Roma Pass.

There was a lot of people everywhere, am not sure if of them were tourist... but look at the crowd


By that time, we were hungry but food at this area was really expensive, on both side of the road leading to this Spanish Steps were selling super expensive brand like Gucci, Max Mara and the likes of it. Hence the idea of grabbing dinner ... down the drain. We ended up travelling back to Termini Station, hopped in Conad (the supermarket in the station) and grabbed some food - pasta and mushroom soup. Forgot to snap a photo before eating :P


Side note: Windows 7 at work today.. :)

Stepping out of the metro of the same name, you can't miss the Colosseo right in front of you. The size is amazing... so is the queue. We got ourselves the Roma Pass, and this round, no long queuing to get into the monument.


After the freezing cold Amsterdam and Belgium, it was getting much warmer in Rome. In fact, many people were taking off their jackets and jumpers on the day we visited the Colesseo. We spent a good few hours walking through this place, inclusive of munching some takeaway pizza :P
The next stop was the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.


This area was huge. By the time we finished both Colosseo, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, it was evening time. Colosseo was crowded with tourist, getting a picture without another tourist poking their head in it needs much patience. It does feels kind of interesting and there's a good feel to it in visiting the places that I have once read in the History book. Grin. It also brought back memories of the computer game I used to play :P


Side note: Haih... weekends are always too short.. aren't they?

火车，火车，突突突 你要去那里？(loosely translate as train, train, where do you want to go)

It's one of the kiddy game I used to play and I remembered answering Italy or France of the many, many places. At that point of time, I never really thought that one fine day, I would stand in front of the Colosseum in Rome.

We took the long bus ride to Cherleroi Airport in Belgium to board our first flight with Ryanair. The unexpected part of the flight was - upon landed, they will have an announcement to declare that they have once again landed on time, with recording of trumpet blowing.

Anyway, upon reaching Rome Ciampino Airport, we got worried. It was getting late and the B&B specifically requested for a check in time as they do not stay there. I called the number given to inform that we will be late. Unsure if they understand me but they were there waiting when we reached.

Getting to the B&B was a nightmare. To begin with, the google map that I make print screen was a little off. It showed that it was really near the Rome Termini Station but the direction on the booking confirmation told us to take a metro. We decided to be good and followed instruction... wrong move. Termini Station was huge, and the walk from where the bus dropped us to metro was far, especially the Line A that we were after. We were unsure and tried to ask a couple of uniform wearing Romans, but was brushed off with a mocking, "No Engrish" followed by laughs among themselves. Barely a couple of hours in Rome, bad impression. It was a rude shock in comparison, despite we have been warned that Romans are not the most friendly. In fact, none of the people we approached that night were willing to help. It was getting late, and desperation level increased, but Lady Luck smiled upon us. We met two kind souls who got us to the B&B, and no, they are not Italians.

It's not the end of story upon reaching the B&B. The owner of the B&B told us that we might need to move the next day, to another B&B, run by her sister. Reason being that there was some confusion with the booking. What I don't understand was why we had to move when we already checked in while the other party has not yet. Anyhow, negotiation proved futile. We moved to another B&B the next day.

First stop -



Side note: This post is getting a little too long :P

To get to the sights in Brussels requiring us to cross the Grote Markt again, and of course, time for more picture taking. This is a big square and there were a lot of tourists.


There is a tourist information at this square but not very informative. Pampered by very knowledgable staffs working in tourist information centre in Amsterdam, the one in Brussel was quite a let down - especially the one located in the Grote Markt. We stumbled upon another tourist info centre while walking back to the B&B the night before and decided to give it a go, this other tourist info was much better.

After finished our errand of printing the flight itinery, I decided that it was time to get a new pair of shoes. It started with the worry of the shoe laces wouldn't hold till the end of the trip and that walking in puddles in the shoes during rainy days is taking its toll. Initially I thought shoes will be wet anyhow due to the heavy rain, but I was wrong, I was the only one walking in wet shoes... and it dawned on me that - it was due to the soles coming off.

Bought and put on the new shoes straightaway, we pay homage to the Mannekin Pis, a famous Brussels landmark of statue of a naked boy urinating. One of the legends revolves around fire being plotted and a boy urinated on it and saved the city. Many costumes were being presented to Mannekin Pis and on the day of our visit, the bronze statue was wearing an orange costume.


We roamed around the city...

St Hubert Gallery

and once again, had the famous waffle...


Belgium, of course, famous for their chocolates and you will see fine chocolate shops dotted the city...


...also is the home to Godiva


We got some yummylicous chocolate truffles (from Neuhaus, according to Kimmie has very good chocolate - totally agree). These choc truffles serve as excellent dessert on our simple, budget food days :P

pardon the photo, I was anxious to have a bite

We left Brussels, taking an late evening flight to Rome.

To me, first time in the Europe continent and flying in to Amsterdam gave a very good impression. Amsterdam is a lovely place, beautiful scenaries, safe streets, friendly and helpful people. Hours of train ride away, we reached Brussels. We were being warned to be careful of theft, some people are less friendly but maybe because of the language barrier but there are people who did try to help despite we don't speak Dutch or French, and they don't speak English. Rome? ... that's another story.


Side note: Finished those tables.. but...

Taking the second last train back to Brussels from Brugge, we were tired and sleepy (at least for me... after the food). To get to the B&B where we stayed, we had to cross the Grand'Place (Grote Markt). Despite sleepy, we wanted to take some night shots. No tripod and nowhere to put the camera... here's what I got.

Town Hall

Broodhuis (King's House)

We roamed Brussels the next day before taking a night flight to Rome. :)


Side note: Still working at the same tables.. uggh..