Conclusion of sweet February

After each trip I return with fresh experiences, enriching adventures and also learn something new too.

Flying in snowstorm, meeting with Mirko in Bologna, discover small Venice via a hidden orange window, aiming at icicles of the houses in the Jewish quarter...

Walking tipsy on the coublestoned streets of Florence, admire the sunset from Ponte Vecchio, climb up to the top of the dome, pop in several clubs on Friday eve and observe the crowd of tourists and locals at party, get lost in Florence a bit, meet with Mauro and Raffaella, learn about the movement to conquer back fields from the Sicilian maffia, and plant there organic oranges, or olives , how to prepare artichokes on a delicious way, that the Ermitage in St Petersburg is so huge you r not able to see all the paintings even you are there a week long...and many more!

I like travelling... then you have time to experience things in real, without rush, and leave behind your daily rutine... then the time stops and you can just trully admire the things around you.. new things, new ppl, new places, new impressions, vibrations, and discover in every single sunbeam, or in every sip of coffee the miracle and the goodness.

This time I’ve met with special people, have visited amazing places, did funny things, explored other culture, and discovered secrets too.

But also learnt that not every lock can be opened, not every knot you can untie...

There are things which you cannot discover, or be a part of it as everything has its unique and hidden secrets, and as a human you cannot enter to every World as a lifetime is not enough to see all the miracles around us. With this wisdom I can just accept to conquer the unconquered makes no sence. But I keep on trying of course as I’m a voyager, although  have to admit it won’t be succeed as the World is so enormous, and diverse...and so the people are!

So one lesson have learnt! Don’t try to open a lock which has a broken key inside, but try to unlock something which is for you reachable. Try to get the best of it, to live for that particular moment of the journey and learn how to let it go... remember but move on to the next one!

Because so many nice things are just in front of you! Just you have to recognise them! 

Thanks for reading it! Hope you enjoyed the trip! :)

Ciao! 

Biking in the cold but lovely Ravenna

On the way to to Ravenna drinking our last bottle of white wine we put memo game out of the backpack and laid down the cards to the seat of the train. Even involved a Chinese guy( emo stylish, for the first sight was not obvious his gender.. seemed shy, but kind). Seemed he was happy to play with us. The old Italian couple next to our seat was observing our game with open curiosity how we collecting the pairs, and explaining the rules. 

Smiley faces again, good vibe on the train! :)

We supposed to change the train after 2 hrs in Faenza ( the duration of the whole trip was about 2,5 hrs, about 180km long), but it turned out at the station that we should had to stay on the same train.

Great! Even better! But anyway we were late... think thanks to the .-in Tuscany- unusual snowy situation.

On the train the conductor guy was really funny.. at every station he  walked between the wagons and when he saw us ( as almost the only passangers ) he started to speak loud about that we have to catch up and everything is under control, and to the driver he shouted every time : " Andiamo maestro! Andiamo! " - to motivate him drive faster. Was a funny guy, totally speeded up! ;)

Arriving to Ravenna: 

On the way received a text message from Mauro, our CS host, that he is already at the station waiting for us, as at this time ( after 8pm) there are no buses to them flat.

He welcomed us with a wide smile on his face, short, bald guy, with glasses. 

At his place Raffaella, his wife already was waiting for us with a gorgeous dinner. Warm welcome, and pleasant , interesting conversation during having the meal. The dishes were delicious, and prepared on a  healthy, organic style, as they were living too. 

Florence 2nd day

One day is not enough to see everything in Florence... too many famous points or hidden magic in the city ;)

Definitively worth to visit the terrace and the dome of the cathedral. 463 steps leads to the top. During the march you can stop admiring the marvelous fresco inside of the cupola about heaven and  hell, angels and weird , evil creatures.

On the top the view is priceless, I could see all Florence from bird's eye view around, the roofs of the houses of citizens are the same gold-brown colored, churches and other buildings emerging high from them. 

Full of the majestic impression of the day time to find some trattoria to get a pizza and a coffee, as usual here in Italy. 

Prices: entrance to the dome: 8 euro

                pizza 1/4 : 3-3,40 euro

                coffee: 1-1,5 euro

                bus ticket: 1,5 euro ( I never met with controllers;)

                

Gorgeous view from the Piazzale Michelangelo

Piazzale M.

Giardino della Rose

After packing my staff have checked-out from the hostel at 11am. We left the backpacks there and went for a last walk in Firenze. We have discovered a hill by the bank of the river randomly, So we climbed up to the Giardino delle Rose. Here were weird statues made of metal creations of some artist from the modern ages, fountains, plants, stone paths and all the hill covered by green grass. On the top of  this all was located the Piazzale Michelangelo gives place to cars to park and in the middle of the square the statue of the artist.

The panoramic view is marvelous from the hill and it’s a worthy place to say goodbye to the Dome, cobblestoned streets, the river Arno, and the gorgeous Ponte Vecchio, and see the hills and wine yards of the real Tuscany. :)

Sunny Florence

Florence is a magical place... I mean my first impression when I reached the famous Duomo, the enormous Cathedral I just was amazed of the mighty of this historical heritage.
Flood of tourists everywhere on the square, can hear mixture of languages, Chinese, German,British, American English. But also you can meet locals here, easy to recognize them ;) Older ppl are really helpful, and with a small knowledge of Italian you can easily find the contact with them. Florence was always classed as one of the most distinguished and most developed city in Italy. Thanks to the competition during the centuries with other cities now Florence can be worthy be proud, as its citizens too.
Walking on the narrow, cobble-stoned streets of the capital of Tuscany feels like a time-travel back to the Renaissance ages... found myself in the cradle of history and arts.
Smiling faces, sunny day, perfect weather for a long walk!

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The enormous Duomo

Piazza della Signorina ( Fontana di Nettuno)

Chilling near the Basilica of  Santa Maria Novella

Arcaides

Beachball by the riverside

View from Ponte Vecchio

Hostel-intro

In Florence was difficult to find a host on CS so we stayed in a hostel.

Comparing the price and the quality the result was pretty good.

The room was clean, well-equipped  ( LCD-tv, private bathroom, towels, air conditioner, heater), staff was helpful and spoke English. Location was about 15 minutes walk from the Piazza del  Duomo so was easy and fast to get to the center. Ok, one time we get lost...as the similar, paralell streets are confusing sometimes ;) But actually this adventure is another story, be suffice to say that to travel in a shopping cart which U found in the middle of the night on the street, is fun! ;)

Friday-night-fever, Florence at night ;)

On Friday night we decided to paint the town red, goin out and discover the night-life of Florence. Most of the pubs and clubs are located around the small streets of Piazza del Duomo. Ppl are everywhere, drinking, talking, living them social-Friday night. More ppl on the streets, outdoor, near the bars than inside. Cars are going very slowly here as not much place left to pass between the pavement and the crowd. Flood of tourists mostly British and Japanese, but also a lot locals here. Actually here are the most popular, most visited clubs in the city.

First we popped in to Soul Kitchen, a real Italian pub with young citizens of Florence. Enough to just sit with a beer or a glass of wine and study the ppl around  how they live them social Friday night. 

http://www.soulkitchenfirenze.it/

Twice is more a club than just a bar. Music is dance and electronic, the place is crowded with locals and also international young students, not much space to stay but it gives some unique atmosphere and brings you to the party mood.Don't live the place without dancing ! ;) Mandatory! :)

http://www.twiceclub.com/about-us.asp

Moyo was my place, I mean the small bar had a great vibe inside. Stylish and glossy bar with an elegant look. Dj played on that night tech-house with  good tribal rhythms. Me like! :)

http://www.moyo.it/galleria-foto-video/moyos-gallery-moyo-bar/

Bologna - the city of arcades

Little Venice 

Under the Arcades of Bologna 

Fontana di  Nettuno

Piazza Maggiore

Snowing, out plain delayed. The runway is covered by snow. Finally after 30 min the scheduled departure Im on the board. The flight went smoothly.

In Bologna  a kind Italian woman gave a lift from the airport to the busstop we should get on the right bus.
We found easily the place of our host.
Mirko was a short, smily Italian guy, easy-going, good company, was not difficult to find the common language with him. He was a really good host ,took us on his tango lesson, after he gave us maps and give advices which places we should see in Bologna.

So next daz we went out to the center. Bologna is an easy city I mean its not much time to walk around and see the most important things, enough 3-4 hours. Mirko said that in Bologna is the longest arcaides in Europe, 40 km long all over the city. Pleasan place, with its special atmosphere. Most of the bulidings look the same.
The most significiant places to see: Piazza Maggiore, Fontana di Nettuno, 7 churches sq, Jewish quarter, and the University area with its fresh atmosphere.
The weather is sunny but cold. The cars and scooters are covered by a lot of snow...
Prices: pizza 1/4: 4€
           bus ticket/ hr: 1,5€
           beer in a pub: 4€ ...
           coffee: 1€
           trian ticket to Firenze: 7,5 € /regional

Ready to take off??

In less than 30 min I leave my workplace, try to get to the airport on time.. Its snowing.. hope everything will be ok with the flight and we can land about 7pm in Bologna.
Agenda: 1st day Bologna, accommodation via Couchsurfing

              2-3rd day Florence, hostel booked for 2 nights via booking.com 
                                                                               ( 100pln/person/2nights) 

              4th day: Ravenna , stay at a place of an Italian couple via Couchsurfing too
              last day: back to Bologna-> Wroclaw 

So let's get some sunshine in Tuscany! :) See U there!... virtually ;)

Before start...opposite feelings

Just packed all my staff to the trip tomorrow... of course everything in the last minute like always, but it's just me;
no rush, no hurry, slowly, but surely ;)

The content of my borrowed backpack: clothes, warm and some fancy one, in case if the weather will be at least plus 10C more than here... cosmetics, books (Hermann Hesse: Demian), some guides about Italy,a towel, a camera, wallet with some euros ( not much just 150, hopefully will be enough for these 4 days), badge to work, and a small bottle of Soplica ( peanut flavored, 100ml--> perfect before the flight)  got from  a friend of mine in occasion of Valentine's day... What a romantic gift! Hope its not a hidden offense against my alcohol consumption habits...or what.. ;)

Anyway, I had a busy day...many things in my mind, not that relaxing ones ...I just need peace and get buried into my own World...Not having the right approach before traveling should be.

Just got an sms right now with the text: 

"Tomorrow we will see Bologna with night lights, so change your attitude."

Hmm... I think it was something in the very best moment, a clear message, or even a soft order to get enough excited!

P.s : Flight mode turned on! ;)

Bologna here we go!

Thanks to an idea got out of the blue I've bought a ticket to Bologna for 88pln (re-tour), directly from Wroclaw.
Never have been in Tuscany and think it's time to escape from the never-ending winter, discover the Mediterranean climate again. Departure from Wroclaw airport on Wednesday sharp at 17.05, arrival to Bologna at 18.45.
Sounds good I think! :)