Meira’s world

Hey there! Got 20 minutes left at this internet cafe in Bologna so I’m dashing off a quick post.

This evening, after a massive downpour which was happening when I arrived in Bologna, I’ve finally seen some blue sky and sun. For at least a week it’s mainly been raining and overcast, and for me quite chilly. This is NOT summer weather!!! And it’s well into June already.

Tomorrow morning I fly to London for 10 days. At least I’m not expecting the weather to be much different from Italy But I’m up for surprises!

Yesterday afternoon and this morning I was in San Gimignano which is the most picturesque little town I’ve been to in Italy. It’s in Tuscany, on a hill, surrounded by lush green rolling hills, tapestried with vineyards and olive groves. The town is really well-preserved, mainly medieval. In fact, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. I definitely recommend visiting San Gimignano. A day trip from Florence is fine (it’s only 1.25 hours away by bus), but it’s nicer to stay overnight. After the busloads of tourists leave, it’s really lovely and quiet. And with long days, it’s just beautiful. Everywhere you walk is a charming. And there’s a gelateria (ice cream shop) which is the World Champion! Definitely worth a visit! Yum!

I’ve taken loads of pictures, even if the background is grey skies… When I’m in London, I’ll have plenty time to make online photo albums and share with you my views of Italy.

Bologna is a university town. Full of arched passageways. And I haven’t seen as many scummy-looking people in one place than here! Maybe it’s the grungy, dirty, dreadlocked hair look, but also there are lots of weird, drugged-out looking guys, often harassing you for money. Them and their dogs. They all have dogs.

Anyway, I’m actually very excited to be going to London! Well, mainly to see Tal! I miss him so much, and it’s really not much fun travelling on one’s own. Also, I’m am SOOOO looking forward to being in one place for a while. And being able to eat! It’s really hard keeping kosher in Italy. The plus side is saving lots of money and not putting on weight

Gotta dash!

Check you later from London!

I arrived in Verona this afternoon. What a lovely town! It also helps that the weather started clearing up – it’s been overcast and raining for the past few days.

Last Friday I left Rome and came to Venice. Last week Rome was boiling hot (but not humid thank goodness). Seems like there was a bit of a heatwave not just in Italy but in lots of places in Europe. When I arrived in Venice late afternoon, it wasn’t just hot but mighty humid. After I showered I thought I’d go out for about 2 hours or so and then come back before Shabbos and just have to change into Shabbos clothes. Well, after 2 hours of walking around, I needed another shower!

Saturday was better and then the weather turned, became rainy and overcast and even cold! For me at least. It’s amazing how much the weather can change, literally overnight.

I must say that I wasn’t overly taken with Venice. It’s SOOOO overpriced, and so full of tourists that it doesn’t feel like any locals live there. You don’t even get any free tourist stuff from Information, like a map! That will cost you R20 (2 euros). Rome has plenty free tourist stuff. Apart from a great map, they have booklets with walking tours and art information. Very cool and very useful. Here in Verona the tourist office is also very good.

Maybe I have to get to know Venice better, but I felt like everyone’s on the move all the time, with nowhere really to sit down along the way. Yes, there are places, but it’s the way Venice is structured… Also, quite a lack of greenery. Maybe the weather had something with things.

This morning was actually quite fun. I went down to Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) on the vaporetto (ferry) – only cost R60 (6 euros) (said very sarcastically). It was the first time I took any public transport. Well, there’s not much else but the vaporetto – Venice is composed of many small islands linked by little canals or streets which once were canals. So you walk and walk and walk and walk.

Anyway, I’ve noticed over the past few days that there’s been a lot of water bubbling up through drains in the square. But today was really bad – almost the whole Piazza was flooded! So everyone took off their shoes, hitched up their jeans and skirts, and waded around in mid-calf water. It was quite something. The cafes on the one side of the square were all submerged, so no-one was at them. I got a great pic of 3 waiters in galoshes/knee-high boots just chilling by some tables. It was also so funny seeing the water sloshing against the doors of the shops along the one side of the square. They seem to be used to this.

This afternoon I took a guided walking tour of Verona. Best walking tour I’ve done in Italy. The guide, Andrea, was really knowledgable and shared so many interesting facts. By the way, Verona is the home of Romeo and Juliet, not that they were actual people, but the Capulet and Montague families did really exist. And did really feud.

Tomorrow afternoon I go to Bologna, and then to Florence (Firenze) on Friday. Will be in Florence til Tuesday. Then I’m going to London from Friday 8 June to Monday 18 June! I need to be among friends. It’s been really hard and lonely on my own. What was I thinking!

By the way, I have been completely out of touch with what’s been going on in the world. About 2 weeks back I did somehow hear that France had a new leader. And the past 2 nights I’ve had a TV in my room, so I watched BBC and CNN. But it doesn’t seem like I’m missing out on much in the world.

Oh, and my backpack is WAY too heavy… I no longer call what I’m doing “backpacking” – it’s “shlepping” . I think I’m going to be leaving some stuff in London and hopefully some kind friend will bring it back to Joburg for me. I only need to lighten things by 2-3 kg to make a significant difference. Thing is, I don’t really know what to leave behind. Almost all my clothes I’ve worn. I think it’s the toiletries. But really, I just don’t know. Maybe once I’ve taken out this little thing and that little thing, they’ll all add up to something noticeable.

Please email me or post comments – I’m all alone here!!! And it’s hard work travelling, believe it or not. Okay, it does beat sitting behind a desk!

Ciao!

With 15 minutes left before the internet cafe closes, I thought I’d quickly dash off a post.

Finally, the weather in Rome is really nice and warm, even hot! When I arrived 3 weeks ago, it was very cool, mostly overcast, and rainy at times. Kind of felt a bit like London weather. In fact, at night it got quite cold (for me at least). It didn’t feel much like spring! But since last Tuesday when I came back to Rome (after Napoli), it’s been getting steadily warmer. I’m starting to see how awfully hot summer is going to be in Rome!

Coming back to Rome after Naples was like a big “Ahhh!!!”. Rome is spacious, gracious, green, genteel, and quite orderly (even the traffic). Napoli is frenetic, anarchic, narrow, in-your-face. This is not to say I didn’t like Napoli – I really did! It was such a refreshing change and it has an appeal quite of its own. I’ll have to do it justice in a post all of its own.

Anyway, I’m quite museumed out. I took full advantage of the Italian Cultural Week and packed in all the free stuff I could. And when I said museums are free during the Cultural Week, this includes monuments and things like the Colosseum, ruins, etc. I really put my feet through a tough regimen!

Talking about feet, after the first week of being in Italy, my poor feet were so blistered and aching. I’ve taken photos and will hopefully one day post. And it’s not like I didn’t have a good pair of walking shoes. Now, my feet take the abuse just fine

Hope to write again soon.

Ciao!

1. Don’t plan to see museums on a Monday. They’re almost always closed. In fact, don’t bother going anywhere on a Monday. Strike Mondays out of your itinerary. If you’re lucky, a park may be open.
2. Don’t visit small towns between 1-4pm. Shops are closed and you’ll think you’re in a ghost town.
3. Don’t try figuring out opening and closing times of shops – they’re just too weird. Like 9:35-10:50am, 4:25-7:15pm. Kinda makes you wonder how people actually earn any money.
4. Do try to learn some Italian before visiting the country. Italians’ grasp of English is tenuous at the best of times, and completely non-existent the rest of the time.
5. Do not confuse “cane” (dog) with “carne” (meat), otherwise you’ll find yourself amusing the locals when you tell them that the eating of dog in South Africa is very good.
6. Don’t try ordering food in Italian when it’s been a long day and you’re very tired. Otherwise you’ll ask for gnocchi and tomato sauce without “pomeriggio” (afternoon) instead of “formaggio” (cheese).
7. Do find out about airline strikes BEFORE you get to the airport.
8. When packing, DO NOT add that little something “just in case” and because it weighs so little. All those little somethings add up to stones on your back.
9. As a man, if you want to look cool, do wear a suit jacket, jeans and takkies (sneakers). Smart Italian shoes also do the trick. Oh yes, and dark sunglasses. At night.
10. If you’re Italian, do show pride in your wonderful heritage by covering every available surface with graffitti. Afterall, you gave the world the word… Don’t be shy. Don’t limit yourself to train stations, train carriages, every wall and lamppost. Those marble statues and monuments are just begging for your name to be scrawled upon them. Oh, you don’t need my encouragement? No, you’ve been there, done that.
11. Do visit Italy, particularly Rome, during Italian Cultural Week. 8 days when most museums are free! You’ll save yourself hundreds of Rands. Of course, this only applies if you like museums…

And yes, there is a story behind each one To be revealed in the future.

Yes yes yes! It finally happened! I’m writing my first blog post in Italy… I am SOOO sorry it’s taken so long. Travelling is hard work you know

So lemme quickly fill you in. I’m back in Rome. The first 2 weeks went by according to plan (see my itinerary). Got loads of photos which I need to sort out and upload. Tal went back to London on Sunday So I’m all on my lonesome (sniff sniff). I know you’re all feeling really sorry for me, all alone in Rome…

I’m here for another week. First, it’s just so nice to not have to move around with a backpack. Second, it’s Shavuot next week, so I needed to be somewhere close to a shul. And third, well, there’s just so much to see in Rome…

Now that you all know I’m still alive and haven’t fallen down some black hole, I’m going to write a few posts with different themes or ideas. I just can’t see myself writing you a day-by-day, blow-by-blow account of the past 2.5 weeks… One day is long enough!!!