first “real” day in ITALIA

ciao a tutti

well I finally had my first full day back in Italy, and it wasn’t very eventful… the joys of not having a car and having a fidanzato that hates public transport, meant we were at home for the day, but it was nice and relaxing, waking up around 10am, getting out of bed to enjoy un caffè, then I put on my workout gear and did 20-30minutes of running on the spot, sit ups, crunches, mountain climbs and press ups (I need to try and lose some pre wedding weight while I’m here haha), then after a beautiful lunch of pasta, I enjoyed an nice long afternoon nap!

After dinner, around 10pm, finally something was getting to happen! we got in the Bella piccola nera Matteo’s mothers old black mini, and went to the meeting spot to catch up with his amici, turns out it was very cold, two others arrived and we all decided we were going to go to their friends house that lives literally across the road from Matteo’s family block. so we went there and caught up with all the friends for about an hour. it was nice for me for once, because normally when I would go there it was difficult, because I would try to speak italian but as you know my italian is very limited, so after a short while I would run out of things to say, and get lost in the conversations because they’re speaking too quickly, but this time I was lucky, because the friends who came with us from London were there too, so it was much easier for me because they talked to me and I didn’t feel left out. I guess because the girlfriend of Christmas (my nickname for him because his last name is Natale), is also an outsider of the group because she didn’t go to primary school with them, so it was easier for her to chat to me, because she knows me better. so that was quite nice! but I do love Matteo’s friends. they do try to keep me engaged, and if they can’t, they put the tv in English for me usually! haha!

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The three Matteo's. or in italian they say “Tre Mattei”!

Matteo ed io!

After a while, Matteo, Christmas, Anna (christmas’ girlfriend), Chiappa, Giorgia, Luca and I all went to the Lord Lichfield’s English pub in Rome, it’s the usual hanging spot to go for a drink when we come to Italy! it’s very english, while they don’t exactly speak English, they have pictures of the royals and famous english people all over the walls! it’s very cute! so we went there and enjoyed a drink, and some patate fritta , then made our way back home.

Now on the way back was where the interesting part of the night happened. we were sitting in the car, singing along to the girly music that Christmas had on his iPhone, when we got stopped by the carabinieri! all 5 of us that were in la macchina had to get out of the car and show them our IDs, which as I later found out was so they could check that we didn’t have a criminal record, because I thought it was very strange that they had to ask everyone for their drivers license or ID cards. good thing I decided to bring mine! then I was explaining to Luca what happens in New Zealand when we get pulled over and the policemen didn’t seem to happy about me speaking in English because they didn’t know what I was saying, so they wanted me to say what I was saying to Luca to them. which I did, I don’t think they understood me anyway! Then I asked them if I could take a photo of their car, and gosh did they get upset with me about it, no no no! that was a crime to take a photo of their car! oh my gosh! that is just very strange to me, I just wanted a photo to put up on here, or on Facebook! ahhhhh! then after a good 15 minutes of checking everything out we were finally able to driver the two minutes back home!

Now it’s nearly 3am, and I’m finally tired and ready to fall asleep!

buona notte!

Anna

30 things to do before I’m 30 – Go inside an Italian Castle

Ciao a tutti, I was lucky during my italian summer to get to visit a Castle, FINALLY. After our disaster in febbraio last year, when we tried to visit Castello Orsini-Odescalchi in Bracciano about 30km out of Roma (although I’m pretty sure it took us around 1 1/2 – 2 hours to get there) only to find that everything in Bracciano happens to be closed on a lunedi (Monday), I was finally going to be able to pretend to be una piccola principessa in a castello! And all we had to do was get a ride to the centre of la citta di Roma! 

The only view of the castle that I got to see in February 2014!

Castel Sant’Angelo! Finally I got to experience a historic Italian Castle! I remember always being fascinated by the idea of Princes and Princesses and Castles and fairytales. When I first imagined going to Italy, I think apart of the fact that all the historic buildings and structures seemed like something out of a fairytale, made the idea of going to Italy so much more appealing! (It probably didn’t help that as a child my mother and step father used to fill my head with ideas that I was dropped off at the doorstep in a basket because I was a long lost Princess haha) Italy, and it’s history and castles were just all so appealing! Not that Italy had exactly had a monarchy, after they managed to abolish the monarchy in 1946 and send Re Umberto II into exile! But Finally I, Anna (without the king) was finally getting to experience stepping foot into a 2000 year old castle!

My first look at this magnificent Castel Sant’Angelo

The Castle of the Holy Angel, as it is called if you translate the name in English, was in fact originally constructed as a mausoleum by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, in 123 the building works started, for what would later turn into a fortress and a castle for the catholic papacy in the 14th century.

Remains of what was clearly a strong fortress!

I guess when it came to the Papacy and the Roman Empire and what I imagine would be countless sieges, it definitely acted as a strong hold for the church.

All those little doorways had windows, so they most likely acting as a good place to shoot from!

Fun Fact! Castel Sant’Angelo even acted as a prison for the Papal State…  I guess when your whole country is the size of an ant hill, there isn’t exactly room for a prison. haha The views from Castel Sant’Angelo were just beautiful, from the views of la citta di roma to the Ponte Sant’Angelo bridge that leads towards the Castel. It literally felt like something out of a fairytale book. The type of stories that start with C’era una volta…. 

The view at the top of the castel! You can even see the tip of San Pietro in the distance!

View of the Ponte Sant’Angelo… I was a bit worried when taking this photo, there was a small hole on the ground, I thought I would drop my phone and it would be gone forever! ahhhh

From the artillery rooms, to the crazy italian cartoons from back in the day, there was so much to see in this Castel now turned museum. For €10.50 I definitely felt I got my monies worth!

Strange artwork in one of the museo rooms!

There was even a restaurant within the Castel (I can’t remember the restaurant name unfortunately) which made a delicious pizza (but come on, where do you find a bad pizza in Italy). We arrived at Castel Sant’Angelo just before lunch around 11ish, maybe a bit later. And as I’m sure those of you who have been to Italy know and understand that the italian version of “lunch time” is around 2pm. So after a few hours walking around the Castel we fortunately stumbled across this restaurant in one of the upper floors of the building. I remember Matteo being in the il bagno so I remember asking if the table was free in my horrid italian. Pretty sure I even used the wrong word, I can’t remember what incorrect word I used but it wasn’t libero or gratis. oopsie! But the waitress seemed to work out what I was trying to say anyway so that worked out to my favour! And I remember the prices weren’t that bad for a restaurant within a tourist destination!

Enjoying my italian coca cola at pranzo!

My little friend I made while enjoying my lunch! Must of been eyeing up my cibo!

My delicious pizza for the day!

After a beautiful l’estate day in a castel from just out of paradiso, We finally decided to make our way back to the meeting point to get our ride back to la casa.

Enjoying the view from Castel Sant’Angelo

I really hope that during this next trip to Italia, even though funds will be incredibly abysmal because we are having to move to nuova zelanda with practically only the bond money from the flat, I really hope we might still get an opportunity to explore a bit more and see some more castles. Even if they’re just around roma… I’m pretty sure there are more castles than just Castel Sant’Angelo in the eternal city!

All roads lead to Rome right? haha

Ciao a tutti!

Until next time!

Anna x

30 things to do before I’m 30 – experience the #Amalfi Coast

Ciao a tutti, Another wonderful thing I got to experience while on my l’estate vacanze in Italy was the amalfi coast (another item I can cross off my 30 thing to do before I’m 30, only made possible once again thanks to my soon to be father in law Stefano! And to think we only spent 3 or 4 days just out of Avellino… we didn’t even really go back into town once Papà and Mariangela picked us up! Just stayed up in the beautiful mountain side where Mariangela’s mother lived.

View from the street, just outside the door of Mariangela’s mother’s house

View from the street again

That was the first morning, just before we were starting out trip to the Amalfi Coast. To be honest we did get a bit lost, and went through a toll both for no reason. OOPS. Went in and then back out, when Papà realised we had gone the wrong way. We took a wrong turn unfortunately (and we all know what men are like with directions…. they don’t want to follow mister tom tom navman! hehe) Finally we managed to find the right path and get on the road again! And gosh, was the view breathtaking! We then decided to stop at a little town just beside Cetara, which according to the google maps stamp on my phone is called Maiori, which was just literally breathtaking. We managed to get to the public carpark which was up a very narrow hill, and we had to pull over to the rather small side whenever a car was coming back down the hill. But we got there in the end and made our way to la spiaggia! 

Walking down the hill towards the beaches

Finally getting to the beach!

Lots of lovely italians with their beach chairs and umbrellas

As you can see, there is rather a large about of sun umbrellas with lovely italians under them, so we decided to walk a bit further along the beach and found a quieter side of the mare (or sea)… In New Zealand I’m so used to saying Ocean, because it literally is an ocean, but turns out in Italy they only have the sea. I think for kiwis, we say that the ocean and the sea are the same, but turns out that seas are smaller than oceans and are usually located where the land and ocean meet… Some fun facts for you. 🙂 We had a beautiful day at la spiaggia di Maiori, I had plenty of dips in the ocean … oops I mean sea (or Matteo would say he was having a bath in the sea) , and got a nice sun tan. I loved the fact that you could hire the umbrellas and beach chairs. Unfortunately I think that they were rather expensive. Like €15 or €20 and we got 4 of them. oops! But I guess that is what happens when you go to a tourist destination in l’estate in Italy! (Even if we were at a less populated beach). But just looking out at the ocean… gosh wasn’t it the life. If I didn’t know Italy before, I surely felt I knew if better after that day. Just relaxing by the beach, going for swims in the sea, putting the goggles on and seeing the fishes swimming below your feet. Even feeling the horrible sea salt in your eyes. It was something I really missed, I mean my summer in Italy was the first time I had been to the beach in 2 years, other than the rather windy time I went there in febbraio! It was the first time that I got to literally swim in the open sea in a temperature that made it feel like I was in the bath! It was just such an amazing reality that I was getting to be present in the moment.

View from my beach chair

Going for one of many dips in the sea for the day!

Getting to ready to enjoy some lunch before going back in for another swim

After having a delicious Caprese panino, when then enjoyed another soak in the sun, and dip in the sea, and then made our way around 3pm back to the car to enjoy another trip along the Amalfi coast to Amalfi itself. I couldn’t stop looking out the window at the breathtaking views. I felt like, if I didn’t look, I was missing out on an opportunity to plant some beautiful memories into my brain. We finally got to Amalfi and stopped in the car park, and I ran straight out of the car to the Pier. I didn’t look back, I wanted to experience Amalfi in all it’s beauty and fullness. Words can’t really describe the feelings you get when you see a place so beautiful, I mean it looks like something out of a movie, or out of a fairytale, it doesn’t feel real! But gosh it was. Definitely a place I want to be able to go over and over again. Somewhere I would love to bring my family (If I could ever get mum to get a passport and finally leave New Zealand haha). It was literally like Heaven on Earth.

One very excited Anna on her arrival at Amalfi

Walking onto the Pier in Amalfi

More beautiful views

Beautiful Views

All those houses that you actually see on the films!

Going to Amalfi is literally like finding a corner of the world that is what I like to imagine that heaven would be like. After I had my running away onto the Pier experience, I think put on my tourist hat and had to buy some souvenirs. Which, if you know me, I am the worst person ever to go shopping, especially because I take about 30minutes to decide on one thing, and I don’t think to shop around, I end up paying twice as much for something, that I find in another shop 10 minutes later for half the price… this girl is not a savvy shopper while on holiday! haha. But I did buy an awesome navy sweater with a anchor on it that says Amalfi (I wear it everywhere in London, obviously because it’s super cold) and I bought 3 different sized bottles of limoncello which I still haven’t drank yet. I’m trying to think of how I can take them with me to Nuova Zelanda, because I’m only allowed to take 3 bottles of spirits into the Country before I get stung with duty tax! I might just have to hope my tax refund comes through and post them onto my mummy! But they are awesome little bottles. One is all colourful, in the shape of a shoe, and the other has amalfi art all over it! They are just so cute!

Afterwards we went to the Piazza del Duomo to enjoy an ice cream on the steps of the church, the piazza was absolutely buzzing with life. It was so beautiful to see all the different types of people, foreigners enjoying the new sights, Italians enjoying their august holidays, just the every day little things were all experiences in themselves.

Piazza del duomo!

the men relaxing on the steps, doing typical italian things — ehhhh smoking! 😦

I really hope to return to Amalfi soon. I don’t really think that will happen just yet, but never say never. I will get to see you again soon Amalfi! Just watch out! Anna will be back! haha (I’m sure there a lots of Anna’s there already, considering Anna is one of the most common female names in Italy haha)

Quick Selfie! 

Well I hope you enjoyed hearing about my trip to Amalfi as much as I enjoyed reminiscing about it. I wish I had of kept a diary or something while I was there. Definitely something I plan to do this next trip in exactly one month!

Ciao a tutti!

Anna x

A few things I have noticed after 2 1/2 weeks in Italy

Ciao a tutti,

Mi dispiace that I have been unable to tell you all my news of being in Italia, I’m sure most of you can understand that the internet in this country is sooooooo slow!!!

But I thought I would let you know a few things I have noticed in my time here:

 

Paper Plates and Paper Cups

Whenever I have pranzo (lunch) or cena (dinner) at home or at another family members house, they always bring out the paper plates and cups to save on washing up. I think it’s a fantastic idea! Definitely a way to save on the problem of an overload of dishes when you’re feeding up to and over 10 people!

 

Dinner is always late

In New Zealand I am used to having dinner around 6pm, but here they are always have dinner around 8-8:30pm, sometimes even later! So because I’m used to eating earlier, by the time it is dinner time here I’m not very hungry, I have gotten over being hungry. I try to eat as much as I can, but always say poco poco so I’m not stuck with a full stomach before going to bed.

 

Antipasti

There is always an antipasti of meats, assortments and bread before the pasta! I’m always hungry for pasta, but they bring out the antipasti first, and by the time that is eaten I’m not very hungry anymore! 😦

 

Crazy drivers

All italians drive crazy fast and don’t put on their seatbelts! I always make sure my seatbelt goes on, if we have an accident I at least know I will survive. Which is why I always have to tell Matteo to put his seatbelt on when we are in the car.  would rather he be safe and uncomfortable than dangerous and fast. We even had a small car related accident while on our way back from the Campania region. We were waiting to turn on the highway to the road that leads to Roma and a car was coming up too fast, and hit the back corner. Luckily everyone was ok. But I mean, they and a child in their car. What were they thinking?!

the damage to pàpà’s machine

The other guys

 

Cats

Cats in Italia are all friends. They all seem to hang out together without getting into scraps with each other, it’s kind of nice to see cats hanging out and not fighting! haha

 

Young Adults

Young adults all meet up around 11pm at random meeting spots (like a random street) and just hang out for about an hour outside their cars before decided to go to a pub or a friend’s house or something of the likes. For me it seems really strange to meet up at bed time! But they all seem to do it. It seems completely normal practice over here!

hanging out with some of matteo’s large group of friends – chiappa, giorgia, andrea and me 🙂

Un cafè

Italians go crazy for coffee, that little espresso shot. They have it after every meal, at the bar when we’re in town. I think they would have about 10 every day if they could!!

enjoying my little coffee with 3 sugars!

 

Well here is just a little insight to what I have seen these past few days. But the internet is really frustrating me with how slow it is being! I will try and write again soon!

 

Ciao for now!

 

xxx

Anna

 

Italia a domani!

Italy tomorrow…..

wow, I’m actually going back to Italy tomorrow. With poor language skills, and no one to translate for me. It shall definitely be an interesting ride.

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their condolence messages, it is much appreciated! And means a lot!

It will definitely be a rather strange trip to Italia, considering my reason for going early was to spend time with Mamma. But it will still be a nice week I am sure, one of Matteo’s cousins Carlotta will be free most of the week, so I can spend the time with her. Although she doesn’t speak english, and my italian skills are abysmal. Last time we were there, I could get the start of a sentence, miss the vital middle part but I would also know the end of the sentence. It was very frustrated. But I got my phone fixed, and have the trusty google translate app which is pretty hopeless. But hey, if I remember back 20months ago when Matteo and I got together, that was how he spoke english with me, with google translate, so lets hope it will work in reverse with italian!

Me and Carlotta! Who says you need the same language to be great friends! haha

I’m nearly all packed. I have packed mostly for Matteo because when he arrives the following Thursday he only has a carry on bag to take, as we plan to buy a second suitcase in italy to fill up with food on our way home. Although, my suitcase is mainly full of gifts, even more than in the pics below, as I got a couple more bottles of wine to give to the aunties and older cousins.

One side of my bag all packed!

Am just hoping it doesn’t break in the luggage bay of the aeroplane! The presents are full of overpriced goodies from New Zealand, since I had to buy them from over here, I had to pay ridiculously inflated prices. Gosh I cannot wait until September next year when I can go back to New Zealand a fill up a suitcase with all the food that I miss! haha

It feels so weird to be going to Italy alone though, I can just imagine how my conversation will be when Zia Donatella e Carlotta pick me up. Maybe Gaia will be there too, we shall see! It will probably go like “ahhhhh ciao ciao” then the usual kisses of greeting, then I might be able to work out if they ask how my flight was, only because of that song that goes voooolllllaaaarrreeee! then I will reply with a bene bene, then a come stai? And then it was be Blank…. I will end of being a snob, because I have no more structure of sentences. Unless I say my italian is awful, or I feel stupid, because I worked out how to say those ones too! Oh and I missed you! So I guess it may be like a long 2 minutes of conversation before I go back to being like a child!

Now speaking of children, one piccolo person I CANNOT wait to see will be little Daniel! I have lots of presents for him, and learn so much playing with me (which makes me feel more of an idiota because my language ability is that of a 20month year old) but it will be great! He is the cutest little man in the whole wide world! haha

Piccolo Daniel!
Photo credit: Carlotta

At least I can hope in the fact that after a week of no one being able to translate for me, I must be able to pick up something! I’ve got my mango languages course on my phone, so I might just listen to that the whole flight, although I restarted the course again as it’s the same as the computer version, and it’s just basic things that I know, like “how are you, what’s your name, have a good day” which I guess is fine to re affirm, I just hope that it will start with useful things, like “can I have a glass of water” which I know eventually comes in the course, I just can’t remember what chapter!

I guess the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself isn’t it? And while we were there for those 2 1/2 days for such an awful reason, I was forced to speak some italian, and while whenever I attempt to speak it in a group, I get it repeated 5 or 6 times with everyone giggling afterwards and saying che carina which is really quite a put off and makes me feel embarrassed, it did vastly improve. So with a full week without Matteo there to be a translator, it will have to improve!  I think my biggest hindrance to myself is that I’m a bit embarrassed to speak. It’s not that I don’t understand, it’s that I just feel silly speaking the language.

So it should be a great ragazze settimana or girls week! haha! I’ve even got a pohutakawa or New Zealand christmas tree to attempt to grow in Italy! So they can have a little bit of me with them all the time! haha or a little bit of New Zealand!

a New Zealand christmas tree

Well I hope everyone has been having a good summer!

I am sure I will be writing a lot now that I will actually BE in Italy for a whole 4 WEEKS!!! AHHHHHHHHH!

 

 

Ciao a tutti!

Scrive a presto!

 

xxx

Anna

 

Ciao mamma….

Allora… I had a not very nice trip to Italy on domenica at lunch time.

We woke up to a call from zia, saying that Matteo needed to come to Italy, but they wouldn’t say why, then after lots of messages between his sorella and himself on facebook, we found out the horrible news… Mamma is gone….

I have never moved so fast, got straight onto the computer, booked the cheapest direct flights to Rome and left as we had about 2 hours to be at the airport before check in closed. Then we arrived to Gatwick airport and was on the plane to Rome in no time, it felt surreal, like it couldn’t be happening… Matteo had just spent a week in Italy spending time with Mamma in the hospital… the doctor said she could probably leave hospital in 2-3 weeks… so that would mean she would either be out, or coming out of hospital by the time we were arriving for our holiday…. not for this to happen, it was a shock, I guess you can never truly be prepared for something like this. I am so glad that Matteo got to spend that week with her though, I think it was so important.

And to think back when we were both there together in febbraio I wanted to get a photo of all 3 of us. And Matteo said no, next time… well I’m never going to get that next time. Neither of us will…

It was quite different for me attending an Italian funeral, coming from a different country there were definitely aspects that I found strange. In the morning we went to the hospital where they had her body in the hospital mortuary. Matteo didn’t want to go in there, I told him it’s important, and Mamma’s fidanzato convinced him it was important as well. So I went with him, she was so beautiful lying there, it just looked as though she was sleeping and she would wake up any minute. I was so glad I could be there for Matteo, that he didn’t have to face it without me there. I was glad I could be there for his sorella as well. Because I know it’s hard of Matteo, but it must be just as hard on Gaia if not more. Because mothers and daughters always have that special bond that you can’t explain.

After we left the hospital we went to the funeral mass, where the priest talked about her during the homily, no one else came up to say a eulogy or anything, there was no slideshow with pictures of her life or anything and I couldn’t really understand much of what was being said. Then we went to the gravesite. That was the thing I found most strange, the priest never came to say a prayer or anything as she was being lowered in the ground. We just got there, they put her in the gravesite and then the grave workers put the dirt over the casket and that was it. Then the family put the flowers that they had gotten during the morning on the gravesite.

It was hard, there is so much I would of liked to have shown Mamma. I loved her very much. She reminded me so much of my mother in New Zealand. Even though I couldn’t speak to her probably, I wished I could of talked to her in Italian and understood what she would say to me. I wish I could have taken her to New Zealand to see what it is like on the other side of the world. I wish I could of just given her one last hug and told her how much I loved her.

But at least now she will be able to understand me. I think when you have faith it makes you understand that even though it’s hard, you believe that she is in a better place, she is no longer in pain, no longer hurting. And now when I talk to her, she can actually understand me even if I can’t speak to her in Italian.

Ciao mammina!

Zia Paola found a good prayer/poem for us to think of It’s St. Augustine’s prayer of death is nothing.

I have just moved to the neighbouring room

I am who I am … you are whom you are,

That which we were to one another,

We will always be.

Call be by my name.

Speak to me like you’ve always did.

Don’t use a different tone ….

Don’t take that look; solemn or sad.

Continue to laugh at that which made us laugh together.

Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be pronounced at home,

As it always was,

Without pomposity or gloom.

Life is still the same

It is what it always was

The string has not been cut.

Why should I be away from your thoughts?

Just because I am away from your sight?

I’m not far, just on the other side of the road….

You see, everything is fine …

Wipe your tears and cry no more.

Just beautiful, and so true!

Yesterday morning after our horrid day on Monday, Zia Paola took me, Matteo, Gaia, Carlotta and Simone to see castel gandolfo, it reminded Matteo and I that the sun still shines after the storm. It was a nice morning to be together. Zia Paola bought me a piccola bambolina (little dolly) Matteo said that it’s a good reminder for us of the past couple of days. I said I will name my piccola bambolina Stefania. after Mamma. So now I will always have her in bambolina form!

And surprisingly for myself, after two days of having to speak Italian, my Italian drastically improved, only problem for me is, that whenever I speak it, everyone always repeats what I say in my little voice, because they think it’s so cute that I try. Che palle!

Well I hope everyone had a much better weekend/beginning of the week than we did. Was back at work on Wednesday! But I have two weeks now before I go back to Italia, it really won’t be the same anymore. I will never get to say Ciao Mamma anymore when I see her. I think that’s one of the things I will find the hardest, because I loved to say that to her, and I like to think that she liked to hear it from me too!

me con Gaia e Carlotta on our goodbye of italia after the funeral, the sun still shines after a storm

Ciao a tutto!

A presto! xxx

Anna

My top 5 places in italia

Ciao a tutti,

Haven’t been on here for a while… you know how it is, life gets in the way and all that! I realise I need to start practising more italian. But I guess I will get there in the end.

I though today I would do my top 5 places in italia! In saying that, next time I go to italy these will probably change again, because I haven’t seen all the places I would yet like to see. But here we go. In no particular order of greatness.

1. Roma

Who doesn’t love rome, from being the very essence of the roman empire, to being the capital of Italy, roma which is in the region of lazio has everything, from current trends to thousand year old buildings such as the Colosseo, you can’t go wrong with roma, considering it has a history expanding more than 2500 years since it’s legendary founding in 753BC definitely the place every tourist needs to go when visiting italia! If you want to know the history of the founding of roma, I could story to look up would be the story of Romulus e Remis

View of palazzo del popolo

il colosseo!
Photo credit: Me

Fontana di trevi

The spanish steps!
Such a large crowd!
Photo Credit: Matteo

2. Stato della Città del Vaticano

One thing I love about Italia, is that while it’s a country itself, it actually has 2 more countries within it, that of San Marino and vatican city, while I am yet to see the former, I love vatican city, it’s hard to even realise that you’re actually in there, considering you can see it from any high altitude point of roma, with a population of less that 840 residents, it is definitely a place to visit. And we all know the swiss guards look so adorable in their little clown costumes. 😛 haha. I mean I love everything in that “Country” from san pietro, to piazza di san pietro, to the musei vaticani and the sistine chapel. It is all so glorious and beautiful!

beautiful ceiling in the vatican museums

The Apostle Peter? I think, in the piazza!

View of st. Peter’s from inside the vatican museums

Pieta, my most favourite artwork in all of italy

3. Firenze

I travelled to firenze, in my first trip to italia, back in december 2012, my main reason for even wanting to go there was to get myself a puzzle ring, I remember my first evening there, I found the shop I needed to go to and set on a walk to get there, and a man in his maybe mid 30s, stopped me and asked for the time, so I told him, when he realised I only spoke english, he thought it would be a good opportunity for him to practise, and I asked him for directions to the shop I was looking for, he said he would take me, although, I was following maps on my phone at the time, and realised he was leading me in the wrong direction and to his car…. and he kept on wanting to hug me and take selfies with me, needless to say I got a bit scared, quickly told him I had to go, and walked as fast back to the hostel as I could, so unfortunately that put me off going out in naples after 4pm. But I did get to see some amazing things during the day, I love the wee markets they had, I got some funky looking masks, and walking up the dome at the cathedral with the magnificent views of all of firenze, to all the other little piazze I stumbled upon. I definitely would like to go back again… next time though, I will NOT be alone! haha

One thing I do love about florence, is some pretty amazing notable figures came out of there, including Dante – the father of modern italian, to michelangelo, the medici family who created the bank system, and giotto! All remarkable people!

Firenze from the cupola
Photo Credit: Me

One of the beautiful churches I stumbled across on my walks around firenze

Dante!!!

The big cathedral!

Another view of the cathedral!

Brunelleschi’s dome

4. Taormina, Sicily

Taormina is in the region of Sicilia it is about midway between Messina and Catania, I spent 2 glorious days of sunshine there just after new years in jan 2013. While the hostel I stayed in was quite unsavoury, since when I arrived people were in my room, and they never topped up the toilet paper at all. So was not very happy, considering the owners were never there for me to ask. But I had some nice walks down the main drag of taormina, beautiful views of mt etna, and just all beautiful scenery! Definitely a place I would like to return too. I remember when I was catching the bus back to Catania to get the train back to roma, bus driver said to me “fa freddo, fa freddo” as I only had a singlet top on (or vest as some people call it), because it was like 20 degrees! That’s not cold!!!

Coastal images

Beautiful views of Etna

my selfie in taormina

coastal views

more coastal images

5. Assisi!

Now if you love medieval towns along with a bit of Christian history Assisi is the place to go. I remember my first trip to Rome, I had actually booked a tour from Rome to Assisi, but unfortunately it got cancelled, so to my surprise on this trip, I woke up one morning, and Matteo said “Let’s go to Assisi”, after 3 odd hours on the road, and a bit of getting lost, we finally arrived to Assisi, with the beautiful views of the abbey from the hill below. I love that Assisi is just a small town on a hill with like 5 or 6 churches!

With great artworks of Giotto in the basilica, to the statue of San Francesco’s parents. It was all amazing, I literally felt like I had stepped back in time (well minus the vehicles but we were walking everywhere)… with breath taking views of Umbria. It’s definitely a place I want to return too.

View of Assisi from the car on the way there.

Hanging out with the parents of francesco!
Photo Credit: Matteo

Me with the gorgeous view of Umbria behind me!
Photo Credit: Matteo

 

I hope you enjoyed! I unfortunately haven’t been to as many places in Italy as I would like to go! I’m sure the next time I go I will find another top 5 places for you to come see with me!!!

Ciao miei amici!

Anna x

My top 8 favourite places in Roma

Ciao a tutti! 

Now I love Roma, everything about roma makes me fall more in love with it everyday. So I thought I would share with y’all, my favourite places I love about Roma. Not in any particular order of favouritism…

 1.    Bocca della Verità

 Or as we are familiar in English, “The Mouth of Truth”  is an image carved from marble, (Pavonazzo marble to be exact),  located just before you walk into the cheisa or church of Santa Maria in Cosmedìn. It is thought to have been part of a first-century ancient Roman Fountain, or perhaps a manhole cover portraying one of several possible pagan gods, probably Oceanus (that big triton (think little mermaid’s dad) like dude that you see at the fontana di trevi). Although most romans believe that the bocca (mouth) represents the ancient god of the river tiber.

Although today the most famous characteristic of the Mouth is that of a lie detector. Legend says that if you place your hand in the mouth and were a liar, your hand would be bitten off. Other stories say that a priest was on the other side of the sculpture, and would chop your hand of with a axe or other sharp instrument if you were a known liar.

La Bocca della Verità was placed in the entrance of the Santa Maria in Cosmedìn, in the early 17^th century.

Bocca della verità! Didn’t lose my hand! woo hoo!
Photo Credit: Matteo Castellani

 

2. Colosseo

 Also known as the Colosseum, or Flavian Amphitheatre, it is such a beautiful piece of history, smack bang in the middle of roma, with a 12 euro charge to get through the gates it is worth it to re live the history of the colosseo, when you walk out into the viewing platforms you can’t help but image yourself there. (Although I know if I was there, I would probably be in the pit running away from the lions for my faith, luckily there is no actual proof of this though!) but it is just such a majestic experience to look upon real live history that you are WALKING ON.

Unfortunately a lot of the deterioration of the colosseo was due to a lot of the papal reigns, taking out pieces of floor to go into their halls, which are now in the Vatican museums. But still, it is nice to imagine. I reckon they should rebuild the colosseo back to original form, imagine reopening that thing! Obviously not for what it was used for 2000 years ago, but you could definitely do something with it, I mean they receive millions of vistors annual. They would already get over close to 12 million euro for just 1 million visitors in the year! It wouldn’t be hard!

il colosseo!
Photo credit: Me

View of one side of the colosseo! I think I really need to go back to get some nicer pics!

3. Arcibasilica Papale di Giovanni in Laterano

 Also know as Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, is my favourite chiesa in all of Roma, It even for me ranks about st. peter’s.

It is so beautiful for me because of the simplicity of the church. How there is nothing incredibly “showy” just simple and elegant. I love the 12 giant apostle statues, and tall walls.

The church stands over the remains of the lateran palace. Even becoming the residence of Pope St. Silvester I.

It also is the oldest cathedral and ranks first among the four papal basilicas or major basilicas of Rome.

And one of the cinctures for me, is that their souvenirs are like 50% cheaper at San Giovanni, than they are at the Vatican, even for the same item!

San Giovanni! Just as beautiful from the outside!

random crow like bird. Would really love to know what these birds are called! They seem to always be hanging outside San Giovanni!

The entrance… yes I said entrance! A giantly massive entrance! Photo Credit: Matteo

I’m busy being fascinated by the roof! Love the whole building!
Photo Credit: Matteo

Some of the beautiful ceilings of the church! Cannot get enough!

 

    4. Bioparco di Roma

 Now, I for one love animals, I unfortunately currently do not own any, but as soon as I put roots down somewhere, it will be happening, I will get to have many animals, from my dream dog husky, to turtles and those little hamster things that cost 8 euro at the pet shop in Italy. I will own them all! But as this isn’t a discussion of all the animals that Anna’s wants, I bring you to the bioparco di roma, now I thought, hmmmm a zoo in Italy, I mean come on, I’ve been to Australia Zoo, so I have seen a zoo before, but I absolutely loved it. I would even quietly say I loved it more than Australia Zoo.

The bioparco di roma was conceived in 1908 to hold exotic animal specials for exhibition. Unlike other zoos at the time which mainly worked for scientific criteria, this zoo was designed for the entertainment and amusement of people. It was not established as a bioparco until 1998. Honestly… not really sure of the difference between a zoo and a bio park, because it just seemed like a zoo. But hey. Oh well! Haha

I loved it, they had these crazy mini monkeys that were so tiny and adorable and super quick, you had to be fast to catch a glimpse. They had these giant size hamsters, or guinea pig type animals, but they were BIG! You would need a rather large cage to keep one of them as a pet. They had the beautiful lynx and leopard. Even a kangaroo! Along with a whole bunch of glorious other animals! And when Matteo and I went in December 2012, they had a Christmas special on, where it was 2 for the price of one, so we both got in for like 8 euros each. If we were in Australia we would have been paying like $120 + for the both of us! I was really stoked! I loved the bioparco di roma so much!

I felt like I was seeing that dude from the lion king when I spotted this guy!

What did I tell you!? Giant hamsters!

just laxing with the Cheetah!
Photo Credit: Matteo

My favourite animal of all in the bioparco! The Lynx or in italian lince!

Cutest little meerkats in all the world!

5. Fontana di trevi

Now if you want a perfect view of the trevi fountain, do not go during the day, but stay up late, and go at around midnight or just after. You avoid the mass crowds, and enjoy breathtaking views of the fountain lit up to the nines. It really feels as though you’ll the only ones there even if there are a small handful of people along with agitating rose sellers around.

Unfortunately I can’t guarantee your wish will come true, since over 4000 euro a day goes into that fountain, no wonder the gypsies come out when no one is around and empties the fountain!

There is a beautiful legend surround the fountain… it is said that in 19 BC thirsty Roman soldiers were guided by a young girl to a source of pure water thirteen kilometers from the city of Rome. The discovery of the source led Augustus to commission the construction of a twenty-two kilometre aqueduct leading into the city, which was named Aqua Virgo, or Virgin Waters, in honor of the legendary young girl. The aqueduct served the hot Baths of Agrippa, and Rome, for over four hundred years.

Cool hey!

Fontana di trevi

love birds alla fontana di trevi

 

  6. Piazza San Pietro

Or St. Peter’s Square is something that all tourists to Italy need to see. It was the first place Matteo ever took me, and reflecting back on that day of December 12^th 2012, it is a day I will never forget, because he knew how much it meant for me to see the Vatican City. One for me being a Catholic, the pope is obviously a very important part of our lives. So for me to finally see something I had only ever seen on tv or in pictures was such an experience. And then to be able to WALK into that! … I don’t even have the words to describe the feelings. I was talking to Matteo about it yesterday and I had tears running down my cheeks, because he wasn’t to know that something like taking me to the St. Peter’s square would end up being something so important to me, especially because he took me there first. Above any other tourist destination that was the first place we went. With all the saints watching over us from above, to San Pietro looming over us, to a four thousand year old Egyptian obeslik at the centre square. It was all just so amazing and over whelming and arrrrh, I can’t put to words. Definitely something that everyone needs to experience.

The Apostle Peter? I think, in the piazza!

St. Peter’s Square on a rather drizzly december 2012 day!

7. Pincio

Otherwise known as Pincian hill, is a hill in the northeast quadrant of the historical centre of Rome. It is outside the original boundaries of the ancient city of Rome and is not one of the Seven Hills of Rome but does like within the wall built by Roman Emperor Aurelian between 270 and 273.

The views of Rome from pincio are just breathtaking, with a direct view overlooking piazza del popolo it is just stunning. You can see views of everything, from the parliament buildings to the Vatican.

Just watch out for the annoying rose sellers! They sure are hecklers!

Enjoying the view of piazza del popolo
Photo Credit: Matteo

View of palazzo del popolo

8. musei vaticani

Now I would definitely recommend when seeing the Vatican museums do a guided tour, because you learn so much. I can’t recall who I did my tour with back when, but it made such a difference for my understanding of all the items, especially the Sistine chapel. I never realised that the Medici family and the Florentines played such a big part in the artistry and paintings of those that Michelangelo and others painted in the Sistine chapel. Next time you go and see the Sistine Chapel, look carefully at the images, and you will notice certain characters in Florentine outfits of the time of the paintings, never looking towards Jesus, always looking away, because they weren’t to interesting in him. It was just amazing learning all those things. And thank the Japanese for not being allowed to take photographs; they own the copyright until 2030 on the Sistine chapel paintings!

I loved the musei vaticani though; each hall was so different, from seeing tapestries that nuns hand weaved, to giant paintings of maps of different areas of Italy, to just beautiful realistic paintings! It was such an experience. One I would definitely do again. I don’t even think I saw everything, and I was nearly there for the whole day. I ended up taking a tour, but one of those girls advertising just along the road, then the tour guide was telling us about each hallway we were going through, although they were leaving after the Sistine chapel, so I made the decision to stay on, I handed back my headset and went to explore some more. I spent hours upon hours there. It was just so beautiful, and so amazing, and every hall so different to reflect the different personalities of the popes. Definitely a big high light!

And if you’re on a budget and don’t want to do a tour, although I do highly recommend you do, the Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of each month. But be prepared to line up for hours!!!

Beautiful artworks

Hand sewed by nuns! Stunning!

No, it’s not a sculpture on the roof… its a 3D painting!!!

I could not stop staring at the roofs of some of the halls. They were better looking than some of the walls.

la bella mappa di italia

More sexy roof work!

Casual angel, playing his old school guitar

Got to love the madonna with child always!

Another funky painting I came across… I have enough photos of the museum to make a 200page book!

Another madonna and child! I just love how beautiful all images of our lady are!

The spiral staircase I had to go down to make my way out of the museum!

 

Hope you enjoyed my 8 favourite spots! I’m sure make sure to find 8 more favourite spots next time I go to italia!! 🙂

Ciao amici!

 

Anna x

A Cassino era tutto chiuso…. Latina piana delle orme, e canzoni da Frozen

Ciao a tutti,

Just after 10am Papa Stefano arrived to pick up Matteo and I with his fidanzata Mariangela. And we made our way to Cassino, since for me being a Neozelandese meant that there was a bit of history for me. We rolled up outside the museo, only to find it chiuso, everything on a Sunday at this time of year was closed. Nothing was open! Much to our disappointment. This always seems to be happening to me whenever we decided to go and see something… Papa managed to get the attention of some people through the gate at the museo, and they said that everything was closed until marzo, but that there was a memorial for the Neozelandese just by the train station. So we made our way to la stazione di treni to hunt out this “special” memorial. And well to me it was a bit of a joke. I mean yes it’s nice to find a special memorial for New Zealand on the otherside of the world, but I mean look at it…. It’s not that exciting! But hey I guess beggars can’t be choosers right…

The New Zealand flag!

All the flags outside the Cassino museum

As close as I could get to seeing what was inside the museum

The cassino abbey. Where the Benedictine monks are. It was bombed during WWII and the americans rebuild it.
Photo Credit: Matteo

 

The neozelandese plaque by the Cassino train station

Look at it. It’s tiny! But I guess it is all the way on the other side of the world….

We then jumped back into the car to make our way to Latina, first stopping at a cute little trattoria on the way, where we enjoyed a delicious meal of antipasti, pasta al pomodori and a couple of bites of Matteo’s tiramisu. Where we saw a funny report of the television about an English man driving on the wrong side  of the road because he thought he was in England. That would definitely be a big fear for me when it came to driving in Italy. I think I would need to actually get lessons to overcome that fear… or maybe a vespa. I think it would be easier on a vespa! Haha 😛

My delicious antipasto! I love prosciutto!

We finally made it back on the road and came in view of Latina. Which originally used to be all swamp land until Mussolini actually did something good, where he turned it into a little town… after that he met Adolf, and well we all know what happened there… We made it to the museo, where we went into the little shop. I thought it was going to be all war stuff, but like new war stuff…. Not items that were originally from la guerra. Matteo bought my step father some bullets from the war to send over to Nouva Zelanda, so hopefully he should enjoy those!

Having just arrived to piana delle orme. Matteo with his “step mum” Mariangela!

The souvenir shop…. souvenirs FROM the WW!

In memory of the fallen on the cassino, anzio, and nettuno front lines 1943 – 1944, Latina 21st January 2006

Piana delle Orme!!!

From learning about the good things Mussolini did by creating Latina, to learning the horrible things that the Italian jewish went through. At least when they first created the concentration camps by order of Mussolini they weren’t to be harmed in anyway, and if they were working they were to be paid, to the harsh consquences that happened after Benito got chummy with Hitler, we saw all the names of the Italian jews in a train car, to seeing how they could tell who was who from the tags on their pajamas. It was quite painful to see. I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like in those days. Growing up today we are so lucky to know that we will never have to go through anything like that. Children born in todays world will never understand how lucky they are. They will never have to go through what our grandparents went through as children. But then they will probably never truly learn or understand from our grandparents, as the war was a very long time ago now. And all those that lived through it won’t be here for too much longer. Which is another whole sadness in itself.

To the fallen of all the wars…

Just casually chilling out with a soldier

The baggage train

The names of all the italian jews….

How they used to distinguish the people, with the little tags on their pyjamas. (jail suits)

Mussolini…

I couldn’t help but getting rather patriotic and proud for New Zealand when I spotted the flag and would read things about the New Zealanders. Where were the Australians in all this hey? Not there, but the New Zealanders who lived on the other side of the world who probably didn’t have anything to do with the War really because they were too far away, they were there fighting beside all the Italians, americans, French, Canadians, belgiums etc etc etc. It was exciting seeing all the little photos they had on the KIWIS as they called them on one information board! Go the Kiwis! From half way across the world you can still make us proud!

The countries in the war at Cassino

New Zealand troops attacking in the middle of the destroyed Cassino centre.

New Zealand infantries in a moment of break

After seeing how they did everything in the “olden days” it was finally time to go back to roma. It was a very learned experience for me. Because I am quite naïve in the ways of la guerra, but it makes me want to learn more.

To finish of the evening, I found some FROZEN musica!!! Now I love the film frozen, who can complain when there is a Principessa, clearly named over them! haha, and I unfortunately missed out on seeing it here with Matteo’s sorella Gaia as she was working all the time. So to cure that issue, I got some songs from frozen in italian. I already know them in English, so this should improve the understanding right? Oh I hope so! 😛

Photo credit: Wiki

Oggi is now our last day here, as we will be leaving early tomorrow morning. I think both Matteo and I are struggling, because we are torn, I mean I don’t want to leave at all. But he doesn’t want to leave, but knows we have to because it’s better for us in londra at the moment. I think I now have a goal, to save as hard as I can to be able to save to make the move here, after hard convincing to Matteo. And hoping that people like Matteo Renzi (if he becomes Prime minister) will make it better for all Italians!

Ciao a tutti!

See you back in londra!

To finish off I’ll leave you with some more pictures of our trip to piana delle orme:

Once upon a time….

Sneaking into a tunnel I wasn’t supposed too at the train station. I was going to plead ignorance of the language if I got caught…

Beautiful Peacock. They weren’t trying to hit on any girl peacocks so wouldn’t show us their pretty wings.

Matteo would make such a good madre 😛

Fiat tractor!!!

I think I would be the coolest tractor driver out there. It suits me no?

Boys will be boys!
“Can I get a picture with the tank!!!?”
This tank was also in the film la bella e vita.

I really adored the UV images. They portrayed so much.

An old comic strip of the time.

The New Zealand flag once again! Out and Proud in this little town of Latina!

Arrivederci

Anna x

San Valentino, Supermercato, la luna, Daniel, Pizza and why old people love Berlusconi

Ciao a tutti,

Ieri was one of my favourite “holidays” san valentino, I always get excited for any excuse to buy presents, perchè I think I am an amazing gift giver, I couldn’t actually wait for yesterday morning to give Matteo his gift, I gave it to him the night before, with the excuse “It’s already Valentine’s Day in New Zealand”, I really like to use that excuse a lot as away to give out presents the day before. He was lucky enough to get a St. Christopher Necklace (although it was a lot bigger than I imagined when I got it.) That good ol’ patron saint of travellers. Since he now has a girlfriend from half way across the world, it would be fair to say we will be doing a lot of travelling together, so we need that little bit of extra protection that San Cristoforo can offer. I even got it personalised for him on the back with: “Matteo, Buon San Valentino 2014, Cogli l’attimo, Ti amo, Anna” So he can always remember. 🙂 My Valentine’s Day present was the day before our trip to Assisi, and that was just as amazing, as well as homemade pizza for dinner.

In the late mattina we made our way to the supermercato, now one thing I will say for italians, they really know how to lay out a supermarket, large aisles, all beautifully arranged, I absolutely LOVE shopping in Italy, I would happily spend hours doing the grocery shop if I lived here. One person I wouldn’t take though is Matteo, who hates grocery shopping, whether it’s a man thing or not, I drive him insane taking forever, enjoying all that’s around me. He just likes to buy what he came in for and then leave, not soak up the surroundings. If we do move back here, he will not be joining be for the grocery shopping, that will be Anna’s treat to herself! haha, we made our way around the beautiful supermarket, getting ingredients for the pizza, and stocking up on paprika Pringles to take back to london. I love how over here, they have flour specifically for pizza, and a whole aisle dedicated to Pasta, which is half the price for branded pasta over here in Italy, that what you pay in london for the same brand, with NO Neopolitan branded dodgy grown on rubbish dumps food! If there was a supermarket in heaven, it will be an italian one!

Clearly enough room for like 3 1/2 trolleys!!!
Photo Credit: Google images

Checkout that aisle! Oh yeah!
Photo Credit: Google images

After finally getting dragged out of my supermarket heaven, we went back home.
Matteo’s sorella Gaia was planning on making a red velvet cake, from the mixes that we brought with us from londra, go betty crocker! Matteo was busy translating for her in italian, when I spoke to her in english, saying You can understand me right? And she was nodding her head. She studied languages at school, and Matteo’s busy translating, when she can actually read and understand the whole thing herself. She’s a closet english speaker that one! haha

And Nonna was also making homemade  pasta! Can’t get enough of the home made pasta here in Italy! Home made everything tastes so much nicer than bought products! And all it involves in uovo eggs, farina flour and a bit of sale salt! How easy is that! And It makes a delicious mezzogiorno meal!

home made pasta!
Photo Credit: Matteo

The amazing pasta machine! That has lasted 30 years for the cost of around 40-50 euro! Can’t go wrong there!
Photo Credit: Matteo

Buon appetito!

I went to have a nap, and got woken up to Matteo coming back from dropping the alfa romeo back to papa, I arrived in the kitchen to see both papa and Daniel! ahhhh! But first I went out to look at the moon! It was MASSIVE! Una bellissima luna! 

la bellissima luna! bella e gialla!

After shooting the moon half asleep, I went into la cucina to play with the adorable Daniel. He is the funniest little italian bambino I know (the only italian bambino I know) il mio piccolo amico! My little friend! He has the most funniest characteristics, between blowing raspberries at Matteo, to constantly roaring at me like a lion. We both could not get enough of this adorable little creature that is Daniel. Matteo got told off by Nonna for trying to teach Daniel how to pick his nose, that was quite entertaining. He is just such an amazing little man!

il mio piccolo amico!

We then enjoyed finishing the pizzas, I helped Matteo with his patate pizza. A strange combination I thought, but then he thinks I’m weird for liking pineapple on my pizzas in england. After they went in the oven, and came out, we sat down to enjoy them. Who knew that pizza with just patate could be so delicious! Then Zia Donatella arrived with a present for me, just out of the blue, it was so lovely. A scarf and a pair of gloves that can turn into mittens! The best present ever! She said she saw it and thought of me! How lovely! It absolutely made my day!

ingredienti per pizza!

finished product! nom nom nom

 

While eating cena, Berlusconi came on television, I asked nonna, why all the old people love Berlusconi, since it seems like everyone else dislikes him greatly. She said that 30 years ago, there was only one network on tv, until Berlusconi brought out a new network, with great television shows and all for free. And he was such a hard worker, and made lots of differences for the italians of that time. So they all thought he should try for government because he was such a hard worker. But when that happened others started to get involved too, and it all went down hill from there. But the elderly of Italy will still remember all the good that he did for Italy BEFORE he ran for government, which is probably why they will all still vote for him whenever he decides to run again!

Since they always have dinner so late here in Italy, around 8 o’clock, not your typico 6 on the dot like my parents do in New Zealand, along with a lot of other english countries. I am always worn out by that time. So Matteo got the tv working in the room, and I fell asleep to the beautiful sounds of some tv show called Virus. I think it had to do with the italian government or something along those lines. Although it took me such a long time to fall asleep, because my brain was too switched on to the sounds of the italian and trying to make it out. I’m just hoping at some point it a switch will flick in my brain and it will all make sense!

Allora, buona giornata a tutti!

It always takes me hours to write a post… because i’m using the internet at Donatella’s which is the piano below, so it always goes in and out of connection. Arrrrrrh! Italian internet drives me insane!!!

Ciao

Anna x

pic credit: Catholic gags