29 April: Como to Florence

You'll recall from the photos yesterday we had perfect weather for our boat trip up and down Lake Como. Today dawned grey and showery, and stayed like that most of the way to Florence.

We've been travelling light all trip, and by the time we arrived in Florence we were travelling even lighter. Somewhere in between Milan and Florence somebody took Mum's suitcase out of the luggage rack on the train. So literally all she had were the clothes on her back. However, it could be worse: she didn't lose any cash, valuables, passports etc. and I have a copy of all the tickets, hotel bookings, and the itinerary (which I will now guard with my life!). It's really annoying though - why can't people leave things alone that aren't theirs?! About the only thing that's not easily replaced is her medication, but we're in the process of getting a new prescription from the doctor back home.

So, on with the show!

We had a wander around Florence after sorting everything out (filing a police report, finding the hotel, buying some new clothes, doing my laundry). It was really crowded, I'm not sure if this is usual for a Sunday or if there's a holiday on or something. Anyway we found our way, by a sort of engineered accident (i.e. figure out the approximate direction and start walking), to the Mercato Centrale (central market), Cappelle Medicee, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, the Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and Galleria degli Uffizi (art/sculpture galleries), and the Ponte Vecchio.

Facade of the Cattedrale di Santi Maria del Fiore - white, pink, and green stone and intricate carving work, the photo really doesn't do it justice.

Sculptures at Palazzo Vecchio and Galleria degli Uffizi

Ponte Vecchio

View along the Fiume Arno towards Ponte Santa Trinita

28 April: Como

Today we played 'spot the tourist'. It's a bit harder than just spotting them, you also have to guess where they are from. You get marks off if you wait for them to speak. Wearing a belly bag and a large but practical hat? Probably American. Pasty skin and walking gear? Probably Brits. Trouser legs don't quite reach the shoes, and women wearing masculine-styled clothes? Probably Germans. Man wearing jandals? Probably Australian.

Ok, that's enough of 'spot the tourist'. We spotted quite a few today on our boat trip aroud Lake Como. We had lunch at Menaggio, where Mum had a wander around the lake side and I went for a walk up the hill to try and catch a good view. Then it was on to Bellagio, which was a bit too crowded for us to really enjoy, then back to Como.

Start of the trip. Spot the kiwi tourist with NZ map T-shirt.

Lake Como

Menaggio

Bellagio (shot of the day #1)

Shot of the day #2


* * * * * * * *

Since dinner took so long to order, eat, and pay for last night, tonight we opted to get some food d'asporto (take away) from a kiosk in the park by the lake. While we were eating we saw some children playing a game. It looked like kind of like piggy in the middle, except it uses a soft toy and there's really no 'middle', so it's either called just 'piggy', or (Mum's suggestion) 'kill your favourite toy'. To play this at home, tie a rope in a tree so that it hangs down, then tie a stuffed toy to the end. One person takes the toy and then swings it around, and everyone else tries to catch it. There's really no point to it, but that's not the point.

We must have looked like particularly dodgy people in the park. A guy drove up in a rubbish truck to empty the bin and said 'Buonosera' (good evening) to us. This was after another guy had walked past, seen us eating and said Bon appetito' (followed by something else that could have been 'that'll make you fat').

27 April: Nice to Como

Today we spent about 8 hours sitting around train stations or sitting on trains, and I’m exhausted! We had three trains to catch: Nice – Ventimiglia – Milan – Como. Some drama ensued at Milan, because our incoming train was delayed by about 15 minutes, and we only had 15 minutes to get the next one. Did you know that Italians don’t know how to queue? Anyway I managed to find someone who could stamp our ticket to say that it was ok for us to catch another train, which left 2 hours later than the one we were originally booked on.

So here we are in Como. It reminds me a bit of Queenstown, only bigger. We had a wander around by the lake and rode the furnicular (cable car) up to the top. Tomorrow we’ll probably look into a ferry ride around the lake – there’s no shortage of things to see and do.

Lake Como

View from the top of the furnicular

Shot of the day?

26 April: Nice, day 3

This morning an Australian talked to me. In French. I replied, 'Je ne parle pas Francais'... Then he asked (in English) what time the church was supposed to open.
While this was amusing, it wasn't the first time we've been asked for directions. On our second day in Nice, while walking back to the train station after visiting the Musee Marc Chagall (Marc Chagall museum) we were asked by a lady in French which way to the museum - all I understood was 'Marc Chagall' and the fact she was asking a question and pointing in the direction we had just come from, so I pointed that way and indicated she should go up and then turn right.
And that wasn't the first time either - in Liverpool, someone (who sounded pretty local) asked us where the Hilton was. We didn't know that one, at the time. But it's been encouraging that we haven't stood out like tourists, that people have been asking us for directions!

Today we took a day trip from Nice to the village of Eze. It's perched up on a cliff overlooking the sea, and there is a surviving medieval village which has cafes, craft shops, a cactus garden, and a couple of very pricey hotels. Here are some photos I took:

Funny sign for the day: check out the 'American' baguette options!

25 April: Nice, day 2 (Monaco)

Half an hour on the train from Nice, and we were in a whole other country. One that’s about 3 km long. I don’t understand how or why Monaco exists; it’s basically built on a cliff on the side of the Mediterranean. Yesterday we were commenting how built-up Nice is, and wondering if when Europeans come to New Zealand, do they think we live in the jungle since the whole place hasn’t been urbanised and re-urbanised, the bush is just on our back doorstep. Is that why we look at the towns here and think we would struggle to live here, because we like to think of ourselves as having a pioneering spirit, but everywhere you go here there have been hundreds of years’ worth of people living there before you?

Anyway I digress. In Monaco we walked up hill and down... steps. We saw the stages being set up for the grand prix (to be held in May). We fought the crowds at the Musee Oceanographique, made famous by Jacques Cousteau. We ate what has probably been the best meal on the trip so far! (prosciutto pizza)

Time for some photos:

Admiring the view over Port Hercule and Monte Carlo

View over Port de Fontvieille

Above: juvenile sharks. Below: clown fish (not in the same tank!)

Now let’s play a game of spot the fish.

This puts a Peel P50 to shame. Unfortunately this is the only photo I have of it to show you...

24 April: Nice, day 1

You know how Wellington has a reputation for being windy that’s a bit of an exaggeration apart from a few days a year? Well so far in Nice it’s been much windier than a ‘normal’ windy day in Wellington is. But you never hear about Nice being windy; no, in Nice the weather is always nice.

Anyway enough about the weather.

Today was a bit touristy, taking the hop-on-hop-off bus around the city, and the tourist train (which is just a buggy thing that drives along the road up to the castle hill). However, instead of riding the train back down the hill we opted to walk, and it turned out to be really nice. We had views of the port from above.

I think photos like this make good jigsaw puzzle pictures, but Mum isn't so sure!


And here's something else that's struck us: you know how people talk about the south of France and the Riviera as being good for your health? We've noticed that there seems to be a disproportionately high number of pharmacies around the place. Surely people aren't that sick, so how do they all stay in business?

The plan for tomorrow is to visit the Musee de Marc Chagall, which has a series of paintings illustrating the Old Testament. Then the Russian cathedral, supposedly the largest outside of Russia. After that we'll take the train to Monaco and visit the Musee Oceanographique. (All these things, along with the hop-on-hop-off bus and the tourist train, are included in a 2-day Riviera pass that we picked up today.)

23 April: Liverpool to Nice

Today we had a two-hour flight that took all day. But it meant that by the end of the day, we were in Nice.

Once we got there we took a local tram, just to get a feel for the place. I’ve come to enjoy doing this as it gives you a more genuine feel than riding on the tourist buses. You’re there with the locals, instead of looking at them like they’re something put there to entertain you.

Also, although our interactions have been limited, we’ve found that people are much more tolerant of you here if you don’t speak French... maybe they have enough English tourists come here that they’re less insistent on you speaking French. I must admit, my only experiences so far have been two visits to Paris and one to Grenoble, so I’m trying to keep an open mind. I only had one term of French at school, back when I was 12, so I do find reading and speaking it tres difficile. In contrast to German, das ich nicht so schwer finden.

We also encountered some more whinging Poms at the airport leaving Liverpool. I have noticed about myself lately, that I’ll tend to look on the bright side of things. So here’s a comparison:
Whinging Pom: Look at the length of the queue!
The bright side: There are people further back in the line than you...
WP: The weather is gloomy.
BS: At least it’s not raining...
WP: We have to walk uphill.
BS: But it won’t be uphill both ways...
WP: This food tastes funny.
BS: But it’s edible, right?
WP: Look how far we have to walk.
BS: At least you can walk!

The way I see it, things could always be worse, there are plenty of people worse off than you are. So we should be thankful for what we have, and make the most of it, and stop thinking about ‘what if I had’ this, that, and the other - and just get on with life!

22 April: Liverpool, day 3

I don't know what the population of Liverpool is, but I'm pretty sure they were all down at the docks this morning. Today was the finale of the 'Giants' street theatre show: three enormous marionettes mounted on cranes, moving slowly through the streets of Liverpool. It's supposed to be telling a partly fictional story about the Titanic, based on a letter sent by a little girl to her father who was on board (and obviously, never received it). Anyway we thought we'd stay and see the giants close up.

Later we went for a ferry ride across the Mersey. Unfortunately it was all themed around pirates etc. and didn't give a lot of information about the various buildings and things... I suppose in an effort to keep the locals entertained.

Two more things to finish off.

The funniest thing I saw today: a woman who came out of a department store with her friend. They sat down, and she proceeded to change her footwear from the jandals she was wearing to the Ugg boots she had just bought.

Finally, my self-appointed photo of the day:

(reflections as Albert Dock)

21 April: Liverpool, day 2 (Bangor)

Today we took a day trip from Liverpool out to Bangor to visit a couple of good friends whom I met during my time at Stanford. It was great to see them - the first time since we left Stanford within a few months of each other back in 2007.

This isn't their house, in case you were wondering - they took us to visit the castle at Caenarfon, built in 1283, in magnificent condition, and the site where each immediate heir to the throne is crowned Prince of Wales.
Naturally this got us talking about castles, buildings, and history in New Zealand vs. Britain... no contest really!

20 April: Liverpool, day 1

We have arrived in Liverpool without too much drama - we had a go-around at Munich airport due to wind shear, but apart from that everything has gone extremely smoothly.

Upon arriving in Liverpool we were able to check into our hotel and then go for a wander around town to get our bearings. We made it all the way down to the dock area.

I know this is probably stating the obvious, but it is much colder here than in Malaysia!

Then, we saw a huge crowd of people:

who had all come to see the Sea Odyssey Giant Spectacular: a street theatre production being put on here over the weekend as part of the centenary remembrance of the Titanic sinking.

Video here of the 'Uncle' giant walking along by the waterfront:



And a still shot:

We came across some people today who must have been the origin of the phrase 'whinging Poms'. Surprisingly, they were travelling on Australian passports, so they were in the same queue as us for getting through immigration. If it wasn't whinging about how long it was taking, it was about how they couldn't get their phone set to the right time, although they stopped whinging about that to complain about people going straight through the other line (i.e. ahead of them) when another flight came in behind us. Then, even though they hadn't got there, they moaned about how long the queues would be to pick up their bags.

In contrast, once we arrived in Liverpool, we found no shortage of friendly, helpful people. Twice in the three blocks it took us to walk from the station to the hotel, people stopped to check that we knew where we were going and give us directions. Then at lunch somebody sitting at the table next to ours offered us the selection of sauces that she had on her table. And somehow we seem to have lost our 'invisible suits' between Malaysia and here - people acknowledge you on the street and move out of your way if you're on a collision course.

Tomorrow we are heading to Bangor - Bangor in Wales, as opposed to Bangor in Maine.

19 April: KL, day 4

Our last day in KL, so what else to do except go to Central Market for some bar-gaining (as pronounced on the bus tour). We went via 'little India'...

I was fully expecting the markets to be like others I'd visited in Hong Kong or South Africa, so was quite prepared to have to haggle, but it was all pretty tame - more orderly than the Queen Victoria markets in Melbourne!

After that it was off to the airport for our flight to Singapore. We were quite glad to arrive... certain aspects of KL, including the airport, can only be described as semi-organised chaos. Anyway I'm only really writing this so I can put in a picture of an amazing plant/floral display in the check-in area at Singapore!

And finally here's your random sign for the day: another stick man in trouble. (The one on the right.)

18 April: KL, day 3

Hello again!

Today the sky was actually blue when we woke up, rather than cloudy as it had been for the previous two days. This meant everything was brighter and crisper in the photos, but hotter as well. More heat = faster humidity build-up = earlier downpour than yesterday (3:30 pm as opposed to 5:00 pm). Anyway enough about the weather...

Here we are back again at the Petronas Towers. With tickets in hand, we headed up to the bridge (at floor 41) and then the top observation deck at floor 86.

At the bridge

View from the top


In the afternoon, to fill in some time get out of the rain do something educational we went to the National Museum. This is literally just across the road from KL Sentral, which is a block away from our hotel, but the nature of the road and the pedestrian-unfriendliness makes it quite hard to get to. It left me a bit confused about the overall history of Malaysia and where the different ethnic groups came from and when, but it was only NZD2.00 entry fee so I can't really complain.



Finally here's a picture of an amusingly-named product for your enjoyment:

... and a stick-lady in trouble:

17 April: KL, day 2

Today we went against our better judgement of taking notice of what people said on tripadvisor reviews, and bought tickets for the hop-on/hop-off bus tour. This takes in most of the major sights and main streets of KL. (The reviews in question said it wasn't worth it because traffic is abysmal in the afternoon... but our argument would be, you get to see stuff in air-conditioned comfort that you wouldn't see if you stayed in your hotel room.)

So we took the bus all the way around the route, which took about 2 1/2 hours, then rode it a bit further to the KL bird park. There Mum found some new friends (one peacock in particular which was following us), also we saw our first real life wild monkeys.

Earlier that day we had seen some of the not-so-wild variety, also getting a drink:

Just after we got back on the bus at the bird park the daily rain started, just in time for rush hour.

Now I must confess I don't fully understand the road rules here. Here is what I do understand:
1) Drive on the left
2) Lanes are kind of optional
3) To change from one optional lane to another, just do it. The sharper angle you do it on, the better chance you have of other people realising that's what you're doing
4) Don't give way to buses, especially if you're on a motorbike
5) At traffic lights, if it turns green, you can go. Even if there is a car in front of you coming from the cross street, in which case you may use your horn to tell them what an idiot they are for entering the intersection when there was no hope of them getting across before the lights changed again

When we were in Rome we thought the traffic there was a bit of a free-for-all, but this beats Rome any day!

And here's one of the places where we are going tomorrow. We opted to book the tickets today with the aim of going tomorrow, since it's pretty hard to get same-day tickets. A prize of a 'Terima kasih' for anyone who can name the movie featuring this structure.