slr diaries

Day 3 - Mar 7

Pyramid day.  Getting to the pyramids involves a subway ride to the bus station, then an hour or so bus ride to the pyramids.  Both the subway and bus rides were extremely cheap for Western standards.   Mexico City's subway system is actually pretty good.  Pretty clean, easy to navigate.  While onboard kids would come through selling all sorts of things.

Leaving Mexico City I got to see some of the poorier side of the city.

The bus drops you off in the middle of nowhere, and you just start walking.  Soon, you see the pyramids.  The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan is the world's third largest pyramid.  It doesn't look like it, but the climb is tough, and once you're at the top you get a great view of  nothing.

It's pretty amazing what they built thousands of years ago.  Definitely want to see the Egyptian pyramids now.

Back in Mexico City there was some demonstration/protest.  I think it had to do with some coal miners.  Thousands of people through the streets of Mexico City.  I didn't get any good photos, though.

Day 2 - Mar 6

First day in Mexico City.  Woke up really early for some reason, 7AM.  Nothing was really opened, except the McDonald's.   I forgot what I ordered, but it came with a side of salsa.

I did the free tour of downtown Mexico City the hostel was offerring.  Highlight of the day, eating dried grasshoppers.

During the free tour I met a fellow photo enthusiast.  Afterwards, we decided to do the double decker bus tour, which gives an impression- as expected - overview of the city.

At night, after dinner, we headed out to do some night photography.

This chick was serious about photography - she brings around a tripod on her month long trip!

First day impressions...Mexico City is a great city to visit.  It's so different than Europe.  Not very tourisy, but with plenty of things to see and do.

Day 30 - Jan 24

Well, my trek across Europe is over.  Just sitting at the Airport, waiting for departure.

If you are considering backpacking through Europe, do it.  One of the best things I've done in my life.  Not every day will be awesome, some days can be lonely, boring, shitty, but the overall experience is indescribable.  The back-to-back city hopping is so different than the typical vacation. 

The novelty of Europe is gone, but that's ok, because the next time I go back I'll have a different perspective.

Day 29 - Jan 23

January 23rd, my penultimate day in Europe.

Made it back to Roma by afternoon, and immediately checked in to a hostel.  I was done with sight seeing, so I just relaxed in the room.  Met a couple of Aussies, and we went to dinner at a nearby restaurant. 

Aussies are so nice.   Throughout this trip I've met so many Aussies, and all of them have been very friendly.

After dinner we just drank in the hostel's bar. 

Good night, Europe.

Day 28 - Jan 22

Off to Venezia.  Amazingly beautiful.  As soon as you step out of the train station you can see why millions of visitors flock to Venice.

Made my way to legendary Piazza San Marco; it lived up to its hype.  After a nice dinner I made my way to the hostel.  That sounded easier than it was.  You will get lost in Venice, no question about it.  There's no city planning, no streets, no perpendicular blocks.  The city is a maze.  But fear not, you will eventually find your way around.

Venice is a small city, and I can see how during tourist season it might get very annoying.  I would not recommend visiting during peak tourist season.  But otherwise, it's just very beautiful, very romantic.

Day 27 - Jan 21

Climb the Duomo! 

I really like Firenze.  There's just something  about this place that makes me like it.  Maybe it's the flute guys

At night I met some fellow travelers and Sarah, an American student studying in Florence but staying at the hostel because her apartment wasn't ready yet, acted as local guide and took us around.  We had a nice dinner at a ristorante, then went to a couple of bars.  Florence is full of students.  I really wished I had studied abroad, but have been so fun.

Day 26 - Jan 20

Onward to Florence.  I should have gotten a second class ticket for th train, because first class was just full of old businessmen.  Incidentally, I had the best spaghetti and seafood at an eatery at the train station.

The hostel I wanted to stay at was overbooked, so the guy told me to go to "Hotel Tina" down the street.  I think it might have been a scam, because I later found out that several other travels also had been told to go to Tina because of overbooking.   Tina, of course, charged  a few more Euros.

Florence is so cool.  Lots of little shops, lots of great art, like this one, titled, "who's the bitch now"

Day 25 - Jan 19

A visit to Rome wouldn't be complete without a stop by Vatican City.  Maybe it's because I'm not an artist, but I thought the Sistine Chapel was overrated.  But Saint Peter's Basilica, now that's something not to miss.

Staying by myself at Panda Pensione was really lonely.  I was so used to always having people around, strangers as they be.

Day 24 - Jan 18

It's been two weeks since I've slept in a nice, private room, not a shared dormitory, so the thought of splurging on a budget room crossed my mind.  But it was almost killing myself that made me say, "fuck it, I'm getting a room with a private shower."

I slipped and fell in the cramped shower.  The force of my fall was enough to break the door lock.  Could have easily hit my head and seriously injured myself.  So I decided to check into the Panda Pensione.  It was twice as expensive as the hostel, but the bath (still shared) was much better. 

The best part, though, was the location.  The area near Roma Termini is not very postcard Rome, but the area around Panda, wow.  Right next to the Spanish Steps, right next to the major shopping street.  I highly recommend staying, if only for one night, in a nice area like this.  It makes the Roma experience much better.  I was even treated to a Porsche blocking the entrance.

The highlight of the day was getting a haircut by an Italiano.  The guy was decked out in a suit, with a perfectly trimmed goatee.  He looked very stylish, so I trusted him, and told him to do my hair as fit.

Day 23 - Jan 17

The train arrived at Roma Termini Grandi Stazioni around 9 in the morning, local time.  The friendly 54 year-old Italian expat living in St. Paul, Minnesota who I shared the cabin with invited me to breakfast, but I was eager to find the hostel and do laundry.

The area around the train station is not pretty, but I never felt threaten.  After wandering around a bit I found my hostel, Yellow Hostel.  Check-in time was 1 PM, so I lounged around and did laundry. 

At night I took the subway to see the Coliseum.  Wow.  What a juxtaposition.  You step out of the subway, and there's cars buzzing by, very modern.  Then you walk across the street and there's this 2000+ year old coliseum just sitting there. 

You can just feel the history.  Even more stunning was the Piazza Venezia.