Goodbye Europe!

Last looks at snowy Vienna!

I went for some last minute shopping in Vienna after I got back. Of course there are some parts of me that don't want to leave, but I've had so much fun and done everything that I wanted that I was just ready to go home. Europe is nice and there is so much to see, but I do have to say that people there smoke too much and don't pick up after their dogs. And really, it wouldn't kill you to smile once in a while. All in all, I think I'd still prefer to live in Canada with its abundant spaces, friendly people and baggage-free past. And for Europe, that's where you'll find me during my vacation. :P Goodbye Europe and so long! Until next time!

Day 9: Rome

Porta Pia



the other side of the gate



look at the orange trees lining the street!



There's nothing special about this bill board... except please look up "kaka" in Yugoslavian... :P



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Fontano del Triton



a museum



San Carlo Quattro Fontane



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Colonna dell'Immacolata



Piazza del Popolo



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Mausoleo Augusto



I just took this picture because Enej liked the elephant...



Area Sacra



Teatro Marcello



Sinagoga



Isola



Isola from the other side of Fiume Tevere



Ponte Rotto



Casa dei Crescenzi



Temple of Portunus



Santa Maria in Cosmedin



Arch of Janus



Temples of Forum Boaraium



the temples again with Fontana dei Trioni


We had to wait another hour for the Bocca della Verita (my idea again...) The price you have to pay to get your hand bitten...


Bocca della Verita



Pyramid of Caius Cestius



Santa Maria in Trastevere



Piazza Trilussa


At the end of the day it was absolutely pouring. We cooked some dinner at the hostel and just waited for our night train.


the hostel reception



lounge (I fell asleep by the window the night before...)



kitchen

We took the night train to Venice and then Enej and I split up. I went back to Vienna to catch my plane and he went to Ljubljana for a couple more days. We didn't have a sleeper on the night train and then my train to Vienna was delayed for more than 2 hours so I spent more than 15 hours on the train... Fun...

Day 8: Rome

The second day we took the metro to the Vatican. Look at all the pretty graffiti!


We were on our way to the Vatican museum and saw this LONG line up miles away... We (well, mostly I) decided to wait. There were people from the museum offering €30 guided tours to skip the line... And sure we had €60... not! So we had to wait TWO AND A HALF hours to get in! Sure the masterpieces are very impressive, but we really didn't have enough time to truly appreciate them. And parts of the galleries were so crowded! We were basically pushed through them! It was unbelievable...


courtyard of the Vatican museum



the Egyptian collection



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Pio-Clementine Museum


Cortile Ottagonale



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the galleries



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the Sistine Chapel!



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inside the Vatican



the double helix staircase of the museum



St. Peter's at Vatican! There was another long line-up to get into the Basilica and we just didn't feel like lining up anymore...



Piazza San Pietro



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Castel Sant'Angelo



looking back at St Peter's down Via della Conciliazione



Palazzo di Giustizia


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Piazza Navona


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Pantheon



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some churches



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Palazzo Chigi... with its beautiful fake scaffold facade...



taking a break with pinocchio



Temple Adriano



another church!



Trevi Fountain. It was so crowded with people I couldn't even take a broader picture of it!



the Spanish steps with the ancient Versace billboard



the fountain at the bottom of the steps



Villa Medici


It was new year's eve and we just hung out at the hostel and had some champagne because all the clubs were too expensive. Before midnight we went to Piazza della Repubblica where there was a large crowd with live rock concert. It was sweet and Enej really liked it.


live new year's concert at Piazza della Repubblica



fireworks!



happy new year!


It was raining and I was tired so we (Enej reluctantly) went back to the hostel at 1. Unfortunately the Australian guy in our room hooked up with an American girl and basically asked us to leave... I fell asleep in the lounge and when Enej went back to check at 2:30 they were still going at it... By the time we did go back it was already 4:30... Why the hell were we so damn nice? I was just dumb founded that people would even do that in a 10-people dorm room! Next time I'll just tell those people to get their own room!