The Neva Endin Journey

We were at Rome at 00:00 AM on September 4th( Ma Birthday, wohoooo)! We had some "Okay" Pizza and walked towards our hostel. Our hostel was "Supposedly" hardly about 10 mins walk from the station. It was not hardly but "hard" for us to find the damn place. We took about 2 hours, walking in circles to finally reach a place that did not even look like a hostel. We walked up the third floor to be welcomed by a guy who says " Who are you? Your booking is not registered here " ! We were like " WTF , we did it online and also paid money for it ". Well supposedly, something was wrong with the net booking and our room booking was not registered, which meant "We did not have a place to stay for the night"! Lack of sleep and tiredness was killing us and now no room to rest! We requested the hostel guy to call up the other hostels to find any place we could crash into.

After an hour of him talking and negotiating with the other hostel owners, we got a place somewhere! We were picked up by a BANGLADESHI guy who used to make regular visits to India and spoke about a few places we have never even heard about. Either I do not know much of India or he was talking about some other country. ;) The guy also told us we could use the laundry, internet and get free breakfast and etc. So it was a pretty good deal. He also promised us he would give us coke as we were really exhausted. He got something called as " Cola " which looked like coke but holy christ it was bad.

Anyway we entered our room and it was great! Damn clean and nice view and etc etc. We took two rooms. One which was like a king's room with all kinda old stuff and the other bigger and pretty good. We got up and went for the free breakfast. We were offered bread and Coffee. Well, the coffee was incredibly small. I tried to drink it as slow as possible but I could take a maximum of 2 sips because that is how small it was.

First destination was the, Vatican City.

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. How can you have a country within a country? For God's sake, it is even smaller than our university.


The pillars that are the entrance of the vatican city. Massive. Only wonder why so big !!!


Aha, this is where the Pope Gives his appearance to the people. I dont really think you can see him from this distance. The max you can see his probably his cap! ;)


In the line to enter the St. Peter's Basilica (where the Pope is supposed to be there). We stood for an hour in this line.


Near the entrance where two lines and we had no idea where each one of them took us. Anyway, we stood in the line were the maximum number of people stood! Guess what, We had to wait for more time, roughly about two hours!


We stood for a very long time and walked at a pace of 1 step every 10 minutes. We paid for something at the counter and no one knew what was in store for us what the hell it was for. We started climbing up and reached this dome which had a view of the st. Peter church from the top. Well it was pretty cool. It was a good place with protection so that people do not jump from here! ;)


Now this is a masterpiece. This image that you can see on the wall are individual minute stones placed next to each other with each small stone being painted in a color different than the ones next to it, yet creating a beautiful image like this.


After nearly 3 hours in the line and waiting to move with no water, We had to climb 323 f'kin steps. Well, the steps sometimes are narrow and sometimes in circles all the way to the top that while climbing, you get a freaking headache. After a lot of walking, we finally reached to get the view like this! Well, it looked Stunning! This is above the place the pope usually gives his speech or makes his appearance.

Well, For all I know, the pope cannot see anyone from where he gives his speech. So do not bother telling Hi or waving hands :P
Well, we literally went down, middle and above the st. Peter building. Where in the world does the POPE stay?


Just a picture I liked! :P This was taken on the way from the doom of st.Peter (top view) into the main church.


Inside the St.Peter Basilca! It is way too big and complicated to look at the details. But it sure does look beautiful.


Inside the cathedral. So big, yet so beautiful! =] Only wonder, why so huge!


Another good photo! Light falling through one of the windows on the guy who must have probably been thinking he's blessed. ;)


The uniform of the guards protecting the church and Vatican City authorities! Does it look like a uniform worn by someone who protects people? Funny pants though! lol


Pizza's in Rome! After an exhausting trip to the Vatican City, we came back to Rome! As per the famous saying "While in Rome do as the Romans do", We had to have Pizza in Italy. Well the fact: It was not that great. Probably because we did not take the most expensive one! But hell yeah, it was massive! ;)


Vittorio Emanuele II - Some kinda monument. Did not even consider going inside because we had very less time and have too many places to see. Nice place to relax, in the center of city! ;)


Ruins is very common in every third street you walk in! Looks great, old with half the pillars missing but its wonderful that after so many years, something is still there!


One of the stupid squares we went to and wasted time. Had nothing much yet stood there for a while. It had some history but it did not interest us.


Piazza Navona - Supposedly one of Rome's most famous squares. It's a great place of outdoor bars, street performers magicians and last but no the least PICKPOCKETS! ;)


Pantheon - Rome's Best preserved ancient building also called as Palace of the Gods. A nice place to hangout, looks freaking old and is a great place to feel how it was to live back then, when the ancient romans lived! The difference being - we were sitting outside this place with some beers! :P


Well, you see a lot of guys dressed as Romans who give you an opportunity to stand next to them, take photos and you need to give them money for it and guess what, We were foolish enough to do it. This was one of the "special" birthday gifts from my friends!




Trevi Fountain - One of the most beautiful fountains you will ever see in your life! The Legend of the FOUNTAIN OF TREVI: If you toss a coin into its waters over your shoulder while facing away from the fountain, you will be assured to return to Rome.


FACT of Trevi Fountain: People throw about 3000 euros of coins into this fountain each day and it is removed and collected each night to feed the poor and the needy.


Well, I did see people throw some coins into the fountain, smiling and I had no clue about this story, So I thought it was a fountain where you close your eyes and make a wish. Now, I did not want to look stupid so I just made a wish facing the fountain, closed my eyes, made a wish and threw the coin inside. DAMN, IT WAS NOT A WISHING FOUNTAIN. So, now there are high chances that I might not visit Rome again! =[.


Posing For the Camera! The Entire crew! A thank you to the couple who took some time off romancing and helped clicking this picture!


I have to say, this place is beautiful with perfect lights, excellent atmosphere and a very calm ambience. Just looking at it and doing nothing itself is so relaxing and peaceful. It is one of the world's most popular visited fountains in the world. I Loved this place the most I guess, after Venice. The Marbles, the sculptures just above the fountain makes it look absolutely special. A must visit place!


We tried to do a little bit of shopping but had no time as my friends had some plans in mind! i.e Drink on my birthday or get me drunk on my birthday! We ended up purchasing, 2 bottles of Tequila (750 ML * 2) for 7 people.. On the way to the room, we saw these amazing sports cars for display.


Will Never be able to buy any of these cars! If anyone wants to ever buy me one, I Will be really happy or probably make him/her my best friend :P


BLACKOUT PHASE: We reached the room at about 9 pm. My friends got me a big cake finally after the embarrassing Muffin they got me as a cake in the airport! ;) This cake was luckily pretty big and big enough for others to eat too. We did not have a knife, so I had to cut the cake with my BANK ATM CARD! We finished one bottle of Tequila and everything looked good. But then we did the mistake of opening the other bottle. You will not believe, but I usually never get drunk or over drink but my dear retarded friends made me drink as we were all going to be just in the room and of course it was my birthday. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, Dont ask Me! ;) I will never tell you and you will never know! =]

Lessons learnt: All I can Tell is "There shall be no more Tequila for the next few months or may be more! =]"


"This was the only photo taken after the first bottle of tequila and we were very very very very high by then that we could not even focus the camera properly!"

Tune in for day 3 !!
Regards,
Mehaal Rai

The Next big trip after Paris was Italy! Was it worth the wait? Oh Hell yes!
This was a carefully planned trip with places like - Milan, Rome, Pisa, Florence and Venice. 5 days - 5 places - 7 people. ( damn, 5 people would have been cool ) :P.

Expected Budget - 250 Euros - 300 Euros !!! Got totally wrong in the end.

Anyway, We were 7 in number. Now it sounds amazing to go with so many people. But it has its disadvantages -> "People Getting tired at different times Walking"! So we literally stopped every 5 minutes. We knew we were gonna walk a lot so we were mentally prepared. But sadly the body was not ready for it. We were tired and exhausted and stopped by for water, coke, beer or anything that could fulfill the thirst.

The advantage being in Europe are the low cost flights which is hardly about 5 - 10 euros (350 rs) if booked in advance. Long live Ryan Air! We booked about 2 months in advance so got amazing deals for the flights. For a change, we reached to the airport on time though it was at about 7 AM. Every other trip, someone used to come late, but as this was flight, no one could possibly do that.

Another problem while travelling is carrying the passport. If ya lose it, Its game over!

Anyway, we started off from Eindhoven to Milan. Milan is the second largest city in Italy but it does not have many attractions to offer in terms of history, art. Milan, in Italy is called as Milano. Weird. What it offers is a ridiculously expensive shopping experience. We got down at the main station and started walking to a few places we could possibly look at. We had about 6 - 7 hours for the next flight to Rome. So we had to hurry up! Hurry up means, walk faster, as fast as we could. We stopped at a hotel to eat some good pasta, pizza's. Italy supposedly is the home for pizza and pasta. So we decided to not try an Indian hotel for a change but instead go with what Italy offers. Well, it sure did taste good.
Milan is one of the most famous fashion cities of the world. You will know why! Every second guy is dressed in suit and ties and every girl - OMG! ;)

Well dressed and very rich!

We started walking about 2-3 miles to check out the shopping complexes and some famous church called "Duomo of Milan". On the way, We stopped by a square where we saw the statue of Leonardo (only to realize he was Italian). I wonder if he made his own statue! :P Around this statue were a lot of people, probably like us, admiring this statue for the only reason that they were tired walking to the same place we were walking too I think.


Leonardo's statue

Weird thing about Italy: There are too many Super bikes and Scooters. There is hardly any place for the cars to park. You see a lot of men with suits driving scooter's in full speed like its a superbike ;). Looks funny. You expect them to be in a BMW or a Merc. Guess they give up a good car to shop in Milan!! Italian Girls = Slim and very pretty. Not kidding. =] Netherlands is nowhere close.

The roads are not exactly the typical ones you see elsewhere but nicely cut stones with cement binding it, I guess. There are like trams, bikes, cars coming from every other direction. It is so confusing :P. We had to turn ours heads literally every possible direction for each of our step while walkin.

Bikes , bikes and more bikes.


We first went to the Piazza del Duomo. Well its stunning and its architecture is amazing. It must have taken years to do something like this with so much precision. It has about three thousand statues. If you wear shorts, sleeveless, you aint allowed inside the church. This gothic cathedral will take your breath away by the size of it.

Piazza del Duomo - Stunning!

Glass Paintings in Piazza del Duomo - Massive and beautiful


In front of this cathedral is a massive square for people to sit and admire this place. But there is a small problem which turns out to be a big problem. There are like a billion pigeons in this place because of tourists feeding it, so make it a point to wear a cap else you will be drenched in White Shit! :P With every step you take, you are assured to have a white sole by the end of your trip to this place. :P


In the square, outside the Duomo , posing for the camera! Beware of the pigeons shittin!


We next went to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele which is the worlds oldest shopping mall. It must be old but it had amazing showrooms like Merc, Ferrari, Louis Vitton etc. Everything is so expensive and the only thing we could do is, look at the prices. Thats the best we could do, i.e Laugh about how expensive it is. I was wondering if there is any day I could buy/afford something from this shopping complex. Well , i realized, never!


World's oldest Shopping Centre - Unimaginable prices!


After this, we dint know what to do. We had planned just two places in Milan. Then we decided to go to some fort close by called "Sforza Castle". Sounds great but it wasnt really. It was supposed to be built for protection. But it did not look like it offered any kind of protection. Just a simple fort with nothing else inside. There were people selling some bands and forced one of my friend to buy it. He just tied it to his hand telling it looks good on him and started asking money. The cops came and chased him out of the fort. It was fun watching the dude run for his life! :P

A fort built for protection with no protection at all!


We wanted to check the painting " The Last supper " but did not wanna enter a museum as we had no time. WE started walking back to the bus stop and it took about an hour again. We stopped at some designer shops to admire it ! :P Not that we bought anything there, we atleast wanted to get the feeling that we shopped. ;)

One of the shops we dared to enter and came back with the feeling of shopping! :P


We hurried up to the bus station to catch a bus that took us to the same airport we came from in the morning. Well but there was something special for me that night. It was my birthday the next day - Sep 4th. I celebrated my birthday in Indian timing in Milan Airport waiting to catch the flight to Rome. Now there is something funny about it. My dear retarded friends did not find a cake in the airport. Instead they got me a Muffin with a candle. Now let me explain what a muffin is. It is the size of a cup cake or the smallest sweet bread. The candle was bigger than the Cake. I was asked to cut it and give it to all my friends. How the hell do you divide a cup cake into 7 pieces. Well it was a struggle but we managed it. ;) But it was really sweet of them to do this. But i can assure you, it is defn the smallest cake anyone has ever cut. :P

The size of my birthday cake! God!!!! The smallest cake ever! ;)


Before when I was in India, i used to wait for my birthday. Because my parents, aunts, uncles used to give me money! A Lot of money!!! I miss that! =[ and this is the second time in my life I have not been with them for my birthday.

In India, people have this craze of wishing you at 12 in the night. Well some of my near and dear friends started calling up at 12 and as my mobile was on roaming got charged minute by minute. If you think, roaming is expensive in India, compare the cost of recieving a call in Europe while in roaming. =] Wow, it was a good feeling to be ripped off! lol!

Our Next destination was Rome. We reached Rome at about 11, caught the bus and reached the Rome center by 11:30 in the night and we celebrated birthday in Rome timing at 12 at a small Pizzeria. This was the the second celebration the same night. Feels awesome celebrating birthday in Indian timing in one city(MILAN), Netherland timing in another city(ROME). We had some pizza's, juice n etc and started walking to our hostel.

Ohww, cmon How can there possibly be a good day. There has to be something sad. Well you will know in the next post! =]

Motto Of Milan should be: Go to Milan, if you want to feel Poor!