So I was planning to go to South Africa with some buddies of mine to see the World Cup but as it turns out there was no credible way for us to get back in time for me to get to work. So it was either I pack enough stuff to just start a new life in Jo'burg or go somewhere else.
We chose Italy.
Now I'm no novice to travel but I don't really do the trains in Europe unless it's taking me from an airport to my affordable hotel. So when my buddy Steve mentioned "training it" to several cities I was intrigued. I was even more intrigued when he mentioned NOT booking a hotel ahead of time. I think he said something like "we'll figure it out when we get there". WHAT THE?!?! Ok... I've been known to hop on the last flight to Vegas with another buddy, eat, drink, gamble, look for women and a good party then head back to the airport for a first flight back to NY. No hotel, no room but THAT'S in a place where they speak English. This whole "jetting" across the pond and not knowing where I'm going to lay my head is all new to me.
We land in Venice and I'm cool because I love an adventure. We drop our bags in storage and make our way to Saint Mark's Square. Water taxiing through Hudson-like waters gave us a good view of the city edges but we wanted to see the guts. Imagine visiting NYC and only seeing the West Side High Way or the FDR Drive... same thing. So we get off and make it around on foot. I got nice shots despite the rain. Gondola's and old Italian buildings are great subjects for my lens.
Milan was the next stop. The train ride wasn't bad. We stayed in a B&B... I don't remember the name. Yes I did stay in Bed & Breakfast with two guys but in my defense I wasn't staying in some hostel in Europe to find myself in a tub of ice because my organs were harvested to the highest bidder. Man that movie must have ruined business for a lot of little hostels.
Milan felt a lot like NYC, very metropolitan but distinctly European... on second thought it felt more like San Francisco.
Pizza with a nice house wine for dinner at a cool spot, topped off with good gelato at Grom and a soccer game in a little cafe/pub with some guy that looked homeless as he walked into the back with his shirt open almost to his navel, to watch some of the game. I think he was the owner of another shop because he stuffed his foot into a little waste paper bucket to push the garbage down. His foot got stuck... so he proceeded to walk into his store with the bucket on one foot. Ahh yes.
Started the next day with an espresso and marmalade filled croissant... good stuff... then off to the Doumo where I wished a panhandler good luck after chasing him off. Got some amazing shots and almost laughed my ass off when my boy Donnie had another panhandler put a pigeon on him. Museum... lunch then train to Genoa or as the Italians say Genova.
I don't remember how long the ride was because I think I passed out a bit from the heat. It was only about 85 degrees that day but on a train with few open windows that let the sun beam right in, it felt like 100. My other buddy Steve was quietly sitting by a window that did not open Donnie was sitting across from me complaining most of the way before he finally passed out. We were so glad to see Genoa.
Finding the B&B was another mini adventure but along the way I was surprised to see a Guyanese flag flying in the coastal breeze along with other countries. I didn't get the shot... oh well.
Genoa was great. I really have a thing for water and coastal towns but it was more urban that I expected. Genoa is the birth place of pesto and the home of Christopher Columbus both of which I enjoyed. In fact right outside Christopher's home, a hottie pulled up on a red Vespa that made me ready to explore new worlds...lol. We had a good birthday dinner for Donnie with some of the best swordfish carpaccio I've ever had... the only swordfish carpaccio I've ever had. I need to go back with a woman and spend some time.
We were off to the last stop on our tour when we got word that the Italians were planning a general strike which would shut down air travel and along with trains and almost everything else. The plan... get to Pisa and go home.
We got the airport too late to make the flight but didn't start worrying until we found out Air France canceled flights because of a strike, Italy would def be experiencing a strike and Lufthansa might be joining... Are you kidding me???
Fortunately the room we booked which was decent and only $50 USD for 3 people a night... was walking distance from the Airport. The plan... check in. Clean up. Contact managers in US to let them know I may NOT be back in time. Back to airport confirm rumors. Get Steve on a train to Rome so he has options.
Turns out, Delta was not affected, so we went to see the leaning tower, ate, drank, walked and headed back to prepare for a potentially long day because we didn't know what to really believe.
We all made it... no prob...
Caio Italy
We chose Italy.
Now I'm no novice to travel but I don't really do the trains in Europe unless it's taking me from an airport to my affordable hotel. So when my buddy Steve mentioned "training it" to several cities I was intrigued. I was even more intrigued when he mentioned NOT booking a hotel ahead of time. I think he said something like "we'll figure it out when we get there". WHAT THE?!?! Ok... I've been known to hop on the last flight to Vegas with another buddy, eat, drink, gamble, look for women and a good party then head back to the airport for a first flight back to NY. No hotel, no room but THAT'S in a place where they speak English. This whole "jetting" across the pond and not knowing where I'm going to lay my head is all new to me.
We land in Venice and I'm cool because I love an adventure. We drop our bags in storage and make our way to Saint Mark's Square. Water taxiing through Hudson-like waters gave us a good view of the city edges but we wanted to see the guts. Imagine visiting NYC and only seeing the West Side High Way or the FDR Drive... same thing. So we get off and make it around on foot. I got nice shots despite the rain. Gondola's and old Italian buildings are great subjects for my lens.
Milan was the next stop. The train ride wasn't bad. We stayed in a B&B... I don't remember the name. Yes I did stay in Bed & Breakfast with two guys but in my defense I wasn't staying in some hostel in Europe to find myself in a tub of ice because my organs were harvested to the highest bidder. Man that movie must have ruined business for a lot of little hostels.
Milan felt a lot like NYC, very metropolitan but distinctly European... on second thought it felt more like San Francisco.
Pizza with a nice house wine for dinner at a cool spot, topped off with good gelato at Grom and a soccer game in a little cafe/pub with some guy that looked homeless as he walked into the back with his shirt open almost to his navel, to watch some of the game. I think he was the owner of another shop because he stuffed his foot into a little waste paper bucket to push the garbage down. His foot got stuck... so he proceeded to walk into his store with the bucket on one foot. Ahh yes.
Started the next day with an espresso and marmalade filled croissant... good stuff... then off to the Doumo where I wished a panhandler good luck after chasing him off. Got some amazing shots and almost laughed my ass off when my boy Donnie had another panhandler put a pigeon on him. Museum... lunch then train to Genoa or as the Italians say Genova.
I don't remember how long the ride was because I think I passed out a bit from the heat. It was only about 85 degrees that day but on a train with few open windows that let the sun beam right in, it felt like 100. My other buddy Steve was quietly sitting by a window that did not open Donnie was sitting across from me complaining most of the way before he finally passed out. We were so glad to see Genoa.
Finding the B&B was another mini adventure but along the way I was surprised to see a Guyanese flag flying in the coastal breeze along with other countries. I didn't get the shot... oh well.
Genoa was great. I really have a thing for water and coastal towns but it was more urban that I expected. Genoa is the birth place of pesto and the home of Christopher Columbus both of which I enjoyed. In fact right outside Christopher's home, a hottie pulled up on a red Vespa that made me ready to explore new worlds...lol. We had a good birthday dinner for Donnie with some of the best swordfish carpaccio I've ever had... the only swordfish carpaccio I've ever had. I need to go back with a woman and spend some time.
We were off to the last stop on our tour when we got word that the Italians were planning a general strike which would shut down air travel and along with trains and almost everything else. The plan... get to Pisa and go home.
We got the airport too late to make the flight but didn't start worrying until we found out Air France canceled flights because of a strike, Italy would def be experiencing a strike and Lufthansa might be joining... Are you kidding me???
Fortunately the room we booked which was decent and only $50 USD for 3 people a night... was walking distance from the Airport. The plan... check in. Clean up. Contact managers in US to let them know I may NOT be back in time. Back to airport confirm rumors. Get Steve on a train to Rome so he has options.
Turns out, Delta was not affected, so we went to see the leaning tower, ate, drank, walked and headed back to prepare for a potentially long day because we didn't know what to really believe.
We all made it... no prob...
Caio Italy
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