Smile #93 - Nice to Meet You, Cinque Terre, Italy! [Part I]

Nice to Meet You, Cinque Terre, Italy [Part I]!

Ever since I first stumbled across a colorful picture of Cinque Terre on Pinterest years ago, I have been looking forward to visiting one day.  Five seaside villages with colorful terraces located along the Italian Rivera is absolutely picturesque.  :) Time after time, travel magazines has listed Cinque Terre as one of the most vibrant and colorful places in the world!  :)

My dream finally came true!  :)  Monterosso welcomed us with a gorgeous view of the coastline.  :) I felt like I had stepped into a fairy tale storybook!  :)

It is rare that we splurged on accommodation, but this time, we decided to treat ourselves to a balcony ocean view bedroom at Manuel's Guesthouse.

Prior to our arrival, we read about the stairway to Heaven (AKA 130+ steps) so that we would be mentally prepared!  We followed the directions passing the boardwalk, through the tunnel and up the staircase we went with our loaded suitcases.  #38...#40...so where is #39?!  We walked up a few more steps...nope.  We wandered to a smaller path...nope.  As it turns out, #39 is on the OTHER side.  Oh boy! That sure was some exercise!  :)

We finally made it to the top of Monterosso on the OTHER side.  As promised, the room was equipped with an incredible view of the ocean, the town and the mountains!  I could just stand here all day and admire the view!  :)

Despite the not-so-positive weather forecast, the sun was still shining.  We took advantage of the sun and went on a hike.  The hike from Monterosso to Vernazza took us roughly 2.5 hours.  Neither of us was prepared for this strenuous expedition.  Make sure to bring plenty of water, trust me, you will need it.  Because it rained the night before, the trail was a bit muddy and slippery.  My new walking shoes were immediately ruined with mud... stained with mud.  Giving my shoes a bit of a story, huh?  :)

Along the hike, we were accompanied by the most breathtaking views.  Nature has its hidden secrets.  :)

Sidestory:  At one section of the hike, there were a small cult of stray cats.  One particular cat gave us the meanest cat eyes!  I am guessing he/she is the alpha head.  It is kinda funny, but I was more concerned he/she might just craw my eyes out!

At the end of the trail, we came to the most spectacular view of Vernazza.  The absolute postcard-like image of the village was right before our eyes.  :)

Sweaty and exhausted, we entered the town and our first thought was 'Where is the gelato?!'. We so deserved it after this hike!  :)  Bubble had Creme of Vernazza, a must try for all those visiting!  It was delicious!  I had a Cannoli, it was yummy as well!

Cannoli - a vanilla creme with chocolate and a cookie straw :)

After a small break, we were ready to explore the town.  I loved the pastel colored town and the small cobblestone streets.  :)  It gave the most calming small town vibe.  :)

We headed closer to the coast.  Beautiful fishing boats lined up the perimeter of the harbor.

Closer to sunset time, we headed up to Castello a. Doria.

Looking out the top of the tower, the sky blended in with the endless ocean.

One side, we can see the town from above.  The other, we can see the cliff of the other villages.  

Sidestory:  I have decided when I 'grow up', I want to rent this exact spot!  I was exploring  the view when I spotted this red bench on the terrace.  Doesn't it looks just so perfect!  I would love to spend an afternoon just lounging in that chair!  :)

Due to the high wind and rapid waves, all the boats had to dock inland.  The fishermen gathered around, ready to help push their boat onto the main square.  No large equipment or machinery needed; simply a rope, some wood pieces and human strength will sufficed.

Because technology is involved in every aspect of our lives, we expected old methods to be replaced by new technology.  Therefore, I found it is quite amusing to see tourists (myself included) gathering around, snapping photos and videos of how boats are pulled up inshore.  A method invented centuries ago now perceived as new discovery.

Sidestory:  I was sitting watching the fishermen, when this cat decided to steal my seat.  Literally.  He hopped on and I immediately jumped out of my seat.  Little sneaky cat!

The evening was spent sipping on a glass of house wine and enjoying the best pesto gnoochi!  :)

I am excited to explore the other villages tomorrow.  :)

Smile #92 - Nice to Meet You, Milan, Italy!

Nice to Meet You See You, Milan!

Bubble and I packed up our bags and headed to our second stop, Milano!  :)

At 8:30am, the station was already crowded with locals and tourists.  We stood beneath the departure board scanning for our platform number, but nothing was posted.  Just 5 minutes prior to departure, the board finally flashed platform 8.  Everyone rushed to the platform and it was a bit of a chaotic mess.  We speed-walked by other patrons to find our carriage. All aboard!

The train passed through some local regions of Italy.  The huge windows offered beautiful natural scenery as the train goes through hills and mountains.  Three hours passed by pretty quickly and we made it to the world capital of fashion!  Bubble survived his first cross-cities train ride in Italy!  :)

After our hotel finding experience in Rome, we mapped out the route to the hostel the night before.  The hostel should be a 5 minutes walk from the central train station.  Surely we can find it in no time!  WRONG!  We literally walked around in circle searching for this hostel.  Where is my navigation skills when I needed it?!

Ostello Bello Grande has a common room decorated with quirky decors, a 24 hours full stocked bar, and a game room. The atmosphere offered a very welcoming vibe.  Bubble was a bit apprehensive about the idea of hostel, but I think this has debunked the myth.  :)

Even though we are in a time crunch, it would be rude not to say hello to Duomo di Milano.  The majestic Gothic cathedral is stunning both inside and out.  We took the elevator for a speedy entrance to the roof.  From the top, we saw the Piazza bustling with tourists and annoying selfie sticks vendors (of course).  We found a spot on the roof and enjoyed the extended view of the city peeked between the pinnacles.  :)

Side Story:  We wanted a quick photo of us in front of the cathedral.  Of course right when we were posing for the perfect picture, a bird seed vendor would attempted to sell us some corn for the pigeons.  When we declined his offer, he proceeded to throw a few bird seeds nearby us causing all the pigeons to swooped in.  Rude!  Good thing it didn't affect the final photo.  Thank you stranger for taking this awesome photo of us!  :)

Located next to the cathedral is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.  Does the name sound familiar to you?  It should!  Because we went to a monument also dedicated to him just the day before in Rome (Read Smile #72 to refresh your memory).  Regardless, this is one of the oldest shopping malls in the world. Some of the most prestige shops are housed here, including Prada, Ferrari, Louis Vuitton and some mega expensive brands that I didn't recognized.  Oh, it's fan-cy!

With just half a day to go, we hurried to the World Expo.

The theme of Expo Milano is Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.  Of course, we have to try some food!  We started with a chocolate kebab.   It is the same concept as a kebab except made in chocolate!  YUM!  :)

We tasted regional Italian dishes and wines at Eataly.  We ordered two types of Focaccette.  One with stracciatella, ricotta, carpaccio di polpo, scorza di agrumi (octopus) and one with stracciatella, ricotta, sgombro affumicato, maggioranna (mackerel).  Both were unique and delicious!  I also discovered that my favorite wine is Moscato.  Keep it coming!

With our full stomachs, we continued strolling through the expo.  Each country set up incredible architectural designed pavilions.  The Hungarian Pavilion took the shape of a 'shamanic drum' in reflection of Hungarian culture.  The rainbow colored Ecuador Pavilion appeared to be a quilt.  The Holland Pavilion created a orange and blue community featuring a Ferris wheel and restaurants serving authentic Dutch food.

The main symbol of Italy's Pavilion is the Tree of Life at the Lake Arena.  The sculpture offers a modern look.  It is the most popular spot in the expo.  Crowds gathered around to snap photos of the tree, particularly when the light show takes place.  We managed to snap a few photos without being squished.

Aside from the main strip, most of the pavilions are uncovered.  So when the when it started drizzling, we decided to head back to the hostel.  Here is hoping for beautiful weather tomorrow!  **FINGER CROSSED**

Smile #91 - Nice to Meet You, Rome, Italy!

Nice to Meet You, Rome, Italy!

Rise and shine to much better weather today!  :)

Bubble has been looking forward to today's agenda for the longest time now - the most iconic landmarks of Rome - Coliseum + Roman Forum.  :)  So let's get the day started!

Thanks to our handy dandy metro pass, we arrived at the Coliseum in just a few minutes.  Finding this architecture is even easier since it is located directly outside the metro exit.  We actually didn't notice it until we stepped out the station and looked up.  Just wow!  :)

Crowds of people wrapped around the structure.  So many different lines, but where is the entrance?!

We opted for the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill to avoid the chaotic crowd.  The line for the ticket office is endless.  We walked straight up to the reservation booth to collect our tickets.

The Roman Forum is the center of all city life in Ancient Rome.  All major commerce, political, religion and judicial events took place right here!  :)

Since we had no guidebook or a tour set up, we tried to recall any high school history lessons.  Standing at the top of hill, we looked out to the remaining columns and imagined how the Roman Empire used to be.  We were appalled by this place.

Sidestory:  The Palatine Hills is adjacent to the Forum.  It is a quieter side of the attraction.  Bubble suddenly stopped in his track and pulled out his phone for photos.  I walked back to see what was the big deal.  No it wasn't an artifact.  No it wasn't any historical facts.  It was a little lizard!  Another tourist passed by and noticed the little guy and started taking pictures of it too.  Conclusion:  Lizard > history.

We passed by the Arch of Constantine.  It was definitely awed worthy!  All the intricate carvings on the arch was remarkable!  :)

Without a break, we joined the line for the Coliseum (The entrance was hidden behind this giant metal construction shelf).  The Coliseum was originally named the Flavian Amphitheater.  It is the largest amphitheater ever built!  Gladiators, aka prisoners, used to fight in hope to be pardoned by the emperor.  I didn't realize the the history behind this ancient structure was so dark and cruel. #mindblown

When we stepped out, a ton of inflated balloons covered half of the Coliseum.  There were enough balloon to recreate the house from Up!  :)

Time flashed before our eyes.  We had walked around for over three hours!

We really had only planned on visiting the Coliseum for the day so we decided to close our eyes and point to the next attraction - Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.

....except we got lost somewhere and ended up in a kebab shop. Bubble finally had his first taste of kebab.  It wasn't the best version, but at least he experienced the concept.  Oh Germany/Austria, how I've miss you!

We continued our lost journey.  :)

We never found Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, but we did find a small church.  Bubble was shocked to see how decorated churches are.  Every inch of the wall is covered with paintings.

A good surprise rose from our lost journey.  We found Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II, a white marble structure.

We poked our heads in the majestic structure.  Paintings and sculptures decorated around the large staircase. At the top of the stairs, it peaked out to the stunning Rome.  :)

The most amazing attraction is the glass-walled elevator.  For those that knows me, I love seeing the city from the highest vantage point.  Riding up the elevator is definitely a must.  :) Bubble, on the other hand, felt a bit queasy from just looking at the elevator.  He did not regret the decision once he stood at the top of the monument.  It overlooked the Forum and the surrounding area.  :)  Rome at sunset!  :)

Even though Trevi Fountain had closed for restoration, I wanted to recreate the Lizzie McGuire moment anyway.

All the walking today totally justified the need for tiramisus!  We went on a hunt for Pompi, recommended by our host.  Oh goodness, the tiramisu there is AMAZING!  :)  We shared a piece of Tiramisu classico.  The flavor is just the perfect balance of cream and espresso.  I could totally eat this EVERYDAY!  :)

The night ended at the Spanish Steps.  Sadly, it was closed for construction.  We stood at the foot of the stairs and imagined the usual atmosphere.  Guess we will have to come back in the future to experience the true Spanish Steps.

I can't wait to dream about the amazing tiramisu!  YUM!  :)

Smile #90 - Nice to Meet You, Vatican City!

Nice to Meet You, Vatican City!

It has been a year since I was on European ground!  I am so ready to be back!  I missed the architecture, the history, the food, the people, and most of all, the atmosphere.  :)

Even though Bubble and I planned our trip a few months ago, last week was still a struggle gathering all the documents together while balancing a full plate at work.  But as you can tell, it didn't stop us from flying over the Atlantic Ocean and off to Italy we go!  :)

How to entertain yourself on place: Selfies

As advised by all those before us, booking our tickets for the Vatican Museum in advanced is a wise choice.  Great advice ... except when your flight delayed, you can't find the airport bus, and have no map.  #lostinrome

Have no fear, after a round of struggles, we made it to our first stop!  Day and Night Hostel  :)  We were greeted by a very warm and welcoming host.   She managed to brief us on everything Rome within 10 mins!  That's a record!  :)  She prepared us a map with the most essential Rome spots circled.  Where to find the best local food stops, must visits spots, she got us covered! :)

Running a bit behind schedule, we hurried and headed off to see the prestigious Vatican City.  One thing I forgot about Italy is the lack of signs...by lack, I mean none.  We found people, we found a line, but we found no directional signs for the entrance to the Vatican Museum.  Tricky!  We were wandering in the plaza when we overheard a tour guide explaining the direction to his group and we just kinda tagged along and found the entrance.  :)

Buying our tickets in advanced allowed us to skip everyone.  Score!  We followed the flow exploring each room and gallery.  It is fascinating see artworks and artifacts from different eras of history from around the world!  :)   Gallery of Maps is by far my favorite gallery.  Map frescoes of the Italian peninsula covered the walls.  The maps are beautiful and revealed the historical Italy.  It is amazing to see how the world was viewed during that period.  :)

The ceiling art from each room is stunning.  Just look at the symmetry.  :)  I literally walked around the place with my head hung back to admire at each beautifully painted ceiling.  :)

The Vatican Museum is huge!  We walked around for over 1.5 hours before we reached the famous Sistine Chapel.  Signs posted in the hallway to advise visitors to be quiet once entered in the chapel.  I was quite shocked at the crowd gathered inside.  Too bad photos are prohibited inside the chapel, the Michelangelo's ceiling is majestic!  :)  We took a few moments to truly admire all the details in each painting.  :)

Photo taken from Vatican.com

We wrapped up at the museum and headed back out in the rain.  Rain is not ideal, but it is a bit refreshing to get away from the crowd.  :)

The day is not over until we get an official Italian meal.  We tried our host's recommendation for a restaurant nearby the hostel.  We are so tourist-like by showing up before official Italian dinner time.  Note to self:  next time, show up for dinner at 7pm and after... :)

The menu is just full of options!  Do I want my usual spaghetti alla carbonara or try something new?  I am in Rome afterall, so why not try something special!  I ordered Seabass pasta with lemon.  I'll just say I made the right choice!   :)

Bubble ordered Osso Bucco, which translate into marrow bone.  It is a specialty dish originated from Northern Italy.  He had the biggest food orgasm!  :) The meat was very tender combined with a almost sweet tomato sauce.  We even ordered wine!  We are so fancy, jk!  The meal is just perffetto! :)

   

Rain rain go away, please come back not for another few days!

Smile #89 - Beauty and the Beast

The best Disney film, without a doubt, goes to Beauty and the Beast.  :)  The magical love story of how innocent friendship blossomed into a vulnerable love.  Belle and the Beast is the epitome of love.  :)

A few months ago, I found out Broadway on Tour is bringing Beauty and the Beast to my good city!  :)  I was stoked and dragged Bubble to the play.

We joined hundreds of Beauty and the Beast enthusiasts in the auditorium.  Little children wore their Belle and Prince outfits.  Two birds with one stone, getting two usages out of their Halloween costumes.

The room darken and flashes flickered -- the narrator began.  A dark stormy night, a hideous old woman came to the kingdom to seek help and shelter.  The Prince turned her away and snarled at her appearance.  His impertinent attitude and selfishness led the enchantress to place a spell on him.  Until he learns how to love and be loved, he shall remain as a beast and his household will be doomed for all eternity.   The play transitioned to showcase Belle, a intelligent, witty, and adventurous girl.  She dared to be different and avoided conforming to societal guidelines.  Although the two met under rather difficult circumstances, their friendship slowly brewed and the rest is history.  :)

Photo By Beauty and the Beast FB Page

The story was beautifully played.  Even with some of the cheesy lines.  :)  Lumière's lighthearted personality and Cogsworth's uptight character were well played.  My favorite is the little teacup, Chip.  His few short lines added just the right amount of humor in the story.  :)

I think it is time to dust off the old VHS tape.  Or perhaps, I'll wait until the new Beauty and the Beast released!  :)