This weekend was my last week in Italy! It has been a great ~ 3 months,especially during the summer period.We decided to visit Monza since the previous 2 times we visited, it was during summer time where 99% of the shops are closed.
We reached Monza central at around 1030am to catch the famous sat. morning market in Monza.It was a typical morning market where everything was sold including clothings,flowers, cooked food,veggies,etc.
On the way to the market, we stumbled upon 3 bakeries! And i was telling my italian colleague that there were no fresh bakeries in Monza!We grabbed some" fresh" buns before heading to the market.
None of us bought anything as we are leaving Italy soon.But there were great bargains in the market.However, I did some shopping at the shopping street and was persuaded to buy a pair of thermal earmuffs.
Thereafter,we walked around abit in Monza before dropping by fish & wine for lunch.It was a hilarious lunch as the owners did not speak english and we had to depend on the customers to explain to us how the ordering works.
This place was supposed to be serving great fresh seafood but the food was OK only.The wine that came alone was really good though.
This marks the end of my short stint in Monza this year...
Monday, October 15, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Roma
This was my 2nd visit to Rome but this time round,i am my hubby's tour guide!We reached Rome in the noon and was eager to check into the hotel.However, due to an unexpected requirement of must have passport as ID for check-in, it prolonged our check-in.(In other places in italy which we went previously,there was requirement of needing a passport as ID for check-in).
After settling the mess,we took the super rickety old elevator up to L5 to dump our luggage.Our first destination was Trevi Fountain as at 3pm we booked a Colosseum tour.The tour was very informative and we were told to remember that Amphitheater Flavin is the real name of Colosseum.At the end of the 40min tour,we took some great pictures before heading to the Palatine hill to see ruins and thereafter, the roman forum to see more ruins. It would have been great to have a tour guide(but we did not get one).Hence, we walked aimlessly & took random photos everywhere.
There after, we walked to the church where the mouth of truth was located.There was a long queue outside the church, and i was so grateful that we managed to reach our turn for some snap shots.
We visited the spanish steps which was in the heart of the city with lots of branded shops!( shopping street!).There were no eatery places nearby so we decided to walk to HRC for a hearty dinner.
On the 2nd day & our last day in Rome, we took a cab to the vatican city.Again,we heeded the trip advisor reviews and pre-booked the tickets to skip the queue!(very worth it).After the visiting the sistine chapel,we headed to the St Peter's Basilica. It was a tough climb compared to the Pisa tower due to the steep and narrow stairs.We took some great pictures before heading down to St Peter's Basilica itself.
We also visited the PO to post some postcards from there.
After that,we headed to Navona Square and had lunch there before heading to our last destination,Pantheon.We dropped by Trevi fountain again before embarking on our return journey to Milan.
After settling the mess,we took the super rickety old elevator up to L5 to dump our luggage.Our first destination was Trevi Fountain as at 3pm we booked a Colosseum tour.The tour was very informative and we were told to remember that Amphitheater Flavin is the real name of Colosseum.At the end of the 40min tour,we took some great pictures before heading to the Palatine hill to see ruins and thereafter, the roman forum to see more ruins. It would have been great to have a tour guide(but we did not get one).Hence, we walked aimlessly & took random photos everywhere.
There after, we walked to the church where the mouth of truth was located.There was a long queue outside the church, and i was so grateful that we managed to reach our turn for some snap shots.
We visited the spanish steps which was in the heart of the city with lots of branded shops!( shopping street!).There were no eatery places nearby so we decided to walk to HRC for a hearty dinner.
On the 2nd day & our last day in Rome, we took a cab to the vatican city.Again,we heeded the trip advisor reviews and pre-booked the tickets to skip the queue!(very worth it).After the visiting the sistine chapel,we headed to the St Peter's Basilica. It was a tough climb compared to the Pisa tower due to the steep and narrow stairs.We took some great pictures before heading down to St Peter's Basilica itself.
We also visited the PO to post some postcards from there.
After that,we headed to Navona Square and had lunch there before heading to our last destination,Pantheon.We dropped by Trevi fountain again before embarking on our return journey to Milan.
Ireland-Dublin & Cork
It is amazing that i stay put in Italy for the past ~3 months. This is not typical of me... but it also meant that i have explored most of the cities/towns in Northen Italy.
Last week,however,i visited Dublin & it was great for me that my hubby(last min) could join me from Amsterdam.It was a breeze fly to Dublin from Bergamo airport.I reached Dublin nearing midnight but the trip started off great as my hubby was standing in front of the B&B waiting to receive me=).
On the 1st day,we took the Cork & Blarney castle rail trip.It was a long trip down to Cork(~3 hrs) but it was good for my hubby who slept everytime he could find a seat.Our first stop is at Blarney castle and both of us managed to kiss the stone.The view inside the castle and also its surroundings were great.The weather was chilly but fortunately,there was no rain.
We lunched at a nearby restaurant before continuing the trip with the rest of the group to Cobh.On the way to Cobh town, we stopped at an old church cemetery.Thereafter,we stopped by St patrick's church(pardon me if i got the name wrong) and also had a good view of the port where Titanic last departed.The Cobh musuem was informative and i got to understand Ireland's history in less than an hr.After that, we headed back to Dublin.We dined at the maples before hitting the sack.
On the 2nd day, we visited the Guiness storehouse 1st thing in the morning to get drunk and walk=)It was a self-guided tour and at the last part of the tour, there were ladies teaching us how to serve our own beer.After this, we visited the Gaol and managed to get on the next guided tour.It was chilly inside the prison and we got a feel of how it is to be jailed with no hint of sunlight.
After this, we visited the glasnevin cemetary where we managed again to join the last tour.We had a good dosage of Ireland's history after all the tours.And so,we decided that we should get a good dose of Irish pub along temple bar after visiting the trinity college.
After walking through the temple bar and the city area,we ended up at the Brazen head to get a new dosage of Ireland's storytelling and beer.The dinner was great along with wonderful companies all the way from Atlanta.The food served was great and so were the Irish songs & the folklore stories.This dinner marked the end of our 2nd day in Dublin.
On our last day,we decided to visit old Jameson's distillery and get drunk before making our way to HRC & Dublin castle.This time round, we missed the tour for the dublin castle(the next tour was too late for us).Hence,we decided to lunch at crackbird before making our way to the airport.
The flight back to Milan was delayed for an hour but we got back soundly & was busy getting ready for our next day trip to Rome!
Last week,however,i visited Dublin & it was great for me that my hubby(last min) could join me from Amsterdam.It was a breeze fly to Dublin from Bergamo airport.I reached Dublin nearing midnight but the trip started off great as my hubby was standing in front of the B&B waiting to receive me=).
On the 1st day,we took the Cork & Blarney castle rail trip.It was a long trip down to Cork(~3 hrs) but it was good for my hubby who slept everytime he could find a seat.Our first stop is at Blarney castle and both of us managed to kiss the stone.The view inside the castle and also its surroundings were great.The weather was chilly but fortunately,there was no rain.
We lunched at a nearby restaurant before continuing the trip with the rest of the group to Cobh.On the way to Cobh town, we stopped at an old church cemetery.Thereafter,we stopped by St patrick's church(pardon me if i got the name wrong) and also had a good view of the port where Titanic last departed.The Cobh musuem was informative and i got to understand Ireland's history in less than an hr.After that, we headed back to Dublin.We dined at the maples before hitting the sack.
On the 2nd day, we visited the Guiness storehouse 1st thing in the morning to get drunk and walk=)It was a self-guided tour and at the last part of the tour, there were ladies teaching us how to serve our own beer.After this, we visited the Gaol and managed to get on the next guided tour.It was chilly inside the prison and we got a feel of how it is to be jailed with no hint of sunlight.
After this, we visited the glasnevin cemetary where we managed again to join the last tour.We had a good dosage of Ireland's history after all the tours.And so,we decided that we should get a good dose of Irish pub along temple bar after visiting the trinity college.
After walking through the temple bar and the city area,we ended up at the Brazen head to get a new dosage of Ireland's storytelling and beer.The dinner was great along with wonderful companies all the way from Atlanta.The food served was great and so were the Irish songs & the folklore stories.This dinner marked the end of our 2nd day in Dublin.
On our last day,we decided to visit old Jameson's distillery and get drunk before making our way to HRC & Dublin castle.This time round, we missed the tour for the dublin castle(the next tour was too late for us).Hence,we decided to lunch at crackbird before making our way to the airport.
The flight back to Milan was delayed for an hour but we got back soundly & was busy getting ready for our next day trip to Rome!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Il Mosnel, Franciacorta
Last weekend,it was wine tasting weekend in Franciacorta.There are alot of vineyards in Italy,but the specialty of this place is, it produces sparkling white wine in the same way as champagne.
I booked a tour for 3 of us and this time,we left our abode as early as going to work(on a weekend!).There was a massive jam on the highway which stretched for ~6km.However,we managed to reach 3 minutes late at il Mosnel.
It was not a sunny day and the rain was pouring even as we walked to the various cellars for the tour. We had a half an hour informative tour on how the sparkling wine was made and proceeded to our wine tasting table where local products with various hams are also provided.The guys had a fun time finishing the whole bottle (almost),and also asked for 2nd servings for the side dishes.
We waited till noon to have our lunch there. It was a great lunch using local products.The appetizers were great along with the first and 2nd dishes. The food and company were great except that the waiting time in between the dishes were pretty long ~ 30 min.
The lunch included another bottle of sparkling white wine but most of us did not touch it.(it did not cross our mind to ask the lady to not open it and we could have brought it back unopened).
Dessert and expresso were great too.After lunch,we bought some bottles of wines before heading to Franciacorta outlet which had great discounts.Unfortunately,we only have 1 hour to spend there before heading back.All of us bought sthg( Edwin-5euro of sandals,Massimo-a pack of cigarretes, me- a sisley cardigan).What a fruitful trip.....
All of us made it back safe and sound despite the wine drinking...
i think the long wait during lunch really helped & for the record,the lunch was ~ 3 hours long!!
I booked a tour for 3 of us and this time,we left our abode as early as going to work(on a weekend!).There was a massive jam on the highway which stretched for ~6km.However,we managed to reach 3 minutes late at il Mosnel.
It was not a sunny day and the rain was pouring even as we walked to the various cellars for the tour. We had a half an hour informative tour on how the sparkling wine was made and proceeded to our wine tasting table where local products with various hams are also provided.The guys had a fun time finishing the whole bottle (almost),and also asked for 2nd servings for the side dishes.
We waited till noon to have our lunch there. It was a great lunch using local products.The appetizers were great along with the first and 2nd dishes. The food and company were great except that the waiting time in between the dishes were pretty long ~ 30 min.
The lunch included another bottle of sparkling white wine but most of us did not touch it.(it did not cross our mind to ask the lady to not open it and we could have brought it back unopened).
Dessert and expresso were great too.After lunch,we bought some bottles of wines before heading to Franciacorta outlet which had great discounts.Unfortunately,we only have 1 hour to spend there before heading back.All of us bought sthg( Edwin-5euro of sandals,Massimo-a pack of cigarretes, me- a sisley cardigan).What a fruitful trip.....
All of us made it back safe and sound despite the wine drinking...
i think the long wait during lunch really helped & for the record,the lunch was ~ 3 hours long!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)