Visiting Places That Suddenly Feel Like Home, Part 1

Since the worldwide pandemic started I haven't ventured further then a county passed where I live.  Needless to say I've been romanticizing past travels.  Reliving memories.  Looking over photos.  Heh, and going stir crazy.

What's always interesting when traveling is how some places, even after just a few hours, suddenly feel homie.  Familiar, even when those places are drastically different from everything I know here in the States.

While there are other places that don't really click.  It was a nice visit.  Glad I went.  But I'm ready to see something new.

Whereas the homie places I want to visit again and again.

(These recollections are from a pre-pandemic world)

Bath, England

I love this city so much.  It's very tourist friendly, since it's easy to get there by train or bus, and there's so much to see and do.  There's the historical stuff like the Roman Baths and the Assembly Rooms.  Seeing Pulteney Bridge from a distance is a must, and it's fun to walk across.  There's a hop on/hop off bus that goes on two different routes, which will hopefully be operational after the pandemic, going around the historic city and country.  So many charming shops with buildings spanning various styles and history.  Dining in The Pump Room is elegant and charming.  There's the Jane Austen Center for those who love Jane Austen.  Nice parks.  Views.  History.  Just so much to do.

The first time I stayed it was at the Apsley House Hotel in Bath, a Georgian House built in 1830 by the Duke of Wellington.  It's a Bed and Breakfast, about 1 1/2 miles from City Center.  Close to the hotel is a charming pub/restaurant with the best fish and chips next to the river.  The second time I stayed in Bath it was at the Apex City of Bath Hotel.  Reasonable prices.  Right in City Center.  Across the street is the Green Park Brasserie, which, simply, is the best food I've had on any trip.  So, so good.  And in the evenings there's jazz music.

Another nice thing about Bath is that you can easily visit Cardiff, Bristol, the Cotswold's, Cheddar Gorge, and the Stonehenge.

Cardiff, Wales

On my third trip to the British Isles my Mom and I wanted to visit Wales.  Cardiff is just a little over an hour train ride from Bath, and there's a lot of trains and buses going back and forth.  Easily accessible. 

Heh, okay.  So while in Bath the waiter at TGIF said he used to live in Cardiff and wondered what on Earth we were planning on doing, because there's nothing to do in Cardiff.  I started getting worried.  Were my Mom and I making a mistake in visiting!!??  I did research and it seemed like we would have no problem finding something to do.

So we get there, visit the castle after checking into the Holiday Inn, and really enjoyed the castle and the little tour.  The tour is worth it, and wasn't that much money.

But that night.  Oh, My, Goodness!!!  

Heh, so the Holiday Inn is next to the Rugby stadium, which is kinda a big deal there.  And there was a game.  That night there was a party going on in the room next to our room.  People coming in and out.  Door opening and shutting.  Loud music with beats.  Talking.  Etc.  Couldn't sleep, and I was still jet lagged.  At 2 am it quieted a little, only for the room on the other side of us to get a new occupant.  Must have been a single older guy, because he was drunk singing.  Loud.  Various swear words here and there.  After he fell asleep, around 4 am, the party guys came back to their room and cranked up the music.  My Mom and I didn't get any sleep that night.  I was really worried about our choice in visiting Cardiff.  Thankfully we got a new hotel room with less shared walls, right next to the elevator.  But I'll take elevator sounds over drunk singing and partying any day... and night!! 

Cardiff was a lot of fun, and there's tons to do!!  Silly TGIF waiter.   There's the castle.  All those shopping arcades which are a lot of fun to wander around.  Parks.  You can take a bus by water and land to the bay area where there's lots of restaurants and things to see.

We took a day trip to the Brecon Beacons which included Caerphilly Castle, seeing the countryside of south and central Wales.  We were suppose to do a day trip to the Gower Peninsula, but Cardiff city center was doing a no car day, so the tour was canceled.  I hope to return again to see the beautiful coast.

Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake District, England

The land of Beatrix Potter.  But also a beautiful lake and cute little village.  I've been here twice, but with both visits I was on a tour and the stop was really quick.  The first time was about an hour, and all I really experienced was walking where the lake is and visiting places along the waterfront.  The second time was an excursion while doing a Disney Cruise around the British Isles, which included a boat trip across Windermere and 90 minutes in the town.  It was also a lunch stop, but my Mom and I decided to forgo eating and see as much as we could.  I want so badly to go back and just experience this area.

Orvieto, Italy

Orvieto was such a surprise.  On my Italy tour I was looking forward to Rome and Verona, but Orvieto stole my heart.  It's one of those Medieval rock cliff towns, perched up high.  The streets were so charming.  The homes quaint.  It was fun looking through the gift shops at all the ceramics, which Orvieto is known.  This little town is the sort of place I would love to spend a weekend, just enjoying the ambiance.  

Venice, Italy

What is there not to love about Venice!!??  Before the visit I've seen pictures and watched movies, but nothing prepares you for actually being there.  Venice is amazing.  All the tiny islands connected by bridges.  The atmosphere.  History.  My only regret was not being able to truly explore and wander around.  We were there for the day, but mainly stayed in St. Marks square, and there's so much more to see than that.  We saw Murano Glass being made.  Went on a Gondola ride, which is a must.  It seems touristy and cliché, but you have to see Venice from the water.  I would love to spend a week in Venice.  It was the last stop on the Italy tour, and the perfect way to end. 

*  *  *

This blog post got long, so I need to do a part two.

Until next time!  Salut

 

Finding Utah in Orvieto Italy

While wandering the beautiful streets of Orvieto I found a travel advertisement for California and Monument Valley in Utah.  Utah!!  Here I was in this charming Italian village on a hill, and they're advertising Utah.  And then I realized how much of my own backyard I haven't ventured.

I've never been to Monument Valley.  Never been to Bryce Canyon or Canyonlands.  It's just one of those realizations of how I'm always dreaming of far off places, while not exploring the magnificent places that are a short drive away.  Well, Monument Valley is about a 6 hour or so drive with stops, but still, that's a days drive.

It was interesting seeing a little piece of home in this little Italian Village.

(Monument Valley is based in Utah, but also spreads into Arizona.)

 Such charming passages and streets. :0)

Exploring Italy: Rome, Vatican City, Orvieto, Siena, Pisa, Florence, Verona, and Venice, a Summery.

I was going to review Alita: Battle Angel today--which I saw on Valentines Day day--because it's Movie Monday, but I've been up since 2 am, jet lag, and thought it would be nice to go through all my pictures from last weeks trip to Italy.  Killer cyborgs can wait till tomorrow.

I can't believe that just a literal week ago I was in Italy.  At this moment it's 4:22 pm overseas, and we, my Mom, Dad, Aunt Tam, and I, were wandering around Venice trying to find something to eat (we eventually settled on Hard Rock Cafe, which was my first time eating at one), but then decided to spontaneously ride a gondola.  You have to ride a gondola in Venice!  Yes, it's super touristy, and a little pricey, but so worth it.

I want to go back to Italy so bad.  I loved it!  Seriously.  Honestly, Italy is one of my favorite places I've ever visited.  It was wonderful.  And so many times I wish we had more time.  The trip was a whirlwind, a series of snapshots.

The tour started out immediately upon landing at 9:30 am, February 5th, 2019.  We had already been traveling about 20 hours if you count getting to SLC 3 hrs early, about a 4 hour flight to Atlanta Georgia, 4 hour layover, and about a 9 hour flight to Rome.  I sat towards the back of the plane in the middle of middle seats, and needless to say could barely sleep.  I had a migraine upon landing!!  And one of the ways I combat migraines is with Dramamine.  So with little sleep I took two less-drowsy pills, and still managed to stay awake till 9 pm.  What a long day!  I celebrated a little victory for not fainting at the Coliseum.  :P  Dang.  But it was so amazing I had to keep going and seeing as much as I could.

Rome (Roma)

As the tour I was on walked to Trevi Fountain, all the restaurants were setting up for lunch.  Unlike Japan where restaurants set out plastic food displays, in Rome all the showcased food it real and oh so tantalizing.

 Yes, I threw a quarter into Trevi Fountain, over my left shoulder, making a wish.

But what I wished for is a secret.

 My Mom showing off some gelato.  So Yummy!!!  And so cute.

 I love ruins.

Like, I REALLY, REALLY like ruins.

They're so exciting.

And I was just overwelmed by all the awesomeness.

SO MUCH AWESOMENESS!!

(And I really need more sleep.  I'm loosing it.)

 But really, SO MUCH AWESOMENESS!!!!!

Our second day was a free day, our only free day, and it was mainly spent walking to the Spanish Steps, shopping, eating around this place, and wandering back.

After sleeping in we spent most of the day here, which wasn't what we planned, because we were going to see some piazzas, and do the hop on/hop off bus, but that didn't happen.  So all day at the Spanish Steps.  They're nice.  Not a bad place to spend a day.

Vatican City

We saw cool stuff in Vatican City.

We saw the Sistine Chapel.  Mind-blowing.  (Wasn't allowed to take pictures).

 But this hallway!

I fell in love with the ceiling and all these old map paintings.

 So much so that as soon as we left this hall I wanted a book with all the maps, and as luck would have it there was a mini store in the next room.  But, as luck would have it, I was following a tour guide who walks really quick, and chided another person a couple days before for wanting to buy something.  So I moved fast!  Waited till she was slightly out of sight, searched the map books for the English copy, and whipped out 20 Euro.  My fastest souvenir shopping, ever.  I love that book so much.  And luckily I found my group, listening to the tour guide through the earpiece.

 Random, but I love how there's obelisks all over Rome.

Latter-Day Saint Roma (Roma) Temple

The reason for the trip in the first place.  A lot of Latter-Day Saints are touring Italy this month, and all because of the open house for the Rome Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  All through the trip we kept running into Latter-Day Saints who were on other tours.  Honestly, I think we just wanted a great reason to visit Italy.  The open house was amazing.  The temple beautiful.  I'll be blogging about this in a few days.

 Nighttime around Rome

Orvieto

A volcanic hill top paradise of a medieval city.

Not a good picture.  Sorry.

 But I fell in love with Orvieto.

I was charmed.

 And Italian Cathedrals are something else.

Baroque style.

Look at the craftsmanship.

 It's amazing.

And I really love the patterns.

Siena

Not enough time.

Not. Enough. Time.

Goodness, our visit to Siena was quick.

As soon as our walking tour, which honestly lagged a little, was finished we only had 20 minutes of free time.  I wanted so much more.  The alleyways.  The shops.  So many places worth wandering around.

 In the open area below there's horse races.

Pisa

Another quick visit.

 Heh, I'm just a little too close to the tower.  Supporting the base isn't doing much.

Pictures don't do the Leaning Tower of Pisa justice.

 Florence (Firenze)

We saw the Statue of David.

 Visited an open market.

Saw amazing things.

Another city I need to revisit as I didn't get to all the highlights.

Verona

Enchanting Verona.

It was drizzling, but that just made the city more romantic.

 Venice (Venezia)

My favorite.

 I loved Venice the most.

I've seen videos and pictures of what Venice is like during high season, and I don't think I'd like that, so the low crowds of February is nice.  The only problem is chilly weather and chance of flooding, but we were lucky.  It was chilly, but the ocean was low-tide, which allowed gondola rides through the city.

 I was like, "Why is this building so familiar?"  And then I realized, Epcot, Disney World.  They have a reproduction of the above building, and the below tower which is cut off.  Not to scale, but similar.  

Italy is better for real and in person.

 St. Mark's Cathedral.  I couldn't take photos on the inside, but it's so beautiful.  Mosaics all through the inside ceiling and amazing patterned floors.  My favorite Cathedral visit of all time.

 A glass demonstration.

What a wonderful way to end the trip.