Rome Italy day 9

Staying at the hotel wasn't the original plan. Astrid originally was supposed to do Venice and then come to Rome with me. But when she found out that it's around +40 down in Rome she said she didn't want to go because it was too hot. However she said she would do a half day of Venice with me and then I could come up to the hotel in the mountains and stay there for a day or 2. So in the end staying at this hotel was kind of a 36 hour break from my trip, However I saved 2 nights accommodation, received 5 meals for free and I did get to do the cable cars in the mountains (which also I didn't pay for), got to go to an Italian street fair with nothing but locals and I got to see what a very old village in Italy looks like. And on the plus side I didn't lose any time in either Venice or Rome because I still had 2 days in Venice which was more than enough, and I get just over 2 days in Rome which will be a lot of time from what I hear from other travelers! 

I left this morning just before lunch for my journey down towards Rome. I caught a bus from the hotel to a train station in another town called Feltra. From Feltra I caught the train going to a city a few hours away called Padova. And from padova I caught a train going to Rome. After all was said and done it was going to be an 8 hour travel day for me once all the connections were made and I was finally in Rome. 

The train rides went by fast it seemed, I arrived in Rome at about 8:45. I am staying at a hostel in Rome for the 2 nights I'm here. And luckily the hostel was only 6 blocks from the train station! So I followed the directions the hostel gave me and I was there very shortly. 

I checked into my room and met 2 German guys staying for a few nights. They aren't travellers, just came to Rome for a 4 day trip. The one German guy not only knew where Saskatchewan was but he said oh ya that's where Regina is right? OH MY GOD I was in shock! Someone from Germany knows where Regina is yet almost all of the Americans I have met don't even know what Saskatchewan means. 

After I sat down and relaxed from my long day it was already 9:45 and I decided not to go out. Everything would be closed anyways and since I don't know the "lay of the land" really I don't want to get myself lost espiscally in the dark! The one German has been here before and said that you don't want to get lost here in the dark because a lot of the streets look the same and it's a very big city so best not to get lost on the first day. 

Wasn't too much of a big deal to me however because I was tired and I thought if I stay in and go to bed a little earlier then I can get out and start my day when it's a little cooler outside before the sun hits it's peak. SPEAKING OF! People had warned me and said it would be so hot and I was basically going to die from the heat but when I arrived it was only +25! Ya it was almost 9pm but Compared to the regular +37 at night I'll take this temperature. The forecast says it's only supposed to reach a high of +31 tomorrow so fingers crossed! 

Since it was just a full day of trains and busses I didn't take any photos! Lots to come tomorrow though! 

Train ticket to Rome from padova 

Fiera di Primiero Italy day 8

Fiera di Primiero is the name of the village that I'm staying at in the mountains in North Italy. I woke up this morning and me and Astrid went for breakfast. Then we went swimming in the pool at the hotel followed by just relaxing in our room for a little while. 

I went to the office to print off my last plane ticket which I had previously forgotten to do in Edinburgh. Anna (Astrids sister) later took both me and astrid by car through the mountains to another village where you can ride cable cars to the top of the mountain and see the view. 

The view was beautiful! Reminded me so much of the mountains in B.C. After we did the cable cars we walked through the village just on some streets wandering around for awhile. 

We headed back to the hotel and went swimming again and then it was time for supper. Amazing supper again! The chef made home made fettuccine, real made noodles that day and they were delicious!  

A little after supper there was a street fair going on in the town so me, Astrid and Anna's husband and daughter all went down to see some of the street fair. Anna's husband bought us mojitos and different Italian street fair foods to try. Really nice of him! 

Then it was back to the hotel and time for bed and tomorrow I leave for Rome! Also! It is so much nicer weather up here in the mountains! It only got to about +17 yesterday! I actually got to wear my leggings because I wasn't dying of heat! 

View from right outside the hotel 

Swimming at the pool 

Lunch! Potatoes with cheese bacon and mushrooms 

The drive up to the mountain cable cars 

View from the top of the mountain 

This is the Italian "Santa Claus"! It is a woman and she rides a broom stick not in a sleigh 

Village at the top of the mountain

Homemade fettuccine! 

Beef and potatoes! 

Mojitos at the street fair 

Fried apples with a jam sauce (jam sauce tastes like the sweet and sour sauce you put on your chicken balls at peeking garden... Not good jam sauce) 

I also want to wish a happy happy belated birthday to this beautiful friend of mine! Happy 20th Shelby! Love you! ❤️

Venice day 7

Woke up in Venice this morning and checked out of my hostel. I went to the train station in the centre of Venice to meet my roommate Astrid and her sister Annabella. 

Not sure if I have or haven't said it so I will say it again. Astrids sister married a very wealthy Italian man. They live North of Venice for about 3 hours in the mountains of Italy. There they own a 5 star hotel. Every summer astrid goes and stays with them for a month to visit and such. We did have plans for her to come and do Rome with me in the beginning, however she asked her sister if I could come up her for a few days and just hangout with them and stay at the hotel and they said yes. 

So I met astrid and her sister at the train station and we spent the day in Venice , walking around and they did a little shopping. At 5 we caught a bus going back to their hotel in the mountains. We got to the hotel at 8 and had supper with the family. 

OH MY GOD supper was amazing!! The chefs gave us a set menu and you got to choose your appetizer and main. I chose a potato starter and the main was beef in a Chardonnay sauce with vegetables. WOW best meal I have had on my trip hands down. It is a 5 star hotel though with some of the best chefs so not surprised that the meal was amazing as it was. 

Me and Astrid went and sat in our room which over looks the mountains too by the way! We sat on the balcony and had a few drinks then decided it was time to call it quits and went to bed. 

It was only +30 today so I was actually able to put my hair down! 

The calzone I had for lunch! 

Astrid, mylsef and Annabella 

St. Marco centre 

Having some raspberry gelato before getting on the bus 

Driving through the mountains to the hotel! 

Reminded me so much of B.C.! 

Appetizer for supper! 

The menu you can choose your appetizers and mains from! 

My main for supper! 

The view from mine and Astrids hotel room!