Manic Monday

Last Monday, being the holiday that it was (Which holiday was it, exactly? Really. I have no clue.)
I worked. Yah. You heard right. Rush project due the next day, so I worked.

But around 11 I needed out. I turned into a steaming pile of mush and couldn't think. So I decided to take a brain break and I hit the road. By noon I was tooling down Highway 29, out past Napa, Yountville and just hitting the gorgeous vined area of Oakville and of course I stopped in at my favorite little place to grab a sandwich, Oakville Grocery. One Chicken and Gruyere in my backpack later and I was hoofing it back into the muddy Napa hills on a hike. I only hiked for an hour before heading back home to finish my work, but it was an hour much needed and well spent. Head cleared. Back on task.

Check out the gorgeous day, as seen through my new fisheye lens adapter:

Fun Fact Friday (Quiz) #2

Today is once again, dun-dun-dun (drumroll please) Fun Fact Friday!!! Yay!

Here are your clues:

-The most popular sports in this nation are Sailing and Golf.
-There is a waiting list of between 8 and 12 years to get into Golf clubs in this country, so parents sign up their children at birth.
-In the winter, this country sees 3 hours (!!!) of sunlight in the daytime.
-University Education (tuition) is free here. So if you're looking for a University, pack up your bags and head to _____.
-There are over 250,000 islands in the archipelago of this nation.
-It's Capitol is the home of my favorite museum ever. The museum houses a very old Ship.

Name that Country! Ready? Go!

Your Visual Clue:

The Power Supply, in the Green Room, With the Wrench!!

I have been without my computer...

Beginning sometime in December through this past weekend. On and off. In and out. It's been one, big, lugging dance with Apple to get my big video computer fixed.

Because. It just kept turning off.

Just like that.

Zap.

Working on something here... then. Pshaw! Off!

DO you know how annoying it was?

It was THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS annoying.
Maybe more.

Three trips there and back (three roundtrip trips) to Apple and back and come to find out it was the Power Supply just like I suggested it was, since, you know, the POWER kept shutting off...  (NB: I've never never never had this much hassle with Apple before about getting a problem fixed... and they were perfectly friendly and nice about the whole thing, it just took THREE trips to get the thing fixed. UGH!)

And now that it's fixed, just in the nick of time (for something... not sure what), I've got a backlog of projects to work on. Formatting a family history book. A wedding video.

And so you see, that's why I haven't processed any photos lately. Like none. I haven't been able to. So those awesome new photos (fingers crossed) from that hike I went on this past Monday out in Napa and used a new wide-angle lens adapter on... those are still sitting on my camera's memory card.

So now you know. You know why I haven't posted any/many new photos lately. Because I just couldn't.

But now I can. And I will. You'll see.

Aren't you excited?

Mormon//Traveler -- What does that even mean?

What's the big deal, you ask? So you're a Mormon. So you travel. What does that even mean?

Well.

More often than not I meet people in my travels who are unfamiliar with Mormonism/AKA The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

It always comes up when I travel, the religion topic. Without fail. Usually within the first few hours of a trip. Here's why:

I don't drink. I mean EVER. Never have.

Imagine how this might absolutely gut people in Italy:

"YOU DON'T DRINK? NO VINO? CHE... ???"

Si. No Vino, grazie signore.

Perche? (Why?)... Because it's against my personal and religious beliefs. In Italy, usually this settles it, because as enamored of wine as the Italians are, they are also a Catholic nation. Also, Muslims countries and conservative countries are very respectful (even appreciative) of non-drinking tourists.

But other peoples aren't always as easily dissuaded. The Dutch and Scottish men I've refused drinks from were absolutely baffled. And there have been some very funny conversations with them:

Drunk Dutch Guy: Why won't you sleep with me?
Me: It's against my religion, I'm Mormon.
Drunk Dutch Guy: You're a Mermaid?
Me: Ha. Mormon. We believe sex is for Marriage.
Drunk Dutch Guy: Okay my little Merrrrmaid (slurs), let's get married.

which brings me to:
I don't sleep around. Sex is for marriage. 'Nuf said.
 

I don't party. Not my style. I used to hang out in the bars with friends when I was younger, watching said friends get drunk... it was amusing for a while. It's not anymore.


Well then, you might ask, what's left? What's the appeal of international travel?

If you have to ask that, I would suggest that maybe you aren't doing enough in your travels. Maybe.

Because as I see it, I've got EVERYTHING ELSE. The entire world. It's fascinating, intoxicating if you will. I can learn about the ancient Romans and Greeks, see three-thousand year old ruins, enjoy the bluest water in the world and the whitest, or pinkest, or blackest or greenest sand. There are a million little discoveries every day while you're traveling. Some about the world. Some about yourself.

Because I don't do the things I don't do, I know that, though it might be a great story, I won't wake up in Mexico with a tattoo I don't want and a hangover to kill my day. (Mind you I do have friends who list that very thing as a life goal.)


And now for the list of things I do do (hehe... Chandler Bing moment. You know what I mean.)


I go to Church. On Sundays. And Institute (like Bible Study) on Wednesdays. Of course, when I travel this is all subject to availability.

I read the scriptures. Daily. Well, I won't lie, sometimes I forget. But mostly daily. And that includes while I'm on the road.

I believe in Christ. Always. And I try to act with love, equality and honesty towards everyone I interact with. I am not perfect. I'm still working on these things.

--

In my travels I meet lovely people. We do outrageously fun things like hiking around Petra, snorkeling in the Red Sea, Kayaking around St. Maarten, Quad Biking in Aruba, Horse Riding in Puerto Rico and touring six hundred year old ships in Stockholm. And then sometimes we part ways - they head off to bars and I go and watch the moon rise over the local beach, or write or edit my photos, or possibly just sleep.

So maybe my particular travel style/lifestyle/belief system isn't for you. That's fine. But that's no reason we can't meet up in Barbados for a fruity beverage (non alcoholic on my part, of course), or sail around the Greek Isles on a 50-foot sailboat together.

Let's enjoy the amazing sights the world has to offer.

Faraway Fantasy Friday: The Ultimate!

PLEASE, Please go and vote! :)
http://apps.facebook.com/princess_bucketlist/entries/view/719

Thanks!

 ------

And now, back to our regularly scheduled blogging:

There is a small island chain off the coast of India called the Maldives. Perhaps you've heard of it? Maybe not.
It's rather exclusive.

And it's the stuff that dreams are made of. 

Literally. This is where your fantasy getaway in a tropical house on stilts issued forth from. Tiny white sandy sandy islands with resort bungalows perched atop coral reefs. Dazzling azure water and tropical weather.

It's the sort of place where you have to take a seaplane or small boat to get to.  There are around 100 resorts on the Maldivian island chain, and most resorts occupy their own private island.

These islands are considered to be one of the most heavenly places to vacation, and the median hotel stay is priced around $600 US per night. There isn't a room to be found in the island chain for under $125/night. (And at $125/night, that's what it is - a room. Call me crazy, but if I fly halfway around the world to get to an exotic island chain, I'm staying in an overwater bungalow, which the Maldives are famous for - the least expensive of those will run you nearly $310/night. Most expensive: upwards of $2250/night)

The words Maldives + Budget are simply not compatible.

So dream big, and mostly, save big. 
Because a seven night stay in the Maldives will run you around $5k for two people. (Plus airfare[~$2200/pp, Emirates], transfers, meals and spa services.)

One last thing - you've got to go soon. As in sometime in the next fifty years. Because apparently, the gorgeous island chain will have melted away into the ocean by then.

Photos from Cocoa Island Resort website: http://www.cocoaisland.como.bz


PS: The answer to the last Friday's Fun Fact Quiz is: ARUBA!

Valentines Schmalentines

First of all, let me tell you that I am posiltely indifferent toward Valentines day. Maybe.

Valentines day is, has been and will continue to be first of all my parent's Anniversary. Add to that the fact that I've never, ever, never been in a relationship with an American (who therefore celebrates this manufactured holiday) on Valentines day, and you'll understand that, while Monday may have been slightly prettier due to all of the extra roses and pink swathy things floating about, and slightly more chocolate-y due to the immense amount of chocolates floating about...

Valentines day this year was really just Monday to me.

What was Monday to you?

PS: Happy Wednesday.

PPS: Did you vote today? Please do: http://apps.facebook.com/princess_bucketlist/entries/view/719

Travel Conundrums

First things first:
Have you voted today?????
Pretty please, will you????

http://apps.facebook.com/princess_bucketlist/entries/view/719



Next things next:

I've been thinking. Pondering. Perplexing (again).

Not about my fun upcoming trip (the NBT). Not about the meaning of life. (Maybe a little about the meaning of life).

A little bit about the complexities of being a happily single 30-year-old Mormon travel-freak woman.

A little bit about the overwhelming cuteness of my nephew.

But muchly, mainly about the impossibilities of being jealous of my very own life.

Really.

Don't you think it's ridiculous? I sure do.



And doesn't this look ridiculously fun?

Too bad it's in Haiti. And it's happening now. Or is it too bad? Is there really an answer to that question?

The photo is from this website: http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2010/01/articles/worst-cruise-line-in-the-world/royal-caribbean-tries-to-muzzle-press-as-controversy-over-labadee-continues/

And that link will also take you to a fascinating little article about Royal Caribbean cruise line and the controversy of their continuing to operate in Labadee, Haiti. Molto Interessante. What would you do in that situation? Would you take a cruise to Haiti? Would you take a Royal Caribbean cruise at all? What would you do if you were Royal Caribbean Cruise Line?

Please do tell.

*A Special Request*

While I was working on ships years ago, I was able to bring to my Sister, Brother, Mother and Grandmother each on a cruise with me. My Dad was never able to come out and cruise.

During my childhood my Dad ran his own Chiropractic Clinic in Northern California. He worked hard to provide a comfortable living for his family. Running your own business often means great sacrifice - and in my Dad's case, it meant that if he vacationed, we had no income. We went on a few family trips over the years - Disneyland and family visits, but more often than not, my Mother would pack us kids up in the car and my Dad would stay behind to run his practice.

My Dad has always been amazingly supportive of my travels. He gets so excited for me to go on trips and loves to see the pictures I bring home. He sent me on my first trip to Europe - at the age of 18, and it changed my life forever.

Dad has had a lifelong dream - to visit the beautiful shores of New Zealand. As with many others, the years have not been kind to my parent's financial situation. Dad turns 70 this year, and though he has retired from Chiropractic, he is still working odd jobs to make ends meet, which means that travel is a luxury that my parents cannot afford.

Last year Dad suffered from a series of strokes, impairing his speech and ability to walk. Since then, he's recovered wonderfully - he can walk and talk normally again - But he tires easily, and I fear he won't be with us for much longer. I want more than anything to take my Dad to New Zealand. I want to share my passion for travel with my Father. I want him to be able to see it's green, lush hills and breathtaking expanses and to fulfill lifelong his dream.

I think that an overland trip would be too much for him, he can't do much walking or strenuous activity. So I had the thought to take him on a cruise. However, cruising NZ is extremely pricey. Add in airfare and excursions for two and that kind of trip is way beyond my reach!


I recently learned that Princess Cruises is having a contest. 
It's called the Bucket List contest.
I entered my favorite travel story for the chance to win a cruise for two to anywhere - including New Zealand!!

So here's where you come in.
If you've got a Facebook account, you can help me win a trip for Dad by clicking on the following link:

http://apps.facebook.com/princess_bucketlist/entries/view/719

-That link will take you to my contest entry.
-At the top of the page, click the "LIKE" button to "Like" Princess Cruises.
-Once you've done that, you can click "Vote for this".

YOU CAN VOTE ONCE PER DAY, STARTING TODAY UNTIL FEBRUARY 25th!

So please, dear readers, bookmark that link and tell your friends. Tell your friends to tell their friends, and vote every day!  Let's take Dad to New Zealand!!!


THANK YOU!

Love,
Christy

Unexpected Friends and Lessons

Life is really about love, isn't it? 

The attachments we form, the people we connect with (or don’t) and the friendships we make. Sometimes we come to love (and not the big, sweeping, romantic love, but the love that friends share.) people we hadn’t anticipated even liking.

Airplanes have generally been a place where I disconnect from my surroundings, dig in and try to tune out everything and everyone. It’s about getting into a zone and resting. I generally don’t enjoy chatting with people around me on a plane. Actually, let me qualify that, because it occurs to me that I have two travel personalities:  I don’t enjoy chatting with people on domestic (US) flights. I LOVE chatting with people on shorthaul flights in Europe. London to Rome, Glasgow to London. London to Carcassone. Rome to Cairo, Cairo to Amman. Cairo to Malta. I’ve met some of the most amazing people on those shorthaul International flights. And don’t get me started on people on international train rides. Love them!

Maybe my joie de vivre only really comes alive outside the states? And if so, why the heck am I still living stateside?????

Anyway, tangent aside.

This past November I met a woman that surprised me. She was older, around eighty, and had the middle seat next to me on a packed plane. She seemed immediately annoyed to be sitting next to me, which was interesting to me and somewhat amusing. I mean, am I immediately annoying to most people? Really? Hehe!

I put my headphones on and prepared for the almost-four-hour-flight from Atlanta to San Francisco. On the aisle of our row, sat a Military servicewoman. She’d been given the last remaining seat on the plane and a round of applause in thanks from all of the plane’s passengers on boarding. God bless our troops. The older woman and I chatted with the servicewoman, who was returning home after a long deployment. After the initial niceties we all quieted down and tried to get a bit of rest.

About halfway through the flight, I couldn’t sleep, I was restless and turned on my in-flight movie screen. The woman next to me was struggling with hers a bit, so I helped her out. I began to notice over the next few minutes how much the woman next to me was being doted on by a first class flight attendant. She had been brought a first class meal and snacks and the flight attendant even swiped a passcard to give her free movies. We were in the first row of coach. The military woman on the end was receiving similar treatment, and I assumed the first class attendant was doting on the servicewoman and it kind of extended to the old lady. I was happy they were being taken care of.

The woman next to me didn’t seem to care much for watching a movie and began to chat at me. Gone was the look of annoyance. I was now slightly wary of the chatting, on my way to being annoyed. But I tried to be polite and made conversation with her. And then the conversation changed. The tone of it, after she asked me if I was married, and replied “no.” She asked if I wanted to get married and have kids, which I replied “yes, someday, when I find the right man.”She seemed relieved at this, to not be sitting next to someone with exactly the opposite expectations from life than the ones she had been raised to with (to be awife, mother, homemaker).

She smiled and opened up a book of photos she’d had in her seat-back pocket. It was photos from a wedding she’d just attended – her Granddaughter’s. I noticed that the mother of the bride was the First Class Attendant that had been tending to the woman and then the doting made sense.

The woman’s name was Dorothy. Dottie. She was eighty years old, from outside of San Francisco. She told me that she had been married when she was young, to a man she had two children with. He left her after twenty-two years of marriage. It had never been an easy marriage, but she was a devoted wife.

(She added with wry expression that her ex husband has now been divorced four times and is currently alone and unhappy.)

A while after the divorce she found herself working in a bank. One afternoon a man walked in and she *knew.* They ended up getting married.

“He was my best friend. We did everything together. We never had one argument. We traveled the world. Everyone loved him. He was a good man. His name was Scott, mine is Dot, they called us Scotty and Dotty.”

He had died the previous year. She looked me over, the single gal sitting next to her, then looked in the eye and said to me, “You wait for the right one. He’ll come along. You don’t know when, but it’ll happen, and he’ll be worth it.”

Maybe coming from a different generation she just assumed that I was waiting “for my prince to come along” and, you know, maybe I am.  

But I’m not exactly just waiting around. I’m busying around.  

And when that guy does come along, we’ll join our train cars together and keep on chuggin’.

You never know when the man of your dreams is going to walk into your bank and sweep you off your feet. You never know when you’ll meet someone who tells you beautiful stories about life and reminds you just what it is you’re waiting for. You just never know.

Thanks Dottie. (And Scotty)

Departure Diaries #9: Be Your Own Travel Agent!

When I book my trips, everyone invariably asks me "Who did you use?"


As in, what travel agent or booking company did you use?

My answer is usually: "ME!"

Sure, I've used travel agents in the past and I've called booking companies and airlines. But mostly, I do things myself and work until I hit walls, or am required to book through an agent.

Take my next big trip (or NBT): I looked online for flights until I couldn't go any further. Then I called the airline, presented them with my options and they set me up. Normally, I would have just booked online, but because I wanted to book with miles this time, and there weren't any easily found flights, I made a phone call.


So here are the steps laid out for your travel hacking (loving Chris Guillebeau for coining that phrase) pleasure:

1. Decide what you want to do. The world is your oyster, it's true. But you won't get anywhere unless you start somewhere.

2. Pick the most important thing to you and then plan everything else around it. 
IE: For me, the hinge of this trip was the tour I'll be taking. It was only available certain dates, and I wanted time before and after the tour to visit various places on my own. So I picked my tour start date, then picked dates for my longhaul flights that fit my timeframe.

3. Use the Internet!
For heaven's sake, please do your research.

Hotels
When looking for hotels I start with TripAdvisor.com

Look up your destination and read the reviews about various destinations, hotels and activities. You will learn a TON about the places you're headed to, what to expect and what to avoid. Trip advisor can make the difference between going to a new place blind, or going prepared. Be a smart traveler!

Other resources:
travelzoo.com
cheapfares.com
vacationstogo.com

Flight tips for Europe:
If you're a US traveler, you're probably not familiar with how easy and inexpensive it is to travel across Europe. Flights are usually very cheap. There are a ton of "budget" airlines similar to Southwest and Jetblue that run in Europe. If you need a quick, one-way flight to a European destination, look it up on Expedia or Cheapfares before you book, just to get an idea of what airlines are out there. Then go directly to that airline's website and book. I've usually found cost savings of between $20-70 by doing this.

European Airlines: (That may or may not show up in fare query sites like expedia or cheapfares)

RyanAir (Irish) (Flies all over Western Europe, but hub is in UK/Ireland - sometimes offers fares of 1PENCE! [that's a penny in the UK] but be prepared to be crammed into your seat like you've never been crammed into a seat before. I prefer to fly EasyJet)
EasyJet (British?)
BMI (UK Based, good prices when booked in advance)
AegeanAir (Greek), Cyprus, hub in Athens)
OlympicAir (Greek)
EgyptianAir (Cairo based. I flew them to Cairo, Jordan and from Cairo to Malta. Great service. Clean Planes)
AerLingus (Irish)


Tour companies that I like:
GAP adventures
Intrepid Tours
Geckos Adventures


3. Start booking with available resources.  Airline mileage, credit card mileage, budget available, friends you've got that you can crash with. Pull out all the stops and call in favors. This is the time for it. You'll save yourself ridiculous amounts of money.


4. Compare.

For this trip, I had a free longhaul flight from one mileage credit card AND I managed to book FOUR free nights in hotels with another mileage accrual. (Be sure to valuate your spend, or compare cost to the money you'd spend on the same thing if you were paying cash. Is it worth using your miles? My longhaul flight, had I paid cash would have cost $3500, but I only paid $500 in taxes. = GOOD DEAL.

The hotels were a great find. I only had enough miles for $200 worth of flight credits. But trading those same miles for hotel nights worked out to nearly $400 worth of hotel credit.

5. Don't be afraid to change things. 
I try to only book hotels that will allow me to cancel (usually up to 24 hours in advance) with no penalties. That way, if I find something I like better, I can simply cancel one booking and hop to the better one.


Sure, it can be time consuming. But for me, it's part and parcel of the thrill of travel. In the end, I come away doing exactly what I want to do, and not what a travel agent our tour guide is pushing that day.

Happy traveling!

Fun Fact Friday (Quiz)

Today is a showcase of the unique! And as an added bonus, it's also a quiz. Can you guess the place?

This location:

-Is a fantastic little island in the southern Caribbean, almost to Venezuela.
-Is not a tropical island. In fact it's a desert.
-The yearly rainfall amount makes up only 2% of the drinkable water here. This place has to desalinate ocean water for the rest of it's potable supply.
-Quad bikes are street legal here and you can four-wheel around the entire island! (Well, if you're brave enough/crazy enough to drive through a military live firing range... Not that I've done that... okay, I did.)
-When you arrive, instead of welcome, you'll hear: "Bonbini"

Can you guess what island nation this is?

"Pray in Rome. God Will Hear You Better."

I spent a Sunday in Rome. I'd wanted to do that for a long while. You see, I wanted to go to church in Rome.

And just to clarify, I'm not Catholic. I'm Mormon. I didn't go to see the Pope or go to Catholic Mass in Vatican City. I'd visited Vatican city the day before and it was really something. Kind of overwhelmingly amazing to be surrounded by such immense grandeur. See what I mean?:

St. Peter's

No matter what faith you are, can't you see the appeal? There I was, in a country that had within itself, an entire other country entirely devoted to faith. And I can go to a chapel of my faith there and attend a meeting. Pretty cool. There is something so comforting about traveling around the planet and knowing that on Sunday, wherever I am, I can find a chapel of my faith and be welcomed, safe and embraced simply for being there. It's an immediate comfort zone, even in the most foreign (to me) places imaginable.

I also want to go to church in Israel (LDS Church). Maybe next year?

Well, after an eventful day of wandering and sightseeing Saturday, a day filled with street food and Hot Italian men dressed in well-cut suits and thinking about renting a scooter and watching the local con men pick up sugar-mama travelers from my dinner tavolo at La Carbonara in the Piazza di Campidoglio, followed by Gelato and a Nutella filled crepe (yes, both, I'm not ashamed to say it. It was GOOD!)

After all of that wonder and adventure I returned exhausted to my great little hotel and posted a line or two about my amazing day in Roma and how I was going to find Church the next day on Facebook (iphone + free wifi in hotel = Fabulous!).

Not two minutes later I had a reply to my status update. My friend Emma had messaged me. (I've known Emma for YEARS... about 16... but never met because she's Australian and we were penpals growing up... back in the dark ages when kids used to have penpals! I will make it to Australia soon and meet Emma!) Emma's husband's best mate, Alessandro is an Italian LDS guy living in Rome with his wife and children. Emma sent Alessandro a message and within ten minutes I had his phone number and instructions to call and Alessandro and his wife would help me get to Church.

I mean seriously, ask and ye shall receive! And I really hadn't even "asked," only casually mentioned that I wanted to go to church in Rome. That's some serious prayer answering.

So I called. And the next morning I set out on foot to catch a train to catch the metro to meet Alessandro and Sara and go to church. And I should I have taken a bus to get to the train. It took WAY longer to get to the train than I could have imagined. But eventually I made it and was picked up and ushered off to church, and slipped into the last few minutes of Relief Society.

(NB: In the LDS church, we go to church for three hours. Sacrament meeting, the "general" meeting for everyone to attend together and listen to talks and take the Sacrament. Sunday school is split into smaller groups - groups for children, and young adults and the adults. And then the third hour is split into auxillaries: Relief Society for the adult women, Priesthood, for the adult men, Primary for the children and Young Men/Young Women for the 12-18 year old boys/girls. In this congregation, lucky for me, the Relief Society hour met first, followed by Sunday school and then Sacrament Meeting.)

After a lovely lesson in Italian (from what I understood!), we moved to Sunday school, and I attended a meeting for the Young Single Adults (Singles aged 18-31), that was actually taught by my host, Alessandro. We all introduced ourselves and I found myself to be in the midst of an incredibly varied group of Italian, African, South American and American bunch. The lesson was mostly in Italian, but Alessandro was prepared to translate for me. However, during introductions I broke out my broken Italian, much to the shock (and relief at not having to translate everything) of everyone in the room (I was even complimented on my Italian! Crazy!)

After church, I was invited to spend the afternoon with my hosts and join them at Lunch hosted by a wonderful Romanian single mother of three teenage daughters.

Just getting to the house was an adventure! We caravaned over, following another car, weaving through the city. When we were almost there, a car accident! The car in front of us had been hit by another car. Alessandro hopped out of the car, preparing to be a witness and do battle with the at-fault party, Italian style (ie: with much shouting and hand gestures). But instead he returned in a few minutes, amazed because the at-fault party admitted fault and that was that. Alessandro shook his head and said "this is non normale, not Italian. The man's wife even asked him why he admitted fault!" Que Sera. We moved on to lunch.

You know how the movies show those amazing lunches spent in the Italian countryside? The ones in vineyards with wine and food and laughter and fun? Well, that's exactly how this lunch was.

Minus the countryside and the wine and the vineyard.

It was an afternoon of lovely laughter and delightful people with delicious food. It was about a feeling of love and brotherhood, Fraternita.

The Romaniana Mama and I tried to speak together, she with her broken Italian and Me with mine, and we ended up bonding over expressive hand gestures and a Mozzarella-Tomato salad.

After lunch I was dropped back at the metro by my amazing new friends. And I took the metro to a stop at Vatican city, convinced that I could find my way back from there.

All was well for a good while. I was one with my city map. I walked along the old streets and finally found the wall that encircled Vatican City. And then I looked to the right! And lo and behold, the heavens parted and there in front of me was the stuff of legends. I'd been told about this place by a friend who'd lived in Rome:

It was the temple of Gelato. 
The home to the world's best Ice Cream. Old Bridge Gelateria.

I had looked for this place the previous day and was unsuccessful in my search.  Tucked away on a tiny half-street, the line stretched the length of the road and was PACKED with Italians. I was in the right place, boy-o. Not a tourist (apart from me) to be seen. And the Gelato was simply divine. Fluffy, light, dense, rich, AMAZING. Seriously. Get lost in Rome just to find this place. So worth it!

And then, with my distractingly amazing Gelato in hand, I proceeded to follow the walls of Vatican city IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

That's right, I walked the perimeter of the ENTIRE Vatican city. Wah-Wah.
BTW: Vatican city is much bigger than I expected it to be. Especially because I was walking around it. But hey, at least I know where the entrance to the museum is for next trip.


The ice cream was worth the long treck.

And that's how I spent an amazing Sunday afternoon in Roma.