Rome, If You Want To
...except, I'm not going to Rome.
Traveling Solo
Well, I was initially planning to go to Rome, but then everything changed. You see, I was supposed to undertake this glorious Italian vacation with a friend from my Masters program. But 3 weeks before we were scheduled to leave, she told me that she could no longer attend and was actually leaving London to go back home early. So, there's that. I totally understand that emergencies happen and they are beyond our control, but the timing is just horrible. I feel like I depended on someone & they let me down right at the 11th hour. It might sound selfish, but for someone like me (very private and introverted), it's a big deal to open myself up to others--let alone plan a trip with them. When that person seemingly lets me down, it reinforces the point that, at the end of the day, I can only depend on myself. I don't mean for this post to get "heavy," but it does help to write these feelings down. I was left in a serious funk after getting the message (rather than a phone call or a face-to-face conversation) alerting me that I would have to go on my own and re-book everything--especially since prices go up the closer you book to your trip dates.
I briefly considered canceling the trip altogether. Why deal with the hassle? I mean, Italy was not the country I planned to explore by myself. I had not planned to go alone. You know, when you plan to go somewhere under certain circumstances and then suddenly, those circumstances change without your knowledge or control...it's not cool. Also, I was told that English is not that widely spoken in Italy--even in the major touristy cities (according to a friend who is from Italy), so there's a fear of being completely lost and confused in a foreign country. But then I got to thinking. Maybe it's a good thing and I will enjoy the solo trip. I'm now in control of everywhere I go and everything I want to see/do. I've taken a couple of day trips alone and have really enjoyed them. There's no time to feel lonely because there is so much to do in so little time. Besides, I don't know when I'll have this chance again (and for so cheap), so I should just go. I don't want to have any regrets. According to the B-52s, you should roam if you want to...roam around the world.
Ok, so after I made this decision, I got into "solo traveler mode." This included reading numerous blogs about traveling alone, planning my journeys, re-booking hostels/B&Bs for a single room, and altering my itinerary. As a teacher and organization freak, of course, I printed copies of the booking reservations, e-mail confirmations, train schedules, etc., and bound them together. Organization and planning is going to be essential for this trip to go well. I decided to do Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Milan. All of these places are within 2-3 hours of each other by train. And of course, they are gorgeous cities and popular tourist areas. I cut Rome altogether because it can be an overwhelming and stressful place to visit. With a travel buddy, it would have been fine, but going alone--that would be too much, I think. I'm only in Italy for 5 days and I think Rome itself would be a 5-day trip (instead of just 1 day). Whereas Milan is more of a day trip and I wouldn't have to pack so much sightseeing into such a short amount of time (I had agreed to Rome more so for the sake of being a team player). Now, I'm on my own time and this should work out better. Maybe I can go to Rome (and Athens, Greece) in the future and spend a good week exploring.
The next thing I did was buy Rick Steves' Italy 2014.
This guy is amazing--I highly recommend his travel guides and watching his Youtube videos! The guides are thorough, easy to read, informative, and from what I understand, he updates them every year for the reader's convenience. Italy is one of his favorite countries to visit, so he really goes through the major tourist cities with a fine-tooth comb. Everything from museum passes and travel cards to restaurants and hotels/hostels--he gives you the prices, pros/cons and ins/outs. It's fab.
In fact, thanks to Rick, I discovered just in the nick of time that Milan was not going to be ideal for me this time around. You see, in terms of my itinerary, Milan falls on a Monday. Apparently, this is the worst day of the week to visit Milan because the museums are closed. And apart from the museums and Duomo, there isn't much to see in Milan (that's free). Well, this is good to know. Again, I'm not dealing with extra stress, so I nixed Milan and decided that Venice, Florence, and Pisa would suffice for 5 days. Plus, the hostel is cheaper in Pisa than in Milan, so I save money. I continued reading the sections for these cities in Rick's travel guide and he suggested adding Lucca if you visit Pisa. It's a 30 minute bus ride and worth a couple of hours of time. So, if I take this route, I still get 4 cities in 5 days. LIKE!
So, the finalized itinerary: Venice, Florence, Pisa, Lucca. Done.
Blogging
I've decided to do this as a "blog as I go" post. At the end of each day, I'll write a little section about the events. This way, I won't forget too much. I will also add tips and advice for anyone who is considering a vacation to these cities Italy. Please note that I don't have the time/energy to write down every single thing that occurs. So everyday, I'll just provide a brief synopsis with pictures. If you have any specific questions, just leave them in the comments and I'll answer.
June 5
Getting to Gatwick
The last time I traveled internationally was during my trip to Berlin. It was a group situation, so, not as stressful. Originally, I was going to take the night bus to Victoria Station and then take the Gatwick express (since we did this for the Berlin trip). But thanks to internet bloggers, I found a much simpler and much cheaper way to get there. I can take the night bus to Kings Cross St. Pancras (which is much closer for me), and then get the First Capital Connect train to Gatwick. It takes a little longer to get there on this train, but it's so much cheaper (a single fare is £10 compared to the £23 for Gatwick Express).
I didn't get any sleep last night. I was still deciding whether or not to go on this trip and was definitely feeling the nerves. After double-checking my bags to make sure I had everything, I headed out the door. I ended taking the 4:24am First Capital Connect train to Gatwick and arrived at the airport around 5:30am. I can't believe how smooth everything went. I found the right terminal, got the shuttle bus, went through security, and found my gate in 20 minutes. Ok, this was a good sign. Even after making it through the logistics of Gatwick and waiting to board the plane, I was still on the fence. Should I go? Should I stay?
As I sat on the plane, I suddenly became calm. When it took off, I actually became giddy. There was no turning back, so I just embraced the adventure that was waiting for me when we landed.
Venice
Once the plane landed at Marco Polo airport, I didn't really have time to think. After going through customs, I found the ticket kiosk for the buses. For €6, I was able to get the airport shuttle bus from Marco Polo to the Venezia Mestre train station. From the station, my hotel was only a 5 minute walk away. When I arrived at the hotel, I was greeted by the lovely owner who spoke great English. When I checked in, she took out a map and spent a few minutes explaining the bus routes, bus/train schedules, etc. It was extremely helpful and a lot of my nerves subsided. She then took me to my room which was cozy. Not 4 star, but got the job done. The air conditioning and Wifi were excellent--2 very important considerations for hotel in Italy, I think. After I was settled in, I was off for the day.
Once you get to Venice proper, you'll immediately realize just how touristy it is! Also, there are no cars or buses. To get around, you either walk or take the Vaporetto (which is a water bus). I decided to take the Vaporetto from the train station to San Marco. Apart from it being easier than on foot, it was a beautiful introduction to Venice. If you take Line #1, it's a 40 minute ride down the canal to San Marco. Great photo opportunities.
At St. Mark's square, you see the big Duomo, lots of opportunities for shopping, several fine-dining restaurants, and plenty of options for gelato. I enjoyed a nice tiramisu gelato while walking around the square. Ladies: if you go, there will be several men walking around the square and holding bouquets of flowers. They will make persistent attempts to offer one to you. You might initially be flattered, but do not make eye contact and do not take one. They are not free. If you take, they will immediately hold their hand out for money. This happened to me at least 4 times. Same thing with the male street vendors. They will compliment you and/or cat-call you, but it's just an effort to get you to buy stuff from them. Just use your tunnel vision and keep it moving. These guys that I'm mentioning are foreigners--not Italian men. Tourists are their fresh bait and you can get scammed out of money. When I was talking to a local man who was helping me with directions and telling me places to see, another one of these flower guys came up to me. As soon as he started talking the guy in Italian, the flower guy quickly walked away. So, that was pretty cool.
On my first day in Venice, I just walked around, took in the sights, and explored the Duomo.
This also happened at Rialto Bridge...
"Leave the gun, take the cannoli" ~ The Godfather http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHzh0PvMWTI
While walking and riding the Vaporetto, I met a few other solo travelers from America. They were from New York, California, Utah, and Georgia. Actually, there were tons of American tourists who were just enjoying their day in beautiful Venice. I also met some more locals who were very kind and friendly.
After long day walking and sight-seeing, I returned to my room and got a much-needed night of rest.
Tips:
If you want to visit Venice, I'd suggest staying in Mestre or Marghera instead of on the island. It's much cheaper and more quiet.
If your lodging is on the mainland, you can take the bus or train onto the island. It's only €1.20 for a ticket.
If you are a solo traveler, instead of booking a 4-star hotel, consider staying in a youth hostel or a B&B. I stayed in the latter and found that it was the best option.
Gondola rides are expensive, so be prepared. I know it's one of the must-dos while in Venice, but I opted not to. For one, it's better to ride with at least one other person. Secondly, I wasn't about to drop €80 on the ride. It would be great if you go with a group. This way, you can split the cost 3-4 ways. If you go with your better half, it makes more sense as it's very romantic. And again, there's the option to split the cost or the guy can just decide to splurge. :)
More tips about getting around in Venice can be found on Rick Steves' website. I'd suggest taking a look!
June 6
Florence
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITKVVqxVD5s]
After a good night's sleep, I got ready for my second day in Italy. I went to the dining room from breakfast and the sweet owner actually brings it to the table. The B&B is very small, and so is the dining room. The tables are close together and I ended up chatting with other guests. After breakfast, I packed up and checked out. I took the train from Venezia Mestre to Venezia St. Lucia to get a couple more hours on the island before heading to Florence.
At 1:00pm, I took the train from Venezia St. Lucia to Firenze S.M. Novella. From the Firenze train station, my hotel was just a 5 minute walk away. Again, the owner is extremely kind and helpful. After settling into my room, it was about 4:00pm before I actually went out to explore Florence. I prefer to take the time to explore a new city on foot in order to get used to the surroundings and the main tourist areas. Trust me, in Florence, there are plenty of sights to take in. Since I have 3 nights in Florence, I feel that I have the time to do this. I'll save the actually museum and gallery tours later. Here are some pictures that I snapped on my first night.
Tips:
Take the train from Venice to Florence in the early afternoon to avoid sitting in a pack train coach. Also, for this journey, I'd recommended taking Italo over Trenitalia.
Pack Light: So far, in both Venice and Florence, I'm seeing a ton of tourists with one or two rolling suitcases. Try to avoid this. Even if you are staying for a longer period of time, please try to avoid bringing more than one suitcase and bringing more than what you actually need. Consider investing in a really good traveler's backpack. It was a nightmare trying walk around people with gigantic suitcases in the tiny Italian city streets. Also, you'll find that having to deal with so much luggage while taking the train is less than ideal.
June 7
Lucca
I realized that my second day in Florence falls on a Saturday. Florence is already jam-packed with tourists and it's even worse on Saturday. So, I decided to take a day trip to Lucca instead. This place is a gem! Seriously, if you ever go to Italy, sneak Lucca on your list of places to go...
I'd never heard of Lucca until reading his travel book. From Florence, you can take a train to Lucca. It's only €7.80 for a ticket. I snapped a few pics from the train:
Toward the end of the train journey, after one of the stops, a large Italian family from the south of Italy boarded. I think it was some kind of party or reunion because they were all in a celebratory mood and very loud. I almost started to move until one of the group members (I'm assuming he was the grandpa) asked me the number of stops until Lucca. I said I didn't know. He then asked where I was from in America. We then had a nice chit-chat. He said, "So, you're just here traveling and studying on your own? Wow, ok. That's nice. I'm impressed." It made me feel really good, and suddenly, I didn't mind sitting with this loud family. The guy sitting next to me looked like Joe Giudice (Teresa's husband from Real Housewives of New Jersey). He had the most contagious laughter. I was trying so hard not to chuckle, but it was one of those things--I just couldn't help but laugh. Then he laughed even more and it was this nice moment of two strangers just laughing. After we arrived in Lucca, we headed toward the walls. You have to find one of the entrances in order to get on the other side. The city is actually within the ramparts, which are still perfectly intact. I've never seen anything like it.
There aren't any "must sees" in Lucca, so to speak. But, it is less touristy and a great way to get a feel of Tuscany. I tried cecina, a Tuscan flatbread, and a really nice red wine. I also took pictures of some of the beautiful architecture in Lucca.
After a nice day trip in Lucca, I headed back to Florence. I'm now in my room blogging and preparing for tomorrow, which is going to be my big undertaking in Florence.
Tips:
You may have noticed that I'm having to take the train quite often. Italy has a very good train system. There are two main companies: Trenitalia or Italo. If you go to both of their websites, you get the train schedules. Also, you don't have to buy tickets in advance. You can just get them at the train station using one of the many ticket machines.
If you go to Lucca, consider renting a bike so you can ride along the walls.
Just 2-3 hours here will suffice, but if you want a day that doesn't have to be fast-paced, then feel free to laze around Lucca to get a real feel of Tuscany.
June 8
Florence: Part II
Sunday--the perfect day to take on the sights in Florence. On the agenda was the Galleria dell'Accademia (where Michelangelo's David is housed), The Uffizi Gallery, Museo di San Marco, and the Palazzo Vecchio. Seeing the David in person was unbelievable!
Tips
Lines for the main sites can be extremely long and you could end up waiting for 1-4 hours! Do yourself a favor--either get the Firenze Card or just pay the extra €4 to reserve a ticket. This way, you skip the long lines and don't have to wait under the hot sun.
There are tons of tourists in Florence. Many locals and shop owners take advantage of this. Be sure to keep your belongings near to you (keep money on your person) and beware of pickpockets. Also, check your receipts to make sure you weren't overcharged and to make sure you received correct change. Look for the lowest prices. Two shops right next to each other can sell the exact same thing, but one shop might have it for €5-€10 less.
Get gelato at Festival de Gelato
June 9
Pisa
After checking out of my hotel in Florence, I headed for the train to Pisa. I was able to get there in 40 minutes. The lovely owner of this last hotel picked me up from the train station and gave me a quick tour of the town. After settling into my room, I was off to explore Pisa. Of course, the first stop was the Leaning Tower.
The Leaning Tower is part of the Field of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli). There are five structures total. In addition to going inside of the Tower, I also went inside the Duomo, Baptistery, and Museo.
Inside the Duomo
After a long day in Pisa, I headed back to my hotel room to relax and prepare for tomorrow's journey back to London. I can't believe the trip is practically over already!
Tips:
The cost to climb the Tower is a bit pricey (€18), but definitely worth the fee. It's the main "must do" in Pisa, and if you ever plan to visit, just budget that €18. Note: there are obviously a lot of stairs and they get steeper/harder to climb once the Tower begins to lean. Also, the marble is slippery, so you have to be very careful not to lose your balance and fall. If you have medical conditions (such as a heart condition or asthma), you have problems walking and/or you have balance issues, don't climb.
At the ticket office, you can buy the tower ticket along with a combo ticket. There are combination tickets for the other sites in the Field of Miracles. So, you can pay €5 to get into just one of the other sites, €7 to get into two of the other sites, and €9 to get into all of the other sites. Getting into the Duomo is free. Buying the combo ticket can save you €6. As previously mentioned, I ended getting the €7 combo ticket (to get into the Baptistery and the Museo).
June 10
Trekking Back to London
Hey now! I made it to the airport! I'm waiting at the gate right now. I guess now is a good time to reflect on this journey. I can honestly say that this was one of the best experiences of my life. I'm so glad that I decided to take this adventure on my own. I think everyone should try, at least once, to travel to a foreign country on their own. Take on the challenge and you'll be so proud of yourself once it's over.
Overall tips for traveling alone:
Reading is Fundamental. As a teacher, I preach this philosophy to my students. It's so true. A big reason why this trip was successful was due to reading and being as prepared as possible. I read a ton of reviews for places to stay while in Italy, read the travel guide carefully, read the train schedules, etc.
Get a feel for the area. As I said before, when I arrive in a new place, I like to just walk around and get a feel for the neighborhood.
Be street smart. Don't do anything you wouldn't do at home and don't put yourself in compromising situations.
Send your itinerary and contact information to those you trust back home. In case of emergency, they know where you are or where you are supposed to be.
Spend some time looking through blogs and Youtube videos for advice and inspiration. I found that looking at both really calmed my nerves.
These tips apply to everyone, but especially young women. Don't be discouraged or let fear stop you from venturing into the unknown. I feel that young women, especially young American women, are often scared into not traveling alone. You always hear the horror stories that happen abroad instead of the success stories. However, more and more young people (aged 20-40) are making good use of their passports and seeing other parts of the world--sometimes alone. I'm happy to see this trend and hope it continues. You become such a different person when you immerse yourself in other cultures and are more willing to leave your comfort zone.
