Contiki Day Eight. “Yoo-hoo Contiki”.

I heart Roma, and I’m pretty sure Roma hearts me too. Had the most spectacular day. We all hopped on the train to Rome, and Tam, Katie, Brett and I decided to jump off at an earlier stop than the others to go for breakfast and to the Spanish Steps before the Vatican Tour later this afternoon. We managed the Metro no problem and went and found a little restaurant for breakfast. I ordered an omelette with bacon, but it was awful, which sucked. The bacon was literally just all oil. Grossies. The other’s food was good at least.

Next we went to the steps, where we just walked around a bit and then went and sat on them for a while and people watched. With that done, we all decided to rather get back on the Metro and  go to the Vatican City stop so we’d be around there to meet the group later. Just as well we left when we did, because we somehow managed to get lost in the Metro for half an hour. Literally. Just walking up and down, with each turn leading to an exit into the street but not actually taking us to a train. The signage is really not good, and obviously it’s in Italian as well. It was actually pretty funny though.

Spanish Steps!

Me, Brett, Tam & Katie on the Spanish Steps

Finally we got to the Vatican stop. We just wandered around a bit again, sticking with our relaxed feeling for the day. It was so good to not feel like we were in a rush and could actually just take a couple minutes to remember that we were in Rome! We went and bought our “I Heart Roma” shirts for tonight’s party and then found a place for lunch. A lot of food today. Haha. I had Carbonara again, because it came as part of a deal. Again, it was nice, but I think I was expecting way too much from every place in term  of pasta standard. At least I ate Carbonara in Rome, so score one for the Bucket List.

We went to meet up with the group for our Vatican Tour with a local guide. We all get these headsets to wear so we can hear her while we’re walking around. She starts off with “yoo-hoo Contiki” to get our attention, which was hilarious because you just hear this voice in your ear if you can’t see her. Because we were in a group we got to skip the queues. The Museums are amazing. Everything is detailed and old and even though it’s really busy inside and it was about a thousand degrees it felt like, its really cool to realise that you’re actually in a different country.

Some of the amazing ceiling artwork found throughout the Vatican Museums

I was so excited for the Sistine Chapel. It was one of the things I was most looking forward to. We heard a bit about the paintings and how they were done. For example, the paintings on th  ceiling were not done in the order you see them in. The Noah paintings were done first, with the creation ones following. The composition of them is also different, with the early ones having lots of figures in them, and the later ones rather having fewer bigger figures in them – which makes them easier to see. No photos in the Sistine Chapel, but I’m kind of glad. A photo wol  never be able to do it justice. A lot of people ran through really fast, but I decided I was going to just stand for a few minutes and enjoy it. So I did. It really is incredible. I mean my neck got sore in those few minutes looking up like that; I can’t imagine doing that for four years. The images are breathtaking, and done in such a way that they actually look 3 dimensional. I am so happy I did the tour, because there’s no way I would have enjoyed it as much without knowing some of the background for everything.

We also got a chance to go into St Marks Basilica. It is also incredible. Its massive. I saw the Pieta, and just walked around a bit looking up at the massive ceiling. Most of us in the group decided after that to head back to the camp site as it had been a long day and all of our feet were starting to hurt. I’m quite lucky that my feet haven’t really gotten swollen or anything, a lot of the girl’s have been having this problem. We all managed to make it back to the camp site pretty easily. We all just hung around for a bit, and then went to have dinner. We had chicken parmigiana (I think that’s what it’s called??) And it was delicious. Everyone put on their Roma shirts and we headed up to the bar. Somehow we ended up playing a massive round of “never have I ever” which was so funny. And then the markers came out and we all wrote on each other’s shirts. Reading those later was hysterical, I laughed so much.

Me with Clare (our incredible TM) and Colby

It is official though, I absolutely love Italy. Off to Venice in the morning, our last stop in Italy.

Wear The Fox Hat!

London: Day Two. I have decided that my previous view on how incredible London is was not merely a result of lack of sleep and initial excitement. No. It is 100% accurate. It is most definitely incredible.

I had a wonderful day today. Got to start quite late (I only catch the train after 9:30 to avoid peak travel costs) which was good because it meant I could have a proper night’s sleep. And boy did I. I was so tired I don’t even think I moved at all during the night. So anyway when I was up, ready and it was time to go, I went all by myself and caught the train to Waterloo. Yay me. First stop was to be Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard. To do this I needed to hop on the tube at Waterloo. Which I promptly did with no problem. Yay me again. Once there, it was a lovely walk through the park to the Palace. I got there quite early which was cool. But I didn’t really know much about what would happen so I didn’t know where would be the best place to watch from, and so I found a spot close to the one entrance. The one advantage of being by myself is that it is actually surprisingly easy to squish through crowds and get a good space. Next thing you know, I hear trumpets and drums and all sorts of things. But I couldn’t see anything. Moment of confusion about whether or not I was in the total wrong spot to see anything. Luckily I was patient, and waited it out in my space, because eventually the whole procession came by right in front of me and I could see everything. It was quite cool, it’s just really long – especially because I couldn’t see any of the first part. But it was nice to watch and I got some cool video.

And then came the disadvantage of being by myself – the selfie. I’m actually pretty good at this, but it turns out it is a lot more challenging with a building of that magnitude. It just ended up looking like I was standing in front of a green screen. Haha. But luckily I found another solo person and made a deal that I would take her photo for her if she would take one for me too! So at least I got that.

Buckingham Palace

After Buckingham Palace I went for a walk around. Didn’t really have a plan – just decided to wander around and see where I ended up (all in busy areas though, so don’t worry mom and dad, haha). Also sorted out my UK sim card. Found a few nice little churches along the way, and all the buildings are so beautiful. Eventually I found a really high wonderful looking tower in the distant skyline and decided to head towards that. And that is how I found myself at the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Snapped a couple photos of both and then made my way into the Abbey. It is MAGNIFICENT. I think that’s the best word. But even that doesn’t do it justice. It was so amazingly beautiful and detailed. There was an opportunity to light a candle and say a prayer which I did. The cool thing is that the entry fee (student discount with an ISIC card) includes an audio guide, so when you go in you can get a little phone type thing and then at certain parts in the Abbey you can listen to more information about them, and also hear organ music while sitting inside looking at the organ. It was a really wonderful experience.

Just a little piece of Westminster. Photos don’t do it justice!

Sticking with my no-plan just-go-with-it idea, I figured that the next best thing to do would be to go on a hop-on hop-off tour and so I ventured onto the tube and towards Piccadilly Circus. Went and bought my ticket for the tour and headed off to the starting point for the “Yellow Route” which has a live guide. Will definitely be going back to Piccadilly Circus – there are so many souvenir shops to choose from, and I want to go to M&M World too! Jumped on the bus (got a seat on the top level on the side) and went around London, learning interesting facts along the way. I got off at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Unfortunately it was just before 5pm and so evensong was about to start and I didn’t get much chance to really look around. But again, saved money because there was no entrance fee at that time. Winning. Its beautiful as well though. While waiting to hop back on to the next bus, I had my first Starbucks experience – just grabbed a hot chocolate and some shortbread biscuits, but it was yummy. Hopped back on the bus and carried on around London.

Starbucks Selfie!

It was getting a bit chilly and so I decided to head home. Managed the tube to Waterloo with no problem. Got there, looked for the train to catch and saw two options. One didn’t have a platform number, so I went with the second one. Checked it had my stop on it. Went through the gates. Realised I forgot to look at the platform number. Went back out. Checked the platform number. Ran to the other side of the station for the platform, thinking it was weird that it was so out of the way. Got on the train. Sat. Rode the train. Kept riding the train. Wondered why I wasn’t recognising any of the station names we were going to. Looked at the map. Saw they were all on a different line to where I needed to be. Texted Wendy to say I would be late. Rode the train all the way to Shepperton. A place that you would wear a fox hat to. Got off at Shepperton to wait for the next train back as it is the end of the line. And finally made it to where I needed to be. Quite the adventure. And I was so proud of myself because I didn’t freak out or anything.

“Lost” in Shepperton

We went to the pub down the road for dinner, and I had a Pimm’s and lemonade, and fish and chips with mushy peas. Most yummy fish I think I have ever eaten. It was really good. And that was day two pretty much. Was a good day in my opinion!

Love,
Me
x

BUCKET LIST

THE BUCKET LIST. I love the movie. And I love thinking of things I’d like to do or experience or achieve one day. I recently turned 21 and realised that I am actually mid-way to my mid-life. Slightly depressing, but true nonetheless. Eek. Therefore, cue The Bucket List. Cheesy and possibly overdone? Yes. But also necessary I feel. It sort of makes my crazy travel ideas and ambitions feel more  like goals than dreams. Which makes them feel (slightly) more possible.

I’m trying to build it up to a “40 before 40” list eventually. I also pretty much end up adding to it every time I watch a programme on Discovery or the Travel Channel. Oh well. Can’t blame myself for wanting to get as many experiences out of my life as possible.

I’m crossing them off as I go, and will most likely write about the best ones and include pictures. After all, a picture speaks a thousand words.  So without further delay, I bring you Megan’s Bucket List, in no particular order:

1. Watch a live musical in London’s West End

2. Watch a live musical on Broadway

3. New Years Eve in New York City

4. See the Northern Lights

5. Get lost and find something incredible along the way

6. Do something kind for a stranger

7. Read the Diary of Anne Frank

8. Visit a concentration camp

9. Sing karaoke in front of a crowd

10. Run a 5km race

11. Run a 10km race

12. Learn to speak a new language

13. Go on a road trip around South Africa

14. Learn to surf

15. Go to Wilderness Park in Wisconsin

16. Eat Creme Brulee in France

17. Make a difference in someone’s life

18. Get my PhD in Psychology

19. Visit every continent in the world (Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia, Antarctica)

20. Eat Spaghetti Carbonara in Rome

21. Start a blog

22. Watch a sunrise on the beach

23. Swim with dolphins

24. Go to the La Tomatina Festival

25. Go to Walt Disney World

26. Write a book

27. Make a snow man

28. Go skydiving

29. Go bungee jumping

30. See Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower

31. Stand in a rainbow

32. Go to OppiKoppi