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Ciao from Roma! I know it's been a couple days, but I've been on the move!

I was sad to have to say goodbye to Cinque Terra. So relaxing there. Everyone I met seemed to be going to Roma or Firenze (Florence), but I detoured yesterday to Pisa. Great little town, but the Leaning Tower wasn't as big as I thought it would be (Insert "That's what she said" line here). I did climb to the top and took some great pictures. After spending half the day there, I really contemplated going to Siena in Tuscany. I opted instead to jump straight to Roma (and will catch some wine tours later, on my way back up to Firenze.) The only problem with this plan is that Roma is significantly further away. My train didn't arrive here until 11 p.m. and I thought I was screwed for sleeping, but I found a single room through one of the hostels for only $40E. Score. Plus I got my own bathroom!!! (A first for this trip.)

Today I exhausted myself walking all around the ruins, Colosseo, Pantheon, multiple fountains, piazzas and churches. I think I will close the day today hanging out around the Spanish Steps to read some Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (now reading the series backwards).

Tomorrow: The Vatican. And probably another blog post. Stay tuned.

- Paolo

in

The weather in Seattle for Sept. 4: 60 degrees and raining. The weather in Cinque Terra for Sept. 4.: 75 degrees and sunny. Woo hoo! Actually, last night we had some crazy thunder showers, but it's all blue skies now, fortunately.

Today is my last big beach day here at Cinque Terra before I head south. Christian and I will be on the lookout for what we call "iPods." iPods are women who carry on the rich but declining cultural tradition of sunbathing topless. We gave them the name "iPods" in honor of the first topless woman we noticed on the beach. She was listening to her iPod, with blue earbuds that striking contrasted her yellow bikini bottoms. This woman had a side torso tattoo of a snake. At that moment we understood how Adam was so tempted in the Garden of Eden.

Off for cafe forte now. Ciao!

in

Hi all,

Last night, I had an amazing dinner. That is, the food was amazing. Eel linguine with prawns... Mmm. However, my roomate Christian and I met up with some other Americans and they were absolute assholes at the restaurant. They had no respect for the culture or language and maintained a fratboy mentality and practice in this place, which doesn't deserve it. We ditched them and drank a bottle of homemade wine from an old dude named Benjamin who lives across from our hotel. His limoncello was excellent, too.

Skipping to today, Christian, Serena and I hiked the entire Cinque Terra, city to city. Incredible. Six hours of hiking. The words I could write here aren't worthy of the experience. It deserves an in person explanation, truly. Afterward, we hit the beach for a couple hours and had Appertizi (small appertizers like olives and chips with a sweet alcohol drink) at a local restaurant. Appertizi is THE SHIT and I am instituting it at the Ballard Burrow upon my return. We met a couple girls from London named Polly and Lindsey at the restaurant and played cards before being told that we could not play cards because the business did not have a gambling license. What the hell? You can serve 16-year-olds grappa (think everclear) at the bar, but you can't play cards? Weird. I am off to dinner now. One more full day in Monterosso (Cinque Terra's most northern city). I am looking forward to more beach time tomorrow, then off to Tuscany and wine tours before Roma!

Buona serata,
Paolo

in

Ciao from Cinque Terra! I have spent most of the day at the beach relaxing after a whirlwind day yesterday.

I took the train from Interlaken to Bern to Milan, but I did not feel well on the train (a little nautious from the height and motion sickness). Then I got to Milan and basically got hasseled by assholes the entire time. I got to Il Duomo and it but it was under renovation and is half covered in scaffolding. The one hostel I was aiming for was also closed for renovations, so I decided to skip ahead on my trip and head to Genova, home of Christopher Columbus.

This was a bit of a risk because it was fairly late in the day already and I was concerned about having to sleep on a park bench once I got into Genova. But alas I figured out the bus system, thanks to some Albanians, and found my way up the hill to Ostello (Hostel) Genova by 20:00. It was a shithole, but at least I had a bed for the night. This morning I got up early to head to Cinque Terra. Waiting for the bus, I met this dude named Christian. He is an Italian-American from Philly and basically he has been my guide here because he speaks Italian well. We split a hotel room just a few blocks up from the beach. This place is paradise. I will definitely be here a few nights. I will update you all with more from here tomorrow. More beach time!

- Paolo

in

God damn I kicked it hard last night... And I am feeling it this morning. I am about to leave Ballmers. Man I love this place. I have met some cool people here, including my roomate John. He looks and acts like Nate Krahn, except he is shorter, unmarried and will be joining the Marines next week. I also partied with a gang of Australians, Canadians and a dude in the Swiss army. Good times. Catching a train to Milan now. Arrivederci!