Saw flyer about Choral Caleidoscope (Evansville Indiana USA Diocesan Tour Choir) in Chiesa di Sant Agnese in Agone (St Agenes Church) in Piazza Navonne at 7:30pm. Waited around. At 7:00pm the church closed, and everyone had to get out. So we had to go, including old man we helped out. In going back in, we saved the guy a seat. Church was packed and very nice event. Another great experience. Another famous church.
"The computer says no". Terrible service, especially the ferry girl at Sorrento. Over charging - we fell for it twice with no prices marked. Once in Florence and once in Rome for lunch near the Trevi Fountain?
At Rouen Rive Doite. Where's the symbology? Looking for Tourist Info, ask at Bus Station. Very helpful. We are looking for the Rouen Museum for Impressionist Normandie Exhibition. Back up main road to find it. No signs!
Bus trip for 1E out to rural countryside of Aix. Very nice. Got to Pertuis (trains were not running otherwise would have caught train.) Walked 1kn to main town. Centre Ville et Centre Ancien (Old centre with town ville). Tourisme office open!!!! Got a map for a local walk around 1,000 you streets. Close up views in lanes and alleys. Great.
Ferry then to Riva at top of lake. 65kms from Densenzano. Found bus station after long walk, asking at Tourisme as well as people in street. Winding narrow road hugged lake edge. Absolutely spectacular. Protocol it seemed was bus going south gives way to bus coming north. Interesting on blind corners!
Train going to Pistoia where another renowned basilica (on Simon's list). Got off at Lucca and had 20 mins to walk around there. Only found out afterwards that Lucca has lots of historic elements including roman walls etc. plus basilica. Found Tourism office that was to close at 1:30pm, but had already closed at 12:50pm. Nice one! I had the next train worked out, but did ask Station person about the next train to Pistoia and which platform Told Platform 4 at 1:52. Went there, but soon realised wrong platform and wrong train. Got a train at 1:32. I think it is on purpose. Train from Lucca to Pistoia was running late, and was a thirty minute trip. Took 50 mins. How can a train already running late, lose 20 mins on a 30 min trip? My ticket had not been Validated and the Conductor was not happy and said it is a 300E fine.
At Bologna, booked seat on Eurostar to Florence (one stop) for Car 3. Lined up at Car 3 spot with others, train pulls in, no car 3! Conductor tells me in Italian 'no car 3. go to car 8 and find a seat!. Did that.
Meeting point was outside Vatican Café. Once we had found it - about 1km from St Peters Square - waited for group and leader. Got ice-cream from the Cafe. Served by an Ethiopian girl who had tried to get to Australia. Leader was late due to protest as well. Chris the guide excellent. Whole tour was brilliant. Included Michelangelo's Dome, Different perspective and context than just walking through. Sistine Chapel was special.
VnT very tired, so no early start. Pompeii was on the itinerary, but decided to head for Sorrento instead. Same way. Lonely Planet had described the train trip from Naples to Sorrento in glowing terms. Until just before Sorrento, the first 50 mins was ugly as sin - graffiti everywhere and dirty. Train was graffiti full as well. Couldn't actually see out the window to Mt Vesuvius! Seemed like everyone had given up and no-one cared.
From Napoli Port, walked up to old castle, then to main Piazza. Very nice. Walked to old city area with amazing shopping precinct within an group of old buildings, with a huge atrium over them. Into laneway city. Vibrant and exciting. Downer was the motor scooters trying to run everyone over. The worst so far. Misled again with directions from a 'trusted pharmacist' to get to Metro. Found Metro with more help, back to Napoli CLE, then back to Rome. Trip back shared a cabin with English couple (Paki background) very nice chat.
immigration sad faces.
Ticket seller at Monge. No help. But girl at Louvre very helpful.
Went to Eiffel Tower. Found a toilet. Booked for Sunday night.
Buying ticket to Marseille at Aix, person ahead is booking world trip. After 10 minutes in Q just got on our train in time. (had failed again with using the ticket machine)
Well, directions to Pole Activities should have said "get out 3 kms before PA" Another 2 hours I won't get back, and no shirts.
Nice Council Ranger confirmed the bus time. Caught 113 Bus down to Menton. Veronica helped up to platform with bags by an Irish guy. Amazing 10 kms to Ventimiglia along coast into another country, language and culture.
VnT started off looking for the Roma soccer store we saw yesterday. Couldn't find that one, walked out of the Lazio store after being given the usual Italian customer service treatment, went to the Tourist Info box and was told of the store down the road. Reserved 2 tickets for Lazio v Brescia on Sunday afternoon at Stadio Olympico. Pick them up later.
Another Q at Paris St Lazare SNCF. On wrong line. To another Q. First stop Rouen Rive Droite.
At Rouen Rive Doite. Where's the symbology? Looking for Tourist Info, ask at Bus Station. Very helpful. We are looking for the Rouen Museum for Impressionist Normandie Exhibition. Back up main road to find it. No signs!
Toursime packed and very helpful. Bus trips 1E, lots of them. Bought Aix City Pass
Walk down town for coffee. Bus from M Gare Routierre on RN8 shuttle to Aix. Driver not convinced or happy we wanted this one that stopped at all the towns. "The express other bus" "No, we want this one". Lots of derisive comments to a French mate (I think). Typical service!
Tim and Veronica had already gone home, on 18 bus and got off at the wrong stop and had to walk back along the narrow road before finding the stairs again! I got the 113 bus which took me up to Vieux Village - only one on it at the end! That was after the driver had a smoko and chatted to her daughter. Daughter sat up front and talked with Mum the whole trip. Also gave her mobile to look at photos as she is driving along narrow roads! Reminded me of the bus to Sefton school where we wanted to sit sideways beside the driver. Memories!
Dinner at hotel. Chef/waiter was very speedy. Only 4 of us eating. Ate one course and took last chew and plate taken away and next course in. Chef stood next to us watching us chew with a smile on our faces. Looking for thanks. I think it was nice, maybe it was sad.
Train going to Pistoia where another renowned basilica (on Simon's list). Got off at Lucca and had 20 mins to walk around there. Only found out afterwards that Lucca has lots of historic elements including roman walls etc. plus basilica. Found Tourism office that was to close at 1:30pm, but had already closed at 12:50pm. Nice one! I had the next train worked out, but did ask Station person about the next train to Pistoia and which platform Told Platform 4 at 1:52. Went there, but soon realised wrong platform and wrong train. Got a train at 1:32. I think it is on purpose. Train from Lucca to Pistoia was running late, and was a thirty minute trip. Took 50 mins. How can a train already running late, lose 20 mins on a 30 min trip? My ticket had not been Validated and the Conductor was not happy and said it is a 300E fine.
Metro back to Vittoria Emanuelle. Got the soccer tickets. Paid for them and realised that they did not take off the deposit. Another tourist trap?
Confirmed with Cathay Pacific staffer that we could exit at Hong Kong for the day. Explained exactly where to go. She was Asian. She had words with an arrogant local who wanted her to help him while she was helping me!. We agreed that service and manner sin Italy are crap. Confirmed shopping places.
Excellent Airport services, helpful and clean. Got locker for our hand luggage. Got train from airport to main line at Tsing Yi, then bought a Day Pass. Got off at Hong Kong Central and walked to wharf area. Very hazy but pretty.
Got back to airport about 3:30pm. Found 'resting lounges' which are banana lounges for travellers. Great and we used them to refresh ourselves. We had not slept for 24 hours + by now.
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