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Who would have though I would be in Rome. Well, urm, not me. Just got here tonite after an ungodly train trip. The train was the worst thing I have ever been on. Even worse than that grade 10 bus to Malibu (Lindsay- you will know what I am talking about). It was stinky and weird and I was sitting on something super nasty but was afraid to know what it was therefore just stayed put. Aye.Point: Do not assume people do not speak English and make fun of them. Ok so it wasnt me. It was the two American chicks sitting in our cabin as well, Ok so on the train there was some various rooms where people who were too cool to sit with the other people sat in. Well, we sat in one of them.Then two American chicks came in and then later on, the most Italian man- Godfatherish, came in and sat down.Well the chicks went to town. And due to the fact that we were all tired and stuff- we were laughing our asses off. Bad move. By one of the last stops everyone was getting off the train so Aaron asked this guy in quasi Italian if this was the Roma stop. He said, no, this is not the stop. Wait for the next stop. Have a good trip. And just like that... he left. We laughed our asses off. Walked around Florence all day and saw some cool shit. Tonite arrived at the Yellow Hostel in Rome which looks quasi sketch but just because, as you may know, I am not such the partier and all the crazy cats here look like they are. Maybe I will be mistaken. Maybe I need to open my eyes to the surroundings and forget trying to be something I like to think I am. Ooh deep. I dont even understand that one... Tomorrow, God willing (ha and Aaron willing) sleeping IN! Wahoo. OK so at least til 8. After that, a lazy jaunt around the city. This shall be grand though. We have 4 days here and then 2 days in Naples and then 2 in Amalfi. Apparently I am in charge of finding the places to stay... moo wa ha haha. You all know my taste. ;) Alright. So. The drivers here in Rome seem a little more intense. Note to self: Do not be bold. Bold can be bad. (Please refer to previous posts) Take care kids. Go kiss my dog, I miss her. ;) Posted by Bella at 3:20 PM# Did you know Bullshit is a language? No need to be bold here thank God. Not as much traffic it seems as Padova. Ahhhhh sweet sweet safe cross walks. It is amazing the little things we take for granted, such as the safety of cross walks. Every once in a while I will bust out the comment, Calgary Police would bust your ass for that bad move. Heh.Woke up in Padova this morning at the ungodly hour of 4 as there was a time change and bus and train thing to make sure we made. Caught the train, had a solid minute of sleep on the train, got to Florence, dropped our bags at the hostel which is kinda cool actually, and then busted it on over to Sienna. Jeez and I thought it only rained like that in Vancouver. Bah. It poured in Siena to the point where we were just miserable and bone chilling cold. That and well, no freakin bus service on Easter- who knew? Even a simple freakin taxi was hard to come by. So we walked, and missed our train and the trip to Pisa. All is well though. Back at the hostel and just checking the ol' email which is lookin real bare kids. REAL bare. I have more email from spam than I do from my friends. Wankers. Tomorrow is the walking tour of Florence. Aaron and I have a semi solid plan which hopefully doesn't get rained out and then after that- a trip on down to Rome for the next 5 days I believe. It gets frustrating travelling. Especially in another country with another language and another set of rules and uh... yah. Missing trains, weather, random spurts of hunger, expensive shit every corner you turn and then the realization that you are in their land now- speak their lingo. Dumb twit I am. I can understand it no problem- can't speak it to save my life. Thank God Aaron is a little more bold with that. He seems to have a knack for talking to people in other lingos than his own. Damn multilingual speaker. There are these cakes every one is carrying around in boxes. We came to the conclusion that it was Easter cake and we thought we ought to find some. Well hell no. It looks stale stale stale. Maybe it's good though- who knows... Pizza for the past couple dys. We went to this fun place last night in Padova called Brek where it was like a buffet thing- but then they cooked it for you. So we copped out on the pasta and had pizza, again for the third night yummmmmmm and had a pizza with some articoke hearts, black olives, mushrooms and some ham. I picked off everything but the ham. Heh. It was cheap. Man there is so much I want to tell you like about the copious amounts of lingerie stores in each town and the dreaded lineups to all the cathedrals and lack of sleep in some hostels and the... uh... SO MUCH MORE TO TELL YOU. Alas, I think I need to have a shower. Time is short on this bad boy. Hopefully this reaches you guys and then you can all reach out and touch me. MMm. Emails... Ciao!!!! Posted by Bella at 10:41 AM# He says "Be Bold". Hrm. You can kiss my unbold ass on that crazy idea. Hiddy ho there kidlets.Well I have survived yet another day in the craziness that is the traffic in Italy. Aaron keeps saying "be bold" but it is so hard when there is a big truck coming at an insane speed at you. We are in Padova right now, again, as we missed the train this morning due to lack of reservation. Meh. This town is awfully cute and quaint and all that goodness so staying here again will not be that hard. Get this- the hostel aint all that bad. Milan is overhyped- did not enjoy it all that much. At least I can say now that I have been to Milan. Maybe it was because of how tired I was. I did not get ANY sleep on the planes so that made Megan probably very cranky and not really into anything. Can you believe it? Megan cranky? Bah. Venice was everything I thought it would be- and more. Took a gondola ride after haggling the price a little bit (down from 110 euros to 80...), went to the beautiful island of Lido and tooled around, ate at St. Marco by the water and took in a smidge of what Venice had to offer. Tomorrow to Florence to drop our crap off, then to Sienna cuz apparently it's cute, and then to Pisa to have our picture taken. After all that whirlwind adventure, over to Rome and then Naples, maybe Amalfi then home. Ahhh. Take care kids and really don't be afraid to drop a line or send an email. Ahem. Thanks mom.. ;) Ciao! Posted by Bella at 2:58 AM# Leavin' on a jet plane, back on April 11. Well kids, I leave tomorrow. That's right. Tomorrow.I finished all my packing yesterday and really, it was pretty damn easy come to think of it. I am sure I will be on the plane heading over to Copenhagen tomorrow and it will hit me like a ton of bricks: I forgot my underwear. Or maybe I won't forget anything... knock on wood. Anyways, if you want a postcard- send me your address- either by email to meganepratt@mac.com or leave a comment here, and I will do my bestest to get one off to you. As well, I will do my best at getting to random internet places so I can either send out emails or update this thing. Weeeeeee!!! Posted by Bella at 10:09 AM# 4 more sleeps. Not excited in the slightest. Maybe you can tell how unexcited I am.Heh heh heh... Posted by Bella at 4:06 PM# The IQ of a deck chair. Just a sample of the winners making the news tonite:The federal government wants to hike the rent for the Calgary International Airport to $56 million a year, which is a 124% increase from what it is now. Edmonton's airport is going to jump from $4 million to $24 million a year. I wonder who is paying for that... those poor travelers. Two Sikhs get away with Canada's largest mass murder after the Air India bombing. Over $130 million spent on this 20 year trial. So, uh, if it wasn't these two dudes- who was it? Another hrm. I know who my finger is pointing towards. Jetsgo former top guy says he has "deep sorrow" for the employees and the passengers who got screwed over in the airline being shut down. Maybe the sympathy cards should have being sent back 8 months ago when they reported a $55 million dollar loss. US plans to appeal cattle border opening. Here's an idea- get a catapult, throw the cows over. Why not? Nasty Girls dancer Honey Houston demands more action be taken against Gauntlet Editor Ben Li besides the suspension. Hm. Maybe she could apologize for even starting this issue by dancing for him. Scott Peterson, the sick fuck who murdered his wife and baby, is sentenced to the death penalty. Too bad he'll probably die by old age behind bars before the lethal injection even gets close to him. Posted by Bella at 8:05 PM# Talentless, but connected I am. These guys are fairly entertaining. Their music is peppy and well, they love doing what they're doing. For the little interview I did with the band Hello Dave, check out the Fresh Tracks Music website.Posted by Bella at 7:53 PM# B flat is for boy. Editors note: Insert the word "girl" wherever I put the word "boy" if it applies to you and your, erm, preference. As well... this post is about past and future boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, family and dogs.Too bad I wasn't a song writer- I would sure have some things to write between the lines about. It would be in the key of B. B flat actually, b flat for boy. There is so much that can be hidden in song lyrics. Songs about being jaded and heart broken, torn to pieces and loved to bits. Basic story though: Fall for a boy. Boy falls for you. Boy gets tired of you. Boy dumps you. Have bliss to end all bliss. Get back together with boy. You meet new boy. New boy's fun. Old boy stays in your mind and haunts you like a pair of stinky socks. Thoughts of becoming a lesbian enter your mind as boys become too difficult to deal with. In relationships, I have found, you can give and give and give until it just doesn't mean anything anymore. The problem is with receiving, or rather in not receiving because they're not giving back. Giving back takes effort, care, and sometimes a few bucks. It's easier to be lazy, but laziness makes relationships go stale from all the one-sidedness. Things die off because the single giver can't keep it up. The fun dies off, the feelings run out of fuel, and in the interests of keeping their own heart from going stale too; it becomes time to move on. One-sided relationships can be lonelier than singleness. I guess nothing in life was ever suppose to be easy, eh? Posted by Bella at 12:13 AM# The overexposesd Gauntlet story. Also found on the Calgary Herald website.When I was younger, I was always in trouble. Whether I did it or not, somehow my twin brothers would peg me with the bat that broke the window or the hockey puck that hit the car or the dead bird that ended up dead in our yard. When I actually did these deeds, I would hide. No one would find me. I wouldn't advertise anything just because of how embarrassed I would be. Well. Apparently Honey Houston only pretends she's embarrassed over recent events at the U of C. What has boggled my mind in the past couple days is the amount of times Ms. Houston's face appears in the Herald. When I saw her picture in the University of Calgary's Gauntlet, I couldn't help but wonder what the fuss was over. I didn't see a face- just some nipples. Who would actually know who this girl was unless they knew exactly what her naked front looked like? I don't understand why she was freaking out. The other thing that I don't understand is why she would pose for a picture for the Calgary Herald with her face if she was so embarrassed about everyone knowing what she looked like naked. Odd. I guess some people just love the spotlight. I couldn't help but feel bad for Gauntlet Editor, Ben Li. It is unfortunate that a student society takes such offence to something as trivial as a picture of a naked girl. What's even worse, is the dancer freaking out about being photographed when she must have seen the cameras. I shake my head at her, the closed minded selected student population and the other people this society who can't handle a bare breast. Kudos Ben. Sorry this society can't see what the Gauntlet's point was in this whole mess. I would hope that 30 years down, public nakedness won't be so taboo and embarrassing. Posted by Bella at 8:41 PM# 10 days. Holy is the countdown ever on. If only the weather over in Italia would cooperate with me...So the plans are now falling into place nicely and I am fully confident with my partners plans and reservations. I'm arriving into Milan about 7 on the 23 and then have found myself a cute little hotel called Hotel Demo. Cute little place and apparently it's only a hop skip and a jump from the train station which is uber handy. My room is also super cute... even has a private bathroom which apparently is hard to come by. Sigh. The things we take for granted. Next morning, I bust a move on over to Padova, meet up with Aaron and begin the whirlwind adventure. Race over to Venice, bust a move to Florence, hightail it to Naples and the Amalfi Coast, kick it with the Pope in Rome and mosey my way back to Milan to make it for my noon-flight back to Copenhagen and eventually over to Seattle. I can't even begin to express to you just how stoked I am. Like- I am sure some people are sick of hearing of it by now and for that, I apologize. Don't worry though- I promise I will tell you lots more in the coming days. Posted by Bella at 12:21 AM# Look - a gypsy! Heh heh heh. Had to be there. Glad you were, CJ.Posted by Bella at 12:14 AM# 14 days. Also found on the Calgary Herald Q page.I am one of those narrow minded ignorant twentysomething buffoons who Jeremy Klaszus speaks of in his piece about the myths of the Canadian traveler. At least up until the point where he points out how un-classy it is to pride ourselves on the fact we?re not American while touring. In only a week and a bit, I am off to the land of pizza and pasta and the Pope for 3 weeks of traveling by backpack. This is something new to me as I usually tote around a fairly large black suitcase which has wheels and a pull handle on it. I believe I am in for a bit of a surprise. One of the first things that had to be done while preparing for my trip abroad was the purchase of a Canadian flag. This flag will symbolize me, as a Canadian, from the land of Timmy Ho's and hockey. This flag will help me when I need it- heck, it worked on my first excursion to Europe, why am I to think differently this time? This flag may also symbolize my ignorance to the fact that just because I am a Canadian, doesn't mean everyone will be nice to me. I have to do that on my own. The rest of the trip will be properly planned out. I have borrowed CDs on "How to learn Italian in only 15 minutes a day", rented the Lonely Planet's guide to Italy video and bought maps which are posted up on my bedroom walls. Sticky notes with arrows on them have plotted where I will either be going, or where I would like to go. Other Post It notes have been placed all over my room walls with sayings such as, "I am lost- Help" or "Do you speak English better than I speak Italian?" I have taken pride in the fact that ignorance is not bliss, especially in a foreign country where their cultures are way different to mine. I have taken pride on the fact that while I am in Italy, I best not be stepping on any toes of the citizens there by making stupid comments about their lifestyle. And I have taken pride in the fact that I am in their land- I obey their rules. Although the one thing that I will keep guarded with me, is the Canadian flag. For some reason it has a rather safe feeling to it. Posted by Bella at 12:54 PM# I am in no way saying I am perfect- but neither is that. Also found on the Calgary Herald Q site.The other night I came across an interesting guy at the pub. He sat there all smug looking, smoking his Du Maurier, drinking his Stella Artois and wearing his Tommy Hilfiger. I struck up a random conversation with him by asking what he was taking at the U of C. He looks at me and says, "Accounting- it was the easiest program I could get into. And as long as I am at school, my Dad is still supplying me with his Visa card and paying for my car and condo". I was stunned. Stunned because he so openly told me this without feeling any shame that he was a 25 year old kid who still relied on his Daddy's gold card. I started working when I was 14 and from then on had various jobs and was expected to pay for things like summer camps, most of my clothes for school and the extras. At first I was shocked and probably went through tantrums because my other friends didn't have to do this. But now that I think of it, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Mind you, I get off fairly easy by continuing to live at home. Cheaper rent and utilities and of course, still get the luxury of Dads cooking and I am actively looking for a condo. But I don't rely on my Dad to get me through things like life when I feel too lazy to do it for myself. I think I hit a certain age and these things became my problem- not his, to deal with. A person, who I might have found to be fairly attractive at the beginning of the night, quickly shot down those feelings of mine when he opened his mouth and told me about how non-independent he is from his parents. And how he is still being babied and loving it. Gentlemen, there is nothing more unappealing than you still living off your parents at the ripe ol' age of 25. Move out. Live off yourself and your own income. Leave your parents alone. Posted by Bella at 11:21 AM# 3 weeks from now I will be in Italy and according to plans, in Venice. So I know what you have all been thinking, "Is Megan stoked about her trip?" Well my fine friends, the answer to that question is of course!!Only 18 days away and the little butterflies in my tummy are beginning to dance. After a couple of days semi-stressing about how the trip was going to unfold, Aaron put it all to rest and let me know that everything was under control and to put to bed my unnecessary stress. Done and done... kinda. Still a couple things that I am obviously thinking about. You know, gotta think of things that could potentially go wrong. Such as- what if the weather sucks ass and I'm stuck in Copenhagen? What if the Pope dies while I'm there and the whole country is in a state of mourning? What if I fall into the canal in Venice? What if I meet some hot Italian man on the way to Italy and become the love of his life? Of course these are all things that need to be carefully thought out. And if you're wondering, yes, I'm counting down the minutes too. Posted by Bella at 12:47 PM# Without the weather, what would people have to start conversations with? Also found on the Calgary Herald Q website.It would certainly suck to be CFCN weather guy David Spence on a day when the weather changes, just like that. Let's hope Mayor Bronconnier doesn't enforce this in our city; where all seasons of the year can happen in a 20 minute span. In Moscow, the mayor is proposing a fine which will kick the local weatherman in the butt if his forecasts are wrong. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has gone so far as to dispatching cloud seeding planes in the sky to ensure it doesn't literally, rain on his parade. What happened to letting Mother Nature take her course? It's not all Luzhkov's fault though. It's not his fault his data comes from machines older than my dad. It's also not his fault he only has 3 weather towers where places like New York has 300. I think we're pretty lucky here in Calgary. Calgarians have come to expect that weather changes on a minute by minute basis. But could you imagine Bronconnier or any other Alderman proposing a law that will fine any one of our local weather people? On the plus side, Luzhkov has agreed a fine might be a good idea, as long as he gets a sweet bonus when his forecasts are right. I would certainly hope so. Posted by Bella at 9:19 PM# Red Light DistrAct. Also on the Calgary Herald Q page.Ever see that old 80's cult classic "Robocop"? Yeah, we live in Robocop town. There are now 36 red light cameras set up around the city. And just like the city folk in Robocop, I'm not sure we're any better off for having them. Here's why: I know how to tell if there's a red light camera, and I know that running one will cost me about $300. I know to slam on my brakes at the first hint of yellow or even off-green. What I don't know is whether the soccer mom on her phone in the five ton Ford Glacier behind me knows the score yet. Is she still living by pre-camera rules and not expecting me to slam on my brakes? Is my Honda Civic about to become a Honda Accordion? I'm all for traffic safety. I know lots of people affected by bad driving. But I'm also for sensible safety. That might mean smarter red light cameras that notice the sheen of rain or frost on the road and lighten up. It might also mean very visible warnings that there's a red light camera so that other drivers know to expect sudden stops from motorists ahead of them. More importantly I think it means real cops in real cop cars really patrolling our roadways and stopping real bad drivers, versus just dinging people in a hurry on a deserted stretch of road at 11 pm. But I'm dreaming. The cameras are here to stay. So here's my warning to all you whalemobile drivers out there with your cell phones and DVD road theatres. I come to sudden stops on camera-patrolled yellow lights. And here's my warning to all the jaywalking pedestrians too, I speed the cop-less streets in between all those damned camera lights to make up for lost time. Posted by Bella at 12:52 PM# |
