Salema- sleepy beach!

So last time, I left off at Lisbon. I think I had just woken up from a nap? So to continue from there..we went to see this church was that really hammered by this earthquake and instead of re-building it, they thought it was more romantic to leave it the way it is. It was beautiful and amazing to be in the structure of it but without the rooftop. It was built in the 1890´s. After the church..I um..went back and took another nap. I haven´t been feeling 100%..not sure it is was the flight or if I am finally reacting to all the meds I was on for my foot and then the hives I got right before the trip?? Our last night in Lisbon was..something. People in Lisbon don´t sleep. They just don´t. We fall asleep to men screaming at each other until 2am. That night, they stopped at 2am..just in time for the trash truck and then followed by the recycling truck. I thought..u´ve got to be kidding me?! Oh but that wasn´t the last of it..here comes street cleaning. Finally, at 3am..two hours of silence for some Zzzz. We had a 830am train to catch. We decided to head to Salema, the Algarve coast of Portugal because I just wanted to play on the beach. We first arrived in Lagos- didn´t like it one bit. It looked like Sausalito gone to hell- full of tourists, shops and never ending restaurants. We hopped on a taxi to Salema instead which was 20 min away.

In Salema, we found a place to stay by my second try. Salema is just a plain sleepy beach town. It has one main road, one mini mart, two large restaurants, a handful of places to stay, many fishing boats and a nice pretty beach. Our first day there, we sun bathed and then had dinner followed by bedtime. Our second day there, we went to the bus station in Lagos to get bus tickets for today, went back to the hotel to take a nap then went and played on the beach for the rest of the day.

Arrival in Lisbon!

Hi guys,

Kel and I are here in Lisbon. It's monday afternoon and we just woke up from our nap! Our adventure started at SFO saturday. Our flight was delayed an hour which led us to be concerned about our connecting flight to Lisbon from London. The counter person was no help! she originally told us that we were re-booked on a flight that leaves Lisbon the next morning..long story short..we got back on track and didn´t waste a day no help from dumb and ditz- the counter person and her mgr. Our flight from SFO to London was pretty tough to take cause the plane was really stuffy and I found myself pretty close to hurling! Flight from London to Lisbon was a little easier to take..though rockier but more air circulating.

Portugal- Not nearly a tourist flood as Prague or Italy..it has its own charm

We arrived in Lisbon yesterday evening and took the bus to downtown to our pensione. We put our bags down and explored the downtown area. We hopped on a double decker bus for the night tour since neither of us were in a mood to look for street names on a map! After the tour, we had dinner and then headed back to the pensione for a good night´s sleep.

Which brings me to today..its HOT here!! Our day started at 830am. We went to the ruined castle, hopped on a trolley around town, we had lunch and then we decided..we wanted a nap! We were both really tired..not sure if its from the plane ride or from our busy jobs that we left behind. We´re feeling much better now. We plan to visit this old church and explore the narrow narrow streets of Lisbon before walking the beach. Tomorrow, we either head to Evora or just skip the cities and head down south to the Algarve beaches before going into Spain. We´ll decide during dinner tonight. I guess thats the great thing about backpacking..a plan is never really a plan and we just go and do whatever we feel like doing =).

Portugal is a cute country. Not nearly a tourist flood as Prague or Italy..it has its own charm. But because its not as touristy, its a bit more tricky to get around. I find myself mixing up the Italian I learned during my trip last year with the Spanish I think I know..

Happy Monday everyone!

LOVE ROMA!

I took the first commuter train out to Naples the next morning and was in Rome by about 9am. I had two places booked because the hostel wasn't very clear on whether they had me confirmed or not..so I booked a room at a convent for backup! Yes..a convent! haha..I tell ya..these Italian men would send any gal into a convent! But my hostel worked out fine and so I ended up staying here at Casa Omaltas!! I swear these places do not believe in elevators!! I dropped off my stuff and explored Rome!! I LOVE Rome!! So much to see and places to go..on my first day here I went to the Colosseum...Roman Forum..Patheon...Trevi Fountain where I made all my wishes and the ones that some of u guys asked me to make..and the Spanish Steps..on my second day..I went to Vatican City. I went there early because this gal at the hostel said it was the best early so I took her advice. Got there at 730am or so and she was right!! Barely anyone was there..the sun was coming up..it was nice!! Mass was taking place inside St. Peters in english..so that was nice to see too. I am not a religious person but I also cant help but be moved by these services that I am seeing in these old churches. I climbed up the dome to see the view and see Michelagelos last work (the dome). Here's a funny story..this man was in front of me as were approaching the dome and he says to me..do u know where you're going? And i said..yeah up the dome...and he says no..but do u know what you're getting yourself into? And I asked what do u mean? And then he said..lots of steps..bet you didn't know that..then he chuckled and said..goodluck! And I am thinking..did he just?? Oh no he didn't! He was in no position (physically) to imply that the steps were going to b a challenge for me...if that was what he was doing..anyway..i ignored him...he went up the stairs..i took pics before heading up..I made my way up..past him =)...and got up there to a nice view of Rome! After Vatican City..I went to a part of Rome called Tresvatere.

It's considered to be the working class neighborhood of Rome..but what I cosidered to be the best part of Rome! It was colorful...lots of life..I loved it there!! I roamed around the rest of the night..oh I went back to the Trevi Fountain cause..I guess I did it wrong in making my wishes..I am suppose to have my back turned and throw the coin over my shoulder..(like I was suppose to know haha :)..and the hostel had a spaghetti party! Today I have no plan really...I think I am just going to roam but I do have to go to the train station to get my train ticket for the airport tomorrow AM!

So lets see..in three weeks Ive been to: Prague..Venice..Padua..Viceza..Verona..Cinque Terre..Pisa.. Lucca..Florence (best gelato at Tivolis)..Siena..Pompeii..Sorrento..Positano.. Amalfi.. Rome. I loved Prague and could have stayed in Positano forever on those pebbles on the beach..I met a lot of people these past weeks but the most inspiring one I think would be Karen who I met in Prague. She is backpacking the world on her own for 1 year!! She is from the UK..but I think after having gone through three weeks on my own..gee I think Id miss my family and friends too much to do it on my own for 1 year..my favorite thing to do was buying fruit at the fruit stands...and going to the meat markets to get a sandwich made for lunch or dinner..oh haha and now I know how pasta should be cooked!! Time to experiment...

I fell in love with Roma- go figure!

Well..that's it folks...I've had an amazing time here..I know.. I know..you're going to miss my adventurous..entertaining email updates..heck some of u have even asked me to stay longer so you can get my emails haha...but I would miss my family..friends and the city too much!! I miss the SF fog..yes..I am a city girl at heart! I even came in under my budget!! Lets see..one thing that I am glad I brought that I was almost going to not bring my A&F button down cotton shirt..comes in very handy =)...one thing I shouldn't have brought..hm..toilet paper..it only took up space..but you know mom =)...So..that's it from Yi's backpacking adventure in Prague and Italy..but no worries..I already have a route in mind for my next trip =). I'll see/talk to you guys when I get back..

If I can be anywhere- I'd choose Positano!

I had just spent a day in gorgeous Positano..so the following day..I took the boat cruise and sailed by Capri and down the Amalfi Coast. It was very relaxing and just nice. Interesting thing happened..I think this man in his 50s tried to ask me out...he started conversation with "i just have to ask..where are you from?" I think he is just intrigued by Asian women..he told me he had a korean girlfriend..first Asian woman his ever met..then he attempted to ask me out to dinner..but I said I had an early train ride..phew! I did see something very disturbing when I was on the bus in Sorrento..this kid ..couldnt have been older than 5 was crying about something so the mom whacked him across the face...twice!! I was so shocked and disgusted..I looked at her and then I looked at the grandma and just shook my head..poor kid. So that was my few days on the coast of southern Italy..

If I can be anywhere..I'd choose Positano!

Made It To the Amalfi Coast!

My bus was at midnight..it was a 6.5 hour bus ride to Naples..the driver was flying and we got there in 5.5 hours! I woke up during the middle of the ride and saw that he was driving extremely fast so I strapped the seat belt on!! Got to the Naples train station at about 5:30am..for me Naples was the type of place that I wanted to leave as soon as I got there. The train station was the first time that i felt a little scared. Random people are sleeping on the ground..smell of alcohol..it was yucky! Anyway..took the first train I could to Pompeii..to see the Roman ruins before going to Sorrento. I had to take the commuter train which is like the muni in SF..I met a couple frim West Virginia at the Naples station..named Scott and Chris!! What a coincidence huh Chris?! haha. Got to Pompeii..it as pretty neat to be able to get an idea of how people lived 2K years ago!! It was a little scary at first because in pompeii...dogs are just running wild..aggressive dogs too!! I would let Scott and Chris sheild me!! They were a lot taller than I was =). Was done with pompeii in about 2 hours and now it was time to head to Sorrento!!

Arrived in Sorrento which is close to the Amalfi Coast aboud 11am...got to my hotel..and was given a room with a spectacular view with a balcony!! I hung out in Sorrento for the remainder of the day. A lot of folks from Britain here! I have a bathroom in my room except..its a little weird. No..no showers in the terrace this time...in the bathroom..there is a bath tub and a shower head on the wall except the shower head is like 1 feet away from the tub..no curtain..so when I first turned on the shower head to see what kind of water pressure I would get..water came splashing everywhere!! opps! I took a shower and washed my hair but sort of flooded the bathroom =0!! No worries danny..it wasnt nearly as bad as what you did in Cancun..I still dont know how you would flood the bathroom if Anson and I managed to keep it relatively dry! haha. So my second day in Sorrento is today...I had originally plan to take this boat cruise but the boat cruise didnt run today so change of plans..I took the bus instead down the coast. I had planned to take the bus all the way down to Amalfi but with all the twist..turns..braking..backing up..my head wasnt feeling all that great so I got off at Positano which is what i had planned to do tomorrow anyway. I spent the entire day in Positano..doing absolutely nothing but layed on the beach!! Positano was..WOW!! It was an incredible sight!! The water was as clear as drinking water from the bottle!! It was very therapeutic just sitting on the pebble rocks with the water hitting you! I was there from 1030 to about 430 and then i took the boat back to Sorrento..no way am I getting back on that bus =).

Italy's Amalfi Coastline! Amazing!!

So tomorrow..I plan to take the boat cruise..hopefully its running..and then I am off to Rome..my last stop before coming home!! In Rome..i will be visiting the Trevi Fountain..making wishes..anyone have wishes theyd like me to make for them?!

Siena- Italy's college town..

I left Florence in the morning and took the bus to Siena because it was faster that way and cheaper too. My plans for Siena was pretty last minute so finding a place was pretty difficult..I booked a hotel that was recommended by one of the many ones that I had called but was full. When I called to booked..she had told me that the place is close to the town center so I thought ok..cool..that would work! So i get to Siena and didn't really have anything or really knew how to get to where I was suppose to be so I went to the Jolly Hotel across the street and asked her for a map and how to get to my place..she was nice enough to direct me in the right direction..so i am trotting along on the main street...I pass the main square- il Campo- and thought ok..Athena should be coming up soon...well it didn't...and so i am walking..walking..walking..rolling hills...cobblestones with my big ol backpack..I still dont see it...I am almost at the end of the main street now AND then...two hills away..I see a sign that read Athena..and I am thinking..oh no no no...I dont think so! Girlfriend over here is not going to trek all this way back and forth every time I want to go to town and back to my place to rest and hang out...to give you a little perspective..its like saying Stonestown is the city center...and Athena was over by Sava Pool..!! That is not by the center! Plus I wasn't sure how itd be at night either...taxis are scarce and big city buses aren't allowed...so I turned around..walked back to Il Campo where I knew that there was a tourist office and asked the lady if she can help me find a cheap single room for 1 night..hoping that it wasnt in like Timbuktu or something!! And she did!! She found me a single room in a home of a womans..I thought..whatever..it works and its a place to stay for the night. When I got there (5 minutes away)..I was pleasantly surprised!! The place was very homey feeling and very nice. It was actually on a floor of a villa that the woman lives in. It had four or five other rooms as well and a bathroom at the end of the hallway! Each room was named a flower..my room was named Tulip!! Perfect..my favorite! The room looks like it came out of an Anthropologie catalog..and I had view of the hills of Siena..and for half the price of what I would have paid at Athena!! Good thing I gave Athena an expired cc number to hold my reservation =).

Siena was nice..a complete college town..the main square is the place to be..most of the time people are just sitting there soaking in the sun and people watching. kids are chasing pigeons cafes surrounding the square..that was Siena. I went to the Duomo there and climbed the tower to see the view of Siena..that was enough touristy stuff for me..I just wanted to hang out! My second day in Siena..I met a gal named Kate from Quebec City. We were both taking the tour of Chiati in the Tuscany Valley..and went wine tasting as well! We had dinner together before I had to leave for my night bus to Naples where I would connect to Sorrento. Oh so here's a funny story..I wake up in Siena after spending the night and I wanted to do my laundry again..since it was close by. I am in there and laundry woman (this grandma) just opened the place..she could tell that I am a tourist..so she was making sure that I knew what i was doing. I had to put coins in for tokens so I figured that part out and she was watching me and talking to me in Italian the whole time. i needed detergent and it cost .80 euros..so i was going to be a 1 euro coin in because that's all I had. But she wouldn't let me and she was saying something to me in italian..and every time I wanted to put it in..she would pull my hand away...and then i figured out that she was trying to tell me that i wont get change back so she didnt want me to waste the .20 euro haha. I tried to tell her that it was all I had..she even had me pour all my coins out in which i did...she finally let me put in my 1 euro coin..i got my detergent but no change..and she said..said something in Italian which I am assuming its in the same nature as ...see....haha. That whole thing went on for about 15 minutes haha..it was cute. She was really nice.

Siena- Italy's college town..

Florence, Italy

I arrived in Florence yesterday morning made sure I got off at the right Florence stop this time!! I found my place to stay hidden behind the vespas and market..Ignacio greeted me at the door..very nice and friendly guy! The place looked a bit scary though..walking up steps to get to it and even the door looks like a mental institution of some sort. I explored Florence yesterday..met a girl from texas who is studying here for 4 months...studying Design..today I visited the Uffizi Museum and I visit the Accademia later (home of Michaelangelos David)..right now..I am at an internet place waiting for my pics to download to CD..but I have to get going..tomorrow..I head out to Sienna!

By the way..Florence has so much shopping here!! If any one of you girls were with me..wed be in trouble as I am sure that we can find a reason to justify any purchase!

Florence- a bit too crowded for me..

CONTINUING A DAY LATER.. Anyway..last time I emailed I was in Florence and was in a rush because I had to get to the Accademia..I made an appointment so that I wouldn't have to wait in the two hour line...so..I will continue from there...

I saw Michelangelos David..its actually pretty impressive and neat! You weren't suppose to take pics but I snapped a few!! Florence overall was kinda disappointing..I didn't think it was as great as some people have made it out to be..its extremely crowded and tour groups EVERYWHERE...Vespas ready to run you over and very expensive. I think i spoiled myself by going to Prague first where it was extremely beautiful and cheap!! I liked Florence, north of Point Vecchio though..it was much calmer and more village like..I hung out at a cafe there and just people watched for hours..it was nice to not walk for a few hours =). I stayed in Florence for 2 nights and then was off to Siena.