All These Bottles of Wine and Nothing to Open them With (Adventures with MooReece)

Have I mentioned this volcano is fantastic?  I have?  Oh... ok well in case you missed it... it really is!  It is honestly like being on an entirely different planet. 

We are a group of about 25 people of all ages, mostly from Europe but Gale is from London (Ontario) so I have a fellow Canuck here.  Everyone is really friendly and outgoing, it's a great group.  We have 2 sessions every day, one in the morning from 8-10am starting on the beach and moving to the terrace and one again at 530.  The  rest of the time is free time to do as we please.  It's not a huge place so there isn't ALOT to do but chill and enjoy the beach but the hotel is quite large and maze-like, the shoreline is just beach after beach after beach, if you're not looking at the volcano, you're looking at the water.   We will be taking a boat tour around the volcano as well as hiking to the top!  Yep, that's right, we are taking a trip up to the top!  YAHOO! 

I wake up to the sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks.  This room might be cozy and monastic but everything else makes up for it.  The shower is also surprisingly awesome!  Today (Friday/Day 1)  I had intentions of exploring the island and the town but after the morning session we had breakfast and some of us went for a walk to get stuff from the shop.  3 euros for 9 littres of water!  WINNING!!!  I was also hoping to find a wine bottle opener because I have some bottles I brought (food is included here but not the beverages, not even water) and I lost the one I bought in San Gimignano as a souvenir...or so I thought until I finally found it after my 10th search tucked away inside something.  Phew... oh wait, now I don't have anything to drink it out of.  Geeze!  I remembered seeing plastic cups at breakfast so I went and stole some.  Not super classy but classier than drinking from the bottle.  What the heck right? 

Anyways, we got back and I decided to go up to the terrace where we have our sessions and there is shade and see if I can do some CX and maybe some ATTACK - I haven't done anything but walking and eating in the last week, I need something more or I'll be coming home as a fat kid with a drinking problem.  It was the perfect spot and I spent a few hours there before peacing out on the beach for the rest of the afternoon.  I got a swim in and the water is just as great here as it was in Capri.  Warm, wavy, clear as crystal.  Just need to be wary of Jellyfish.  Not keen on the idea of getting stung so I stayed close to shore in case.  Also, I don't think I will ever get used to women going topless on the beaches here like it's not big deal.  I suppose it isn't, I just can't get used to it, especially with children running around.  It's a cultural thing, I know... and way too many budgee smugglers for my tastes as well LOL!

How NOT to get run over in Italy! (Adventures with MooReece)

Officially half way through my vacation and as much as part of me wants to go home, part of me is so excited for this next week on the Volcano. 

Robyn and I had the morning together.  It rained, in Naples.  This never happens apparently.  They can go months without rain but this morning is rained, not hard but street venders selling umbrellas made a killing.  Actually it was a nice reprieve from the heat, especially with our sunburnt bodies.  It was a slow morning, needing to repack and get ready and figure out how we were going to work everything.  Robyn's flight wasn't until 9pm but my ferry was at 2:30.  The great people at our B&B said we could leave our stuff there in our room until 2 and they would even set Robyn up with a cab to the airport.  PERFECT!  She will have to wait at the airport all afternoon but better to be there then be in the city by herself with all of her stuff.  We did a little bit of boutique shopping before saying goodbye.  It's been a great week and MooReece and I loved her company, although I don't think she caught on to the MooReece thing so well... I don't like being in pictures, hence the cow LOL.  I also taught Robyn how to Jay Walk like a pro.  You see there are no rules of the road here in Italy (and France is much the same), drivers do what they want, when they want but strangely seem to be able to read each other's minds.  Antonio our guide from Amalfi told us it's like an unwritten code amongst drivers here, they just know what the other is going to do and they are just very observant.  Accidents are rare considering it looks like sheer madness to us North Americans.  Anyways, crossing the road is much the same.  Unless it's a busy crosswalk or intersection, there are no walk lights and you can't just sit and wait or you'll never cross so you just start crossing and cars will stop.  Yep, cross while cars and mopeds and vespas are screaming towards you and don't you dare stop until you get to the other side, but they will stop.  You will not get hit.  It's quite miraculous really.  I got right back into the swing of things but Robyn wasn't quite so keen on it - just follow me, I won't let you get killed.  The only problem is, if you're here long enough, you need to remember that when back in Canada, you can't do that because there, cars WON'T stop!  I will definitely miss my travel companion.  It's been a slice! 

It's been a long week so I'm looking forward to taking this next week all for myself.  My ferry left at 2:30 so I needed to catch a cab earlier than her but I had a total brain fart and hailed to cab asking him to take me to Molo Beverello.  When he dropped me off 2 minutes later, I thought WOW that was close, I could have walked afterall and it's really close to the one we went to yesterday to go to Capri.  That's because it WAS the same port as yesterday, I was at the wrong place.  I had Molo Beverello in my head but I knew that was wrong the second I stepped out of the cab with my stuff.  CRAP!!!  So I try to hail another cab.  2 of them yell something at me in Italian which I'm not understanding and finally a 3rd guy (who I guess could see my frustration) pulled up and I gave him the name of the right port.  He seemed a little confused or was trying to ask me something in Italian about the location, but again, I had no idea so I pulled out my ticket and showed him - he got it!  But now I'm pressed for time... and we're stuck in traffic of course and it seems like it's really far (good thing I didn't try to walk) but he got me there in time and was really nice trying to chat with me even if I couldn't understand him.  Relieved I grab my stuff and march off to check-in.  No problems there.  As I walk towards the dock, people from my retreat notice me and wave me down and I finally fully relax.  I made it!  Everyone is super nice and friendly (again you don't generally go on these types of retreats solo if you're not at least somewhat friendly and outgoing).  Got on the ferry and although it was nearly a 4.5 hour ride, it went by quickly 

between reading and snoozing.  YAY!

Now I need to explain where I am.  I know I keep saying an island, but I'm not actually on an island, I'm on a volcano.  I mean that this isn't an island with a volcano on it, it IS the volcano.  The whole thing.  In fact it's the only live volcano in Europe.  Yes, it's safe.  I believe we hike up to the top next week sometime.  This place is incredible.  The view from our hotel room is beyond words.  Our room?  Well that's a whole other story... as my new roommate Liz from Essex UK describes it - Monastic.  HAHA and that's exactly right!  2 single but comfy beds in a tiny room with no room to even open my suitcase unless it's on the bed, so I unpacked and settled in before heading to our first meeting.  Breakfast and dinner are included in our stay here but I have to pay for wifi which I will do every few days to post etc... Our sessions start in the morning with Chi-gong on the beach and then up to the terrace that overlooks the sea - I believe we also have an afternoon session before dinner as well.

 

The sand here is BLACK!  It's really hard to describe but I'm looking forward to exploring more tomorrow. I don't know what to expect from this retreat and most people don't either.  There are a few who are regulars it seems but I honestly have no idea what we will be doing. This whole retreat is about learning to let go and find you inner rhythm.  I feel more zen just being here, I think it's impossible not to.  The vibe is absolutely incredible. 

More to come...

Sometimes You Just Need to Dive In! (Adventures with MooReece)

Today is our last full day together as a trio.  Tomorrow we go our separate ways.  I go to Stromboli and Robyn goes to London.  I've said this before but time stands still when you're here it seems.  Robyn and I were talking about how it feels like we've been gone for WEEKS and not just days.  I'm sure it's just a combination of long busy days, breaking the routine, not sleeping much (in my case anyways) and time zone differences.  I never really seem to accept that very well.  I mentioned I was a little homesick and missed my friends and family  the other night and when I was talking to my friend it felt like I hadn't talked to him in weeks and when I counted the days, it was like 5 days, if even that.  It was Tuesday and I had last spoken to him on Thursday.  What the heck?  Why does it feel like we've been gone forever?  At least Robyn feels the same way... and yet, it's almost over.

Being sick doesn't help but you make the best of it anyways.  Mornings are slow but evenings are quiet because I've completely lost all ability to speak by then and we're both just exhausted!  Today the plan was to go to the island of Capri.  It was a late start but we still had plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine and the beach!  It was nice to just lay there and relax for the day.  The ferry is roughly 1hour each way but worth the trip!

It's more of a rock beach than a sand beach so shoes are necessary but we found ourselves some large rocks on the water to sprawl out on with very few people around.  It was great!  A little tricky to get into the water though as we needed to climb down the rocks to get in.  Some people were diving in just down from us but I could see the rocks, I'm sure as Hell not diving in when I can see rocks! OUCH!  So we would each take our turn, very ungracefully, climbing down and getting into the beautiful WARM blue water!  I don't think I've ever swam in water that nice.  Temperature was PERFECT!  Not alot of waves, but enough to make it fun and I can FLOAT:)  Always a fun time for me in salt water because I sink like a rock in fresh water.  We each took a few slips off the rocks, not getting severely hurt but a few minor wounds to show off LOL.

The Sun is HOT here and we did have sunscreen but clearly not enough.  We are both roasted, fried and extra crispy.  Pretty sure Robyn got hit with a bit of sun stroke too.  Needless to say cold showers were on the agenda when we got home and although we were supposed to go out for dinner, neither of us had the energy or the hunger to drag ourselves out.  Oh well, it was a beautiful day and we loved every minute of it.  We had a really nice lunch at a cafe on Capri and the young owner was just a bucket of personality and charm and treated us like queens!  Who doesn't like to be treated like gold?  He serenaded us and joked around with us for almost an hour and was a real gem!  He says that if we are looking for charming Italian men, we should look for them in the South.  The men from the North are not so charming LOL.  Thanks TIPS!

As I sit here radiating heat, I feel like a human furnace... I'm wondering if I will have wifi access on the island.  I have no idea.  They must have it somewhere if not at the hotel.  If not there will be no posts beyond this one until I get back to Rome next Thursday (the 11th) and then there will probably be many.   I look forward to being on the island and being disconnected from the world for a week but at the same time, if I get homesick or I really want to talk to someone back home, it will make for a LONG week if I can't.  So don't worry if this is the last post - I'm safe, I just don't have internet access.  If I don't post anything by Friday July 12th, then start to worry... HAHA...

Arrividerci!  For now anyways... xo

The Amalfi Coast: What Dreams are Made of (Adventures with MooReece)

Another very early start to catch the train to Naples...and YES got on the right train :) not 2 days in a row!)

Today we were going on a private tour of the Amalfi Coast.  We were greeted at the train station by a man with a sign with my name on it (great because I was wondering where we would have to go to find him).  He took our bags and led us to his Mercedes! WINNING!  (Ok, it was a Mercedes Minivan...but still, leather and very comfy!)  At first we were quiet not knowing what to say to each other but we warmed up to Antonio very quickly once he started asking us more questions.  The nice thing about this tour is that we can make it our own, he becomes our personal chauffeur.  We really didn't know what to see other than what had been suggested to us by a friend so we brought up Sorrento and Positano as places we were told to go see and he modified the tour around us.  It was spectacular.  He stopped where he thought we would get great pictures and views, told us all about the area, the history and the agriculture (they have TOO many lemons in these parts apparently...as Robyn and I discovered, they have lemon EVERYTHING! From beverages to soaps, to perfume, to candles to aprons and dishes and nik-naks with lemons on them.  CRAZINESS!)







Positano was first where he gave us an hour to go through the pedestrian streets and shop and see the beach, then he brought us through the mountains and we admired the coast the whole way.  He asked where we would like to go for lunch and we said "anywhere with a view" and he brought us to a local place (not touristy) with one of the best views from a restaurant ever!  We enjoyed a delicious lunch and of course I had wine before jumping back in the Mercedes and having Antonio bring us to Sorrento (where he is from). He tries several times to convince us to change our plans and stay in Sorrento instead of Naples and now I know why.  SO MUCH BETTER and CLEANER and MORE BEAUTIFUL!  Naples is dirty and kind of scary... alot of crime and mafia.  It was just too far for us to stay with our other plans, but now we know if we ever come back...forget Naples - this is where dreams come true!  We had just over an hour in Sorrento to do our thing and I bought myself a very nice local gift (not wine) and he drove us back along the coast right to our new Bed and Breakfast.  He was a great tour guide and although it was a pricey tour - it was worth it because he tailored it specifically for us and we had a great time just learning about the area and talking with him without the annoyance of being with a large group!  Great day!

I mentioned I've been sick... well by the time we checked in, it hit me with full force.  I actually lost my voice completely to some sort of laryngitis at the end of the tour while talking with Antonio and then a fever hit.  Sweating and chills and the whole kit and kabuttle!  I went out in search of gelatto to ease my throat and a pharmacy for some meds. They don't have Tylenol here apparently but I said "fever" and touched my forehead and he spoke English so he gave me what they use and is like "This is for fever, we don't call it Tylenol" and I smiled because I really couldn't talk anyways.

Got back to the bed and breakfast (which is so charming by the way) and plunked myself in the dining room to relax.  I had managed to get a short nap in after the tour but wanted to exhaust myself before trying again.  Not to mention, when I'm sick while away from home, I get really HOMESICK and just want to talk to my peeps to feel somewhat in touch with my real life.  I spent an hour chatting it up and felt (emotionally) much better.  Overtired and sick like a dog does not make for a happy traveller LOL.  Content, I popped one of the fever pills and hopped into bed.  Took almost an hour to fall asleep but slept right in until 9!  HALLELUJAH!!!!!

Still sick but at least the fever is gone and the homesickness too... and if you're wondering how you can get homesick in a place like this... I often wondered too until I've lived it several times.  There really is no place like HOME because HOME is where your HEART is.  If you're in any one place long enough (like when I was in France) that can change you and it becomes your home, but when travelling for shorter periods of time and not talking to the people you're used to talking to almost everyday...when you finally shut it down and relax for a minute, you remember the people you miss back home and it makes you appreciate them that much more.




Miss you guys :)

For Every Problem There is a Solution (Adventures with MooReece con't)

Nothing ever works perfectly.  We were on a roll until this very moment. 

Today the plan was to take the train to Florence and take a tour of Siena, a vineyard and Piza.  All was going well until we got to the train station and noticed that our ticket and the information on the board did not match.  Our train number and time according to the board was going to Venice and the Florence train was leaving earlier and from a different platform.  Not much time to get there we went to the Florence platform even if it didn't match assuming they just switched platforms or something and there was noone around to ask.  The train was a little late but I had a feeling something wasn't right but we didn't want to miss our train so we didn't want to leave the platform in case. 

Yes, we got on the wrong train.  We were kindly informed by the ticket attendant when he told us it wasn't a ticket for this train.  He said we would have to pay a ticket for THiS train.  PERFECT! (Insert sarcasm)  Then we ask if this train IS going to Florence and he says yes.  We sigh in relief but then Robyn asks what time it arrives.  It arrives at 10.  We need to be there at 830 to catch the tour.  On the edge of tears, not only did we have to pay an extra 65euro for being on the wrong train, we are now going to miss our tour. I am so upset.  No idea what we're going to do now.  Hopefully someone from the tour company will be there and we can explain and maybe get a refund or do a shorter tour or something... I have no idea. Stress level MAX!   I just want to cry.  At least I have my tablet to keep me busy.  *sigh*

Fast forward 24 hours...

Sometimes I have moments of pure genius.  Not often... but it sure is nice when it kicks in when I need it the most.  Not long after I finished typing the above and sulking in our misfortune/tourist moment I decided to email the tour company (and I will likely pay massive roaming charges for it) to give them the scoop, tell them we clearly won't make the 830 departure and ask if we could either get a refund or if there was just an afternoon tour of sorts we could go on to make up for it.  No go on both fronts.  Unless one of us drives a stick then we could rent a Fiat for the afternoon and go galavanting in Tuscany.  Note to self - learn to drive standard PRONTO!  Super disappointed not even so much about the lost $ but because I'm going to miss the wine tour, the biggest thing I was looking most forward to.  Then it hit me... I email them back and ask (on a whim) if there was any chance we could catch up to the tour somehow.  It took a while for them to get back to me but when they did I almost got up and danced the happy dance right there in the train.  I was informed that if we got to Florence and could catch the 10:10am bus to Siena we would get there in time to meet the group as they were walking by a hotel outside the bus terminal.  They notified the tour guides to look out for us.  Robyn, Moo and I are THRILLED!  Only thing is the train arrives at 9:50 if it's perfectly on time and we don't know where the bus depot is.  It's close we are told but not sure where.  Luckily the train arrived on time and we rushed, forgetting we haven't eaten or had coffee yet... asked 2 different people and found the bus on time and HURRAY we made it!  Another 8 euro each but we were on our way.  Got to see Tuscany from the road and it's quite lovely but it was HOT and uncomfortable in the bus.  We made it to Siena with plenty of time and even had a sandwich, cappucino and restroom break before our tour guide met up with us.  I don't think she's ever seen 2 girls so happy and relieved to see her.  Stress level 0.  And the best part?  We missed the tour of Siena BUT next up was the vineyard! WOOHOO!!!

   

This was one of those bus tours with big groups of people.  The guide Suzanne was great and brought us up to speed but the group was very quiet, no one said much.  Until we got to the vineyard I mean... WOW! I really don't have any words to describe how beautiful this part of the world is, and not only because it makes merlot and chianti but it's just beyond breathtaking!  Pictures don't do it justice either...but go to Facebook if you want to see them.  It's nothing but green green green rolling mountains as far as you can see with Tuscan mountains scattered throughout the mountainside.  AMAZING!  I'm in love and haven't even sipped the wine yet.  It's farm country at it's finest and well I'm a farm girl so I guess for me, this is HEAVEN!  The vineyard is an organic vineyard and not only grows grapes but also olives and other herbs and vegetables.  It has it's own cows for milk and manure and if you didn't know...roses and artichokes are used as natural insectides for grape trees.  They plant them on the end of the rows to protect them from insects.  COOL!  We got a quick tour of the grounds before being treated to a 4 course italian meal along with 4 different wines.  When I say 4 different wines, I don't mean "samples", I mean they plunked down 2 bottles of each for every 10 people.  We couldn't drink it fast enough... we only had roughly 30 minutes to eat if we wanted to snap some pictures and shop.  Meal was delicious and wine was very good.  I may or may not have picked up some bottles for the road...  From the vineyard in the distance on the top of a hill you can see a small medieval town - San Gimignano.  That's our next stop!

I had no idea we were going here - this was a bonus!  I booked it when I read "wine tour" and "climb leaning tower of Piza".  SOLD!  San Gimignano brought me back to my Vieux Antibes days in France and although it was so amazing to be walking through the cobblestone streets and alley ways and seeing the amazing panoramic views of all of Tuscany, I felt a little sad and missed my life in the Riviera... According to the sign on the shops - they have the "World's Best Gelatto!" and well I've had alot of Gelatto in my day (and Gelatto every day since I've been here - yes Gelatto deserves a capital G) and if this isn't in fact the best, it's pretty darn close.  The 15 minute wait was worth it!  Check that off the bucket list! 

Last stop on the tour was the city of Piza.  The city itself is filled with history but is not as pretty as the other places we've seen.  The leaning tower though is something to be seen.  It really is LEANING and leaning ALOT, I didn't expect it to look like it was going to fall over.  Very cool!  We also got to climb it, which was tricky (because the tower is leaning) but they reinforced it in the 90s to protect it from falling.  The views from the top were spectacular but the tower is really just a tower of pure marble, nothing else.  Just a giant cylander.  Worth the visit because I was not expecting it to look that dramatic.

We made it back to Florence with enough time to grab a McCafe (almost North American medium size) and triple-check we were getting on the RIGHT train this time.  We couldn't afford not to be (in terms of time or money).  We did find the right one and boy oh boy was this train WAY NICER!  Comfy seats, wifi and high speed on top of this - this puppy hits 300KM/H! Ya Buddy!  This ride only took an hour but we were exhausted and knew we still had to pack to head to Naples first thing in the morning, we couldn't get back soon enough. It's been a long day... LOL.  My legs and back are taking a beating from the endless walking and I'm still sick from the cold I caught from my friend and it's getting worst because my insomnia is at it's finest.  I have barely slept since leaving on Thursday (maybe 6 hours) and it's Tuesday now and I'm wiped out mentally but can't fall asleep.  This isn't new for me but it's frustrating because I know I need the sleep or I will just keep getting sicker and crabbier.  I'll sleep when I'm dead?

As you can see it was quite an eventful Canada Day for this trio of travellers!  Everything always works out the way it should, the trick is to not panic, stop, breathe, think it through - there is a solution... and if not, just go with the flow and make your own fun.  Besides, these 

types of days always make for better stories anyways.  Alls well that ends well.

Off to Napoli!

Cue the Queue: The Pilgramage Experience (Adventures with MooReece con't)

Needless to say that after the excitement of last night (pub crawl and epic lost-ness) we slept in a little.  By a little I mean we were still up by 8am and out the door by 930ish...

It's Sunday and we're in Rome.  Where would any good Catholic go on a Sunday in Rome?  CHURCH of course!  Or at least the Vatican... Only problem is that it's not only Sunday, but it's the last Sunday of the month and the only Sunday that the Vatican Museum is open and free entry at that.  I'm sure you can imagine the insanity that follows.  The Vatican Museum on the last Sunday of every month is only open from 10am-2pm but is free access to everyone.  I can't walk much anymore between blisters and feet cramps and my lower back giving me grief and the Vatican is across the city from us anyways so we hop on the metro and head over.   

Eventhough we expected crazy amounts of people and a lineup up, we never for a second could have anticipated the queue that we took part in.  We could not see the beginning and we couldn't seem to find the end either.  We did finally find the end at the entrance of St Peter's Square and there we started the pilgramage.  I came all the way to Rome and I will be damned (literally and figuratively) if I don't see the Sistine Chapel!  I will wait if I have to wait all day!  We started the queue at 945 am and although it seemed endless, every 15 minutes we would take pictures to see how far we had moved and happily we were moving along nicely.  We optimistially guestimated it would take us 1 hour to get in and nailed it!  We walked through the doors of the Vatican Museum at 10:44.  Not bad considering the line was over 1km long.  No tickets to buy though so it was just the process of going through the security and getting in.  Once you're in, it's MASSIVE and you would never know how many people are actually in there.  Not wanting to spend too much time in the museum, we beelined for the Sistine Chapel (Short Itinerary) and admired the art etc along the way.  The Sistine really is something to be seen.  The Last Judgement is breathtaking.  They ask for silence in there we with several hundred people in there at once it's not an easy request so a guy just stands there and Ssshhhhh's people.  What a job! 

 

After the Sistine we walked the miles of corridors of the museum and checked out the Carriage exhibit - aka the room of Popemobiles!  This was also a highlight!  From the horse and buggy style to the full out bulletproof beast from the JP2 days.  Too cool!  We were out of there by 1230.  Not bad at all!  It looked alot more intimidating than it was.  We stopped for lunch before heading back to St Peter's.  Good thing because as much as we expected St Peter's Square/Basilica to be beautiful, I don't think either of us had any anticipation of it being EPIC.  The Colosseum was cool and definitely a highlight but walking into St Peter's makes your jaw drop!  It is beyond words.  It is HUGE and it is mind blowing.  We just stood there in awe and gawked at our surroundings for a good 5 minutes just soaking it all in.  So far probably one of the most amazing things I've ever seen (and I've seen some pretty amazing things...).  After taking a pile of pictures outside it's time to head  into the Basilica.  Cue queue #2.  This line looks just as long as the one for the museum... GREAT!  Robyn asks if I have my heart set on going in...uh... YES!  I didn't come here to not see it.  Besides I think the line looks longer than it is.  I figure it shouldn't take us more than an hour and it doesn't.  It was well worth the wait.  The Basilica is just as impressive as the square and is absolutely MASSIVE.  There are so many people but it's so big it doesn't even feel that crowded. 

By 4 we were on our way back stopping for a little shopping and Robyn decided to go back to the room and relax and go for a run while I went to do another tour.  Sadly I couldn't find the guide and so I had to make my own tour.  Moo and I are used to it anyways... legs and feet throbbing we made the best of it.  Went to see the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps and little things in between.  What's another 2 hours on my feet?  I made it back by 730pm needed to rest the feet for an hour before heading out for dinner.  Our last real dinner in Rome we found a lovely rooftop garden restaurant and watched the sunset.  It was perfect. 

If you're going to be a tourist you need to be prepared to wait in line and if you have patience and perserverance it all works out. It was a fabulous final day in Rome.

Angels Really DO exist! (Adventures with MooReece con't)

Note to self: always save blogs. 

Ok...so lets try this again.  Glad that I'm on the train for a while with nothing else to do.  It is lovely scenery though I must say.

Pub crawl.  Epic.  For 20 euro we had open bar for 2 hours, pizza, beer pong, 3 bars/clubs and a souvenir t-shirt.  Let's face it though, you can't put a price on an experience like that though.  Beer pong really is the international sport of alcoholics and I was playing a guy from London and we were each down to the last cup and after what seemed like 100 passes each, he finally sank it and I lost.  Bows head in shame... Not representing very well am I?  It was going sooo well too. LOL.  Robyn never did see Chad again but that's ok because we made loads of new international friends: Australians, Brazilians, Argentinians, Brits, Italians and my favourite our new Indonesian/Australian friend with a wonky American-ish accent.  He was hilarious!  Robyn caught the eye of the Brazilian and I spent most of my time with the Argentinians.  We all had a blast!

The end of the evening wasn't so thrilling however.  You see in order to do this pub crawl we had to hop on the metro with the organizers and then walk 7 minutes (yes 7...not 5, not 10...7) in an unknown neighborhood, no idea where we are or where we are going.  As we progressed to other clubs we got even more lost.  Of course at 130 am when we decided to head back, the metro doesn't run (nor did we have any idea where/if we could get on it if it did) and I'm not a fan of cabs but we didn't have a choice.  We tried to hail a cab and thought we had one when he pulled up, slowed down and we walked towards him and he sped off again. Fail!  The second guy picked us up thankfully.  Unfortunately he did not speak English and couldn't understand my pronounciation of our street name so I decided he would know Vittorio Emanuele (the piazza 2 minutes from our B&B).  Little did I know at the time that there are a few Vittorio Emanueles in Rome (of course there are...silly me).  He dropped us off on Via Vittorio Emanuele (the street).  I didn't think this was a big deal at the time because if it's a street with the same name - we must be close.  NOT!  We ducked out of that cab and now on the street with no idea where the heck we are, I'm sobering up pretty darn quick trying to figure out how to get us back.  So out comes the map.  I can't find us and I'm tired and starting to freak out a little when this ANGEL walked up to us and saved our butts.  Standing there looking at the map we here "Are you girls American?"  "No, Canadian" and she smiles and walks up to us.  "Hey girls, where do you need to go, I seen you pull out the map and was like "uh oh I better go see, they're probably lost:""  She was an American living in Rome and after we explained our situation, she explained the multiple Vittorio Emanuele's and that we were not anywhere near where we wanted to be.  We needed to go to the Piazza which was not close at all.  She hailed us another cab and directed him where to bring us.  WHAT A SAINT!  I really feel somehow that she actually is an angel of the Monica (from Touched by an Angel) variety and probably disappeared into thin air as soon as we got into that cab safely on our way.  I have no idea where she appeared from and what are the odds she was walking by us at that very moment.  I mean this is Rome afterall, if there are angels anywhere, I would think it would be here.  If not a real angel, then someone up there was definitely looking out for us.  Not that I felt we were in any danger or anything but we were exhausted, my feet have never been in more pain than they have been in the last few days and I might just have had a meltdown once I did locate us on the map and realize we were so far. 

So to that angel lady who saved us the other night - on behalf of myself, Robyn and MooReece - THANK YOU!