Tuesday, 29 December 2009

A 2009 Winter Trip to Italy

In 2002, i was in Germany-Mannheim for half a year on my Polytechnic Oversea Attachment project. It was an extremely good experience and opportunity for me to learn about their culture, their language as well as the nice scenary around Europe. All i can say, i enjoyed a lot during my stay in Germany with my friends but just that my wife, who is my girlfriend at that time, was not able to join me due to her new job.

In November 2009, my wife's company sent her to Italy for nearly 2.5 months of training whereby my wife really wanted me to join her while she is there. Fortunately, i'm able to get my precious 3 weeks Annual leave from my company and on the 16th Dec 09, i took a night flight from Singapore to meet her in Italy Milan.


Arrival at Milan Malpensa Airport at 6am in the morning


Loading my baggage into my wife's Toyota iQ


Early morning in Italy town


Snowy street near the apartment

As it is Winter season, it is a must to bring along the thick winter clothings, winter cap, winter gloves and scarves to keep me warm and therefore, most of the compartment in my luggage is occupied by the winter clothings. When i touch down to Italy, the temperature is around 1 degree celsius which is totally different experience from what i had during my stay in Germany which is Summer season where most of the places is full of greenary.

On my 4th day in Italy, Milan had a heavy snowing weather whereby the TV reports that snow storms had swept across Europe. There are road accident everywhere on the street and many car are being covered with thick snow. Luckily, i spent my day hibernating myself doing some soul-searching and admiring the snowy scenary. As for my wife, her car nearly skidded while she returning back home just before the heavy storm. Luckily, she was able to controlled it and came back home safely.

Thick snow covering the walkway

Children will love the snow

Slow moving traffic and its really slippery

Drive slowly to prevent accident

Snowy view outside my balcony

On the 19th December 09, we went to Rome from Milan by night train. It took us nearly 7 hours to reach our destination, Rome TiburtinaF.S at the right timing we had expected. We took a Metro to Termini to have our Macdonald breakfast at before we started to roam around ROME.


Started to snow at Milan Train Station


5am in the morning at Tiburtina Metro Station


Time for breakfast at Rome


Last minute planning for our ROME itinerary using iPhone


The famous Colosseo


Shierly and the Colosseo


National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II


The leftover Rome building structure


The remain of the Rome History



The Pantheon


Throwing a coin into the fountain for wish come true


Shierly also make a wish as well


The Piazza Navona (City Square)


Shierly posting with the Carousal


Selling delicious Chestnut at the street


Weekend market for Christmas stuff at Rome City Square

Seriously, after spending my 2 days in ROME, i concluded that most of the places of interest in ROME is very accessible by Metro. You can just buy the one day ticket which cost $4 Euro from the ticket machine which give you unlimited Bus and Metro ride for 24 hours rather than buying a per trip ticket that cost you $1 Euro which lasted for only 75 minutes. Obtained a map from your hotel or Information Kiosk and wandering around the places of interest will be pretty effortlessly.


Shopping street at Via del Corso


Busy shopping street


A Ferrari boutique with a F1 in ROME


Shierly posing with a Ferrari Christmas Bear


The Well-known horse for F1 race


The Castel Sant'Angelo


Ponte Sant' Angelo



St Peter at the background



At the St' Peter Square


Delicious Pizza for lunch at Fountain Trevi


Dear, 2 Pizza is too little for me


I'm hunger for more Pizza...Yummy!!!


Anyone want Coca-Cola for Souvenirs?


Italiano Breakfast with a cup of Espresso


Our clean and cosy Hotel La Maison De Famille

Rome is really a good and beautiful place to visit especially for couples and it is really worth to spend a few days here by visiting the Colosseo, Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), Vatican Museum (Musei Vaticani) and St Peter's Square (Basilica S.Pietro). The time i spend with my wife in ROME is really fantastic and it will be a places we will revisit again.


A useful ROME map


To be continued.......