From Cannes, France to Genoa, Italy

I hopped a train to Genoa, Italy not feeling all that well.


I took a few photos along the way. I think that was near Monaco ?!? Maybe. All I remember is that the Monaco stop was in a tunnel then as the train left it went out the tunnel and around a curve and this was the view looking back.


There was dramatic scenery, all I was hoping was not to have achy hips, a very sore throat, feeling hot, and sometimes nauseous.

When I arrived in Genoa I had to figure out how to get to my hostel way on top of a zig-zag road. This is a rough map, but the points A and B are set. A is the train station and B is the hostel.

I finally asked someone, luckily in English. I got bus tickets from the news stand then proceeded to walk to the bus stop and wait. I went in the bus got off at a another stop, then waited, then entered another bus to finally reach my destination of my hostel. I checked in. I was the only one in the room thankfully.

I called my mom because I felt awful and I didn't know what to do. She said it was my decision. I called the medical number to find a place to go to and that they spoke English. I finished the phone call and realized that I needed help. I called my mom to tell her I was going to this hospital that they gave me. So I headed to the front desk to get directions to the specific hospital, I was given. I hopped another bus to some stop. Luckily got off at the right stop. At this point hoping I don't pass out and wanted so badly to stop being in pain. I made it to the hospital and asked in broken Italian where it was. They did a point thing and some fast words in Italian. I started walking that way.

Italian hospitals are not like our hospital in one building, more like multiple building in one area. I walked to a bus stop there and tried to figure out my way around. The medical people who told me to go there didn't tell me what building. I started getting upset because I just wanted to feel better. The only Italian/English translation was gynecology. I walked in the building and asked do you speak English in Italian "Parla inglese?" (Par-la en-glay-say) She said no. Then I tried making hand gestures to explain I was in pain and needed to know where to go. I showed her the number I was given. Then she put up the point finger as in a pause sign, walked away to go get someone.

I then asked this other young lady "Parla inglese?" (Par-la en-glay-say). She said yes. I tried holding it together to explain that I called my medical card to get help that I was achy, tired, sore throat, and hot. I showed her the number I had and I just needed to know where to go. I explain all this by crying and then saying I was just tired and didn't know what to do. I wish I knew her name. She was very nice to me and walked me to the place I needed to go and handled all the Italian in getting me in the system. She then walk me to where I needed to wait. She told me it was going to be awhile. I thanked her.

I was there a few hours sitting on the floor hearing people go in, seeing family and friends come in to be with them even if it was a finger that was hurt. I watched an old man with a bad finger for awhile. I asked him "Parla inglese?" (Par-la en-glay-say). Does he speak English in Italian. He said no. Then his son came back and he told him something in Italian. Then the son said he spoke a little English. I told him I just wanted to know if they call the number on my sheet or my name. I had been hearing this thing go with names and numbers, but didn't understand what it meant. He said they call you name.

We sat there for a few more minutes, when my name was called. Luckily I asked these men because they both looked at me to tell me it was me and that I needed to go to room 2. I went in to room 2 to then be confronted again with a very little English speaking doctor. Again the hand gestures came out. They took my temperature, I started to put it in my mouth and both doctors were like NOOOO and gestured to be put in my armpit. I was like Ohhh-K. I left with a prescription. As I left I thanked the men "Grazie Mille" (Gra-zee me-lay) and headed to the bus stop.

When I was on the bus I called my mom again to tell her I have a prescription. I sat on the bus and waited. As I was riding I got off after a few miles on the bus because there was a McDonalds and I hadn't eaten at all that day except water, some chips, and a few other things. I ate chicken nuggets and french fries. I got out and waited at the bus stop. I couldn't figure out if the bus was done for the night or if one was coming again. I kept waiting and nothing was coming. I went into a closing down restaurant to ask direction to a bus stop. They pointed up the street. I kept waiting and waiting and still nothing. I was cold, it was dark, I was extremely exhausted. I kept looking at all these taxis up the street. I said okay if no bus in 10 minutes I am taking a taxi. There was no bus.

So I went to the first taxi. Asked him "Parla inglese?" (Par-la en-glay-say). He said a little. Drive me here(pointed to card, luckily brought the address with me. He said "prima automobile" in Italian which means first car. I looked at him confused, he points to the first car. I say ohhh "si grazie" (yes thank you). I walk to the first car. I ask do you speak English in Italian. He says a little. I say can you drive me and give him the address. He say Si. I get in the car. I am watching to check if he is driving me somewhere I don't want to go. (I had a awkward experience in Washington, D.C. with 3 other girls in the car- I not fond of taxis). Luckily I noticed things that the bus drove by and 11 euros later I was at the hostel. I was willing to pay 50 euros just to get to a bed.

I went upstairs to see if I had any roommates, but luckily none. I put a pillowcase on, a sheet on the bed roughly and laid a sheet over me and went to bed. I didn't change my clothes, I didn't brush my teeth, or wash my face. I was so beat up from the day all I did was set my alarm and go to sleep. Glad no one was sleeping in the room with me coughed a lot that night.

I got up in the morning still feeling awful, packed up, brought sheets down, signed out of the hostel, received directions to the pharmacy(24 hour) I took a bus down to a stop the lady at the hostel told me to get off at, then took an elevator that goes horizontal then vertical. It let me out right at the pharmacy (which was suppose to be open 24 hours) Which days was it not? Saturday. What was today....Saturday. It opened at 8 and my train left at 830a (I was a 10 minute or less walk away). I waited outside with my prescription.

After awhile with me getting nervous about the train this lady came from the inside with the metal gates still down. She asked me something in Italian which I respond by looking confused, then I was about to say "Parla inglese?" (Par-la en-glay-say). I think she realized what I needed and I just handed over my prescription. She took it and filled it. I gave her cash. I thanked her and walked my way to the train station on the way to grab a sandwich, banana, and chips by pointing. The sandwich meat was bad to me but the bread was good. I saved the banana and chips for later. Off to Rome. I sure hoped it would be a better ride then Cannes to Genoa.

On the train.

p.s. I still don't know what I technically had in Genoa, but I don't ever want to experience it again...just a plain mystery.

Arrival to Cannes, France- long post

As I was planning this trip, the trickiest part was trying to find trains to go along the Mediterranean Sea. I didn't mind the length of time or multiple trains, but I had to figure places to stop along the way. Luckily my brother's girlfriend Stephanie has her mom living close to Cannes, France. I then proceeded to ask permission if she, her mom Chris, would be kind enough to house me for a day or two. She was happy and excited to meet me.

I left Barcelona to Montpellier. There I had to wait in line to buy train tickets to Nice (I would get off on a prior stop in Cannes). I called Chris to let her know the time of arrival. I received the message machine which of course is in French. I had hoped I called the right number, but was unsure. So I then called my mom to email her with the details so I made sure I covered all my bases.

As I was on the train I wondered would I know what Chris looked like. I have never meet her, I have seen her in photo books my brother creates. I got off the train walked up some steps and did a hmm is that her. She did a hmm is that her too. I said Chris and she said Katie. I was glad to meet her and not get the wrong person.

This is what it looked like when I arrived. Night time in Cannes. View from a hill/mountain with a church clock thing.

Lots of fancy boats.


Church/clock thing.


Sunset.

During pre-trip emails we covered some bases. Made sure I wasn't allergic to things, etc. One was, do I like cats? Yep. This is Leah, who is the nicest cat, who enjoys being petted, and is fluffy.

I like her style.

The next morning on the 7th of April, we decided to go do something. We had to send a package home. (I have a problem, I like to buy things, lots of things when I travel. It is a sickness and I am working on it. First step is admitting it, right?!?.)

We went to a perfume maker in the city called Grasse. We thought we could make perfume, but it was a tour and then buying their product.



Me outside the Parfumerie.


Some mechanically (quite silly) mannequin demonstrators. They help show the process. The tour was in french, so after the lady spoke Chris would give me a quick that is what she said.

At the end they spray you with perfume and then you can smell it on your skin(your skin oils change the smell of the perfume). I liked one which the lady said was for older ladies. I liked it. I couldn't afford the big bottles so I bought a 5 coffer set for 18 euros. After we were done we headed to another perfume place(there was 3 in the same area). We did the tour, then we got sprayed again. By the end we probably smelled quite weird to anyone around us. We laugh about how we were both running out of places for them the spray. I couldn't afford anything in the next place then 6 bottle coffer set was 54 euros.

Then we headed to a town where Stephanie's sister lives, she was working so I didn't meet her. We did have lunch and looked around.

I liked this arch.


I am standing in front of the arch.

Lunch time.

This was yummy, olive pate. Chris told me that is was Justin's(my brothers favorite). Is it? I don't know, he eats pretty much anything.


I needed help with the menu, all I requested was no raw egg yolk in the middle. I think this dish had raw egg yolk in the middle and Chris kindly asked for it not to have it. It was a pasta with a creamy-ish sauce with bacon, and cherry tomatoes. It was good. I was trying to be polite in the picture. During my pre-trip dinners my dad would complain about my eating habits. I then proceeded to tell Chris, she said she didn't mind. After this picture was taken I ate the pasta like I normally eat it. I bite it off in my mouth.


We walked up the street a bit, to see the shops, but they were a bit expensive or nothing I needed to buy. I just liked the dog in the middle of the street.

We continued our day to a glass blowing studio.

Here is the name and the city Biot.


Yep documentation. The guy is working on something. I think it was a fish, though I don't have a end picture.


Patience is key and slow moving. There was a lot more steps then the pictures below.


Inserting in fire to keep glass hot.


Molding and shaping it.


Some different end pieces. Quite nice.


Lots of variety in color and design.

Then we decided to drive and park in town and walk the main street. I bought a charm, and a citrine necklace that I am wearing in the picture below.

Chris and I enjoying a drink and the beautiful weather.

Then we had a tour via the car, which I enjoyed. It is hard to take good shots, but some do surprise you. I loved doing a car tour I did it with Justin in San Francisco long time ago, so why not in Cannes, France. Here are a few shots from around the area (not specifically Cannes).



(car was parked and taken by walking across the street)


(car was parked and taken by walking across the street)





As the sunset was happening we were in Cannes on the beach.

I just had to put my feet in. It was cold.


Relaxing.


At this point I was getting tired and not feeling well. We left to head home for the night and eat some dinner. I arrive back at the apartment and changed into my PJs and took a short nap as Chris reheated the dinner from the night before which was delicious. Don't know what I came down with, but the story continues on the next blog.

Leaving Barcelona to Cannes, France

Picture from the train, I like this photo and the glare. I did edit the photo to see more darker tones.

Though I have been on top of my blogs that last couple days I have been prepping them and scheduling them everyday. I am NOW officially done with SPAIN. Whoo! It will be a few days before I can then start blogging about Cannes, France and then on to all of ITALY.

Barcelona Apr 1-6 : Food and Other

So in America there are big grocery stores with all different items. Now there are stores, but not as big as walmart, target, HEB, etc. There are plenty of these open air markets and the smell ranges from nothing to rotten fishy, depending on where you are. Not my favorite place, but enjoyable to walk around and see all different types of produce.


As you can tell many separate structures with repeating items.


Also you can buy bull penises, heads of lamb, any organ in an animals body, etc.

I also went to restaurants to try food. This was done with a friend, Ritesh from India. This place was good and recommend it to anyone. Very nice people and great food.

Yummy.


Here is our food, from bottom to top, Jamon serrano (cured ham with bread), Paella with chicken, peppers, and white beans, beer, shrimp in garlic oil mixture(not mine, but tried), patatas bravas (fried quarters of potatoes with ketchup/tabasco/mayo mixture on top) and then Ritesh's sandwich.


Here is a close up in the paella, LOOK at that BEAN compared to a normal size thigh of chicken. It was good, but huge.

Then I decided one day to take a paella class. I thought we would be cooking, but it is more learn and watch how it is cooked. I tried to do this one day and rushed to get there and tripped off a curb into stopped traffic. So this time I planned enough time to get there and the guy was late.

Here is the view of the finished paella. It was the seafood type with squid, mussels, and prawns.


Detail of the three seafood in the paella.


Me with the food. I did try a mussel for the first time. Not bad, but paella is not my favorite thing to eat. No spice, nothing special for me.

OTHER
As I am traveling around Barcelona on a free walking tour or by myself I have random pictures I took that I wanted to share.

Picasso on a building. Don't know the building, but it is there.


Fancy door that was included in my door and door handle blog.


Lines of vespa, mopeds, motorcycles. This is everywhere because smaller cars, mopeds, and bikes are easier to park quickly and close to where you need to go.


A fountain at night.


Same fountain with Ritesh and I in front of it.

Barcelona Apr 1-6 : Beach, Cable Car, Fort

BEACH

Beautiful day at the beach. Hung out with Ritesh. See him in tomorrow's post.


I like to cover my feet and I wrote BCN which stands for Barcelona or at least that is what my hostel put on things.


Yep I walked in the water, NO swimming REALLY COLD.

CABLE CAR

Then we went to this Cable Car thing. Now earlier in the day I went up high at the Sagrada Familia which still had me shaking. Ritesh thought it would be good to go high again. So we went on this. I was not thrilled at first.

Coming to get us.


We are on it looking at beautiful sight. i am standing at the center just reaching over and snapping a few shots.


And another one.


And another one. We were hanging out at the beach right around that tip area.


We are off it, but here is one that is leaving, but looks like it is coming in too. I survived, luckily it was smooth through that tower. That is the half way point.


A farther distance, you can see both cable cars one is closer and one is a tiny red dot. Then you can see the second tower.

FORT
On this side is a fort.

This is a sculpture of the Catalan dance, which is famous in Barcelona. We saw it in one of the squares then proceeded to go to dinner.


We headed up a hill and then we were in the fort. Here is the walkway up to the top of the fort.


Ta-da fort.


View off the port, one way.


Then the other way. Not much to see., so we continued on our way.