The view of Nafplio from the fort. I have two words for you – Before Midnight. It’s no secret I’m a fan of the movie series. I love all the filming locations as much as the script themselves. The final movie of the trilogy took place in Greece, but more specifically, the filming location was in Peloponnese, a region in Greece. And when I got there, I knew exactly why this place was chosen as the spot to conclude the story of Jesse and Celine. The emerald green waters against the beautiful white coasts, the portside town with a maze of cobbled, narrow old streets, ancient Greek monuments up on the hill where you can climb up to see the sweeping views, and of course, the food. If ever there is a place to go to for someone to walk aimlessly and reflect on their life, Nafplio must be one of those. It’s always the history that makes a place beautiful. Nafplio was no exception. Once ruled by the Byzantines, Franks, and even the Ottoman Empire, you can look around and see the marks of these conquers by the different styles of building around town. The ones with domes are Ottoman. The ancient walls of the forts are from the Venetians and Franks. Everything else? Unmistakably Roman. This was the last leg of my Greece travels, and after so many days of driving around the country, I was ready to spend my last remaining days just eating, walking around and doing nothing. Nafplio was the perfect choice. You can almost walk everywhere you need to go to, and it’s such a popular weekend town for the Greeks that the streets are filled with beautiful restaurants, gelato stands, bookshops, cafes and hangout spots. In the morning you can visit the fresh food market, something I always make a point of doing whenever I’m some place new. It’s how I get a feel of what the people and the energy is really like, what they eat, how they interact, and what’s in season. Some of the fresh produce at the morning market - artichokes, greek honey, oranges, sardines After grazing your way through the market (be friendly, and lots people will let you try lots of things they sell), perhaps a great idea is to venture into the old town square. You’ll get lost in the turns and corners, but don't worry. To get lost is a great way to explore something new. The streets are small and narrow, but the locals seem to maximise this by putting up tables for people to eat, and stalls for you to rummage through old books, postcards and souvenirs. Before noon is also the best time, weather-wise, to climb up the old fort, the Acronauplia, on the hill to check out the scenery. Nothing says Greece quite like a full sunny day with sweeping views of old rooftops, white pebbly beaches and sparkling green sea. And unapologetic locals in the skimpiest bathing suits imaginable, even that old 80 year-old uncle with super tight speedos one could fully visualise his Grecian glory, if you know what I mean. View of the Agean sea - plentiful in the Pelopponese region Lunch must not be taken lightly. This is a portside region, so do yourself a favour and indulge in the local produce. During one of the afternoons I had a lunch I’ll never forget – fresh sardines filleted and grilled with some local oregano. You’ll find oregano in almost all of the dishes in this country. And with it I had a bowl of blanched chard drenched in glossy, green extra virgin Greek olive oil, with a squeeze of lemon. Speaking of which, it was the orange season at the time, and I had some of the best oranges I’ve ever had here. Grilled sardines, de-boned, with oregano Blanched chards in extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice As advertised, you won’t have an actual goal in Nafplio. You sit around the cafes and write postcards. You chat with some other people sitting at the table next to you. You check out the old railroads that have been there since 1886. You try out some gelatos which are great to compliment the balmy weather. If you have a car, you can drive up to Corinth Canal and watch the boats pass by the 6km long waterway. The canal opens up to the Aegean Sea (which is also the sea Achilles once sailed in to travel to Troy). It sounds blah, but it’s rather interesting to see actually. The Corinth Canal At night the main town changes its façade and becomes a beautiful glittery place with music, candlelight and even more delicious food. Sometimes the main town square, called the Plateia Syntagmatos, would have fun events to watch. I managed to catch a school choir competition, which turned out to be rather fitting, listening to beautiful gospel singing echoing through the streets of this beautiful town. You sit in the middle of the crowd of happy people, eating a scoop of pistachio gelato, in the air that smells of the sea and the sounds of guitar and Greek music that you can’t understand. You feel like dancing. You cheer on with the crowd even when you have no idea what the commotion is all about. You feel like you’ve seen Greece the way you really want to see it – offbeat, local, and with a full stomach. That’s why you come to Nafplio. Nafplio Nights.
Travel means differently to different people. For some, it means stepping into a temporary gratification of the luxurious – think fancy hotels, a butler, room service. For others it’s an excuse to throw the rules out of the window and eat with zero conscience. For the rest it means adventure, away from our daily, mundane routines. I like all of these reasons. I’ve done it for all of these reasons. But so far, here is the best reason I like to travel; it’s the feeling of arriving someplace, a new place, where nothing is familiar, and you think to yourself, “Where the bejesus am I??” I love this feeling. I’m addicted to this feeling. It makes me feel that the world is so strange but wonderful but vast but beautiful. And that was exactly the feeling I had when I arrived in Zagori Village, Greece, about six hours’ drive away from Athens. Rainy days, long roads, in Ioaninna A view of Zagori Village from the hotel I have never driven that far in my life, let alone in a foreign country on the opposite side of the car. But the drive to the Ioninna region of Greece is beautiful, past Greek landscapes of mountains, olive farms, small narrow roads past villages, sheep, working horses, and the Aegean sea. I arrived at the small hotel called Kipi Suites, a large mansion on top of the hill surrounded by the small Zigori Village, after a long drive through lonely roads that did not seem to lead anywhere. Kipi Suites - a small hotel, please please please go here I want to tell you more about Zigori Village. But first, have you ever read an Enid Blython book? In her books she often describes magical villages surrounded by beautiful green woods and quiet rivers, with stone houses, slate roofs, and tiny lanes that are cobbled. Well, that’s Zigori Village. People are nice, the local tavern serves amazing food, the village dogs love you, and if you’re lucky you come across the mountain turtles who sometimes visit from the woods. Spot me! The village roads are quiet and cobbled This region of Ioninna is located near the borders of Greece-Albania, and it was once occupied by the Turkish Empire. As a result, you see a lot of their architectural influences around the area, such as the many, many, many beautifully designed bridges crossing the emerald green rivers with icy cold waters. I went for long walks through the woods, which lead to quiet, pebbly riverbanks, and all the pathways are made from cobblestones with weeds growing in between (I’m starting to sound like I’m describing a Disney village, aren’t I?). Cheese pie with olives, homemade jam and local mountain tea Misty mornings around the village Life here is quiet, and so I seemed to emulate this energy as well. I woke up early to watch the sunrise from the balcony of the hotel (there was no one else occupying this hotel, this is how remote the village is), and sheets of morning fog uncovered the whole village and its surrounding landscape. The lady who hosted the place (who is also the cook, receptionist and housekeeper) made a cheese pie for breakfast, which is basically baked feta cheese in filo pastry with olives. Then I wrote for about an hour, and after that set off to hike for Vikos Gorge, the second deepest canyon in the world. I went for the Beloi Viewpoint to see the entire canyon, and saw some wild deers. The national park is gorgeous, a Mediterranean stone forest with gorgeous sunshine, and the gorge itself was a view to behold. Vikos Gorge, at the borders of Greece-Albania I lost track of how many slabs of feta cheese I've been eating After that it was a late lunch at the tavern, complete with the neighborhood dogs trying to get the plate of meat patties, and of course, a generous plate of Greek Salad. This area houses around 45 small villages, so you can imagine the amount of sightseeing one could get by walking around. I packed some water, snacks, and a good jacket, then off I went on long walks. I just remember feeling so happy as I walked, and the air smelled like old leaves and pine trees. I was so far away from everything I knew, and somehow this made me feel free. This part of Greece is famous for it's medieval bridges Ioninna is a place that reminded me why I liked to travel. The roads are not popular, the villages are modest. You won’t find any designer shops here. People wear sensible shoes and clothes, and no one is in a hurry or trying to fish out as much money as possible from you. Lives are simple, and nothing is touristy – the natural wonders are there, quiet, beautiful, undisturbed.
Where the bejesus was I? Nowhere, and it was spectacular. Horse available. Landslides, a common occurrence in the Himalayas DAY 7 Weather: Sunny Last day of hike. We started off rather early, and it was a pleasant and relatively easy route, passing dense jungles, flatlands and small rivers. My main motivation today was just to go to my hotel and shower the shit out of myself. I miss shampoo. I miss soap. I miss smelling and looking like an actual woman. Being out there for days on end with no shower has successfully turned me into some kind of ape form. Throughout the hike today I was very relaxed and spent the time just reflecting on the whole experience. I loved every minute of it. I love the exhilaration, the adrenaline and the views. I’m pretty sure I would be doing the Everest Base Camp hike at some point in the future, hopefully better prepared with what I’ve learned. And I’ve learned so much during this trip. About what I’m actually capable of, new skills of the outdoorsy living, other people, and other lifestyles. Getting to the top at the Base Camp was an accomplishment, sure, but what I will remember most is days and days of the journey itself. Sometimes it was fun, sometimes it was easy, other times it was hard, and others times it was a little overwhelming. And how you experience it all depends on how you perceive these things – if you choose to complain and whine, that’s what they will all just boil down to. A miserable experience. But if you choose to take all of them with stride, you’ll end up feeling pretty happy with the whole package deal. You see many types of people during this expedition with many types of personalities. The complainers, the ones who are determined, the ones who are reflective, and the ones who always look at the glass half empty. Me? I’m just very happy to be everywhere I have been. Also I’ve just taken a long, well deserved shower. Civilisation is the bomb, son! I underestimated: The power of positive thinking I overestimated: my ‘vegan’ abilities. I ate a pile of meat when we came back. Tips: Learn to always find happiness even in tough situations. Freshly picked mushrooms and potatoes, but really I just wanted to eat an animal Beautiful Aisyah with beautiful prayer flags! What a trip it was. Unforgettable.
Morning sunshine at the Himalayas! Locals rebuilding the bridge destroyed by the avalance last night DAY 6 Weather: Damp. Wet. Because of the setback we had with the avalanche, today we had to make up for the delayed trek. What this basically translated to was the longest hike I’ve done yet, leaving the guest house in Deurali at 7.30 am and reaching the next guest house at 7.20 pm. I had the chance to witness the villagers build a new bridge to replace the destroyed one, and the Nepalis really are a bunch of resilient folks. A new bridge was constructed in almost two hours, and we were able to continue our journey back. I walked mostly with two other male friends, and they were positive and upbeat so this kept me motivated. Despite the fact that my nose was blocked from flu, I smelled like garbage because I hadn’t showered in days, and my shoes were damp. Sunset hit us around 6 pm, and towards the end the trek was pretty tough. We climbed up with headlights, and it was very misty so the visibility was only around 7 meters ahead. In the dark, it was quite a strange, spiritual, surreal moment, walking in the Himalayan range in the stark, misty darkness with no one around and only the headlights to show the way. Sometimes I find it a challenge to be in the moment, my mind always quick to wander to other places and other things. Not tonight though. To be completely honest, I decided to join this Annapurna Base Camp on a whim a few months prior. I guess I was driven with the whole idea of wanting to live this year absolutely spontaneously. I trained hard before coming here, and I’m glad I did. My energy levels were right, and I experienced minimal muscle or joint pains throughout the whole expedition. This allowed me to just really enjoy my hike and the views, without spending too much time wallowing in exhaustion. I am so happy to be here. I underestimated: The importance of dry socks. The make or ruin your hiking experience I overestimated: Nothing. It was an exhausting day, but I got what I expected Tips: Train. Seriously. Especially if you’re not naturally athletic. The effects show in your energy level, hiking pace, and joint/muscle endurance (which translates to the enjoyment of the whole experience). I trained almost everyday, focusing on running, yoga and kickboxing to build stamina and condition muscles. Raging rivers in the rainy season My biggest nightmare - a very long hanging bridge I love walking in this weather.
The ever-exhuberant gang Annapurna South in view Macchupuchre peak at 6.30 am DAY 5 Weather: Sunny at first, and then it pours like nobody’s business. In the morning the sky was clear, and from the base camp I was able to see Annapurna 1, Annapurna 2, Annapurna South, Macchupuchre and Himchuli, all the peaks for the main mountains on this side of the Himalayan range. Annapurna is literally translated into ‘the shape of harvest’, which describes the shape of the mountain. Macchupuchre is literally translated to ‘fishtail’, which is what the peak looks like. But the day quickly turned sour as we made our way back where we came from. It started pouring rain again. Although this is one of the hottest month of the year here, it is also one of the wettest. As we hiked and approached Durali, the large waterfall ahead of us began having an avalanche. I had never seen an avalanche before in real life, and to be honest it was quite terrifying. The otherwise peaceful waterfall turned into a gush of large rocks and sediments, and with it the avalanche destroyed the bridge we were supposed to cross to get back. I felt a little panicky, and tried to remain calm as my anxiety began. Ok I don’t want to be one of those people in the news who died from a freak of nature. As a result, we had to put up a night in Deurali until the weather calms down and the villagers were able to rebuild the bridge. My waterproof shoes were soaking wet because the water level of the river we passed has raised, and it came right above my ankles, causing me to have to walk the rest of the way in squishy, soaking wet shoes in the cold and rain. It was awful. At night, there is never a lot to do at the guest houses. It’s cold so most people hang about in the common area, nursing hot drinks while chatting or playing card games. As for me, I quite enjoy the silent time to write. I underestimated: The severity of the avalanche I overestimated: My ability to walk across rivers without getting soaking wet. Tips: Have things to do at night time. A book, a journal, music, playing cards etc Rainy weather, sunny spirits Journalling every night before bed Around the base camp grounds
At the arrival 'gate' of Annapurna Base Camp - the dog is not as excited as I was Everyone so relieved to finally make it! Weather: Freezing cold and wet Alright. Imagine walking outside in a vast open space with barely any trees, just grassy lands. It’s a steady, cold shower, of about 2 degrees and the grounds are slick, muddy and wet. The wind is strong, and because it’s an open space, there is nowhere to get some shield from, so there you are walking in the middle of nowhere for hours next to a large river of icy waters, with your left eyeball not completely covered so you have to wear foggy reading glasses instead. And now you have to pee. That’s today. But on the upside, the view of the grasslands and valleys are magnificent. Honestly, why do I work in an office all day? Eventually, there it was. We reached the Annapurna Base Camp, the holy pilgrimage destination all of those who hiked there were really coming for. The minute I saw the signboard looming in the distance, “Welcome to Annapurna”, my spirits quickly picked up and I literally ran for it. I can’t describe the feeling. Exhilaration, gladness and a punch of adrenaline. Two dogs greeted us by the signboard, and I was just as glad to see them as they were glad to see me. It was definitely a moment I won’t forget, just being there, in the middle of nowhere, deep in the Himalayan wilderness, a place so foreign and lonely and distant from everything I have ever known. There are times in your life when the present moment surpasses your ‘real’ life – momentarily you forget about your problems, your obligations, and your past. This was one of them. I will always love adventures. I hope it will always love me back in return. I underestimated: The cold. It was numbingly cold. I overestimated: My susceptibility to cold-weather illness. I feel flu coming. Tips: Bring wet wipes. You won’t shower for a few days. Locals going up and down the Base Camp route with their chores So many flowers and wild berries growing around A small temple in the middle of nowhere
One of the tea houses along the way The flags you see everywhere - White (peace), Green (trees), Yellow (earth), Red (fire), Blue (sky) Weather: Rainy What a day. It started off pretty rainy, which meant I had to put on my rain proof gear. But the rain around the Himalayas today is kind of like the boy you dated who was the emotional douche bag – one minute it’s rainy and freezing cold, and the next it’s suddenly warm again. Today my thighs hurt a little, but I was still doing pretty well pace-wise. We hiked from Bamboo all the way to Deurali, past the 2700m elevation mark. Anything above this altitude presents a higher risk of altitude sickness, so I tried to be careful by not climbing up too fast. But somewhere along the way my left eye’s contact lens stuffed up, so I tried fixing it after washing my hand at a nearby guesthouse. Turned out the water wasn’t clean and my left eye got immediately infected, so I hiked for the rest of the day with just one functioning eyeball. I consider this as a new life achievement. The view so far has been nothing short of spectacular. You hike past the Himalayan range, and this means passing through hundreds of waterfalls, all so tall that you can’t even see the top, so they look like water pouring out from the skies or from the clouds. It was all so magnificent. It was like a set of a Jurassic Park movie or something. The valleys are deep and lush, the gorges cut by freezing cold water from the snowy mountains. The scenery was all so beautiful that it often made me forget that I was tired or that I was cold and wet and miserable. Along the way I also managed to talk to a few different people. One of them was a guy who told me a story of how he once got dumped in Santorini (and you can read about my contradictory pleasant experience of Santorini here). I thought that was a pretty sad story. This hike is also fast becoming an emotional experience too. Turns out a lot of people tell a lot of stories when there is no internet at night. I underestimated: How crappy being wet and cold feels like I overestimated: How much carbs I can eat. I have been eating tons of carbs. Puke. Tips: Make sure you are wearing water proof hiking boots. There is nothing more miserable than climbing around with wet shoes and socks. At main tea houses there are maps so you can track your whereabouts Waterfalls number 176 I think haha The beautiful Himalayan valleys
Yoga mornings at Chomrong Locals drying corn around the villages Our superhero porters! DAY 2 Weather: Sunny I woke up this morning in Chomrong to clear blue skies. The whole place was surrounded by snowy mountains. It was just a beautiful sight to behold. Reminds you what a gorgeous place the earth is. No wonder the aliens want to occupy us. The hike today was from Chomrong to Bamboo, passing by the main village of Chomrong, perched around the mountains, connected by thousands of staircases. The village was just breathtaking. Imagine small houses made with slate roofs, vegetable patches, dogs running around, free range chicken, cows and people just going about doing their daily business like farming, schools, or just sitting around saying hi to each passer-by. Speaking of people and animals, the people in the mountains are strictly vegetarians. They are devout Hindus and Buddhists, and you’ll find that none of the items on the tea house menus serve any type of meat. The foods are simple, and I had my first taste of the famous dhal bhat, which is a rice dish served with a few types of broiled, blanched and stewed vegetable and beans, finished with of course, a bowl of dhal or lentil curry. It’s pretty good after you’ve done all the treacherous hike. I didn’t carry my own luggage, with the exception of my back pack with the necessities I needed for the day. Our clothes and other stuff were carried by porters. Their names were Suresh, Bhaval and I can’t remember who the other name is, although I’ve asked him about 3 times. They told us that they aspire to eventually become Sherpas for the great Everest expeditions, and I hope they make it! They are such hard working boys, carrying luggages up and down the mountains for a living. One of them even looked like he just stepped out of an Amitabh Bahchan movie where he’s the hero. Must remember to tip them extra when I'm finished. There’s also a weird tingly sensation on my face today. What is this? Hopefully it’s nothing serious. I underestimated: Sunburns. I look like the chicken I left in the oven for an extra hour. I overestimated: My kneecaps. Apparently they are traumatised by the amount of uphill climb I’m doing today (where is the damn minyak angin cap kelapa when you need it??) Tips: Wear sunscreen! Not only is sunburn hideous, they hurt. And you’re bound to get bad ones at this altitude. Retired here for the day. I WANT MY OWN ORGANIC VEG PATCH A local with her home-grown produce Gurung bread - a typical Nepali breakfast. Tastes like kuih cakoi.
Waterfalls everywhere! Friendly village dogs greeting passer by. DAY 1 Weather: Sunny I made the long bus ride yesterday from Kathmandu to Pokhara (which is not to be confused with pakhora, the vegetable fritters) that lasted about 6 hours long. The road was a reflection of the country’s state of economy – they were not constructed well, with no real highways, and the pot holes were deep enough to bury a motorcycle, I reckon. This morning I started off early. The jeep drove from Pokhara to Siwai, which is the point where the hike was expected to start. The first hour was relatively easy and pleasant, but unfortunately I was hit with a terrible headache. I first thought it was the early signs of AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness), but eventually deduced that it was due to the bumpy ride of the jeep (imagine roads with twists and turns across the forest, with Nepali songs on full-blast the whole way). I took two aspirins and a short nap during lunch break at one of the tea houses along the way, and felt much better afterwards. The rest of the hike today was just stunning. My guide, Ishur, took us past small villages and tea houses, all surrounded by mountain ranges, tall waterfalls and gushing rivers. This part of the hike was relatively low altitude – we walked past dense, thick Nepali forests swarmed with leeches. If you stop for more than 30 seconds be prepared to have at least 2 or 3 leeches climbing all over you. God bless my skin tight jeggings, I had no bloody attacks the whole day. We reached our stop for the day, Chomrong, well into sunset. I had been hiking for more than 7 hours, and to be honest my legs were a bit shocked by the abuse. We were greeted at the top of the hills by 2 friendly pups who lead us all the way to the guest house. The guest house itself was pretty basic – a room with beds, blankets, no heaters, and no fancy towels. You brush your teeth outside in the cold before bed. There was also just one mirror to be shared by everyone at the guest house, and the girl inside me cringes. Also, I had my first taste of Dhal Bhat! I local delicacy, it's basically white rice served with simple vegetarian dishes, and a bowl of dhal. It's quite nice actually. I underestimated: The darn leeches. The climb up everywhere, even up to people’s necks! I overestimated: The temperatures. It wasn’t as freezing as I thought it would be. Tips: Bring some ointment for cuts, insect bites and leech bites. Itchiness is a liability when you’re hiking. Every couple of hours you'll find small guest houses or villages Small temples in the hills One of the local porters
If you’ve heard of Pompeii, chances are your mind is quickly associating it to the infamous volcanic eruption that destroyed the Pompeii city. And rightfully so, as this is pretty much the reason why so many people would flock to this Italian region. And with all its tragic backstory, it’s not a wonder that my Mom wasn’t so keen about me going, as she probably pictured a horrendous image of a sudden eruption and I might be caught in the middle of it all. And to be honest, my naturally wild imagination also had a little anxiety somewhere in the back of my mind as I arrived at the Pompeii train station of a similar possibility. “Don’t worry, the last eruption happened during World War 2,” said a local, in an attempt to make me feel better. You mean it wasn’t thousands of years ago?? I thought frantically. I arrived in Pompeii via train, and suffice to say that the train system is nowhere as fancy as others you’d find around Europe. The stations looked kind of old, and the spray-paint vandalism on the train coaches and station walls didn’t exactly help either. But what it lacks in glamour it makes up with it’s very relaxed attitude – I found that the locals were a lot more chill, and walking around the city was a relaxing affair. In any case, if Pompeii is one of your to-do list (and seriously, it should be), here are some of the top things one should look forward to when visiting. Hiking path up to the peak At the crater of Mount Vesuvius 1. Hike Mount Vesuvius Yes, it’s an amazing experience. No, it’s not spewing with lava. Mount Vesuvius is the volcano, you know, the volcano that buried Pompeii 30 meters deep with its ash. There are a lot of tours offering this hiking package, but whatever your choice is, it shouldn’t cost more than 10 euros. It’s an easy to moderate hike, depending on the weather. If it’s particularly cold, wear appropriate thermal wear and please, please, please bring gloves. It was so cold and windy on my way up that my hands felt numb and I wondered if they might just fall off like a chuck of frozen meat. Bring water, camera and some money – chances are you’d want hot tea after you’re done climbing. The view is worth all the trouble, though. You get a bird’s eye view of the whole city, and one could only imagine how far the eruption must’ve been to be able to diminish the whole city to the extent of the coastline. Clockwise from top left: Street food at bargain prices, tiramisu, fresh mozzarella, gnocchi pomodoro (potato dumplings in tomato sauce) 2. Eat, eat, and then eat again Hey, it’s Italy. What do you expect? The good news is food here is a lot cheaper compared to other European cities. If you’re on a budget, street food is abundant, from slices of warm pizza to fried risotto balls to comforting potato croches. Otherwise, there are restaurants everywhere offering reasonable dinner sets of the usual delicious suspects – pasta, pizza, risotto, seafood, and a myriad of local desserts. Speaking of which, don’t forget to indulge in their local dessert, the global-famous tiramisu or some cannoli! Back in the day, tiramisu was considered peasant food, as the locals didn’t want to waste stale bread. In any case, how awesome is it to be able to eat it at its real place of origin? Actual figures of the eruption victims, reconstructed with plaster Streets of ancient Pompeii at sunset Preserved painting at one of the mansions in the ruins area 3. Visit the Pompeii ruins What’s the point of going to Pompeii if you’re not visiting the Pompeii ruins? I’m here to tell you straight up that checking them out is definitely one for the books. Imagine a large city, once the pride of a Roman empire, buried in an instant by volcanic eruption. What happens then is that everything is preserved exactly the way it is, including the buildings, the coliseum, the people, and the monuments. You buy a whole-day pass and don’t worry, it’s really worth the money. Better yet, get yourself one of those audio guides that will explain to you everything you’re seeing. You’ll be walking in the ancient city of Pompeii, past the streets of houses, prostitute centres, markets, laundry houses, and preserved figures of the victims of the eruption. It’s eerie yet amazing at the same time, walking around the ‘dead’ city while trying to picture what life must be like back then, and how terrifying the eruption would have been. Local church, central Pompeii 4. Go to church Pompeiians love their faith, and the predominantly Christian community exhibits wonderful displays of local churches around the city. Don’t be shy and step into one of them, sit at the back and enjoy the beautiful architecture. There was a mass christening in particular when I visited, and it was quite awesome to be watching the whole procession and enjoy the hymns echoing against the beautiful painted glass and historical interior. As usual, when visiting spiritual centres, don’t be a nuisance, don’t be too loud and always be respectful of others, regardless of what your own personal views are. Laid-back street of modern day Pompeii Lemons everywhere! 5. Learn its history
There is so much more to Pompeii than just a story of a volcanic eruption. For instance, did you know that it also houses another ancient city called Herculaneum? It is currently under reconstruction and excavation, but soon it would be open for visits. Other than that, Pompeii is a pleasant Italian city perfect if you’re looking for an excuse to bask in some history while eating a plate of pasta or two (alright, alright, I meant five). Unlike other more progressive cities in Europe, Pompeii is comparatively modest. It’s a perfect place to stop by if you’re traveling around this region, particularly if you’re looking to escape the busier Amalfi coast or the louder Napoli city. |
Archives
December 2023
Categories
All
https:/
/www.bootsoverbooks.com/
|