What could I said about Madrid? It's a nice city for sure but to me it's lacking the element of fun and charm. I frankly prefer Barcelona better because of the colors and uniqueness of the Antonio Gaudi architecture and how it's influent the creativity of the people of the city.

Whatever it is, this is the Capital City of Spain and one thing for sure I really love Parque The Retiro in Madrid. It's really nice to be sitting there doing nothing but watching people and the day gone by.

Amateur models in the making
Well enough said it's not modelling perfect
But we had good time together
These pictures was from Zain's camera
And well he was the cameraman too obviously








Pictures were taken from Rome mostly except the first one was in Venezia

If I people ever asked me about Rome all I could said it is a very hectic city and ancient in it's own way. One thing for sure the traffic is really mad here. Red lights could means go and vise versa. So just watch out where you're going in Rome.

Nevertheless, it's an awesome city to explore! You could get around Rome by walking if you have the will - (in the city center I mean). Well it's almost the only way to discover any other places in Europe is by walking around, get lost and find your way back. There's underground system that will cost 4 Euros for unlimited ride in a day (it includes the bus as well).

And if you're in hurry you could make every other important tourists attraction all in a day.
Amongst places that you must go if you ever come to Rome are

a) The Colloseum
b) Roman Forum ruins
c) The Pantheon
d) Piazza Navona
e) Piazza Spagna
f) Piazza del Popolo
g) Basilica @ Vatican City

And if you had more days to spend in Rome of course you could go and discover even more

From Venice it took about 3 1/2 hours to Pisa by Eurostar train (and we have to change train in Florence). We took a day off from Venice to travel to Pisa. Pisa is a place located in Florence. It is actually a small town indeed.

We had not face a problem while we were on board. Except for some silly travelers who kept on banging their legs at the back of our sit. It's annoying really!!!

We had to change to another train in Firenze (that's Italian for Florence) and the train from Firenze to Pisa will take an hour or so. This train is not as comfortable compared to the train earlier but it will do for an hour trip. Because in some compartments the Italian prefer fresh air rather than the air conditioned. Me? I don't mind but HIMSELF was a bit particular.

We arrived around 4.00 p.m and the sun was nice and hot. We were tired though from sitting in the train. We were told that we could just get a bus to our hotel...but somehow we ended up walking since the people that we asked around said it only took 15 minutes to get to the leaning tower by legs (where our hotel is).

When we arrived at the hotel, we were upgraded to a room with a balcony and view. That is very nice of him and such a relieved. The room was nice not luxury but it will do for a night...it's not that bad after all. We changed and had a short nap. Nothing to worry as this is just a small town and the main attraction is of course the Leaning Tower of Pisa - which is just 2 or 3 minutes walk from our hotel.

They were lotsa tourists local as well as tourists like us Asian and European and well almost every nation. And one thing in common everyone was trying to stop the tower from falling down. It's quite a funny view in the beginning but when everybody else's doing it ermmm it's not so uncommon any more ehhh?

It had been a very pleasant trip indeed!

Venezia as the Italian pronounce it is yet another miracle. It's an island with canals, bridges and hundreds and hundreds of small street that formed a beautiful magical labyrinth. I understand now why it's said one of the romantic places on earth. However, due to the hot weather I found it not as romantic if you visit it when there will be less tourists on the streets. I'm being skeptical I guess

It's took me sometimes to adapt to the fact that I had to get almost every other end of the small island on my own foot. (Since I refused to spend my money on the water bus) . We get lost most of the time, trying to make to our destiny but nevertheless that's the part of discovering Venice.

Hundreds and hundreds years ago Venice was home to hundreds of Italian richest merchants - some fled away from Rome to avoid the higher taxed imposed to merchants by Pope.




I simply love the Venetian architecture especially Venetian windows and the flowers and rooftop gardens the canals and water which some sort acts as cooling effect in summer time . If I were given another chance I will definitely come back to Venice but definitely not in summer tho

We spent our Easter Weekend in Kilkee. FYI Kilkee is in County Clare which means it is in the South East of Ireland. The trip from Dublin to Kilkee took about 6 hours on a bus ride.

Kilkee is a small village indeed and if you're looking for a place far away from crowd and quiet...well this is the perfect location. We're lucky as the weather had been on our side all through the trip. It's sunny and not windy.

I even had just my T-shirt on...and I really wish summer will come very soon so trips like this will be more enjoyable. Kilkee is beautiful especially the cliffs.




And I hafta admit this is my first time that I saw the water is crystal clear in Ireland.


Be Caution though (if you're planning to visit Kilkee)
* Make sure that you have enough cash in hands, as there are only 2 ATM's in Kilkee and it's said that almost always out of order during the weekends.
* And if you wanna spent a night or two please make reservation on where you decided to stay beforehand. Nolan's B&B where we stay is not that bad... and highly recommended.

Another fishing trip...duh? But I'm still can't understand what is so addictive bout fishing. Maybe I should try to catch a big fish someday...that's what HIMSELF always tell me anyway and I'll be hook instantly. Until that happens I could not agree any further.



Errmm Tramore is about 20-30 minute drive from Waterford. You could take a bus from Waterford or like us, you could try and hitch-hike. It always works for us anyway (hitch hiking). We spent a night in Waterford on St.Patrick's Day itself and the next day we're off to Tramore.

The weather on that day was good...(well that's what I thought in the beginning anyway)...we checked into our hostel and soon we're out heading to the beach. HIMSELF made his stop first at a tackle shop somewhere in Tramore to get some supply...ragworms and ermmm whatever....

But to tell the truth the weather is disaster...one minute it was sunny and perfect, next was all wind and sands...ouchhhhh!!!! That hurts my eyes the most....and then come the rain and all the gloomy clouds.



It was freezing cold and god...I really need a wind breaker and to tell the truth both of us was not ready for this. So he offered me his wind breaker and well that really made me felt better....



The sand dunes however are superb view...felt like I was recording for some kind of MTV video clips up here...it was that kind of sensation you know

Tramore is famous as one of the wind-surfer beach in Ireland...that's why when the wind it really blows hard. Should take that as a clue in the first place. Darned me! However should admit that It is a nice small village with hilly landscape and and a beach to hang out if the weather is bright, hot and all sunny.






Otherwise it's maybe too early for a visit...what am I thinking? It was March and I'm expecting a nice summer weather? Just forget it! Heheheh ...so if you wanna head here to Tramore better do it in summer.

[img]

Yesterday was superb...after so long not being able just to wear a shirt on the outside, finally we were able to do thatrday...actually it was still cold in the morning and late in the evening...but it was in such a pleasant winter...that for awhile we almost forget that fact...It is still winter...Hohohoh!!!

Today we decided to visit the Sagrada Familiar...it is another Gaudi's signature in Barcelona and well it is closed for another day. Sagrada Familiar is a cathedral still on construction, when Gaudi was alive all he have time to see was just one of the tower and as you could see they're still working to materialized the man ideas.




So all we got were some shots from outdoor... . The building has actually two different facade...the front and the rear facade is totally different but we didn't quite capture it here. Only to discover it day later on the second time of our visit to the Cathedral.

Besides that, we did wonder quite aimlessly since we're quite lost for the day. Due to the fact most of the attractions will still close today. We did get into Plaza Espanya by Metro to visit the National Museum...well of course we didn't get in but just being there is also something you know...

The first day has been really good, and we can't wait for more. We get to bed quite early yesterday after such a long day and woke up all new and very much refreshed.





Today we were ready to explore Parc Guell...and The Gaudi Museum which also just somewhere also around the vicinity of Parc Guell. But one thing that I took for granted was that...the fact that everything was supposed to be close for two days for the Xmas celebrations...demmit!!!

That's explained why it was kinda hard to find a cafe that was open for Breakfast. And the few with opened doors were very busy indeed. We hafta to wait for sometimes before we got served, but it was not that bad. Because after few minutes waiting we were by then busy chatting with this Filipino guy sitting next to our table (who thought we were Filipinos too at first).

It was 12.00pm when we finally made our way to Parc Guell. We used the Metro and it was like €5 for one day ride to any destinations. Kewl!!!

Parc Guell is actually a park...so besides tourists like us...there were also people busy taking care of their health jogging...hehehe....and old people who just wait for the time to pass and family with children...well whatever reason it is...It was just another nice sunny day...I Loikkkeee!!!




And since the park was Gaudi's idea...so we could see almost everywhere Gaudi's signature in the park...for instance, the ceramics Iguana, the twisted tornado columns and well just anything that's unusual to your eyes that's Gaudi...






So that's the end of day two...the rest of the day was being spent window shopping around Las Ramblas and Barri Gothic areas...yes the shops were closed for the Christmas celebrations. But they did leave their lights on for people to look at the displays...and boy that did drives us nuts...because they did have very large displays areas sometimes it feels like you're shopping but no buying is allowed!!!

The day that we had waited for so long came at last. On the very morning of the Christmas Eve we started our journey to Spain...It was a very early day for us...our flight was scheduled at 7.05a.m so last night we had a cab booked. Just to make sure we won't miss the flight.

We also had been warned that the Dublin Airport might be really congested, just picture Puduraya a few days before Hari Raya...and yup!!! you got it...everyone is getting restless trying to make the journey home right before Christmas or maybe few foreigners like us who live to far from home and tried to make a vacation out of the long Christmas and New Year Holidays...

After much hassled...we finally made it into the departure area...getting excited and all...waiting again for our turn to embark into the adventure. The flight took 3 hours more or less...into another Airport called Reus in Spain. It is an airport in the sub-urban of Spain and from there it took another 1 and 1/2 hours to get to our destination, Barcelona.

Owhhh forget to mention that it was the first time we travel as Backpackers. Yup!!! I got my backpack now......The bus took us into a bus-station in Barcelona and from there we took a Metro right to Plaza Catalunya...where our hotel is...

The Metro in Barcelona is just like any other system in city like Paris and London...It took awhile to get the idea of how it works but then, everything just fell in it's place...Hohohoh!!!

The sun was shining very brightly, that afternoon, a very nice weather indeed (compared to where we come from)...It was nearly 3.00 pm or was it 2.00p.m when we finally checked into out hotel. The Medium Monegal is situated very strategically at one end of the very famous La Ramblas St. and well that was not too bad for a starters ehh?!!

After refreshing ourself a little... . We're ready to explore with so much excitement, what is so great about this city...and owhh just dun forget the sunnies...

We didn't go that far on the first day itself, well our hotel is right into where the attraction are...in the first place...basically we just got ourself dizzy with all different kinds of street performance along La Ramblas, and we made it right through the waterfront and at the back streets where there's a lot of shops open for the last minutes shoppers...




I just can't wait to lose a few Euros...shopping wheee!!!