Florence, the Land of Art & Dreams

Today my friend & I ventured towards the south of where we live in Trento. And by south, I mean waaaaaaaaay south. We had been planning this trip for a few weeks and it was finally happening!!

With our fascination with Florence driving us through the last three tumultuous weeks we already reached our goal in a sense, since we made it to today. The weather did not feel the same though, but we prayed that we could change the impending rain with our hopes and dreams of Florence.

We decided to start our day with a visit to our favorite cafe, hence known as a trip to heaven. With a sense of satisfaction, we left after a croissant each.

The pistachio one is divine!

Giant Pringles on our stopover to Florence

We traversed about 250 kms in five hours or so. The sun played hide and seek to keep us on our toes I assume... We did not know exactly where the bus stop was where we reached the city from the highway and thus waited patiently for the announcement from the driver (usually about 5 minutes before arrival). Suddenly, a "Firenze!" (Italian for Florence) wakes us up from our daze/nap. We have stopped so we pack our things quickly and then hear a "Schnell, schnell, tardi!" (Faster, faster, we're late!). The driver almost chased us out of the bus running (I didn't know we could run through a bus...) while my friend bid him farewell with "Ciao". I did not have the courage to do that considering he was clearly an angry German (Schnell is a German word while tardi is Italian). We reached Florence a little late to our chagrin (20 minutes or so) but we didn't mind it too much since the sun was still out (thank you Daylight Savings!).

Now, I am extremely happy that I live in Italy since I can use my mobile data to guide my journey without qualms. The first image of Florence did not excite me at all to be honest,  there was no way to tell that we were in the land of dreams. Our hopes would not be dampened though. We walked to the city center and encountered construction everywhere, including the tram lines. Not very picturesque but I cannot blame them, they are (hopefully) trying to better the city.

This is what our map of Florence looked like before we left Trento

We stop at a McDonalds just as we were feeling peckish and order 2 cheese burgers for 1.40 EUR each (this is useful information, remember it). After a little rest (sitting in a bus for a few hours is strangely tiring), we decide to actually look around and observe the city and its people. We realise how many tourists are present, for every Italian, there is at least one tourist if not more. It feels like that when you hear more English speakers than Italian.

The city is filled with unique, tall, old and towering building that look down on you. The stones are probably filled with a history we'll never find out about. It is a curious thing, to know, yet not to know, as well as to understand, yet not understand.

Ponte Vecchio (it took a while before they understood how to build it so it wouldn't wash away)

We reach the bridge near Ponte Vecchio (Literally 'old bridge') and are branded with an image of the world in those days when people thought of building houses on bridges. I personally would not mind but my friend disagreed, she would not want a river flowing under her house. We spent some time there taking photos and being silly when we realised that it was already 6 PM! We had planned our trip based around the places we could eat breakfast, lunch and dinner (original right? You'll understand once you've eaten at a pasticceria, an Italian bakery). We made our way to a restaurant called La Bussola, a place well known for its lasagna. We miss lasagna in Trento, but that story is for another time.

Mmmmmm Lasagna!

We reached the restaurant and came to the realisation that the prices could be far above our budget (after entering and placing our eyes 'fine dining' atmosphere). Menus are usually placed outside restaurants to assist or tempt potential customers into the establishment. However, we conveniently forgot to check this before we entered...

We were pleasantly surprised at the friendly waiters as well as the prices of our favorite dishes. We both ordered lasagna and were met with a divine bechamel sauce (the white sauce). The presentation of the dish brought us closer to a flavour filled dream. We ended up spending more than two hours here as the atmosphere and music was to our liking. After talking for some time and deciding when to take the bus to our hostel, we realised that we forgot to buy toothpaste and thus decided to leave. Just as we finished paying and got up to leave, the waiter happened to notice a receipt of the floor. He picked it up thinking that it is our bill. He looked at it and sighed. He then crumpled the receipt and turned to us saying "Mcdonalds è basta!" (No more Mcdonalds!). We left with red faces.

Arno River

We calmed ourselves of our shame with the tranquility of the flowing river when we are interrupted by the following scene.

We left the riverside and made our way to the bus stop, we saw the life of the people of Florence in the late hours after sunset. Streets filled with leather goods (a city famous for its leather work) & restaurants with food from all over the world! I was surprised that American was a cuisine as well. No offense to Americans though!

After paying a ridiculous amount, 2.90 EUR each for a tube of toothpaste and a brush (peer pressure I tell you), we reached the bus stop. Since the next day was a holiday (Festivo) in Italy we were unsure of the bus timings and how often the buses would run. In Trento, the change of bus timings came to our notice with  the help of a laminated paper attached to the 'bus stop' sign. Since it was missing here, we asked around but with the amount of tourists clearly outweighing the Italians...

Feriale (weekdays) Sabato (saturday) Festivo (Sunday and holidays)

We decided to ask the driver of the bus instead, the frequency of buses here is definitely not as less as we expected thankfully. We reached the last stop (fermata) of the bus on this line (yes, our hostel was very far) and realised that we were lost. We had the map but Google mentioned a road that was not present physically. Since it was the last stop, the bus driver usually used the time in between runs to catch a break. The kindness of the people here always astounds me. He actually got off his bus to ask us where we were going and if he could guide us. We were very appreciative as he and another stranger guided us to our destination.

The entrance to the hostel (ostello) was very suspicious. <picture>. We knew that we were supposed to go up a hill but we felt like we were entering a zoo with the forest around us, with a chance of viewing the odd leopard...

Here, kitty, kitty...

The noise from our trolley probably kept all the animals away though.

We reached the villa to find that our booking was not in their database. My friend thankfully had the foresight to print out our booking and they were able to retrieve our booking (maybe we shouldn't have paid and then it would have been free though...). I had read some reviews of this hostel and thus brought a towel, slippers and even pillow cases (better safe than sorry right?). My friend did suggest that we bring bedsheets as well but we sadly did not have enough space in our trolley.

Thankfully all was not so unwell as the sheets and pillows cases were clean (visibly anyway). One thing I really like about the concept of hostels is the fact that you can meet people from all over the world who are usually just passing through. It is a wonderful feeling to meet people from somewhere you have never been to. It feels mysterious in a way. As I was brushing my teeth in the common bathroom, I met a girl from the United States. She is the first person I have met who is from Washington DC. We had a pleasant conversation about the city and she told me that she would be going to a place called Crema. I had never heard of such a place (I should have since Crema means 'cream', and you know how I feel about cream in bakeries) and my interest was piqued. She inspired me to watch a movie called "Call my by your name", which was based in Crema. Thank you dear stranger, I shall do so at the earliest!

zzzzzzz......one leopard, two leopards.......(--_--).............zzzzzzz

<Do you want to know more? Click here. This was only our first day in Florence, many adventures are yet to be read....>

Don't talk to strangers?

Hi y'all!

I know that it has been ages! More than a year in fact, I was so inspired to write about a great experience that I had in the city of Milan yesterday that I just started typing.

Some of you might know that I have had my share of unpleasant experiences in Milan. This has led to breed a persona with a thick hide mixed with caution, especially when visiting Milan. As someone wise once told me, when you have no expectations, everything that happens can be either pleasantly surprising, or just surprising. I might have taken this too seriously and expected the worst in people (please forgive me, lady on the metro!). That's for a little later in the post (or not). Ha. ha.

I have been living in Italy for a grand total of x amount of months (haha gotcha!). Actually you probably already know, so much for my attempt to 'withhold' information. Now, back to my train of thought, or rather, yours (I hope); I have been to a few cities in the north as well as Rome, which I shall tell you about in another post. All in all, I think I have an understanding of the 'general' culture of Italians. I could be wrong of course, but I'm never wrong (with a heavy undercurrent of sarcasm).

You will be surprised to know that I can last longer in Italian conversations with people I meet here. But, I did start guffawing when someone complimented my 'good Italian'. Five minutes is never enough to judge I think. If you are curious about how I improved my Italian, do ask.

So, yesterday I went to Milan. And that is all. Ok, I'm joking. But, I do wish there was a way to punk someone online. Oh wait! that's why we have clickbait....

I had some 'official' business to attend to. More like State business. Never mind, I reached Milan and as usual, I got lost on the way to my destination. I wonder how many times that has happened, don't keep count, you'll run out of fingers, toes and probably the hairs on my head (since some of you may by bald... just keeping an open mind!). I have an exceptional talent in derailing trains (of thought). This 'detour' led me to the great "Quadrilateral of Fashion", wherein the grand "Milan Fashion Week 2018" is happening! Have you been to a fashion show? Or anyone you know? I have had the privilege of attending an extremely scaled down event ages ago back home in Delhi. It is realms apart, being in that environment. And so very colourful, in all meanings of the word.

I could feign disinterest in this subject because in the moment I was merely attracted to the music that I could hear (since it helped to hasten my pace and I was late). Sue me for the desire to stay away from crowds (and I come from a crowded country...judge me if you want...). Nonetheless, the occasional passing of a model or two brought a sense of glamour to my catwalk across town (I cannot cat-walk at all, have you seen a cat walk? <evilly chuckles>).

My detour served as a quarter of an advertisement for the Milan Fashion Week (maybe?)

The main point of my story shall now surface, maybe. After I finished my business (transaction? I make it sound so dramatic, if only you knew what I was actually doing). I chanced upon the lovely Duomo (I looked it up, Italian cathedrals possess this hallowed name) and the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery (I had no idea it was called this until.....Google).

Duomo of Milan (The cathedral of Milan)

Victor Immanuel II Gallery

Anyway, maybe I just wanted to show off my pictures. Why are you reading this again?

I was wrong, my point shall resurface now. I wanted to kill some time since my transport back home was in a few hours so I crowd-watched (apparently, that's a word) for a while. It might have been the week long fashion show that brought a lot of people out to the city, considering the the single digit temperature range. There were at least 4 photo shoots within the Piazza Duomo (the courtyard encompassing the cathedral). I was singing "All the pretty ladies, all the pretty ladies..." (to the tune of Beyoncé )

Onward to a more beautiful part of the day => a café called Mister Bar.

This café really brings this phrase to life : "It's the people that make the place". 

Since I wanted a warm place to kill some more time I headed towards a place I saw on the map. After a few rounds in the cold and 'scouting' some possibilities, I entered Mister Bar. I expected nothing, just Italian coffee (Italy and takeaway coffee); I saw this, many times (in the course of a few hours), the minimum time recorded being about two pages of my book, which roughly translates to two minutes. But I have seen faster 'touch and go's' when there are just four words exchanged between the barista and the customer.

1.    Buongiorno (Good day)

2,3. Un espresso (An expresso)
4.    Arrivederci (Good bye)

Back to the coffee, which I consume with a copious amount of milk (blasphemy for Italians I dare say); It was excellent! But I'm just getting started, the kindness of the three baristas in that bar (synonymous with a cafe as well as a 'light' alcohol serving establishment) exceeded my expectation of any stranger I have met thus far. People like that provide hope to the rest of us. The hours I spent in their establishment were the best hours I could have spent indeed (heavenly Sacher Torte). I wouldn't say that they were kind to me just because I'm a customer, but I could be wrong. I would like to believe that if I go there again, they will smile a little more (hopefully). I think that this is best part about strangers, you might not know their name or have any way to meet them in the future but, sometimes, they leave a deep imprint on you that brings a smile to your face. I hope that I'm a stranger like that to someone out there. Don't you?

!!!DISCLAIMER!!!: I am not advising anyone not to exercise caution when talking with strangers, be it within an establishment or elsewhere. Just, use your head? (I can hear you laughing, my dear sister...) Also, my links are for amusement, do not assume that I will explain my actions every time. I might, if I feel inclined to do so. Perhaps.

Scattered Hearts

30th October - 5th November 2016

It's amazing how much people start to care when you go to another country. It's like Italy now has a special meaning to people who know that I've come here. The significance of this comes to light when news about Italy spreads to other countries. What I'm talking about is the earthquake that occurred in central Italy. That area has more frequent earthquakes with the newer volcanoes (or so I am told).

I got a call this morning from friends in India who saw the news and asked if I was alright. I felt so blessed that Italy has now been elevated to a status of "place to worry for". Thank you dear friends!

It is true that home is where the heart is, when people who have an effect on our hearts are or could be distress, we care, we worry. In that way, we have our hearts scattered all over the world. Geography no longer limits us with the technology that our fellow humans have developed. The very fact that you are reading this post from a part of the world that I am not in, is proof of this fact.

(^__^)

While going back home tonight, I witnessed the driver of my bus get off unexpectedly. While coming down from Cognola (a hill near home), the bus made odd screeching noises when turning. This was quite a new experience, I thought it was the brakes failing and that is not a pleasant thought considering the forces of gravity acting on the bus while going down.

Thankfully, the bus driver drove as slow as possible and stopped at a bus station (FERMATA) to investigate. Something was definitely out of order with the bus. After stopping for a few minutes to check, the driver got on the bus and started driving again, he had about 10 stops left on this route (which was uphill from now) so I guess he wanted us all to reach home first. We thank this driver for his choice. Or I'd have been stuck just a hill away from home...not a great prospect at night in the cold (5 degrees Celsius).

(^__^)

HALLOWEEN is here! This festival isn't celebrated with grandeur here. There are events but I didn't see many people dressed to scare.

Since it was a long holiday with All Saints Day (1st November) in the mix as well, a lot of my Italian friends stayed at home for the whole weekend. For them, All Saints Day is about being home and spending time with family. I think that is quite nice.

So, what did I do for Halloween? I made chicken curry! My friends and I decided that it was time to eat some spicy Indian food. The eight of us (mostly spice untested) gathered and created a delicious (I hope) sweet chicken curry. If you're wondering why it was sweet, I (the cook) was as surprised. It was due to the tomatoes. European tomatoes are far too sweet as compared to the ones I'm used to back home. Thus, sweet chicken curry (great for the Europeans I guess!). It's a fun experience when people taste something different which has a different history. It was history and culture that made that curry (the knowledge of it all culminated into a dish). Which I find quite amazing. Our senses like novelty, which is one of the many reasons I love to try new things to eat.

(^__^)

It's right after Halloween and all the stores are filled with Christmas decorations! It's actually a bit sad that we have such few festivals (things to look forward to?)

(~__~)

I had a "conversation" or a "moment of clarity" with the lady at the supermarket counter. She asked me if I wanted a bag (in Italian), all I understood from the sentence were the words "SIGNORA, BORSA? (Lady, bag?).

I replied with "UNA BORSA PER FAVORE" (One bag please)

After I had paid she said "ARRIVEDERCI" and "GRAZIE". I responded as required. It was after a few moments that I realised that I had not spoken a drop og English in that space of time. It was a stark ontrast to the times that I have pretended that I didn't  understand any Italian (which is understandable since I honestly didn't know what to do in this sort of situation)

It is like we prepare for particular situations. We are just racking up experience in different scenarios so that we know how to cope, how to manage. We don't actually know a language but we know particular day to day context based exchanges between people. It's like we're literally learning about a language 'part by part'. Isn't that fascinating?

Albeit that this is was a rather fundamental exchange. Hopefully, I'll just get better and better now!

(^__^)

The following phrase was taught to me by a friend from Sicily (the south of Italy) Apparently, the south doesn't understand the north very well, and vice versa. The context of this phrase is when you like someone romantically. Interesting right?

TI FANNO SANGUE - You make my blood run wild

[Yay! We're finally in the same month! I'm catching up :D I'll put photos up soon! Slow internet... A DOPO (later!) 26th to be specific!]

Break Free!

23rd - 29st October 2016

I came home today to find a sudden burst of noise on the floor where I live. I ran (literally) to investigate and found a party happening two doors down. I unintentionally pushed open the door to take a peek (the door was open) and found many people dancing. This was quite rare for the place where I live. This residential area is know to be quiet and peaceful (the only noise heard would be neighbours' dogs barking).

I didn't realise how eager I was to hear a break in the tranquility surrounding me at home. The people obviously noticed me peeking into their house and invited me in. I thought that it would be quite rude to join them since I wasn't invited to I told them I would come later (basically never). I went home and enjoyed the muffled music while I took some time to read. Sometime later, I heard my door bell ring and I found someone from the party at my doorstep. He said that it had been over an hour and that I should join them. I was happy to accept his invitation and made my way to the party. One of the students in that house had just graduated and this was a celebration party. I had never met some of the people here and I found that most of them were from Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian dance is varied and different from any of the dances that I know or have seen. There is a lot of use of the shoulders and the neck. Back in Ethiopia they would do in this dance in their traditional wear. It is a very free dance, it's like all of your emotions are let out and you are jumping and almost flying without a care in the world. It is filled with fun and it is something that cannot be done if you're feeling reserved. I first enjoyed this flurry of energy and before long I was invited to dance with them as well. There was a lot of jumping involved and they were nice enough to teach me some moves, The shoulder movement was really hard to imitate since it was so fast. The beat of the Ethiopian songs that were being played was faster than the average song and quite enjoyable. The neck bobbing was quite fun and I suddenly realised how similar a lot of the dance moves were with that of animal movements. It was enlightening and I felt like I was getting to know humans better. We all danced for about an hour or so and I learned their Zorba dance/song.

There were some people from Uganda and Nigeria there as well. I was surprised to learn that the music and the dance that they listen to and perform are very different. Uganda dances more to pop apparently.

When I was just about ready to leave, they demanded that I teach them some Bollywood moves. So I asked the DJ to play a song called "Nagada sang dhol" (Jab we Met movie). I tried my best to teach them what I could and they seemed to enjoy the new type of dance moves. Maybe they'll keep it in their arsenal for the next dance off! The Bollywood song reminded a few of the Nigerians that they like to watch Bollywood films in Nigeria. But since the films are in their original language (Hindi), I asked if they watch them dubbed or with subtitles. Their response was surprising, they said that there is usually someone in the town who knows Hindi (who knows why, maybe they learnt it by watching Hindi movies?) and there would be an ongoing translation of the dialogues while the movie is running. That sounds like fun to me! As long as they enjoy it, its not something to complain about I suppose.

The sounds they use in their language is a little different from those that are used around India. It was difficult for my Ugandan friend to say "Sri Lanka", she said that it was like a tongue twister to her.

(^__^)

I buried an onion today. No, I did not wish for it's death, I simply left it in water for too long before cutting it and it grew roots! It would have been fine if it grew just roots but it started spouting green shoots that looked so beautiful and so I couldn't cut it and eat it. As per the suggestions of my housemates we went to bury it. Since we had no shovels we just took a fat knife. It took a while to dig into the soil but we made it in the end! While going to our room I realised that we might have looked like murderers who just buried a body (a muddy knife to cover our tracks?). Who would bury an onion anyway?

Now we just hope that it will grow and give us more tears! (something I don't think I should really wish for :P) 

(>__>)

I learned some interesting things about the countries of my friends today. Each country has its own unique history that cannot be compared with another. The past sometimes leaves a deep impression on the future generations of a country, and sometimes, they are forgotten.

Some German citizens are taught in school that they should not be proud of their country. Growing up in such an environment where you feel guilty about a past that you were not apart of seems quite detrimental to children I would say; but we all grow up eventually. An interestin fact, there is no train line from the east to the west of Germany because the train lines were built when the Berlin wall was in place. So, travelling to the west or the east from either side involves going to the south or the north first. 

Most countries around Russia had been taken over by Russia at some point and therefore forced to learn the way of the Russian; Lithuania was one such country. The stark contrast between the facts taught in school to succeeding generations is astounding. My friend tells me that she and her parents discuss the same historical events with completely different facts (Russian way of thinking vs the Lithuanian way of thinking); talk about a generation gap!

(^__^)

My friends and I finally decided that we want to eat lasagna. The best place for that? Bologna. Why? Bolognese lasagna. Contrary to popular belief, Bolognese sauce is not served with spaghetti and meatballs, that is an Americanised Italian dish that doesn't exist in Italy.

"We will travel across the land, searching far and wide, each cuisine to understand the power that's inside!"

I wonder why we think that each city will be significantly different. When I walk through the streets of Bologna, I see streets that have been walked through by two types of people. People who paid attention to the street and those who didn't. In that perspective, every street can be a goldmine or just a path to a goldmine.

We inevitably find ourselves in sketchy parks so easily and today we found two! One was a beautiful park named after and built for the 9/11 victims of the WTC (it even had a beautiful carousel!). That was quite interesting, they even had a rather corroded piece of steel from the World Trade Center. The other park was crowded with people of all ages and it was here that we came face to face with the sketchiness that I described before.

One guy came up to us as we were walking and tried to offer us something. We passed him by (basically ignored him) and he started cursing at us in Italian! (not words I want to know really). I guess that he felt that we were in his territory and that we should take our business elsewhere if we weren't buying from him (I'm kidding! they were just being sketchy as sketchy goes...)

We finally ate lasagna in Italy. It was delicious! but I actually cannot compare it to any other city in Italy since this was my first lasagna in Italy. Would I come back for it? Yes, just for the lasagna.

On our way back I was finally checked for my ticket! I wonder how long I have been waiting to get my ticket checked. I knew that I would feel guilty if I didn't take a ticket but I was always annoyed that no one checked. Now I felt good, somehow, maybe.

Someone shushed us in the train. First I thought that it was quite rude since it was only 10 PM, but it got me thinking. If we had continued to speak at the same volume when the passenger had shushed us, would that mean that we didn't care what he thought? And if he didn't shush us then that would mean that he would have to compromise and adapt to our 'loud' noise.

Do we really care about other humans? Or do we pretend to care so that our society will work? Do we just cooperate so we an live in peace? Is that what peace is? compromise?

[So, why didn't I post last time? I was busy with college and I didn't have any time to edit...hence I had designed this to be a weekly blog, but that is after I catch up! Nonetheless, thank you for your support and views! I'll be adding pictures to this post later so make sure to check them out! Next post coming on 23rd :D Later!]

Update

Hey everyone! The next post has been 'post'-poned to the 20th of October. The reason? Hmmm..... You'll find out next time! I love keeping you in suspense <evilly chuckles>

I'm slowly but surely catching up! See you then! Maybe you can re-read some posts of mine if you're bored? 

(^__^)

Into the Wild

20th - 22nd October 2016

I don't understand why shoes are so expensive here. It's like the country has advanced so much that they're willing to pay about 200 EUR for a pair of boots! I guess everyone needs distractions from their daily lives, or just a goal to work towards. Nonetheless, I got myself shoes in a twentieth of that price so I am quite satisfied with myself (or will be till they degrade).

I got on a bus to go back home with my shopping bags and there was an old Italian man who wanted to give me his seat. He even helped me when some contents spilled out of my bag while the bus was moving; as a consequence of me wanting him not to help me (since I was much more able) and the bus turning just at that time, our heads collided! (thankfully, he wasn't injured...maybe).

I thought they were chocolate but they turned out to be different types of coffee! I would like a Leonardo Coffee please!

The Halloween season is here!

I found Harry Potter in Italian, sounds hilarious though!

Ha. Ha. Ha.

We love our professor so much he's the source of our graffiti

It's written in German and Italian (am I in Italy?)

I had my very own German tandem today (planned by yours truly). Three of us met up and learned that we can speak to each other in a language that wasn't our first or second. Myself and a girl from Lithuania have studied some German and given some exams but could not hold a conversation in German. And thus, after finding a German who was willing to help us, we made out way to a cafe and started speaking in German! It was so much fun! It wasn't exactly the grammar or the rules that mattered, it was the words and the meaning. Our German friend could understand us even though we made so many mistakes while speaking with her; I commend her for that. We will definitely do this again.

(^__^)

I took the an evening bus after a long time and I saw the city of Trento as I descended towards it. It was a beautiful sight. It felt transient and fleeting, but I love moments like this. This is truly what it means to be in the moment. You can never get back moments.

Italians drive as if they are racing, it is a pleasure to watch them rev their engines and push their cars up the mountains in Povo. But the best part is watching them speed down a straight like they are Formula racing drivers!

(^__^)

I went on a trip to Rio Novella and San Romedio. There is a beautiful canyon amid the dolomite hills/mountains in the valley of Novella. Dolomite are a type of rock that formed sedimentary layers and are beautiful to look at. The narrow canyon is constricting and the very fact that we were going to explore this place was fascinating to me.

Piazza Dante is present in every city I think

This is Piazza Dante near Rio Novella

Italian Monopoly Deal! I miss this game so much!

The valleys around including Rio Novella are filled with apple orchards. This is the season to harvest these apples so most of them were gone. It was quite interesting to learn of the different types of apples, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala and Ranetta. We were all tempted to pick these from the tree and feel like royalty but of course, life handed us the ones that had fallen on the ground instead. We couldn't really complain since they were so delicious!

Apples galore

I wonder how they harvest? Walking would take too long!

And so I found my answer. Who knew that they could be so tiny!

The Fuji apples are the last to be picked

Ignoring the beautiful lady, do you see the white nets? That's for hail protection

Down a path of no return (we weren't coming back this way)

This is the valley of apples!

Fall came late but I'm ecstatic!

These are the Delicious Red variety I think (appropriate name)

Do not be tempted.

There is a secret in this photo

The secret waterfall beckons

No one walks here I guess (except us)

If only you could survive on beauty

4 different types of apples, can you figure it out?

We all wore helmets so we wouldn't (accidentally) bleed out

Down into the canyon at last

I was scared of dropping my phone into the canyon while taking these pictures and so I trusted my friends to take the pictures for me.

We know not how to come back alive from down there

I did wonder how many died while making this metal path that we walked on

Odd stalactites? Well, it's not exactly a cave

Deep deep canyon

Will we make it out alive?

Quite narrow and winding

We walked through the winding trail/track for about an hour and a half and we didn't realise that we had become accustomed to the darkness of the place. It felt like a somewhat lit cave in a way. So when the light came rushing forth, it felt like a dream...

I'm surprised that no one lives here 

Out of the canyon!

It was refreshing to see some light after being the dark

Cerberus (someone in the trip felt his throat burn when he had a taste, death wish I suppose?)

Cute mascot asking us not to pick flowers during springtime

The tree of death and cerberus live among the beauty here (a forest with thorns)

This was a bridge that was broken so that the fruits on the other side could not be picked by passersby

Can you imagine that here, of all places is a hydro plant making use of the running river? (and it's automated!)

We made it out safe!

Now to see the wider part of the canyon

These paths are treacherous and not for the acrophobics

We walked through the "scenic path" to get to a place called San Romedio, named after a Saint Romedio. His story was an interesting one. Trento and this particular place (a hill somewhere) is about 40 kilometers apart. And for some reason, during the last century, Saint Romedio (a hermit) liked to travel to Trento from here quite often; and he did so on his trusty horse. And horses, like all other things in this world can die, and therefore, Saint Romedio could no longer visit Trento. Can you guess what he did? He found a brown bear (common in these parts) and after making it his pet (who knows how he managed that), he rode it to Trento. Thus, he became the famous saint who had a pet bear. The people living here, stay in honour of the hermit, San Romedio (SAN is saint I think) and have built a tall structure here.

Tall structure with a beautiful view from the top. 

That was all of us!

[Hi everyone! I know that today's post doesn't have that much content since I was so busy and excited putting up so many photos! Hope that you enjoyed the post! I would appreciate any feedback and keep reading! My next post will be on the 17th. Later!]