Verona

After my first full week of work it was lush to be getting away to Verona and to see my dear Patrick. Although we've been friends for over a decade (eeek, that seems so wrong!!), I'd actually never met his parents, so it was lovely to spend some time with them, and his siblings.

Verona

We went to watch Madame Butterfly in the amphitheatre. It was so beautiful. Rachel had advised me to invest in a cushion and warm clothes-such good advice! The opera was incredible, but long!! The singer's voices were so beautiful and really impressive. Patrick and I were very happy to be able to read the synopsis on our phones as it was going on as would have been rather lost otherwise! But it was thoroughly enjoyable. The setting really made it.

On Saturday Patrick and I had a lovely wander around the city. It is gorgeous. We went to see the Romeo and Juliet famous balcony....which was crawling with tourists, but very pretty.

THE Balcony

This was in the entrance leading to the square where the balcony was. Hundreds and hundreds of plasters!

I have become rather obsessed with Vespas since arriving in Italy!

Patrick on the riverbank

Verona was simply gorgeous. Italy is utterly charming. I can't wait to see more!

Milano

Milano Duomo

It's great to be back! It's been good to explore and rediscover some lovely places, and then to also find some incredible places that I totally missed last time! I had no idea that Milan has canals! It's a lush area, now one of my favourites!

Piazza del duomo

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Castello Svorzesco

A topless skateboarder....just like SP;)

Total mix of old and new!

Beautiful Navilgi

It's really nice to see the residential side of the city too, and to get to know different areas away from the tourists. I love how compact it is and how easy it is to get around, as well as so safe! Very contrasting to São Paulo or Nairobi!

The pyramids

I booked a tour to see the pyramids just outside of Mexico City. I was so excited! We had a very sweet old man for a guide who held such enthusiasm for the pyramids. They were built beginning around 300 BC and contain the third-largest pyramid in the world (the pyramid of the Sun). They were constructed according to precise astronomical measurements, and filled with the bodies of sacrificial victims. Like at Chichen Itza, there was some fun clapping activities going on to hear the bird like echo sounds that followed! I was so happy to get to climb them, although quite hard going, the views were amazing! They are closing to the public to climb at the end of  2014 as they are cracking, so I am glad to have got to go up!

Agave plant

View from the Pyramid of the Moon

Pyramid of the Sun

View of the pyramid of the Moon, from the pyramid of the Sun

The gift shop did make me laugh. The whole time in Mexico I have been desperate to see the stereotypical Mexican...wearing a poncho, with a huge colourful sombrero, and having a moustache. Sadly, no such a man exists! What is everywhere though is skulls! I couldn't resist snapping these. I didn't snap them up!

In the gift shop...though these are ubiquitous in Mexico!

We went to a 'traditional' Mexican restaurant for lunch. Love how authentic these places are haha I did enjoy the Mariachi band though. They still make me laugh! We def need to adopt them in other countries!

Mariachi!

Mexico City

The Angel of Independence

Mexico city really surprised me. It was huge, yes, but so charming and lovely. The architecture was smart and beautiful, and there were so many nice areas. Glynn goes quite a few times a year so has found a few locals and favourites which were great to go to. We stayed near the Angel of Independence, and I loved how the streets were all named after cities. I was thinking of Rach a lot through being in Mexico, but then thought it was funny that our apartment was on the Tokyo street, not far from the Hamburg street! 

Glynn had a lot of meetings on so I was recommended to go on an open top bus tour as a way to get a quick intro to the city. It was really fun being driven about and getting all the info. 

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Metropolitan Cathedral

Government offices in the Zocola

Monument to the Mexican Revolution

Mexican Stock Exchange

We spent a lovely Sunday afternoon on the canals, in the floating gardens of Xochimilco. What a pleasant surprise! We rented a boat for an hour and happily sailed along, drinking Squirt (a Mexican soft drink similar to Lilt) and chatting, listening to all the Mariachi who would hop from boat to boat. It was all so colourful and had such a happy atmosphere. I heart Mexico!

I loved Squirt!

A Mariachi band