Zurich 19/7

Milan to Zurich 19/7 - Single room Comfort Inn Hotel

Woke up a little hung-over again and checked out. Unlocked my bicycle that I had chained up inside the hostel because there was no spots left on the BikiMi rack outside the hostel, and went for a ride to Piazza Duomo. Found the square alright using Google maps, took a few photos and then realised my rear tyre was flat, so I swapped out my bike at the Duomo bike point, only for it warn me that I can only use a bike for 2 hours at a time, whoops.

I ate some hangover Maccas, bought some cold’n’flu tablets, and found a Barclays bank to withdraw some cash. Which I did, but it ended up eating my card as it gave me the cash first and then I got distracted. I freaked out a fair bit, before quickly reframing my mindset and talking to the security guard. Knowing I could do nothing about it, I rode on and found a massive Fort in the centre of Milan, surrounded by park land and a big Arch way after that, which were both very impressive.

Rode back via the Square and returned my bike. Then decided to try and get my card again, had to wait about half an hour for them to get back from lunch, then a lady from the bank appeared said she could give me my card as long as my bank gave them permission, after a lengthy amount of times and costly Telstra phone calls, I had my card cancelled, and then another one half organised because they couldn’t post it out to me as I had no permanent address. Once I realised I was getting nowhere, I spoke to the lady and saw my card, there, on her desk stapled to a bit of paper. I could of begged her, used my usually successful charm, recited my card number along with my passport, that surely would have been enough. But it was useless, as my card had already been cancelled, I slumped to the ground in front of her, knowing I had been defeated, thanked her and left the Bank.

I returned to the hostel, grabbed my gear and jumped on a tram to the station after I agreed to meet Isabelle in Zurich at 9pm. 

As I got off the train with my full backpack and I checked my phone, then seconds later to be greeted by a scream and Isabelle throwing herself onto me. I did surprisingly well to stay upright, it was so good to see her after my relatively shit day.

She took me to the hotel her Mum had organised, freshened up and went out for dinner at what I thought was an expensive restaurant, but 49CHF was the going price for a Rib-eye steak, which was amazing by the way. After dinner we went on a pub crawl, one drink, one bar, and started at a gay bar for a laugh. Both pretty intoxicated and it being 1am she had to catch a train, we agreed to meet up the next day for breakfast. I got back to my room and passed out immediately.

Zurich 20/7 - Single room Comfort Inn Hotel

I woke up several times in the small space of 6 or 7 hours, thinking I had overslept but I hadn’t. I got up 2 hours early anyway, and did a few push-ups, lunges and dips. Then went downstairs and found out I had buffet breakfast included.

I went back to my room and used the Wi-Fi for a while before Isabelle knocked on my door, we decided to go for a walk around Zurich and down the river to the lake via some clothing stores and a supermarket. We bought her some breakfast as I forgot we had agreed to have it together, and a bottle of red wine for the picnic by the lake.

Found a spot under a tree and laid down in the shade, intermittently passing out shortly after, an hour or two later I had a swim in the lake. It was surprisingly warm, but a struggle to swim in as I couldn’t float in the fresh water too well. I got out and we went to the Chinese garden, which was pretty cool, then went to a kids play park that had a rock climbing wall, and I obliterated that in a minute or two.

We headed back to the Comfort Inn as I couldn’t find any other reasonably priced hostels or hotels, I had a quick shower then we went out for dinner and had yet another expensive dinner, but it was a delicious Mexican meal. 

After dinner we went on another pub crawl, but ended it after the first bar as we couldn't find anything happening that early, so we went to the supermarket and bought some cheap vodka and orange juice. We finished the bottle over an hour or two by the lake, and listen to music. As I planned to skydive the next day we called it a night and said our farewells.

Milan 18/7

Massa to Milan 18/7 - 6bed dorm Zebra Hostel

Woke up pretty hung-over, and Evan had slept in. I showered, packed up my gear and went down stairs to the lobby. Sat on the couch for a good 2-3hours restoring my iPhone and organising my trip to Milan. Eventually I made my way out of the hotel after having a free hotel buffet lunch, and bussed up to the station. I had to wait a good half hour as I just missed the train, so I listened to my Italian audio tapes.

It was close to a 7hour journey to Milan, but once I arrived I witnessed a lot of Milan’s beauty straight away, everything was big with high ceilings and artwork. The station alone was pretty amazing.

I found my way out of the station to the subway, where I found a tram map and roughly worked out which tram I needed. However, I didn’t know where it started. A lady told me to jump on this old heritage listed tram that should have been on a rubbish dump. With my iPhone having internet now I straight away confirmed my suspicions and was headed the wrong way… a compass would have done the same thing *sigh* (RIP Compass).

But as I was starting to freak out again, I saw the No. 9 tram I needed to catch, ran back and caught it to the right stop, near my hostel, with the help of almost every Italian on the tram.

I checked in and met some Poms in my room, then I showered and went to get some dinner with a hire bike that a girl in the hostel told me to book online for the next day’s exploring.
I had my first Italian pizza and freaked about my hire bike being stolen the whole time.

When I got back to the hostel there was 3 girls, all dolled up, standing out front of the hostel to the right of the entry where there was a bar/club.

I spruced up and went out the front of the club, and said hello to the girls. They immediately realised I was Australian and lost their minds. The Swede, Stella, said I should come in for a drink, which I did, then after a few minutes chatting to both her and Margherita, she invited us up to her apartment for a swim in her pool. I couldn’t refuse, so Margherita, Stella and I, left the club and went upstairs, even though Marge should have been working. 

The pool was a blue blow up pool like the $80 one I bought years ago, but I didn’t mind. Stella insisted we drink more, although she was already way drunk after being caught stealing drinks from behind the bar downstairs, and somehow managed to steal a beer minutes later, somehow not getting kicked out.
We drank the champagne, and played mini table football back in the bar. I let Margherita win, whilst Stella kept losing the ball on the floor and proceeded to hit on this Canadian guy Carter. The bar soon closed at 2am and I had an early rise the next day so I went back to my hostel room and found the pommy guys already passed out.

Cinque Terre & Massa 15/7

Nice to La Spezia 15/7 - Twin share room L’ancore Hotel

Woke up hungover, omelette for breakfast with Dani, check out of hostel and we trained it for 5 hours. Brushed up on my Italian. Got a fine for not validating the ticket I had just bought. Smelly, old, hot and sweaty train – Welcome to Italy.

Bus’d up the massive windy hill with Dani to her hostel, that didn’t have any spare beds for me, so after she checked-in we caught a bus down to Riomaggoire, I managed to find a nice room for 70euro, then we went and had dinner by the water. Dani caught the bus to her hostel, and I wandered around by myself for an hour taking photos then went to bed.

Riomaggoire to Massa 16/7 - Twin share room Hotel Scandinavia

Dani woke me up and we took the train to Corniglia, then hiked all the way to the top of the town and through it past vineyards to a kiosk where we bought tickets to the national park walk.

We started on our trek in the heat through some greenery which eventually faded into drier scenery, we randomly bump into Jane from our hostel in Nice on the first night. After an hour or so of trekking and sweating we relaxed on the beach of Montorosso. Bumped into Jane again at the station, and caught the train back to Riomaggiore where I parted ways with Dani.

Arrived in Rio, because I had checked out of my accommodation I had to use a public toilet on the street… which was a porcelain hole in the ground for japs, with little light and no toilet paper. I used my damp jocks from swimming and threw them in the bin. I felt pretty disgusting, from the sweat and sunscreen.

Caught the train to La Spezia then to Massa, was going to catch the bus, but an Italian guy Marchello, said he would walk with me, had a good broken English/Italian conversation with him and walk for around 2 kilometres, until he got where he needed to be and instructed me to catch the bus.
I waited for 10minutes and caught it to the nearest stop.

The hotel receptionist seemed to know Evan well, when I mentioned his name, he gladly gave me a key to his room and free wifi. I found his room, showered, and messaged Evan to let him know I was there. When he got to the room he rushed me to the next hotel as we were to meet up with his work mates Geoff and Adam.

We had a few beers at the hotel bar, and exchanged stories of travel, work and conquests. Geoff was almost like an identical me only 10 years older. His connections in offshore Oil and Gas were huge, he was a great bloke to meet.
We went out and had dinner and a few more drinks where he told more almost unbelievable stories, but because of his money and personality you knew they were all true.

Massa daytrip to Pisa 17/7 - Twin share room Hotel Scandinavia

Evan took me downstairs to a quick buffet breakfast, then I got a lift from Geoff to catch a train to Pisa. Whilst I was waiting for the train I bought some Vanilla cigars and brushed up more on my Italian.

Arrived in Pisa and caught the right bus to Piazza Pisa, I roamed around and took a lot of photos, but the ticket queue for the climb the tower of Pisa was a 3hour wait. So I bought some lunch and a jet lighter and chilled out on the grass by the Tower.

Caught the train and bus back to Massa where I practiced my l’italiano on an Italian hotty on the bus, for the most part it worked too. I went for a ride down the main beach road, and after a few kilometres I stopped and checked out one of the hotels on the beach… it was a family hotel, so I bailed and rode back up to the hotel to put some swimmers on. The whole beach was like Sorrento in summer, but nothing but teenagers, families and the occasional young couple. Strolling up the beach after a swim didn’t change that.

So I rode up the street and eventually found a Harvey Norman Italian equivalent, and bought a sim card for my phone for 20euro… only to discover my phone had not been unlocked when I had it replaced. FML

I got back to the hotel and piss farted around with a live chat Telstra operator who unlocked it, but then it meant I had to back it up and restore to factory settings. After an hour or so it was time to go out for dinner, so I just used it as a blank phone with internet and sms.

Evan, Geoff and myself went out for dinner in Forte dei Marmi, about a 15minute drive away, I helped Evan buy an expensive shirt for the Beach Club in Massa. 

Geoff didn’t have a belt so I gave him mine, we then met other Australians from Geoffs hotel and had more beers with them. Geoff and that must have left as they had work the next morning, but Evan was keen to keep drinking. Found Evan at the bar talking to some Russians. I found some Italians and then we ended up leaving on Evans bike, where I was dinked the entire 20minute ride home on the handlebars. Danergous, adventurous and entertaining night.

Nice 11/7

Marseille to Nice – Aux En Provence day trip then to Nice 11/7 12bed dorm - Villa Saint Exupery

Tagged along with Dani to see some big flower plantations north of Marseille, we found the tourism centre and were informed that they were a good hours drive away. Hiring a car was too expensive, so we opted to just walk around town. There was a market on, selling mostly female clothing.
We returned to Marseille and had lunch in Vieux Port, which was pretty amazing.

Arrived in Nice later in the day, and stayed at a very nice hostel Villa Saint Exupery Beach. Immediately knew I’d like Nice, so we decided to stay a few days. After a late dinner and drinks we got back to the hostel and I solo missioned it on a pub crawl.

Nice 12/7 4bed annex - Hotel Belle Meusiere

Checked out of the nice hostel as there wasn't any rooms left, and had a quick gym session, very minimal, but worked up a sweat. Spent most of the day on Nice beach after the fruit market, then booked the new hostel for a few nights.

When we arrived the hostel had double booked, so Dani stayed in another hostel, I had to cram into a shitty annex like room on the side of the hostel. I showered then went out and met some cool Swedes in the courtyard of the hostel. Made myself a ham cheese and baby spinach baguette, which was amazing, and I also bought two bottles of red that we all got into. 

Amongst all the drinking Luke introduced himself and we wandered off looking for a pub crawl, we found one and talked the party bus guy down from 30euro to 15.

The party bus took us into Monaco, to party it up there, which we did… shortly after arriving at the first bar, already on my way, we grew impatient with the bars poor service, so I swiped a fancy looking bottle of champagne and shared it around. 

30minutes later the empty bottle was found by bar staff and they went around sniffing and inspecting peoples drinks, funnily enough after some heated discussions with bar staff I weaselled my way out of paying the 90euro for the bottle, but was forced outside, and finished off my other drinks outside.
We went to another club, and I danced my arse off. Caught the bus back, what a night.

Nice 13/7 4bed loft - Hotel Belle Meusiere

Dani, Luke and I took the train to another beach along the coast 20minutes away, Villefranche Sur Mer. We met an Estonian girl who lives in Talinn, we exchanged details for when I go to Talinn.
We had lunch then returned to our hostel and freshened up.

Took the train back to Monaco and saw the ridiculous amounts of money that been spent on yachts, boats and cars. Had dinner at the beer garden where I had danced the night before. We missed the train back to Nice and had to wait an hour for the next one at 1130. I decided to have a night off and went to bed.

Nice 14/7 4bed loft - Hotel Belle Meusiere

Went to the big rocky beach again, but this time we bought some li-lo’s and had an awesome day floating around on them and sunbaking until 4pm when Luke saw Gilda, the chick he had hooked up with at Calvi on the Rocks festival.
We had dinner for Bastille day at an Irish pub then returned to the hostel where the hostel worker Robert, an awesome German guy, came through with his promises of booze, pizza, and a few joints.
I drank almost 2 bottles of red to myself and a few shots of the Czech spirit, then ran down to see the firework show on the beach. I stumbled back drunk by myself to the hostel after the fireworks.

Hendaye 9/7 - Marseille 10/7

Zarautz via San Sebastian to Hendaye 9/7 Hendaye train station Carpark

Spent the day with Aliza on the beach, passed out in the sun and went for a body surf. I had told Romano I would leave with them for France via train at 5pm.
We arrived in San Sebastian, which they hadn’t seen much of and I showed them around, with my 20kilo pack and all. Got my free Gelato from the nice Spanish girl I met on my night out with Mark and Steve. Then continued our journey to Hendaye.

We arrived in Hendaye at 8pm to find we had missed our train by 2 hours. 530am was the next one to Bordeaux. I was contemplating going back to San Seb… and I wish I did. 

All the hotels were booked out, we walked for ages back and forward, as it got dark at 10pm. I smashed two kebabs, and found a park, we contemplated sleeping there, but decided to sleep at the local train station that may be open… it wasn’t so we crashed out the front of the SNCF station on the car park ground once it closed at 11.30.

After about 2hours of broken uncomfortable sleep, we were woken by headlights directly at us… police, they spoke the best English we had encountered. They asked for our passports, and we explained why we were sleeping on the streets of their shitty little town. After being starred down for about 10minutes, they bid us goodnight and haggled the other people out the front of the station.

Hendaye via Bordeaux to Marseille 10/7 4bed dorm London Connection Hostel

Woke up to Romanos alarm at 5am, packed up my sleeping bag and went into the train station to buy a ticket for 51euro, the 15euro difference between 2^nd and 1^st class was barely negligible, 2.5hours later I was in Bordeaux.

Bordeaux appeared to be exactly that, an outdated old bore of a town/city, I can already feel that I won’t be impressed by too much of France. 107euro later for a ticket to Marseille.

Arrived in Marseille at 3pm, found hostel after 30minutes. After checking emails and messages on the decent wifi I decided to wonder around the city and see some of attractions that were unbeknown to me… I walked for 10 minutes in the direction of the ocean, ankle was playing up so I hopped onto a tram only for it to start to head the wrong direction, I then found a subway and ended up back at the main train station. I decided to grab some dinner and return to the hostel as Issam said the city was quite dangerous at night, where I met Danielle.