Last Friday I woke up, got ready and drove to work. There I unlocked the door and literally walked into a night club - loud music, light effects and photographers. It felt there like I got into a VIP party. At 9.30 AM. I was glad there were no bouncers at the door. There was even more action in the lounge-kitchen area that we proudly call Millennium Park - more music, more lights and even smoke machines. Then followed serious presentations with serious dose of humor. And later seriously funny performances of famous comedians (I know they were serious actors as well, but not on that day), that made us rofl and cry.
That's how annual meetings are held at Devbridge LT.
2015-01-26
2015-01-02
Travels is a powerful drug
What can you tell about your ordinary day? Do you recall it? Can you tell what you did in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening?
"Nothing"- is the usual answer, and it's the right one. But also the sad one. If I ask you to tell how many ordinary days do you have in a year - for most cases, the answer would be "a lot". And that's how our life passes by - going to work, paying the bills and mortgages and recalling nothing when some time passes.
But you could probably tell about your holiday this year, and last year and even a year before - your memories are vivid, you can tell where you went, what you did and even what you ate. And you can do that, because it was not the usual things you were doing every day. You felt happy, and your memory saved those moments. And we do remember the moments we felt sad, scared or where experiencing other intensive emotion. Those are saved too. Because we feel, we feel that we are living.
That's how I felt in those 6 and half days at Rome. Stepped down from the airplane to the ground I never walked before, I had to tame the city with all its advantages and drawbacks. And when I got back home, I understood I never wanted to leave that city. Warm weather, a lot more sun than where I am now, smiling and friendly people, way too old architecture for me to comprehend it - everything I saw, touched, tasted, felt(even the sore feet) - that was the best experience in the last six months. I close my eyes, and I am there - walking the street of Domus Aurea towards the Colosseum, or watching the sunset from Pincio hill. I open my eyes - and I want to go there again. And not necessary there, anywhere I've never been before. I feel like I tasted drugs, and I'm hooked.
"Nothing"- is the usual answer, and it's the right one. But also the sad one. If I ask you to tell how many ordinary days do you have in a year - for most cases, the answer would be "a lot". And that's how our life passes by - going to work, paying the bills and mortgages and recalling nothing when some time passes.
But you could probably tell about your holiday this year, and last year and even a year before - your memories are vivid, you can tell where you went, what you did and even what you ate. And you can do that, because it was not the usual things you were doing every day. You felt happy, and your memory saved those moments. And we do remember the moments we felt sad, scared or where experiencing other intensive emotion. Those are saved too. Because we feel, we feel that we are living.
That's how I felt in those 6 and half days at Rome. Stepped down from the airplane to the ground I never walked before, I had to tame the city with all its advantages and drawbacks. And when I got back home, I understood I never wanted to leave that city. Warm weather, a lot more sun than where I am now, smiling and friendly people, way too old architecture for me to comprehend it - everything I saw, touched, tasted, felt(even the sore feet) - that was the best experience in the last six months. I close my eyes, and I am there - walking the street of Domus Aurea towards the Colosseum, or watching the sunset from Pincio hill. I open my eyes - and I want to go there again. And not necessary there, anywhere I've never been before. I feel like I tasted drugs, and I'm hooked.
2014-12-27
Home cold home
Well... scary 3 AM walk to Termini station wasn't so scary. The loudest sound was from my bag wheels. I probably woke up some homeless people. As it turned out, Termini station was closed. A taxi driver helped me to figure out where the terravision stop was. There I met another traveler(as it turned out to be lithuanian). Seeing me her eyes brightened with joy - she was smoking and was feeling cold. As we switched from English to Lithuanian, she told she was waiting there from 11pm. The fact that Termini station was closed for night she learned only when she was kicked out at 12pm. I was glad I didn't choose the same option as she did. Then she went to McDonalds (she thanked god for being kicked out of the station to the right side of it) and spent there few lovely hours tightly sitting with all kind of fauna - I guess at that time of night there was all kinds of it. After midnight she drank 3 cups of coffee, but was afraid to go to the loo - fearing to lose her seat. At 3AM she was kicked out of McDonalds as well. Since then she was waiting near terravision bus stop. As it turns out TerraCafe opens only at 4 AM. When I met her she was smoking cigarette after cigarette though on other occasions rarely did this. She was scared and more than she should be, but after waiting for 5 hours I guess a mind starts playing tricks with you.
First shock when I learned about -12 degrees in Vilnius - returning from paradise with more than +12 to a frozen hell. Priority queue in Rome Ciampino airport means you get to wait for plane outside early in the morning - it seemed more like a punishment than a privilege. It was less cold in the airplane - but still could feel the chills. But compared to how air flight attendants felt with their high heel shoes knowing they will have to walk on the ice.
And for the final attraction - I had to scrub the ice of my car, that just had to be celebrated with a cup of hot cocoa from favorite gasoline brand station.
Before leaving for Rome I turned all the appliances and heat pump off - third cup of tea and a second pair of socks are my best friends now.
P.S. and internet connection speed is way better there than in Rome.
First shock when I learned about -12 degrees in Vilnius - returning from paradise with more than +12 to a frozen hell. Priority queue in Rome Ciampino airport means you get to wait for plane outside early in the morning - it seemed more like a punishment than a privilege. It was less cold in the airplane - but still could feel the chills. But compared to how air flight attendants felt with their high heel shoes knowing they will have to walk on the ice.
And for the final attraction - I had to scrub the ice of my car, that just had to be celebrated with a cup of hot cocoa from favorite gasoline brand station.
Before leaving for Rome I turned all the appliances and heat pump off - third cup of tea and a second pair of socks are my best friends now.
P.S. and internet connection speed is way better there than in Rome.
2014-12-26
End of roaming in Rome (part 7)
Last day in Rome. Feels like I've been there too long. Not that I've seen everything, but not everything that I see excites me anymore.
Don't trust the italians too much and don't trust the italian weather forecast - but it turns out to be a good thing(the last one) - a perfectly cloudless blue sky, sun and some wind. Because of the last one, it felt a little bit colder, but if you stay in the sun - it's ok.
Being rewarded with perfect weather my options for today were limitless. I recalled not seeing some churches and squares, also decided to give Spanish stairs another shot - went there in the morning - it was less crowded on the stairs - probably because they were wet after night. And today didn't have the calmness of yesterday - streets were busy again with cars and people. I don't recall all the churches I had to visit and visited, but some were visited twice.
I wandered around and it was about lunch time. I turned to trip advisor for help, went looking for panini place, but ended up in a little trattoria - just about at the right time - still empty, but people started gathering very quickly. I had ravioli with ricotta and spinach and tomato sauce and a pana cota for dessert - totally delicious - I was full of energy to move forward.
Castel del San Angel - a big castle and former pop's residence and a place for hiding. It was enough for me to look at it from the outside. From there I just walked slowly on the banks of Tevere enjoying the sun and taking pictures for few hours.
Just before sunset I managed to jump few metros for Pincio Hill panorama view, then for some pizza at Zizzi Pizza place (if you ever be there, it's worth a try) and late present shopping.
Day is over, need to get some rest before the scary night walk to Termini station.
Don't trust the italians too much and don't trust the italian weather forecast - but it turns out to be a good thing(the last one) - a perfectly cloudless blue sky, sun and some wind. Because of the last one, it felt a little bit colder, but if you stay in the sun - it's ok.
Being rewarded with perfect weather my options for today were limitless. I recalled not seeing some churches and squares, also decided to give Spanish stairs another shot - went there in the morning - it was less crowded on the stairs - probably because they were wet after night. And today didn't have the calmness of yesterday - streets were busy again with cars and people. I don't recall all the churches I had to visit and visited, but some were visited twice.
I wandered around and it was about lunch time. I turned to trip advisor for help, went looking for panini place, but ended up in a little trattoria - just about at the right time - still empty, but people started gathering very quickly. I had ravioli with ricotta and spinach and tomato sauce and a pana cota for dessert - totally delicious - I was full of energy to move forward.
Castel del San Angel - a big castle and former pop's residence and a place for hiding. It was enough for me to look at it from the outside. From there I just walked slowly on the banks of Tevere enjoying the sun and taking pictures for few hours.
Just before sunset I managed to jump few metros for Pincio Hill panorama view, then for some pizza at Zizzi Pizza place (if you ever be there, it's worth a try) and late present shopping.
Day is over, need to get some rest before the scary night walk to Termini station.
2014-12-25
A promise of a rain has come true (roaming in Rome part 6)
I guess showing dissatisfaction matters - I got my breakfast delivered prior 8 with a warm "Merry Christmas" in an italian guy's smile. Looking forward for tomorrow - the hotel has the last chance to make it right or to fail.
It's Christmas and as it is usual in Italy - almost everything is closed. Usually are open only those that are not christians or believe in a quick buck more than in a God(my personal observation). That's why the city is still full with "selfie selfie" or fake brand bags sellers. Especially at the vicinity of Vatican when crowds are coming back from the mass. It's just not cool experience to be surrounded by 3 such guys with no way out.
As I was informed in advance about everything being closed, I decided to stay outdoors - visit few parks - Gianicolo hill and Villa Borghese.
Ascending little by little the first one - you are rewarded with the views and panoramas of Rome that are better and better after each other. And you don't have to fight with other tourists for a place to take a picture. And not only this place, the whole city is a lot calmer on Christmas day - it even feels safe to cross the street. And today has been rewarded with fewer clouds and some decent sunny spots in the sky.
Exploring the little streets and banks of Tevere I walked in the direction of Villa Borghese. I was once near it, but didn't take time to explore it - so, it was a return of my promise. But before that I was starting feeling hungry - and finding a place to eat seemed liked a problem today - my determination was to stay away from places with "special tourist menu", other were just closed. But somehow near the piazza del Popolo in a narrow street I found a bread, ham and cheese place, which also made sandwiches in front of your eyes and weighted everything on the scale. I ended up with a huge sandwich of flat bread, parma ham and real mozzarella - ate it sitting at the bench of piazza del popollo and watching gipsy guys scamming other tourists with roses. And yes, it starts to affect you how you feel about this city - it's beautiful, it's old, full of history, but also full of trash, and people trying to make a big buck out of every tourist. Selling selfie-pods is now on the wave, I wonder what is the next their top-selling item? Of course, they will have a demand for these still for a long time - at least until mobile phones won't have a levitation feature and a remote control by default. And all these things makes it harder to believe in open-heartiness and warmth of italians. You have constantly to question yourself - are they being honest or am I a victim of another scam.
So, my next stop was Villa Borghese - not far away, all I had to do is just ascend the hill and once more enjoy the panorama of Rome - but there, differently than in Gianicollo - all the good view spots were already taken. Having the pictures recorded to my mind, I turned to the woods - the old park with tall trees, little fountains, ponds and other beautifully designed lanscapes. It's hard to express the experience there, you just have to walk yourself and feel it. For as long as you wish. I didn't take all the paths and feeling the coming clouds of rain, decided to walk towards center via Via Venetto - a famous district from La Dolce Vita. Here I felt the first drops of so long ago promissed rain - it wasn't even worth to look for umbrella. Heading forward some streets started to feel familiar - I need a lot less looking at my map. Though probably I still looked like a tourist with my camera bag. I remembered that somewhere in vicinity there is a church I skipped yesterday because it was closed and was not to open for another half an hour - San Pietro in Vincolli - not as huge as others, but gives an impression of being light and clear with amazing frescas on its ceilings.
Few promissed drops of rain were turning into darker clouds - my inner feeling told me to get home - and I was right, though I couldn't dodge few drops either.
Tomorrow will be the last day in Rome - it's hard to think of something you haven't seen but want to when you have seen almost everything.
It's Christmas and as it is usual in Italy - almost everything is closed. Usually are open only those that are not christians or believe in a quick buck more than in a God(my personal observation). That's why the city is still full with "selfie selfie" or fake brand bags sellers. Especially at the vicinity of Vatican when crowds are coming back from the mass. It's just not cool experience to be surrounded by 3 such guys with no way out.
As I was informed in advance about everything being closed, I decided to stay outdoors - visit few parks - Gianicolo hill and Villa Borghese.
Ascending little by little the first one - you are rewarded with the views and panoramas of Rome that are better and better after each other. And you don't have to fight with other tourists for a place to take a picture. And not only this place, the whole city is a lot calmer on Christmas day - it even feels safe to cross the street. And today has been rewarded with fewer clouds and some decent sunny spots in the sky.
Exploring the little streets and banks of Tevere I walked in the direction of Villa Borghese. I was once near it, but didn't take time to explore it - so, it was a return of my promise. But before that I was starting feeling hungry - and finding a place to eat seemed liked a problem today - my determination was to stay away from places with "special tourist menu", other were just closed. But somehow near the piazza del Popolo in a narrow street I found a bread, ham and cheese place, which also made sandwiches in front of your eyes and weighted everything on the scale. I ended up with a huge sandwich of flat bread, parma ham and real mozzarella - ate it sitting at the bench of piazza del popollo and watching gipsy guys scamming other tourists with roses. And yes, it starts to affect you how you feel about this city - it's beautiful, it's old, full of history, but also full of trash, and people trying to make a big buck out of every tourist. Selling selfie-pods is now on the wave, I wonder what is the next their top-selling item? Of course, they will have a demand for these still for a long time - at least until mobile phones won't have a levitation feature and a remote control by default. And all these things makes it harder to believe in open-heartiness and warmth of italians. You have constantly to question yourself - are they being honest or am I a victim of another scam.
So, my next stop was Villa Borghese - not far away, all I had to do is just ascend the hill and once more enjoy the panorama of Rome - but there, differently than in Gianicollo - all the good view spots were already taken. Having the pictures recorded to my mind, I turned to the woods - the old park with tall trees, little fountains, ponds and other beautifully designed lanscapes. It's hard to express the experience there, you just have to walk yourself and feel it. For as long as you wish. I didn't take all the paths and feeling the coming clouds of rain, decided to walk towards center via Via Venetto - a famous district from La Dolce Vita. Here I felt the first drops of so long ago promissed rain - it wasn't even worth to look for umbrella. Heading forward some streets started to feel familiar - I need a lot less looking at my map. Though probably I still looked like a tourist with my camera bag. I remembered that somewhere in vicinity there is a church I skipped yesterday because it was closed and was not to open for another half an hour - San Pietro in Vincolli - not as huge as others, but gives an impression of being light and clear with amazing frescas on its ceilings.
Few promissed drops of rain were turning into darker clouds - my inner feeling told me to get home - and I was right, though I couldn't dodge few drops either.
Tomorrow will be the last day in Rome - it's hard to think of something you haven't seen but want to when you have seen almost everything.
2014-12-24
Oranges of Rome (part 5)
Regarding that breakfast ... it never arrived to my room. I descended to hotel reception and was informed "I don't know if anybody has told you, but we need you to move into the other room". That was the turning point - I informed them that I want my breakfast always at 8, not way too later or never(like today). I agreed to switching rooms (though it still was a single person room) hoping it will be better in some ways. Actually it was - had a mirror in a bathroom and a shower curtain. Though it was almost of the same size, the bed was twice as smaller (I can live with that). It had some serious disadvantages - none of the 2 power sockets could fit in my notebook power adapter. But I didn't know about all the upgrades until I came back from the city - so, when I left for it, I was feeling a little bit down.
My goal of the day was to find the garden of oranges. And it is a perfect time of the year - oranges are still on trees, but almost ripe and the air around them smells pleasantly. But about this experience later...
Armed with a banana, Milka chocolate chip cookies box, 2 duplo bars and a bottle of water I headed out to meet another adventure. It turned out to be a church work.
San Giovani in Lateranus was my first stop, though unintentionally. Saint Peter's Basilica was impressive, but this church was not worse. Especially I liked the little monastery garden inside with decorations not similar to anything. 2 metro stops and I exited at Vitorio Emanuele station and walked straight to the Santa Maria Magiore - dark and gloomy, at least from facade side - my first impression on this church. It was dark inside too. Beautiful, but not as beautiful as in San Giovani in Lateranus. Enough of localities.
My goal was on Aventine hill and it was a long road ahead. A little bit lost in the streets up on a hill I finally arrived to the Parco Savellio also known as the garden of oranges. Legend says it started from one tree many years ago. It has one of nicest views to the panorama of the Rome and is not so overcrowded as other panorama places (or might be it depends on the time of the year and weather). After taking few pictures, sharing a cookie with pigeons and resting a bit, I continued to my next goal which was not that faraway - keyhole view to Saint Peter's Basilica. I was lucky it was not crowded, I could image it being a very favorite attraction for tourists. It's hard to take a picture of the view, so the best one you can take - is in your memory.
It was time to descend the hill - la boca della verita - the mouth of truth - after seeing a way too long line at it, I changed my mind of risking my hand bitten off and just rested in front of fountain of Tritoni.
It was time to go meet my new room and prepare something for Christmas Eve supper - as it turned out sardinis(very close to lithuanian herring dishes) with white bread are just fine, and of course a bag of clementines - a national dish for Christmas in Lithuania.
My goal of the day was to find the garden of oranges. And it is a perfect time of the year - oranges are still on trees, but almost ripe and the air around them smells pleasantly. But about this experience later...
Armed with a banana, Milka chocolate chip cookies box, 2 duplo bars and a bottle of water I headed out to meet another adventure. It turned out to be a church work.
San Giovani in Lateranus was my first stop, though unintentionally. Saint Peter's Basilica was impressive, but this church was not worse. Especially I liked the little monastery garden inside with decorations not similar to anything. 2 metro stops and I exited at Vitorio Emanuele station and walked straight to the Santa Maria Magiore - dark and gloomy, at least from facade side - my first impression on this church. It was dark inside too. Beautiful, but not as beautiful as in San Giovani in Lateranus. Enough of localities.
My goal was on Aventine hill and it was a long road ahead. A little bit lost in the streets up on a hill I finally arrived to the Parco Savellio also known as the garden of oranges. Legend says it started from one tree many years ago. It has one of nicest views to the panorama of the Rome and is not so overcrowded as other panorama places (or might be it depends on the time of the year and weather). After taking few pictures, sharing a cookie with pigeons and resting a bit, I continued to my next goal which was not that faraway - keyhole view to Saint Peter's Basilica. I was lucky it was not crowded, I could image it being a very favorite attraction for tourists. It's hard to take a picture of the view, so the best one you can take - is in your memory.
It was time to descend the hill - la boca della verita - the mouth of truth - after seeing a way too long line at it, I changed my mind of risking my hand bitten off and just rested in front of fountain of Tritoni.
It was time to go meet my new room and prepare something for Christmas Eve supper - as it turned out sardinis(very close to lithuanian herring dishes) with white bread are just fine, and of course a bag of clementines - a national dish for Christmas in Lithuania.
Waiting for breakfast in Rome (part 4)
Usual morning in Rome - waiting for my breakfast though it's already past 8. That doesn't make me angry anymore - there's nowhere to hurry. In weather forecast - today is a rainy day, no sunshine at all - weather has been bad yesterday too, but I didn't see it raining - maybe it will stay a promise only.
I came home(hotel) later than usual and went straight to bed. Felt exhausted after lots of ... walking(who could have guessed that?) and a late ballet performance at the Opera House of Rome. I went to see a Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. I liked the venue, the music, costumes and some parts in ballet, but some parts I didn't get - probably I had a different version of nutcracker's story in my head. Also, at some moments there was too hot inside and hard to breath - probably it should, there were 1600 people breathing same air.
Sometimes it's so crowded in line A of Rome metro, that even if you manage to get in, it's hard to get out on the right stop. That's what happened to me yesterday's morning. But one can have that kind of adventures once in a while. I had few goals for the day on my mind, but wasn't in a hurry.
Buying a ticket to ballet and hoping to get a seat for the same day. Accomplished. Then near Republica stop a church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e Martyri caught my eye - built in a place of former Diocleziano baths. A really beautiful masterpiece designed by Michelangelo.
Other goal for my day was to visit Capitolium museums - I should have been ashamed not doing it sooner. On my way from Circus Maximus metro stop I passed through some beautiful views - Teatro di Marcello, then the staircase view to the Capitolium. Though the museum contains many historical treasures, the one I enjoyed most - was the view to the Roman Forum. By that time I realized I was starving, not wanting to repeat my former mistakes by buying food from food carts near sightseeing locations (because it's overpriced and not worth the price you pay, and probably not as delicious as it could be). With the help of tripadvisor application, I had a goal - La Prosciutteria - a cosy sandwich, meat and cheese platter place. But having goal is one thing, and reaching it - is another. It didn't seem very far away, about a kilometer or so. But when you are not local, the distance multiplies few times. It doesn't matter how many more kilometers I had to cover - the taste was worth it - simple, but fresh and delicious. The sandwich was so big, I managed to eat only half of it(other half I kept for my supper) and it costed only 5 euros. Everything from ham to cheese was cut in front of my eyes. With a little bit extra energy - I decided to visit Pantheon(oh my, I didn't choose the shortest path, on the opposite), but found the gardens of Quirinalis on my way and rested a bit in a shade of exotic plants. Pantheon is really a great piece of art and engineering, and it doesn't have lines you have to wait in. Unfortunately, my camera doesn't cover such a wide angle to take a picture of it all.
And the rest of the story of the day you already know. Having written this I'm still waiting for my breakfast.
I came home(hotel) later than usual and went straight to bed. Felt exhausted after lots of ... walking(who could have guessed that?) and a late ballet performance at the Opera House of Rome. I went to see a Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. I liked the venue, the music, costumes and some parts in ballet, but some parts I didn't get - probably I had a different version of nutcracker's story in my head. Also, at some moments there was too hot inside and hard to breath - probably it should, there were 1600 people breathing same air.
Sometimes it's so crowded in line A of Rome metro, that even if you manage to get in, it's hard to get out on the right stop. That's what happened to me yesterday's morning. But one can have that kind of adventures once in a while. I had few goals for the day on my mind, but wasn't in a hurry.
Buying a ticket to ballet and hoping to get a seat for the same day. Accomplished. Then near Republica stop a church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e Martyri caught my eye - built in a place of former Diocleziano baths. A really beautiful masterpiece designed by Michelangelo.
Other goal for my day was to visit Capitolium museums - I should have been ashamed not doing it sooner. On my way from Circus Maximus metro stop I passed through some beautiful views - Teatro di Marcello, then the staircase view to the Capitolium. Though the museum contains many historical treasures, the one I enjoyed most - was the view to the Roman Forum. By that time I realized I was starving, not wanting to repeat my former mistakes by buying food from food carts near sightseeing locations (because it's overpriced and not worth the price you pay, and probably not as delicious as it could be). With the help of tripadvisor application, I had a goal - La Prosciutteria - a cosy sandwich, meat and cheese platter place. But having goal is one thing, and reaching it - is another. It didn't seem very far away, about a kilometer or so. But when you are not local, the distance multiplies few times. It doesn't matter how many more kilometers I had to cover - the taste was worth it - simple, but fresh and delicious. The sandwich was so big, I managed to eat only half of it(other half I kept for my supper) and it costed only 5 euros. Everything from ham to cheese was cut in front of my eyes. With a little bit extra energy - I decided to visit Pantheon(oh my, I didn't choose the shortest path, on the opposite), but found the gardens of Quirinalis on my way and rested a bit in a shade of exotic plants. Pantheon is really a great piece of art and engineering, and it doesn't have lines you have to wait in. Unfortunately, my camera doesn't cover such a wide angle to take a picture of it all.
And the rest of the story of the day you already know. Having written this I'm still waiting for my breakfast.
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