my mom and her daughter

I just realized that I have taken only 2 pictures with my mom this time I am in Europe. But it's already a progress compared to last time. When I visited her the first time in Europe, we didn't realize we had not taken one single picture until we were at the airport and I was about to enter the security check, so we simply took 1 picture there in a rush.

The picture you see above was taken in a restaurant in Luxembourg. Yes! That is my mom. Well, it's not your fault if you think she is my sister ;-)

My mom is in hospital now. Her surgery is tomorrow morning, 4 hours and 16 minutes later actually. For some reason I cannot sleep tonight. I don't think I am too worried, because I am sure she will be fine. We were in fact both expecting this surgery. It will take off the tumor in her body, which has afflicted her for quite a few years. She will look even better after she recovers, hoho~~

One of my responsibilities these days is to cook some VERY nutrious food (mainly soup) at home and bring them to her every day. I am a bit glad that I finally have the chance to take care of her. I don't think I was good at this before :-( But I will try my best this time!

I love my mom! ^_^

"Rome, of course Rome" -- Day 2

This is Rome's subway. We seldom take it though, because I am fond of walking, and more importantly, I don't want to miss any part of Rome on the ground.

We took the subway to Colosseum - "传说中的罗马斗兽场". It was however not a good idea. After reading so many stories about it, watching so many documentaries of it, spending so much time studying it in my architecture class, finally I am going to see it with my eyes and touch it as well! I felt so excited that I was almost nervous when taking the subway. The subway station was just a street away from the Colosseum, I was not so ready yet when I exit the subway station, then it just so "abruptly" appeared in my sights. I was so overwhelmed that I could not move my feet.

You use your vocabularies to describe it. I felt speechless and drained of words.

The main road leading to the Colosseum. I think it's better to take this route and walk to the Colosseum, so that you can approach it little by little.

I am very satisfied with this picture :-)

It was Jan. 1st when we went there, so it's not open to tourist. I leaned by the gate and tried to get a glimpse of the inside. It looks like someone was trying to break the door. Maybe a slaved gladiator had this attempt from the other side thousands of years ago.



Perhaps because it was the first day of the new year, we were lucky to enjoy the performance of two high school marching bands from California in front of the Colosseum. Think deep into it, it's quite wired combination though. California and Rome, marching bands and Colosseum. Ancient Rome did not have marching bands -- their entertainment was killing war prisoners and Christians.

How many New Year carnivals have the Colosseum witnessed?

These three pictures show the expansion of Roman Empire.

The Palatine Hill. These stairs are said to be designed by Michelangelo. But I am not artistic enough to see how special it is.

The origin of Rome.

Ruins of the Roman Forum. Throughout the era of the kings, the Republic and the Empire, the Forum was the political, religious and social center of the Roman World ( Was Julius Caesar assassinated here?). But now, only ruins are left.

This is Palazzo Venezia. It was once Mussolini's official residence. Locals call it a type machine because of its shape. But I think it's a beautiful architecture nevertheless.

After thousands of years, only this Trojan's Column is left in the original Trojan's market.

These are my travel buddies, Mavis at the back, Hazel in the front. Hazel left after Rome, so Mavis accompanied me until Paris. About this picture, there was a funny story. We ordered two salads, so with the two plates they were given, they two went to the salad bar. See how much they brought back! According to the impressed waitress, they were 4 salads rather than 2. Thanks to the practices at Pizza Hut~

Amazing birds flocks in Rome

Can you believe these are birds? Amazing, heh? I don't know why they all gathered at those several not so big trees, and what messages they were expressing by forming various topological figures, if any.

"Rome, of course Rome" -- Day 1

I spent three nights here: Pop Inn Hostel, from Dec 31st 2007 to Jan 2nd 2008. The facilities are not very good, but the staff were friendly and it's just by the Termini, so very convinient.

The three pictures were taken at Santa Maria degli Angeli. It was vast. When built in the 3rd century, it was meant to be Rome's largest public baths. I went into it and really had difficulty in imagining 3000 naked acient Romans socializing here. It was later on turned into a basilica, and Cosimo de Medici was educated here!

Rome is the city of fountains. I don't know the name for this one. It often appears on postcards.

But talking about foutains, the most famous one in Rome is Trevi Foutain. It was typical Baroque style, so elegant yet powerful that I felt speechless in front of its beauty. Too bad we went there at night, so the picture doesn't even almost do the justification for the view.

The custom is to throw a coin into the fountain over your shoulder while facing away, so that you will be ensured to return to Rome, and make a wish. This was me doing this.

Then I just sat there, watching people passing by, taking pictures and making their wishes. They were all so happy, as if their wishes had already come true. Lovers kissed each other, friends laughed together, some even opened champagne. I believe the lovers made wishes for each other, and perhaps some pairs of them will return Rome together, and a very romantic proposal will be made by the fountain.

There was a big Christmas tree at Termini. Many people wrote their new year wishes on a note and left it on the tree. This one is apprantly written by a Chinese. It reads:

" 2008 - China's Olympic Year
I wish: China becomes more prosperous and stronger; Chinese people become more united; going to the world, create the future"

Haha, glad to see it! A good one!

I wrote one myself too, and then folded it to a paper plane and flew it to the peak of the tree. Haha, 2008, I will take off and fly high :-)

Happy New Year in Rome

I spent the last day of 2007 in Rome. Thinking that I would join the citizens of the Eternal City to welcome the year 2008, I couldn't help smiling on the Leonardo Express train from Rome airport to the central train station: termini.

The streets was packed with people, some singing, some dancing, some kissing, some laughing at people who were scared by the crackers in the street, some covering their ears and screaming.

We heard that there would be several venues where people gather for counting down. The people at the hostel told us that Piazzale Flaminio would hold the major one, at which the President of Italy would address the mass, and an orchestra would play music. Even though it sounds odd that Mr. Prodi would come out at 00:00 talking with his people in a huge square, we went there anyway, despite the prospect that we would have to walk for more than 1 hour to get back to our hostel afterwards.

It was a huge square, with many magnificent historical architectures around, but without one single clock. How is counting-down possible without a clock? But since so many people are there waiting, we joined them anyway. As we approaches mid-night, more and more people started to light their fireworks. It was certainly beautiful, but made big noise too. I was very surprised that the government allowed people to play fireworks in such a historical area without worrying about the possible damage to the buildings. But well, Rome is Rome, everywhere is history, so they perhaps just no longer care.

There was no unified counting down. People opened the champagne they brought when they believed it was 2008. You heard the chaos in the final part of video? Don't worry. I screamed out in Chinese "有人在喷香槟". Haha, someone spouted the champagne to the crowds, and we were escaping from being "watered". It was so much fun!

After the champagne was drunk up or all spouted out, they started to toss the bottles to the ground, and they fell into pieces when hit by the thousand-year-old stones of the square. When walking back, I had a lot of respect to those holding an empty bottle in their hand.

ACCEPT MY BELATED WISHES FOR 2008 :-)