Day One – Saturday 4th February 2006 We arrived at Ciampino Airport after a three hour flight from Glasgow Prestwick. http://i1.tinypic.com/nef30x.jpg We were met by a pre-arranged driver (recommended for ease and comfort). A forty minute transfer into Rome and it later became clear that the pre and in-flight drinks had dulled us to the motoring Read More »
Apparently I have the job of describing Venice as i have more ways of saying things like “wow thats amazing” or “my God how beautiful is that”. Well here goes… From the minute you arrive in Venice you realise that this is somewhere unlike anywhere else in the world and very special. After the train Read More »
Note to self: Make sure you room has air-conditioning to enable three people to sleep in 30oC. We left Pisa after Billy’s orange juice and potato chip breakfast. Chioggi was a beautiful little town, the old section was charming We head north east towards Venice along the Autostrada, and planned to get to a town Read More »
Thursday, we ran errands before attempting to go to Siena for the day. We got halfway by bus, then had to turn around because return busses don’t run often enough. The bus ride was well worth our fare of a couple Euros, which we made stretch for the return fare as well, wink wink. The Read More »
July 3 (Tuesday) We arrived in Rome around 9 a.m. after catching a nonstop train from the airport to Termini Roma. From there we caught a taxi to our hotel, 47 Hotel (aka Fortyseven Hotel). As it was still early, we dropped our luggage at the hotel reception and left for a walking tour. .. Read More »
連續帶了三趟的歐洲之旅，每團都有不同素質，不同背境的客人，而且對這次的歐洲之旅都懷有不同的心態。 唯一相同的只是每團都有客人購買法國名牌 ‘如意餛飩’ 皮包！ ‘如意餛飩’皮包，旅遊配備在以前是只有皇室或一些皇親國戚才用的起，後來就一些貴族或有錢的富豪也開始搶用。 在那時候它是貴族身份的象徵，客人只有預約才能購買。 二十多年前日本經濟大好，日本人全世界到處旅遊，到處大灑日圓，’如意餛飩’ 也看準時機對日本人開放，大作遊客生意了。剛開始時也一樣只是一些有錢人才買得起，不過後來卻演變成日本的 ‘OL’ － 辦公室女郎也開始渴望要擁有’如意餛飩’ 皮包了。那時日本辦公室女郎的口頭語是 ‘即使節儉一生，至少也要擁有一件’如意餛飩’的皮包！’。 再後來這風氣就傳到台灣，香港以至現在東南亞各國。 年輕人或一些不太年輕的人也一樣以擁有 ‘如意餛飩’ 為榮！ 名牌貨也須要一點點的氣質才襯托得出時裝設計人的心思！ 這次連續帶了三團， 第一團的客人都是髮業界的專業人士，雖然年少氣盛；不過卻對自己的行程安排得蠻好的。三天開會，兩天購物，一天觀光，而且為了購買名牌貨出發前還上網蒐足了資料，以便達到在最少時間內買到最多的名牌貨，除了 ‘如意餛飩’ 他們 也買 PRADA，GUCCI，BOTEGA VENETTA，HERMES，SALVATORE 和 FENDI。 這團客人的心態是以少年得志，成功人士須要名牌來襯托他們的身份。 第二團則是純觀光團，團員有大老闆也有專業人士，有藍領也有白領，有老也有少，不過知識水準比較高， 這一團玩得最開心。他們也一樣喜歡購買名牌貨，尤其是 ‘如意餛飩’！難得的是他們並不刻意去買，只是有經過名牌店時，或有多餘時間時才買。一路走下來都顯出他們的風度與氣派，’如意餛飩’ 皮包或其他名牌貨對他們來講只是一件旅途中選購的配件或紀念品。 最後一團的客人分兩派，一派是純觀光， 另一派卻是廣東話所說的 ‘不知所謂’，要觀光又要購物；第二天就開始要求要修改行程，要縮短或刪掉觀光行程以讓他們去購物。也不管其他客人的感受，也不理其他客人在店外面天寒地凍的等著，時間到了也不上車；一派 ‘老子人多，老子有錢，你吹咩？’。這班人 ‘如意餛飩’ 發音讀都讀不出不過卻 買得最多。 老一輩的人常講，富要過三代才懂得穿衣吃飯，眼前就擺著兩個戴的明明是名牌貨，可是我左看右看，上看下看，名牌貨一到他們手上就變成好像是夜市場買的冒牌貨。 再怎麼說， 名牌貨也須要一點點的氣質才襯托得出時裝設計人的心思！
Every week we go on a field trip with school, and this week we went to two islands in the Venetian Lagoon. About 30 people from class came on the trip, which was fun! All of us walked to the Vaporetto stop – we practically filled up the entire boat. We took the first boat Read More »
It’s a little overwhelming when you first get here. I’ve seen pictures and movies with Rome in it, however, until you stand next to some of these buildings and scuptures..you truely have no idea what an awesome accomplishment of man this really is! Some of these monuments are so massive and so detailed. For the Read More »
