A day trip to Ødense - 5th Jan

6 days after my return from Italy and I'm exploring new areas again... hahaha... today I will be visiting Ødense.

My friend Ritika and I decided to visit Ødense. Ødense is pronounced as 'Oh-en-sir' in Danish. Anyway, its the 3rd largest city in the whole of Denmark! and this town is the main city on the island of Funen. Ødense is a very well known town as the birth place of the famous writer Han Christian Andersen. Hmmm.... Most people will know him as the author of many famous fairy tales like The Ugly Duckling, The Little Matchgirl, The little mermaid etc. I grew up reading his stories....

Ritika and I decided to meet 9am at Copenhagen Central Station. Hmmm.... I was late... coz i woke up a little later than I intended... so we met at 9.30am instead. I must say it's really expensive to take the train from CPH central station to Ødense! Coz it cost us about 265 DKK to and fro! Really expensive! Coz it was much cheaper for us to travel from CPH to Malmӧ. Anyway we just paid and got onto the train that will take us to Ødense. It was a 1.5hr train ride I think... or 2hr... hahaha... anyway I cannot really remember coz the both of us were talking all the way. And the weather was not the best sort of weather for travelling. Coz it was cloudy.... and I must say a little foggy. With such weather, often the pictures do not turn out the best.....

Railway tracks at Ødense train station

So we reached Ødense and the 1st place we had to visit is the Tourist Information counter! hahaha.... coz we need to get a map of the town, so that we can at least know the geographical location of the sights we want to see and also not loose our way. The guy at the tourist information center was really nice. He pointed out where are the sights that were important for us to visit and also where were the places to eat. So we decided we'll visit 2 of the churches 1st before we stop to have our lunch. Coz 1 of the church was just behind the tourist information counter. but before we cross the road to the church, we saw this pretty interesting sculpture in front of the cityhall building.

Ødense kommune

Ødense streets

Interesting sculpture in front of the cityhall building

The 1st church that we visited was the St. Canute's Cathedral. It was named after the Danish King, Canute the Saint. This church is one example of gothic brick architecture. By the way, this church displayed the remains of Canute and his brother Benedict. Its free to visit the crypt.

St. Canute's cathedral

Nave of the church

Ancient letterings on the floor leading to the crypt

After walking around, we headed to the next church, St. Alban's church. Its a Roman catholic church. Hmmmm... I must say that after I've been awed by all the churches I saw in Rome, hmmmm... these 2 churches in Ødense can't match up to the Roman churches.... very bad of me to compare them huh.....

St. Alban's church

Main hall of the church

We did not stay long in that church and wanted to head back to the town center for lunch. To get there, we decided to walk along the river bank.... it was only later that we got to know this river was important in Hans Christian Andersen's childhood days. Coz this was where his mum did the washing, he bathe etc. But I must say that the scenerey at the river was really nice... and we also got to walked along the cobbled-stone passageway with cute pretty danish houses on both sides of the cobbled-stone walkway. At the riverbank, we saw the statue of Hans Christian Andersen. I must say that with his statue in front of an orange building really make his statue stand out. hahaha.... maybe my photography skills are improving... =P

Cobbled-stone pathway with cute, pretty Danish houses on both sides of the pathway

Another pathway with the houses on both sides

Interesting window panels. They were of convex shape

That's me in the nice cobbled-stone pathway leading to the river banks

The river where H.C. Andersen was susposed to be playing and where his mum did the washing, cleaning etc. 

H.C. Andersen's statue in front of the orange building

After that we headed to the town looking for food.... we were not able to find any decent small eatery... so we ate at Macdonals instead. After we had filled our stomaches, we decided to walk to Han Christian Andersen's birthhouse. Hmmm.... it cost us 30 DKK to visit his house. Anyway, we paid for it. The curator (a middle aged lady) was really nice. She told us that with the ticket we bought, later if we visit the Han Christian Andersen's musem, we can get a 20% discount if we show the ticket. She was also nice enough to tell us a little of the house of H.C. Andersen. We took our time reading all the information that was being put up in the house. I must say the house where he grew up was really really small.... It was just a room, where there was his father's work table, a small little kitchen. And behind, the house was a courtyard that the 3 families living in the house shared.

Birth house of H.C Andersen. He stayed here for the first 14yrs of his life before moving to Copenhagen.

Opening hours of his birth-house museum

H.C. Andersen's father's work table

From that tiny museum, we had quite a bit of understanding of H.C. Andersen. We headed back to the town center... coz we were thinking of going to the museum of H.C. Andersen. If the museum is a very modernised building or we can't make it in time, we'll not visit the museum. Coz it's pretty pricey to enter the museum. We shopped quite a little in the town center of Ødense. Coz everywhere was having sales going on.... pretty good sales I must say... but I did not buy a lot...but Ritika bought quite a bit of clothes....

Finally when we walked to H.C. Andersen's museum... it was close to 4pm.... and the museum was closing at 4pm. and by now, quite a number of the shops were also closing. And I was right, the museum was a modernised building.... and it was closing... so we decided not to enter it... rather we walked to the cobbled-stone streets behind the museum. I must say the alleys surrounding the museum are all very picturesque. They are the real representation of Ødense and old Denmark! Coz they were filled with the tiny colourful Danish houses. Although these houses are really old, people were still living in them. Some of them had been converted to commercial shops.

H. C. Andersen's museum. Its the white building with the nice architecure on the right.

Reflections of the buildings on the still waters

Picturesque of the Danish houses with the dusk light

Tiny pink flowers blooming in the cold winter

Rows of old houses. On our way to the train station. They have been converted to commercial shops

The oldest building in Ødense. part of it now has been converted to a restaurant

Supposedly Ødense castle. But it does not appear that majestic to me. its been converted to be a municipal building. So offices inhabit the inside of this building now.

Soon it was dark, hmmm.... although we paid so much to get there, we could not stay longer as it was colder, shops were all closed and the town was more or less like a dead town..... so we decided to head to the train station to catch the train back to Copenhagen. I told Ritika that I would like to get some Asian groceries at the Chinese shop in CPH. So our 1 day trip to Ødense has ended. I must say even though it was not the best sort of weather, but we enjoyed ourselves.... and got a better insight of H.C. Andersen & also Ødense! =D

Bye bye Italy for now - 31st Dec

Today will be my last day in Italy.... I'll be heading back to Copenhagen today..... Wow! 10 days really passed by so quickly! Just unimaginable!
As I'll be taking the flight at 1321hrs, so i decided to take the shuttle bus at 0930hrs instead of 1030hrs. Coz you never know if you'll be caught in a traffic jam and reached the airport late.... furthermore today is New Year's eve... so you never know about the traffic conditions.....so I had my breakfast like yesterday.... then headed back to my room to watch a little of the news before checking out.

Moon is setting in the early morning skies (taken from my balcony)

The other side of the street (taken from my Balcony window)

Hmmm... another downside of the hotel, they did not have change for my 20€! Hmmm... I had to pay 6€ for the tourist tax.... so the guy charged it to my card! Charging to my card will cost me more! And I told the guy at the reception this! Anyway.... I've made up my mind that I'll not stay there again even when I visit Rome the next time!

So I carried my backpacks and headed to Roma Termini. It was about 15-20min walk..... and this time round I'm 'smarter'! hahaha.... coz i know that Terravision will probably only have 1 bus each hour.... and there maybe cancel of buses... you never know... coz there were quite a number of complaints of travellers who took this particular bus company. So I decided to take T.A.M. instead! And I must say this prooved to be a better choice! Coz the buses come every 30min! It cost me 4€ to get from Roma Termini to Fiumicino airport! so its cheaper than Terravision! Although it will make a detour to another train station to pick up more passengers... its ok... coz it still took 1hr to get to the airport!

I reached the airport pretty early.... I had like 1hr to kill before checking in my backpack.... so sat down and read my book.... Thank goodness i had the wisdom to purchase some muffins, and apples last evening at a supermarket. So later I could eat these on the plane as my lunch.... hahaha... to cut costs! After checking in my bags, i headed for the gates.... and finally i got onto the plane!

Departure hall of Fiumicino Airport. there's the iconic Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man

Looking down at Rome from the plane.... I must say that its a little sad that my holidays had ended.... and its back to reality 2 days later.... But I must say... this trip to Italy had been simply amazing! I mean I saw so much, ate so much good food when I was in Calabria, met so many Italian! It had been really wonderful! I must say yeah I had my share of touristic activities, but I also was able to get immersed in the Italian culture, family etc. This had been an amazing Christmas holidays ever for me! Definitely I'll visit Italy again in the near future! as what the Italians say 'Ciao!'

Ciao Italy for now!

Colosseo... here I come! 30th Dec

Yes! today I'll be visiting the iconic structure of Italy! The colosseo! I just can't wait....
So today I woke up around 7am and headed down for breakfast around 7.30am. Coz I want to take a walk to the colosseum around 8.15am.... it takes about 25min to stroll there i think... coz i never know if along the way i'll stop to see stuffs... hahaha.... but i aimed to reach the colosseum around 9am... coz i believe that is the time that they open for visitors.

breakfast at the hotel was pretty ok.... I mean with a mediocre spread of stuffs... cereals, bread, pastry, cakes.... it was ok....I ate a pretty heavy breakfast... coz I never know when I'll stop for lunch and whether I will visit a pizzeria for something....After breakfast, I strolled to the colosseum, taking the route that I took yesterday when i was roaming around the city.... hahaha.....finally i stood in front of Colosseum! Apparently it was already opened for visitation! even though it was about 8.45am! Anyway i got into queue to purchase my ticket. I did not buy the Roma pass as I foresee that I would not be able to make use of it to the max.... Coz when you purchase the Roma Pass you get to visit 2 museums for free and all the transportation within Rome city area is free for 3 days.... and visiting other museums you'll get the discount.... but for me... because my visit to Rome was split into 2 parts... so I will not be able to visit more museums than the ones that I've already set my sights on... hahaha.....

Colourful Roman houses seen along my walk to Colosseum

Colosseum in the morning sun!

So very soon i got my ticket and got into the colosseum. It cost 12€ for the ticket. You get to visit the Colosseum, Palatino Hill and the Roman forum. it was ok.... i guess.... so i've planned that I will visit all these 3 places until around 1pm or so... then I'll make my way to Trastevere, where Francesca, Emanuel & Emanuel's dad had told me numerous times about this part of Rome being very beautiful. So go there I must... =D

When I entered Colosseum, I must say that I'm totally awed by the majesticity by it.... and the fact that its so rich in history.... and me standing in a place where many many years ago was where a gladiator was honoured for the victory or gave up his life in the duels with men and wild beasts in the maze.... or people were excuted here.... or re-enactment of famous battles or classical Greek mythology or sea-battles (yup! the Romans had the sort of technology that was able to flood the maze)......to me it was a pretty overwhelming feeling... hahaha... I just don't know how to describe it.... Standing in the region that has sort of like a platform, I can imagine the noises, shouts, applause, pandemonium etc. of all the spectators since ancient time....

1st level of Colosseum

Inside Colosseum

That's me inside Colosseum

The maze that gladiators had to go through in order to emerge victorious or subject to death

Steep steps that spectators had to climbed to view the games taking place

Another thing that amazed me was the fact that the Romans were able to built this amazing structure.... hmmmm.... I guess the people who built it then were the slaves from Africa, Middle East.... but mainly the slaves from Africa.

Exihibition inside the Colosseum

Ancient World map during the Roman Empire era!

Structure of Colosseum

Wall frescos of gladiators in action on display

Ancient Roman mosiac

Shackles wore by slaves. The 2 bigs on the right were retrived from a man from Pompeii

Mosiac of gladiators & wild beasts

After walking around the Colosseum and viewing the exhibition on display (on the history of the Colosseum) i made my way to Palatino Hill. This is one of the 7 hills in Rome... and its the centermost hill in Rome. Over here there are more ruins.... According to Roman mythology, Palatino hill has a cave... and its in this cave that the twins Romolus and Remus were found by the she-wolf which kept them alive. Romulus was the person who built Rome..... hahha... no prize for guessing how Rome came about with the name.... From Romulus of course! =P

Exiting colosseum. heading to Palatino Hill

Pebbled walkway in front of Arco di Constantino

Closed up view of the sculptures on Arco di Constantino

Arco di Constantino

Entrance to Palatino Hill

According to archaeologists, Palatine House was the birthplace of the 1st Roman Emperor, Augustus. One building that archaelogists belived to be the residence of Augustus' wife, Livy, was undergoing restoration.... in Jan 2007, 1 archaelogist, Irene Iacopi, announced that she probably found the legendary Luprecal cave, where it was mentioned in Roman mythology/stories that this was the place where Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf.

Map of Palatino Hill

on Palatino Hill. Overlooking to 1 side of Rome. the Round structure in the center of the photo is the Temple of Hercules

Ruins on Palatino Hill

Ancient Roman mosiac. Most had decayed and replaced by the green moss

Peek-a-boo

this is Agustus house

Stadium of Palatino

Colosseum & Arco di Constantino

I must say that Palatino Hill covered a pretty large area.... I spend quite a long time walking around... and every corner I turned I saw something... hahaha.... soon it was about 12 noon... I decided I had to head to the Roman Forum.... otherwise I will not have enough time to get to Trastevere. So walking to the Roman Forum area, there are lots of ruins to see here too.... hahaha... i think i'm always and still am fascinated with ancient Roman or Greek ruins.... =D

Arco di Tito. This is on the opposite side of Arco di Constantino. You got to pass it in order to get to the Roman Forum

Carvings on the ceiling of the Arc

Basilica of Maxentius

Roman Forum

Temple of Romolo

Temple of Romolo

Another temple (can't remember what is this temple's name)

Walkway inside of the Roman Forum

Probably I grew up reading all the greek mythology... so I've always been fascinated with these ancient ruins. Apparently, this place for many centuries was the center of Roman life, the place where gladiator matches took place, criminal trial, venue for public speeches, triumphnal processions etc. Over here, there are ancient temples built to honour gods, and even there was a site where it an altar was built to honour Julius Cesear. It was mentioned that it was at this site that Julius Cesar was cremated. However, it was only several years later that this altar was built. However, the altar was hugely destroyed in the civil war after his death..... so basically the altar was also in ruins.

Altar of Julius Cesear

Hmmmm guess was where Julius Cesear was cremated

Temple of Castor and Pollux

Tempio di Saturno

Part of a column on the ground

After walking around it was soon 2pm.... i knew that I had to leave the Roman forum to get to Trastevere..... So i got out by the exit that will lead me to the road that is of a shorter distance to Trestevere.... and I found myself in another archeological site.....Teatro di Marcello. This theater was still preserved.... It was initally planned by Julius Ceaser to have it constructed. However, he died before the complete construction of the theater.... In fact at that time they only laid down the foundation. Augustus took over the project had it completed and got it built to a larger complex than intended.

Teatro di Marcello

Close up view of the ancient walls of the Theater

Next I made my way to Tiber Island.... hahaha... you must be wondering where is this island in Rome? Or if such an island exist? hahaha... definitely so..... if you look carefully on the map. Tiber island is situated on the southern bend of the Tiber River. it has somesort of a small boat shaped... You can get only get there via 2 bridges Ponte Fabrico and Ponte Cestio.

River scene. The white pavement below is the walkway. People sunbathing under the hot sun

There are not much things to see on this isle.... hmmm... there is one church.... San Bartolomeo.... Hmmm....not as majestic as some of the churches I saw on mainland though.... But what interested me was there were people sitting or walking on the river banks! And these walkways along the river banks are lower than the land that the buildings were constructed on.

Basilica Sant Bartomello

Inside Basilica of Sant Bartomello

So I tried to find my way there... and finally I saw a flight of steps leading down... As usual because of my curiosity... I went down the steps.... and got onto the walkway! hahaha... I must say it was a pretty intesting walkway... And that day, the weather in Rome was supper sunny... so there many people, tourists, Italians basking under the sun.... Its good to see the sun! I mean over in CPH, you hardly get to see such gorgious weather! =P
I also saw a couple of boys playing in the river.... Hmmm... I dared on touch the river water... coz i think it should be pretty dirty... considering the rubbish that were clinging on the branches of trees along the river bank.... and things floating in the water... But I must say the river currents were pretty strong....

 2 boys playing along the riverbank

After that I had to climb the flight of steps up to get back to mainland....From there, I walked further west and got myself in Trastevere. hmmmm.... I must say, ok, Trastevere is not much different from the numerous parts of Rome that I saw..... But it's the winding, back alleys that are more picturesque i must say....I walked down via della Lucia and climbed another hill again! hahaha.... this hill i climbed was Janiculum Hill and got to Piazza Sant Pietro in Monotorio. Hmmm,... over here I was able to look down at Rome... the scenery different from the ones that I saw on Capitoline hill or from Pincio hill.... I guess every hill provides a different panaromic view of Rome! =D

1 of the numerous small alleys in Travestere

Steps leading up to Piazza Sant Pietro in Monotorio

looking down at the Rome

By then my legs were really aching from all the kms of walk I had done for the past few days.... but I told my self to walk a little more to see if there are more things to see... So heading up the slope, I came to a monument Porta San Prancrazio. It was nothing much... walking further again... I came to a nice monument...that had a huge fountain. This was the Font Aqua Paola. This fountain was rebuilt and extend the aquaduct by Pope Paul V, in the hopes of creating clean drinking water for the people living on Janiculum Hill.

Porta San Prancrazio

Fontana Aqua Paola

Right in front of Fontana Aqua Paola, was an open space that had a panaromic view of Rome. hmmm... I guess u can see most of the iconic monuments here..... but not the Colossuem though... coz it was being blocked by the trees there... hahaa.....

Another panaromic view of Rome

After snapping a few photos... I decided to make my way to 1 more iconic monument in Trastevere. It was Santa Maria in Trastevere. This is a minor basilica. Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest churces of Rome.... and it is the 1st church that Mass was openly celebrated.

Basilica di Santa Maria in Travestere

Piazza of Santa Maria in Travestere

inside Santa Maria in Travestere

Finally I could get back to the other side of Rome... hahaha.... So i decided to make my way to Campio dei Fiori. Well... this piazza is pretty similar to Piazza Navona. Apparently this piazza was for commercial and street culture in the past. Executions used to be held in this particular Piazza. One of the person who was executed here was the philosopher Giordano Bruno. He was burnt alive for hersey and all his works were placed on the index of 'Forbidden Books' by the Holy Office. In fact one distinct monument in this piazza is the erect statue of Giordano Bruno on the place where he was burnt to death.

One of the small alleys i walked to get to campio dei Fiori

Piazza Campio dei Fiori. That's the statue of Giordano Bruno

After this, I decided to call it day.... and walked my last time through Via del Corso, get to Fontana di Trevi. hmmmm... this proved to be a bad decision on my part. Coz never in my life had i ever seen so many many people! it was just amazing and yet terrible! hahaha.... I mean now I know where Romans like to visit on their Sat & Sun! and all the jostling and pushing... hmmm... everyone just wanted to get a look or a picture of the Fontana di Trevi! I have to agree that this indeed one of the most visited Fountains in the world!

Fontana di Trevi and the sea of people

Finally i decided to head back to the hotel... but there is 1 thing that I needed to get... and that is a fridge magnet! hahaha.... I think I've got a weakness for such magnets... I mean magnets that holds the iconic structure or theme of the country I visit... Coz almost every country I visit I will definitely get a fridge magnet. So I walked quite a fair bit to find a good souvenir shop to get my magnet. After this, I headed back to the hotel and stopped by a pizzeria to get my Funghi Pizza! yup my dinner for tonight!

And tomorrow I fly back to Copenhagen! =D