When we talk of Italy, pizza and pasta always comes to mind.  But more than that, Italy is also a land of art and architecture.  It is evident in structures, even just in Rome.

It was already late when we got to FCO (Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport) via Vueling Airlines.  We were just in time to catch some of the last bus trips to the city (Roma Termini station).  We took the Terravision bus for Euro5/person to city center.  I think when you buy online, it'll just cost Euro4.  We got to the city in about an hour, there's no more traffic at that time.  We looked for our accommodation for the night which is just walking distance from the Roma Termini station.  There are some personnel in the station that you could ask for directions of hotels.  Actually, if you still don't have any, they'll offer you one.

Terravision bus tickets

Below is our day-to-day itinerary in Italy.

Day 1:
- Check in at Affittacamere Fanti B&B

Day 2:
- Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
- Moved to San Peter Angels
- Vatican Museum
- St. Peter's Square / St. Peter's Basilica
- Castel Sant Angelo
- Santa Maria Del Carmelo In Traspontina

Day 3:
- Colosseum
- Piazza del Popolo
- Piazza Spagna / Spanish Steps / Trinita dei Monti
- Triton Fountain / Piazza Barberini
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona

Day 4:
- Pisa and Florence
-
Day 5:
- Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter's Square

* I'll update itinerary links as it becomes available

Our last day coincides with Palm Sunday and since we're attending the mass at St. Peter's Square, we went to Roma Termini to leave our luggage (left luggage in Roma Termini).  Cost is Euro 6 for every piece of baggage for the first 5 hours, 6th to 12th hour is Euro 0.90/hour, and Euro 0.40 for each additional hour after the 12th hour.

We took the Leonardo Express train from Roma Termini to FCO for Euro 14/person.  We could have taken the bus to save on cost but we're worried about traffic.  There's no specific time indicated in the tickets that we bought at the station.  We were told that it can be used at any time.  As with other trains, just be sure to have it validated in one of the machines in the station before boarding the train.

Roma Termini

Leonardo Express train tickets

Ticket Validation Machine [image from source]

Dichiarazione di Presenza (Declaration of Presence)

When I got my passport (with visa) back from the Italian Embassy, it came with the notice below.  It was stated that "upon entry, you are required to declare your presence in Italy to the border authorities (ensuring that the passport is stamped) or, if you are entering Italy from another Schengen country, to the territorially competent Questura (Police Station) within 8 working days from the date of entry in Italy".  My friend, who applied for her visa in Singapore, didn't have this notice when she received her passport back.

Notice from the Italian Embassy

I did some research on this and found out that this is called Dichiarazione di Presenza (Declaration of Presence).  More information on this site.

"For those staying in hotels and other reception facilities, the declaration of presence is handled by the reception facility upon check-in, a copy of which is supplied to the guest to be displayed to authorities upon eventual request."

Based on the statement above, it seems that this should be handled by our accommodation.  Hopefully, they have done this as I'm not sure what to show the authorities when asked for this document.  I've seen a sample of the form from a website but I haven't gotten any document that looks like it.  Our hosts did copy some information from my passport and my friend's passport though but we only got a receipt from both accommodations, which I kept hoping it will serve as declaration of presence when asked.  Well, I don't know if that would work but I'm thankful we were not asked by any police/authority for it.

Receipt from both accommodations

Palm Sunday in Vatican

Being a Catholic, it is one of my wishes to attend a papal mass in Vatican.  It is actually one item in the itinerary we submitted to the embassy.  We gather that the Pope have general audiences on Wednesdays (check schedule here or here) and tickets to the events are free.  Tickets can be scheduled in advance by writing to them.  [More information on papal audience tickets here.]  We passed on this since our arrival in Rome is on a Wednesday evening.

We were exploring Vatican on a Thursday.  On our way back to St. Peter's Square from Vatican Museum, we passed upon a gate and took our chance if that's where we could get tickets.  Seems like Lady Luck is with us, we were able to get tickets from the Swiss Guards at the gate!  Woohoo!

Location on where to get tickets from papalaudience.org (source)

Bronze door

Bronze door

Swiss guard at the bronze door

Swiss guard giving ticket

Our tickets to Palm Sunday mass

Please take note that tickets do not guarantee entrance to the event.  When the area is already full, gates will be closed.  Come early to be able to have a greater chance to get in.  For Palm Sunday, gates opened at 7:30AM, even if mass is at 9:30AM.  We were there around 8:00AM and the line is already long.  Persons going into the square need to pass through security scanners, where tickets would also need to be presented.  We were given a postcard and missalette upon entry.  There were already lots of people, mostly seated on the front areas, when we got in.

Line of people going into St. Peter's Square

My ticket, postcard and missalette served as my souvenir

We were able to buy mini-palms (Euro 2 each) on the way to St. Peter's.  We later on learned that there are some olive tree branches being given to those attending the event.  We haven't really seen where people got the branches but we were able to ask some from our "seatmates".  I think they use more of the olive tree branches than palms here.  We've actually seen these branches being brought inside churches and placed in front of altars the past days, we just didn't know what it is and what's it for... Now, we know.

It was only a matter of minutes and the square was already filled with people.  Good thing that we were there early and were able to secure a seat.  Now, it's time for pictures.

Our mini-palm with St. Peter's Basilica in the background

The altar

Captured from one of the big screens in the venue

It was around 9:15AM, when the procession for the blessing of the palms started.  It took about 40 minutes for the whole entourage to get into the center of the square, blessing of the palms and for them to go to the main altar.

Procession

Procession

Procession

Procession

Blessing of the palms

Pope Francis on the way to the main altar

The next 2 hours was spent for the mass proper.

• Nobody is allowed to loiter during the celebration.
• Security is everywhere to maintain orderliness and solemnity of the mass.
• The mass is in Italian language but with the help of the missalette, we were able to follow.  
• Each prayer in Prayer of the Faithful is spoken in different languages, the last one is in Filipino.  
• Communion is facilitated by a priest in every aisle to serve a lot of mass goers.  We were just near an aisle so it was easy for us to line up.  I think there was just a certain number of minutes for the communion and then the priests had to go back to the altar even if there's still a line for it.  
• The last part was Angelus, although it's still 10 (or was it 15) minutes before 12NN.  

To preserve the solemnity of the mass, I have just taken very few pictures during the celebration.

During the mass

Filipino-looking priest facilitating communion

We stayed a bit longer after Pope Francis got into the pope mobile then we started on our way out, only to find out that we cannot go out yet.  Why?  The gates are still closed, Swiss guards and other security are making sure nobody blocks/goes through the aisles.  That means we have to wait until we are allowed to go out of the area we're in.  It seems that Pope Francis is still doing a round in the crowd aboard the pope mobile.  I was about 2 persons away from the blockade and am standing in a chair so I got a good view.  This was when I saw that the street (from the area near Castel Sant Angelo) leading to St. Peter's Square is full of people who attended the mass.  Too bad I hadn't been able to take a picture of that.

After a few minutes of waiting, we saw Pope Francis coming.  I was star-strucked (and blessed) when I saw him up-close.

People waiting for Pope Francis

Here comes the Pope

Pope Francis aboard the pope mobile

Pope Francis aboard the pope mobile

Pope Francis up-close

All in all, it was an awesome experience.  It was the longest mass I attended but it was all worth it.  Good thing we bought some water and light snacks with us as it was already 1PM when we got out.

Mission accomplished!

I had Barcelona as one of my must-see cities in Europe.  Also, being a Meteor Garden (Taiwanese series) fan, I would love to visit the places where some of the Barcelona scenes were shot.

We took Vueling airlines flight from Orly Airport (ORY Paris) to Barcelona (BCN).  We got the Optima Fare (with 1 pc checked baggage up to 23kg) at Euro63.66.  Check-in at Orly airport was ok, although lines were a bit long.  We had our boarding passes printed but we were still given a (new) boarding pass upon check-in.  After passing through security gates, most of the people stand/sit near one of the monitors to wait for the boarding gates announcement.  Once boarding gates are announced (that is when the plane is already disembarking passengers), people flock to the gates.  Make sure you're lined up at the correct gate since, due to small waiting/boarding area, the gates are almost beside each other.  Aside from that, the flight was smooth, no delays (even for luggages).

At BCN airport, we took the Aerobus to the city center.  These buses are available at BCN T1 and T2 at certain schedules, fare is at Euro5.90 per person.  You can pay inside the bus (forgot if they give out change though).  The ride takes about 35-45 minutes to Placa de Catalunya, which is the terminal at the city center.

Aerobus ticket

When we got out of the bus, it was already dark.  Good thing is that our hostel is within walking distance from the stop.  We looked for Av. Portal de l'Angel, which is technically just across the street from Placa de Catalunya.  I had a printout of the booking confirmation and ask some vendors for direction.  It's less than 5-minute walk from the stop.  Sweet!

Since it was already late, we started our Barcelona experience the next day.  So it was just like a 1.5 day stop in this beautiful city.

Day 1: 
- Park Guell
- Sagrada Familia
- Passeig de Gracia
- Las Ramblas and Port Vell

Day 2: 
- Montjuic

To get around Barcelona, we bought a T10 transportation ticket for Euro10.30 at a vending machine in the metro station.  The ticket is valid for 10 journeys and can be shared by people in a group (in our case 2 persons).  It can be used in metro, bus, tram or local train within the city.  One trip is valid for 75 minutes, so if you ride again within 75 minutes, it will be considered as part of the previous journey.  We had this privilege twice so instead of using the ticket for 10 journeys, we've only used up 6.  So, for other people to be able to make use of it, we left the ticket at the hostal.

On our last day, we took the Aerobus back to BCN for a hassle-free trip to the airport (make sure to check which Terminal you need to go to and hop on the correct bus).  The airport was big and organized (better than ORY).  We took another Vueling flight which we got for Euro54.99 for the Optima fare.

BCN Airport

Vueling Airlines

Our Accommodation (Hostal Lausanne)

Besides having free wi-fi, this hostal boasts of great location.  It's on a shopping street, a block away from Las Ramblas (it's actually parallel to Las Ramblas), and about a 5-minute walk from Placa de Catalunya, which makes it very accessible.  The entrance to the hostal is near Stradivarius store, just look for the number of the building and press the doorbell for Hostal Lausanne.  They have a 24-hr reception desk so there's always somebody who would open up the door.  Upon entering the door, go straight to the small elevator (can fit up to 3 persons) and press 1.  The door to the hostal is on the left when you get out of the elevator.  Most likely the one who opened the main door would already be waiting for you at the doorway.

Hostal Lausanne location

Main door of the building

Interior of the building

Hostal Lausanne as seen from outside the building

Lift

Stairs

Hostal door

We booked this accommodation via booking.com for a total of Euro 88 for 2 nights for 2 persons plus a Euro 0.78 city tax/person/night.  The room that we booked does not have a private bathroom.  But the good thing is that the bathrooms are not the typical hostel bathrooms where there are cubicles inside the room.  It's more of like a private bathroom (there's 2) provided for the guests of the hostal.  During the time we were there, we did not experience waiting in line to use the bathroom, maybe it's because not a lot of people are there during our stay.

Our room has 2 single beds, there's a basin and a heater (no aircon though).  Towels are also provided.  The room given to us is beside the living room.  At night, we here some elders chatting here but at a tolerable level.

Living room beside our room which has a view of the street

Hallway

Inside our room

Inside our room

On our last day, we checked out early and left our luggage in the hostal.  We just went back for it before we took the bus back to the airport.

The Eiffel Tower has been the symbol of Paris.  For first timers like me, I believe no trip to Paris would be complete without meeting the Iron Lady.  It's about time to pay it a visit.  We got off at Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel train station and followed the sign to the tower.  Before going there, we stopped by a cafe (Ribe Cafe) near the area for some breakfast.  It was quite pricey (around Euro22, that's Euro11 per person plus tip) but, ok, we charged it to experience as we already need our dose of caffeine. :)

Our breakfast at Ribe Cafe

After breakfast, we proceeded to the area of the tower.  After a few minutes walk, we've finally met.  Since it's still too early, the tower isn't open yet, but we got a chance to take some pictures without much people in the background.

Welcome to Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

We stayed a bit in the park.  Beware of scammers though, we fell into it (sadly)!  Some would have you sign up to help a non-profitable organization (I forgot what kind of organization that is) and ask you to give donation, they will tell you any amount would do.  Once you have your name signed and give them less than Euro10 (we gave Euro5 each), they will tell you that the minimum donation is Euro10 per person.  Hah! There goes "any amount".  When we heard that, we asked them to just erase our names and give us the Euro10 back.  They wouldn't and instead just accepted what we gave them.

We don't have plans of going up the tower, but we wanted to see it all lit up.  So, we left the area and gone back early evening.  I believe we got back past 7PM but it wasn't until around 8PM when the tower lit up (the sky was just getting dark at that time).

The lights show started at 8PM (it's repeated every hour on the hour).  It really looked as though the tower is sparkling.
 

Eiffel Tower during the lights show

We just finished the lights show and called it a day for us.  It was a long one and we need to rest our tired feet for the next day's adventure.