Sevda+Diary+Entries

I always wanted to travel Italy finally it was coming true. At Rome airport first thing that took my attention people’s smiley face and warm welcome. ( it was bit laud but I can’t complain about it) I really like this language I decided to learn when I get back to Australia. I bring my English-Italian dictionary and simple conversation guide.( that's how i understand simple italian) Good thing they can communicate in English to help you if you say **Non Capisco** (nonn kah-peace-koh) means I don’t understand, keep reapeading it and Italians will try more and more imaginative ways to explain thins to you, isn’t that great.! From **Fiumicio** (also know Leonardo da Vinci) international airport we went to hotel by taxi it take about 50 minutes and we paid 50 Euro ,as soon as we checked in. We decided to have a lunch I can’t wait to have a PIZZA in ROME!!!!!
 * //__MY ROME DAYS - 7 Magnificent Days!__//**
 * “Buon Giorno “** (bwon djor-know) that how Italian where greeting us means good day.
 * Un passport Per Favore** ( per fa-voe-ray means please).Passport please.
 * Grazie** ( gra-tziay means thank you).
 * Arrivederci** ( ah-rree-vey-der-tchy) means good bye.

We went to Porta Pia ITALIAN/PIZZA/ BIRRERIA which is open lunch and dinner daily.( cost 15 euro, it was delicious, yum yum ) My second address for the day to go to Trevi Fountain that I ‘ve seen on movies and Spanish Steps.

Very dynamic and very crowded with visitors and lovers, I love it. Sitting there like going back to time and history so amazing. I had to best gelato there .(From the oldest ice-cream parlor in Rome is Giolitti.)



My last destination is for the day Trevi Fountain, can you just look at this beauty I love it, This is a real art work. Of course I have to toss a coin in the Trevi, turn your back and toss the coin over your shoulder to be part of the tradition ..

I enjoyed every bit of this Trevi Fountain and sitting there having a tranquil moment makes me appreciate the artwork. So that was it for the day and I return to hotel to have a rest and energise my self to see rest of the Rome as much as I can. I am happy!


 * VATICAN GARDENS**

When i went to visit Vatican city i loved this garden, people often think that Vatican is made up only the basilica and museum etc, but the ground behind the main structures are very large. I loved touring gardens so i had to sign up for ticket at the ticket office of the Vatican Museums. You can visit there Mon-Fri 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Except Catholic religious holiday. to enter this area i only pay 12 Euro. I love this beutiful garden so peaceful and the sculpture was magnificent.


 * VATICAN MUSEUMS

**

I have to confess when you enter this place it will take hours to come out, This place contain an incredible collection of art and treasures collected by the popes( from Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, paleo Chritian and Renaissance art).All those hand made scultures and paintings exraordinary. I always wanted to see this place because on tv on those documentaries create this feeling in me i have to see the actual museum. That's why i went this museum and it's much more better than seing on tv.This paintings has all this colours and details unbelievable gift only produce something like this. Sculptures hard to believe its been made years ago, being in this place will create that athmosphere for you, you can only experiece when you are actually there. I recommend everyone, please go and see yourself you wil fall in love with the paintings.




 * THE COLOSSEUM**

I went Colosseum because i heard a lot about Gladiators. And i have to see the place. It's Rome's most recognizable monument. This place is big really very big it could accommadate as many as 50.000 spectators. Entertainment included fights between galdiators, battles with wild animals , and naval battles where the arena was flooded ( Like movie was becaming a reality in this place for me ).Colosseum was damaged by fires and earhquakes and eventually abandoned. It's open Daily 9 am -6 pm. And you can go there by Metro, bus, minibus or tram. i went there by minibus.



My best friend mentioned this place and suggested me to go and see so that's the reason i went this beautiful place.I love whole place but specially two small temple still standing, believed to be a temple of Vesta and a temple of Castor and Pollux. This place for visit daily 7:00 am to 6:30 pm. and there is no admission fee for this place and you can cath a bus to go there.
 * CIRCUS MAXIMUS**

The most famous church in the Christian World.So this is the only reason to visit this place for me. It is a huge place walking from one end to the other is a workout and the place is magnificent it will take your all day to came out from this amazing place. Open 7am to 7 pm
 * ST peter's Basilica & Square**





There are number of ways to travel in Rome:Bus tours, Walking tours, Boat tours, Car & Motorcycle, train and bicycle. There is a great APT tourist information office which open 8am-9pm daily and has multilingual staff if you need any information related where to go how to go where to dine etc.Also another good source of information and assistance is ENJOY ROME, it's privately run tourist office if you need any help including finding accomadation this guys are great.Enjoy Rome open between 9am-7pm.Mon-Sat.\

Banks are open 8:45 to 1:30pm and usually from 2:45pm to 4pm Monday to Friday. There are number of exchange offices available throughout the city including American Express, and Thomas Cook. The main post office open 8:30am to 6:30pm, saturdays till 1:30 pm, Also Vatican post office open mon-fri 8:30 to 6:00. Internet services available throughout the city. The biggest and most conveniet is **easyEverything** opens 24 hours daily and charges around 2Euro every 30 minutes.

Every day after breafeast i organise my self to see historical sites but after lunch i used to go shopping the best shopping area is the Centro. This is a place lined with shops selling everything from clothing to shoes to CD's. On the east side you can find the most elegant street with designer boutiques and all the big names of italian fashion such as Bulgari, Ferragamo, Valentino, Armani etc. It's expensive very expensive but i believe every woman deserve to have something special and elegant, so go there girls. Best quality letter you can purchase in Rome, for sure you'll get much better quality than in Australia.

Nightlife is very dynamic in Rome.Cafes that is glamour very pleasent specially Antico Caffe della Pace the most populer caffe in the city. I went there everynight to have my coffe and desert before i go back to my hotel. Another thing that i enjoyed while i am in Rome that i managed to attend live jazz music. The most famous are the Alexanderplatz and big mama, Chiavari.. You have to make reservation to go this places, have your drink and listen lovely jazz music believe me it's all worth it.


 * MY VENICE DAYS ( 3 days in this romantic place)**

I purchased my ticket from Alitalia( 041.258.1333) and i found out there are several flights a day to venice from Rome. From airport i went to my hotel Albergo La Meridiana one of the best hotel in Venice i booked while i was in Rome. It is nice to finally rich this romantic city. When i think venice i think love and romance. And history of city and buildings colourfull and gondola, restaurant and caffes unbelievable place to go and visit.

Grand Canal is still the heart of Venice. Building along the canal were once the residence of Venice's wealthiest families.But many of them now transformed into museums or hotels, others are still lived in. Isn't that amazing. I joine guided tour that was offered by American Express for a full day i paid 30 Euro this is a guide walks you around the sights and keeps you from getting lost. Gondolas is very expensive, but if you still would like to experience romance like i did you can have a ride by paying almost 80 euro.



In venice i wanted to spend my time more shopping, attending the performing arts, cafes so as soon as i finish my guided tour i was my own exploring my favorite city. Also i enjoyed Carnevale for this i had to go special shopping to get mask and costumes. I found that wanderful shop full of exciting masks and lovely customes. The best place to get this //the laboratorio Artigianale Machere//. Venice is famous for music. There are always different performances and concerts going on in Venice. Performances are held in the Scuola Grande Di San Giovani Evangelista and its very entertaining.

From Venice my last destination was Sicily. I went from Venice to Palermo by plane. I went each day different places Starting from Cattedrale ( Duoma) which is built in 1185, then I went Casa professa which is the first church in Sicily founded by Jesuits. Following day I visited Fontana Pretoria fountain which is created for a Florentine villa. The nudes sculptures created a big scandal in town, and it used to called ‘fountain of shame’. But it was magnificent art work. Duoma( Cattedrale) Casa professa
 * MY SICILY DAYS ( 4 days)**

Fountana Pretoria

Before I return to Rome I wanted to go and visit the Mt. Etna and see the Europe’s largest live volcano. (Recently erupted in 2001) I joined organized tour by Via Quatraro with a volcanologist and expert guide. It was a 7 hours climb to summit and absolutely wonderful experience.



Well end of my two week time to go back to Ausralia, i hope everyone going to have a chance to visit italy. I believe this is one of the best place i have ever been. ARRIVEDERCI ITALY, ARRIVEDERCI PIZZA, ARRIVEDERCI GELATO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


 * __Part B- Putting Your Travel to Work in Industry__**

The most important communication method is talking. In order to communicate and prevent any misunderstanding we should have adequate language while we are speaking. As a result of traveling to Italy I personally find that language is the vital skills that we must have especially if we are working in the Hospitality industry.

So, most of the time in our five star hotel, we are experiencing difficulties due to insufficient verbal communication. To resolve these problem staff members from different language and cultural background is being selected to work.

From the beginning it takes time everyone to understand each others differences and expectation, but by time this can be used to create multicultural and multilingual environment which is going to be helpful for staff progress and productivity over the long period of time. Therefore having staff from different cultural background hasn’t create any potential problems on the contrary create more efficient environment for staff to have better communication with customers as well as each others.

Communication is consisting of speaking as well as listening. Therefore having the effective listening skills will generate better communication. Listening means interpreting other parties’ gestures, eye contact and body language in order to achieve this we should have effective listening skills especially if we are working in Hospitality industry.

To resolve any complaint with our customer these following are the crucial steps that we should follow.
 * Having sufficient language while we are communicating
 * Having good listening skills to understand better
 * Providing interpreter if required
 * Showing respect and sensitivity customer’s expectations and feelings while dealing any complaint
 * Being part of the team and trying to solve complaint with other staff members cooperatively will help us not to consume time ineffectively.

My cultural experience helps me to understand other cultural differences and expectation. Being in Italy in two week and not having enough Italian language sometimes brought me in difficult situations that I realize how important to have a language and how important to be understood well. Every culture has different level of formality and family obligations. Personal grooming specially for ladies in small town of Italy is very restricted unlike in Australia; Italian woman can’t wear mini shorts and tops and open clothes that will take unwanted attention from an Italian man. So every culture has different customs and traditions which we should respect.



PISA ( 1 day in this place)


 * Positive and negative cultural experiences:**

Positive cultural event: Pizza and Pasta and Wine. ( you can get best pizzas everywhere in italy, with the same quality) Negative cultural event:Dress code is very important, if you are a woman and by yourself and wearing short skirts or shorts, mini tops or see-through cloths you are going to take attention and get annoyed by italian man so be carefull ladies what you are wearring!