It's crazy to me that I am actually in Italy! It's been a long time coming!

I have spent the past two nights in Milan, and even though I didn't really enjoy the city that much I had the best time at my hostel which was full of good people and free pasta dinners!

I only spent four or so hours out wandering around the city, and a quarter of that time was probably spent freaking out in the Disney store. I wanted to see the Duomo, of course, so I took the metro yesterday morning to the stop right below it. It's incredible. What a beautiful building. Unfortunately, you can't admire it for more than a few seconds before you are harassed by guys literally throwing bird seed and corn at you to attract the thousands if pigeons which frequent the square. Of course, they then want money for this ‘service’. I've gotten very, very good at telling people like that to leave me the fuck alone. Just like in Paris, there are also men who will try and give you a bracelet as a gift. If you take it, or as in most cases, if you fail to free your wrist from their grasp as they literally force one on your arm, they then expect €5 for it. Some gift, huh? I hate these guys. They really do ruin the experience as you have to constantly be alert and defensive just in case.

After I'd had enough of that I wandered down the shopping streets next to the Duomo. There were lots of really expensive designer stores, obviously since it is Milan, but I was only there for one reason. Disney! I know, sometimes I struggle to believe I'm 22 as well.

After disappointment in Copenhagen when the store there didn't have the Ariel toy I had my heart set on, Milan was my last hope. Initially I was upset. I could see Belle, Jasmine, Elsa, Anna, Snow White… but no Ariel. I was getting ready to sulk but decided to act like the sort of adult I am and just ask. And so the nice Italian lady went out to the store room and came back clutching my adorable Little Mermaid. It felt like Christmas! I initially thought it might be a bit lame to admit that this was the highlight of my day but then I reread this entire paragraph and realised I passed the lame threshold within the first sentence.

I then wandered some more down other streets until Milan just got too much for me. As I was walking past some guys selling fake (and illegal) handbags from sheets on the side of the street a police van pulled up, and half a dozen cops got out. The vendors grabbed their sheets and as many of their bags as they could hold and took off, literally sprinting as if their lives depended on it. The police then ran after them and in the process I nearly got knocked over. That was enough. I’d had enough for one day.

Back at the hostel the day got a lot worse before it got better. Firstly, I was on a top bunk which was very high. My camera fell off and smacked the hard concrete floor below. Luckily I was the only one in my room at the time before I think I literally screamed. After a panic jump to the ground I realised it had survived and was still working perfectly. Thank god. Ten minutes later my phone, however, was not so lucky when it slid off the bathroom sink and landed face down. I have dropped that phone probably evrty day for two years, but it finally decided to give in. The entire screen is cracked which makes using it a whooole lot of fun.

Thankfully things could only go up from here. I distracted myself in the best possible way — with live commentary of the All Blacks vs Springbox game — and naturally by the end of it I was in a better mood than I'd ever thought possible at the beginning. Life's good when you're an All Blacks fan.

I then spent the night being social in the hostel bar and common room. I made friends with an Australian guy called Mitchell and in true party animal style, we played jenga and guzzed our drinks… of water. Fran, who I'd hung with the night before joined us and we played some more and then gave Ludo a go. I had such a good time! Having chill nights and good chats like that are always the best in my opinion.

Today I traveled to Venice, and coincidentally so did Fran, so tomorrow we're goingto go see the city together. To reach my hostel I had to get a water bus. They're slow and crowded, so I'm sure the novelty will wear off fast, but I thought it was awesome!

I just had some potato gnocchi for dinner which was TO DIE FOR. Italy is worth visiting just for the food, honestly. Tonight I'm going to have a very early night and try and get a decent few hours under my belt before the loud obnoxious American guys in my room get back drunk at 3am and inevitably wake me up by fumbling around in the dark/yelling/snoring. Oh the joys of hostels.