Category: Personal

Well, we may have been a bit hasty with judging Florence. This is a really nice town with a lot of nice people (once you get beyond where all of the tourists are hanging out). I’ve already been asked directions a few times by Italians (I just say “sorry” in my best mid-western accent), but now our Italian is getting good enough to at least order food and coffee…oh, and Lyra got to use her Spanish when checking into our room here. Lots of language fun.

Besides seeing the sites (the Duomo, Uffizi, etc…check out the gallery), there is a festival going on every day we’re here. Fireworks last night, and evidently for the next two nights. I think we can stay up for it this time. Hopefully our tired, hot feet can handle it.

We spent the last two days in Milan and just arrived in Florence this afternoon.  So far, all of the Italians are really nice people.  From the subway operators, to the security guard who joked that we needed tickets when we really didn’t, to the old guys on the train to Florence who gave us a “cheers” with their sandwich before eating—everyone here is nice (even though we don’t speak the language).  Milan was fun, especially b/c there weren’t many tourists.  We saw everything from DaVinci’s “The Last Supper,” to Marconi Radios, to the roof of the Duomo Cathedral.

Florence is a little different.  It’s a very nice town, with nice people, and lots of American and Japanese tourists (and lots of English-speaking locals).  We haven’t seen much yet, but with the heat we’re taking advantage of siesta time (not much choice about it).  There have been a few real stories so far, so we’ll have to see if there’s a better Internet connection here or in Rome to tell about our near transportation disasters, etc.

At the British Library at the moment, paying for wireless. Another day running around…climbing the stairs at St. Paul’s Cathedral, shopping at Harrods, a special Michelangelo exhibit at the British Gallery. Things are cooling down here, and without Internet it’s tough to keep track of the weather. Still, it’s been a lot of fun, so I’m sure we’ll come back sometime soon.

Cheers.

A nice relaxing Sunday in London.  Started with Matins at St. Pauls, and then took a walk around Bankside (or the south end of the Thames, aka Shakespeare’s neighborhood) the “city,” (aka the financial, law, and news districts), and the Westminster area around the Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.  Not much adventure today, but it was great to take a relaxing day to absorb the great feeling of London.  We’re off to Yo! Sushi.