Florence, Italy and Rome, Italy

Italy seems less progressive on the WiFi front. None in Florence and now none in the hotel in Rome either. But the cute guy that works the desk at our hotel here in Rome told me of this charming (and I do mean charming!) bookstore down this wee little alley that has fairly affordable WiFi. Enough for me to upload pictures and say hello to everyone.

In Florence I spent the day wandering alone. I met so many amazing people! At breakfast I met Chuck & Tim - 2 guys from Seattle here on vacation. Then I set off and climbed to the top of the Duomo - amazing views! Up there I met 2 girls - Alex & Lizzie - here on holiday from Britain. We had espresso and then a walk about and lunch together. Wandered up and down the streets of Florence and just fell in LOVE with the place. I bough a hand carved cameo from a tiny little shop. I sat there for 30 minutes and watched this man work. His work was amazing. I had to have just one - I bought a small pendent for 30 Euro. Well worth it. A fitting souvenir that will always remind me of Florence. Of course I took PICTURES, most of which are amazing.

Mick went off to do his thing this morning. We had talked about renting a car but things weren't coming together well, so he was going to take a bus or something of that sort out into Tuscany. Not too keen on the Vespa thing, it would seem. So I decided to just head to Rome. I had a nice ride to Rome on the Eurostar and made it to my hotel - being totally ripped off by the cabbie in the process. This is the first time I've been totally taken for a ride here in Europe. I should have known there was something seriously not okay with his price when he wouldn't drop me off in FRONT of the hotel - but up the street. The guy at the hotel desk says that he was probably working illegally (meaning off-shift) and did charge me double (36 Euro instead of the 15 Euro it should have been - punk). Guy better hope I never chance upon him again. But I checking into our hotel room and set off immediately for the Colosseum. There I picked up a random tour. It was worth the 21 Euro just not to have to stand in line for an hour to get tickets. The tickets are normally 10 Euro, so for 11 more I walked right by the line and got a tour with a guide that was HILARIOUS. She spoke in English with a VERY thick Italian accent. I loved her. I got some more good PICTURES.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Travetti Fountain and then to St. Paul's Cathedral and the Vatican. The tour guide at the Colosseum told me to go around 1:30 in the afternoon, the lines will have died down. I am just in AWE that I am in the place where law began. It seems a bit cheapened with all the tourists about, but there is a feeling of walking in the same place where the greats walked. I question if great minds exist like that any longer. It is hard to say.