Journal Entry: Florence First Evening

This hostel in Florence is good, there are some minor things that could be better. Like fans in the room. It’s too quiet.

 

Hostel Courtyard

The water in the shower also does not stay a constant temperature, it goes from hot to cold every other minute.

I found the American breakfast place where Lizzie ate! It’s called, hell I can’t remember, but it’s on the corner of the square by the duomo (called Astor).

I climbed to the cupola in the duomo. It was worth the €8, although part of the way is two-way traffic in a very narrow,  and very steep corridor. I am going to the Accademia and the Uffizi in the morning. I will stop by the duomo inbetween perhaps. I did not see the main part of the church yet. 

 

From the Cupola of the Duomo

There are really too many tourists here, it’s one big tourist trap really. Might be better in the off-season.

Oh, and here there are some foreigners, I’m not sure their ethnicity [south-east Asian?] that were selling the same kitsch [and fake purses] that the Nigerians were selling in Rome. They had set up their goods on sheets in the square of the duomo. As I was trying to find the hostel, the lot of them suddenly gathered up their goods and ran like mad through the square. I suppose the police were coming, although I never saw the police. [It was an impressive thing to see.]

The door to the hostel is very old and very short. I hit my head coming in, pretty hard. I have a pump knot [for those of you not from western NC, that's a goose egg, or a lump] on the top [of my head], the guy who runs the hostel was so nice, he gave me some ice to put on it.

The gelato in Portici is better [and cheaper].

Gelato

I am going to order four eggs for breakfast. Watch me.

Journal Entry: Long Walk Around Rome

I have walked today, I don’t even know how far. I walked down to the Coliseum really early as I mentioned in the last post, then went back for the “underground” tour. It was amazing. 

 

Coliseum Underground Tour

I had gelato for lunch, (do we see a pattern here?) because I couldn’t find anything else. If anything, I’ll save money on this trip because I don’t want to eat a bunch of junk food. I had the gelato because I was desperate! I went to the Forum as well, and the Palatine Hill. After that I walked over to the Pantheon and the Trevi fountain. Yes, I tossed a coin over my shoulder. I want to come back here!

Palatine Hill

 

Crowd at the Trevi Fountain

The Pantheon

I forgot the sunscreen this morning, so I might be a little red. I had been taking vitamin D at home so hopefully it wasn’t too bad. I got Jan the coolest thing ever. It’s a refrigerator magnet with “Cave Canem” on it and a picture of one of the dog mosaics from Pompei.  It was €5 and the shop was near the Pantheon. They also had coasters for €10 but they were heavy and I was afraid I’d break it.

I need something to drink.

Journal Entry: More Venice

8:24pm

We went back looking for the gelato place Jan told us about but couldn't find it still. We went to St. Mark's and went inside the free part of it. It was pretty impressive. The gold was amazing, the detail was insane, all those little mosaic stones. The floor was very uneven, probably from all the flooding, the “agua alta”.


Afterward, we took the Vaparetto back the long way to the rail station and walked down the Strada Nove to a pizza place where V. wanted to eat. They weren't open though, so we continued down the street and ate at a little sandwich shop. It was cheap but V. said her pizza wasn't that great. I had a wrap and thought it was good. Only €4 with water. Wasn't a bad deal in my opinion.

After that we came back to the hostel and had a shower. The larger shower room at this hostel is better. The small one is like a closet and is always wet. I'm going to bed soon, as we have to be up early to catch a train to Nice at 7:50am.