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I started my morning with breakfast, of course, at a small little Italian (aren't they all?) cafe, and while I was scarfing own my croissant and my bread and jam, and washing it down with an Americano with milk, I fell into a conversation with the couple next to me. Suffice it to say that there are no Starbucks here but this woman from the US was trying to explain to her new Italian boyfriend what coffee was like at an American coffee shop. She kept telling him about Venti's and half half vanilla latte's with or without foam that you bought and then walked around with, and he was incredulous. He finally asked me, the guy who was laughing out loud at this point, if these travesties to coffee and the coffee shop were true. Sadly, I confirmed the sad state of life in America...

I did have the chance to attend Mass at a nearby 15th century church. Of course, you say--Jason going to church and finding a convenient 600 year old church. Both are true. I know the term is perhaps overused, but amazing came to mind. I felt like I stepped back a few centuries in time. Yes, it was in Latin and I smelled like incense for hours, and the music from the monks and sisters lasted just as long. Maybe that is why I noticed Sisters/Nuns most of the day. They are so rare a sight in the US, but seemingly common here.

Americans are here, but I think that they are the minority of tourists. You can spot them easily, and they are painfully obvious. They are loud, take up more space, even the non-super-sized versions. The level of rudeness that I have seen already has been shocking...were Americans raised by wolves? Also obvious is the use of money belts/pouches under clothes. Certainly every Italian is just waiting to rob rich Americans--I watched one woman of a certain age virtually disrobe as she searched for a two Euro coin from her pouch, which was not only under her shirt but apparently under her bra as well. Can't be too safe, I guess. No wonder why there is this negative perception of Americans. Notice that I am excluding myself from this group. I have earned a slight break after being here 30+ times or at least I hope so. Also, with my haircut, I look like a Pole, or perhaps a Bulgarian. In the photos, I challenged a great scene with my visage--I might like the tables alone better.

I thought that there were some interesting grab shots of the tights and the puppy--bikes are everywhere. The outside of the building is a civic building, but I found it more interesting just because of where it was. There was a Hillfiger store almost below, with a Hermes store across the street and, of course, Tiffany nearby. The foot is David's but it isn't the part that is most photographed. Still, that Mike guy was pretty good. The couple was just cute. They walked single file on the narrow sidewalks, but at ever street crossing he waited for her so he could hold her hand. Sigh...

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I have no real idea as to what day it is, but I think it is is Saturday. It was a beautiful day today, and I only recently got back after a long day. It was great to walk around in the 70+ degree weather and under the bright blue skies.

A few thoughts about Florence and the trip so far. It is a wonderful walking center and I took advantage of that. I can only assume that I trek around at about 1.5 to 2 miles an hour, so I am not power walking, but when you are slow and steady for 6-8 hours, the miles add up. I am a bit footsore tonight. Too many cobble stones and curbs, I guess. It can't be my shoes, since I basically wear orthopedic shoes!

Speaking of shoes, this is a city of shoes. In Prague, you turn the corner and see a crystal store, but here you are likely to see a shoe store. Or leather store, I guess. Even me, who has less than a finely attuned shoe sense (see above), can see that there are some beautiful shoes for sale here. You know, the shoes that would last about 45 seconds in a Minnesota winter, with the high heels of an impossible stature, or of leather that is tissue paper thin. Nice, but not very practical.

The quote of the say from a young American woman who exclaimed "I am having an art orgasm." while looking at the panels of a 15th century door. Granted, this the door is pretty amazing, but still. Second best quote, again from an American, was overheard at the international market, a surprize that I found. I was just sitting there eating my sausage (maybe it was a Polish sausage) from the Polish booth when I heard, "Let's go back--I'm tired. All I wanted to see was that church, and I saw it." Her friend asked, "Which church did you want to see?" The other person responded, "You know, that Catholic church..." That narrowed down their day...

As for the photos, I went to several markets today, including one that rivals or tops Pike Place Market in Seattle. It was beautiful, and I found a great sandwich and was enjoying my meal until I saw the the meat markets which sold not one but three or four types of tripe. Who knew that there were grades of intestine to eat? Yuk. Other photos are largely self-explanatory--the curchy one is the inside of the Duomo--more about that tomorrow. The musician is in honor of Dick Stoede, whos is missed. The statue is my favorite so far, though it is disturbing. An Italian chocolate to the first person who tells me what the statue is, and why it might be disturbing while being beautiful.

Day 2...

This is an interesting place. This is day two and another day to try and figure out which way is what, and I think that I am succeeding. I was out for about six hours, so it was a hike. At least this place is blessedly flat, which makes it an easy walk.

It rained pretty hard, so by the end of the the first part of the day, I was a bit damp and raggled, but I didn't melt. It made for some good umbrella photos, and as it was so warm, it was not uncomfortable. Just annoying--you know, glasses and rain. Later the sun came out, and I went out again for gelato. Life is not too bad...

A few funny things. First, I heard three great quotes. The first was, "Wow, everything looks so European!" To which her friend replied, "No, it looks so, so Italian!" I was kind of glad about that--I am in the right place, I guess. The last came later today when I heard one man exclaim, "That was fantastic Italian food!" I had to think about that for a moment, but then decided that it further confirmed that I was not lost in France or somewhere. I did walk a long way...

Some notes about the pictures. The bridge is the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's version of Prague's Charles Bridge. They are of similar age, but Florence built trading houses to sell gold, first to the Medici and others, and now to a million tacky tourists. The two towers are from my window--I will have to check what they are. Umbrellas are mostly by the Ponte Vecchio. It is a city of scooters. While traffic laws are let's say loosely followed, scooters simply ignore them--if I get run over, there will be a 99% chance that it was some Vespa rider who was drinking an espresso, holding an umbrella, and driving. I saw that today. The "waterfall" is the River Arno. The red cars are just cute. I grabbed one for my key chain, and the other I am shipping home in carry-on luggage. One is a Fiat 500--you sometimes see them in the US, but the other was badged as a Ferrari, but I suspect that just might be someone's idea of a joke. The color was right, though. There are smaller cars here, but they are trikes built on scooters. Just for reverence, the two-seat Smart car is about 18 inches longer than either of these cars. I just liked the ivy, and the couple looking at the menu. I did snag a laundry photo, but am still looking for weird Italian trees. All should be pretty self-explanatory.

Italy, Day 1

I made it safe and sound and made it through my first day in Florence. I have no doubt that it is because I am older, but these all night/day trips are getting harder. I was traveling for about 22 clock hours, and while it all went very smoothly, it was a long day.

I am sitting here after a "market meal" of Perona beer, fresh cheese, a new (for me) type of salami, and good bread. My intentions were to find some small out of the way to eat and drink some wine, but I ran out of steam. I took a good three hour walk, but that was it.

The picture of the Duomo is the first photo I took--literally that was the view from the spot where the taxi let me out. The flowers are from my room--it is a neat view, and I will work with that to find a better photo. The River Arno was filled with rowers as the sun set. It is pretty amazing what you can do with with sidewalk chalk, and I love the bikes and the small lanes.

More soon. but I am winding down. I will try and post a few words and pictures each day as I can and technology allows.

Turning...

Honestly, one of the things that I looked forward to when I moved back to the Midwest were the more clearly defined seasons. Yes, there were colorful trees there, but the green-ness 12 months of the was confusing for a person who was used to more definite seasons than Baseball, football, etc.

So I went looking this weekend, and found that it is too early, even though I went "north" to as far a way as Crosby, which is, as a friend pointed out, right next to Ironton. And found barely anything. The weather is turning crisper, which is good. It had been a very warm summer. Instead of constant color, I found trees just turning and in transition.

Not unlike me, I guess. I turned 50 today, a milestone of some sort, I guess. One friend who is a decade younger and always will be, pointed out that 50 is really old. My response was, and I do believe this, is that I have never equated a numerical age with growing up or a maturity, so this is an easier day than I thought it might be...you hear these stories. I am not holed up with my shades drawn on my couch with a 5 liter box of wine, for example, and I hardly wince when AARP tries to send me their silver card with all its benefits. I made it up my 21 steps to my home twice today, and never once used the chair ramp. Yes, I know the analogies: Leaves fall, the autumn of my life, and so on and so forth. But I also hear that 50 is the new 40 or even the new 35 or 38 or so, and I am untroubled.

Yes, today is basically just another day, though lots of birthday wishes via Facebook and texting made it nice as did a few other touches. Thanks to all those who helped me turn.

Our state fair...

I went to the Minnesota State Fair this weekend, and it was fun. The fair fare was good, the animals were cute, the weather perfect and, all in all, it was an exceptional day. It reminded me of my newspaper days, so that part of it was fun, too.