Wednesday, December 03, 2003

Veni, Vidi, Vici, Compre

We are now in Florence -- but only for the night...

Yada, yada... the birthplace of that pesky Renaissance and at one time the home of that most famous Michael Angel in the world -- you know who. I am going to see all the Davids -- every single one. Plus whatever else of his is lying around.

We hopped Eurostar yesterday afternoon -- abandoning our lil' flat in the Rome burbs for a quick road trip. Our hotel suite --- which is super cut rate due to traveling in the off season -- has a view of the Duomo. 3rd largest cathedral in the world and an engineering marvel of sorts (the dome)

Unfortunately for us, it also has a jackass neighbor with a car alarm. (snarl)

The hotel concierge makes the best cappuccino yet and I have been sampling the caps at every opportunity. I'm sipping one as I type this.

And damn, but Italy has great food. I am being served and am valiantly attempting to eat my body weight every day.

For example, last night we went to dinner with a new friend from Rome who is in Florence for business and there was an apertif beverage, four appetizers, two first courses, two second courses, desserts, coffees, and after dinner drinks. Just call me una propina porcu in the local vernacular.

Luckily, I am hoofing it everywhere because the bus drivers are all suicidal and the taxi drivers are perverts. (We have stories to tell.) So the trousers still fit.

I have a favorite restaurant in Rome -- Sienna by plaza Navarone -- which is Tuscan and wonderful, but not the equal of Botin in Madrid. I also found as well a killer hair salon -- I mentioned it last post or so -- Femme Sestina by the Spanish Stairs -- which can braid my hair as I prefer. (yes, I am spoiled) Plus a 24 hour Internet access point near the US embassy. (Heaven)

Anyway -- all is well. We spent yesterday afternoon buying Florence. I stopped at half as it is all that will fit in my bag and I still have shopping to do at Cortes Ingles in Madrid.

It will be a good Christmas. Christina Clause is coming home with too much stuff. The only low point is still no luck with the Sony mini dvds for the camera. (Que lastima... oh, dear)

posted by Bohica at 2:39 AM