ATTENTION: Artist Hard at Work!!!!!

Ever since I lost my phone, I've realized how much a person's word has slowly been pushed out the door. The last two days, plans have been made to meet up with friend's and it's been two no-shows. It's not a problem, but what's happened since the emergence of the cell phone to easily call up people and tell them that they either aren't coming or are running late or have made other plans. 

It's been relaxing to pretend as if it were the good old days of landlines and message machines. Although my landline is my email and my message machine all in one.......can't complain.......

During the time I was waiting I found this artist working very hard in the hot heat....nap time!

Italian hospitality....

I'm baking in an oven.

Florence is situated in a valley and the warm, or should I re-phrase........the hot, humid weather has begun. It's like any other city on a hot day, baking against the cement, heat-waves rising, clothes sticking to your body...damp........fun stuff!!!!

Went to the top of the Duomo, the cupola (the dome) today. A 463 step hike up, leads you outside the dome at the very top to have a 360 degree view of all of Florence from the city center. Best to rise early and be the first tourists to go in, otherwise the groups emerge, flocking to the Duomo to get inside, up and around. Chaos. 

Since school has ended, it's back to enjoying the tourist life in Italy. A great form of Italian hospitality that I have learned is that of customer service. Today was perfect. I went into a clothing store to look at a swimsuit that I had passed by the day before. Maybe I wanted it......or maybe i didn't, I just wanted to check it out. So, I walk into the store, no "Hello or Welcome" -niente. A typical greeting I've found.

After browsing around for a few minutes, I find the suit, pick it up and than the salesperson emerges. Proceeds to say "oh no, e piccola" (no, it's too small) takes it away from my hands, as if I were a child about to eat food I dropped in the dirt and hangs it back up. Not good enough to enter the store or even touch the merchandise. Another instance was when I was kicked out of a restaurant, when I had a half a glass of wine left when my family came to visit, due to a reservation. Cultural difference, I understand. Sometimes it just gets to you. Few more days left of the kindness of Italian business. 

Cinque Terre

School has ended. My summer has begun. Moved out of my apartment and said my "goodbyes" to those who have gone back to their homes. Then I left for a few days to Liguria, to Cinque Terre. A perfect vacation full of sun, relaxation, excellent food, and beautiful towns. The 5 different towns are: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso that are all lined up along the Ligurian Coast and accessible to one another by foot, train or boat.

I stayed in the perfect place in Riomaggiore in a room situated right on the beach. One would literally walk out the front door and the water was right in front of your face. Who could of asked for anything better. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks was so peaceful and relaxing. A great change from the bustleing traffic and sound of horns in Florence. The air was so fresh my lungs were very happy.

The water was so green and clear it was if the boats were floating on a transparent surface. I took a boat one day from my town Riomaggiore to Monterosso, the largest of the five, it was so much fun to be by the ocean again. I forgot how much I missed large bodiesof water. Another day, I hiked through all five of the towns. Left early in the morning with sun behind us, and explored them all and at the end of the hike relaxed on the beach, went swimming and took in some sun. That day we encoutered little blue sail jellyfish, being washed ashore. They freaked me out. So I wimped out and didn't want to go into the water, in fear of being stung by these little buggers.

I have to say Cinque Terre may be my favorite place in all of Italy. It was a perfect end to getting out of school and enjoying the beauty of life.

(Left: Riomaggiore-the town I stayed in Right: Manarola-a 20 min walk away from Riomaggiore)