May 6 - Mistakes and Good Moves

May 6 Sunday
Leaving Florence for Venice

This is about my mistakes and my good moves since I left home on 17th for Italy

Without a doubt the biggest mistake was leaving my new Pentax digital slr plus zoom lens in the bathroom on a hook

Should have listened to Carl and not bought train tiks for Florence in US. When I leave today I have no seat reservation cause they cant replace an international ticket (that I bought online in US)

Euro travelers checks bought too many and couldn’t use them for my apartment the biggest expense

Not enough vitamins for the 30 or so days

Too much upset with credit cards that were blocked by ATM

Should have studied Italian

No binoculars and that’s essential especially in churches

The good move was bringing my Mac with all its parts including the card reader for camera

Took my bags on the plane!

I brought second camera digital Casio

I sent extra clothing, books, small useful things cant get here thru FedX

Since losing camera have kept everything except for Venice travel book that I replaced

Brought Palm and charger for the database of information

Got the adapter plugs for Europe very important

I didn’t buy or rent cell phone and didn’t buy the phone I almost bought at Vodaphone

Got from Cloncom.com European 800 number and pin so if I can get to regular phone can call US

My Blog and photos in Photobucket – my journal

I came with Euros coins and bills

Lot of research for this trip

All bills at home paid in advance for the month

Got wonderful neighbor to take care of my plants and two other friends too

Renting apartment in Venice with kitchen of course

The small bag I bought from shop in castro is perfect for everyday and the small light backpack I bought in NYC – I go everywhere with these.

Im in excellent physical shape from Bay Club so I can walk many miles and good walking shoes

Gym in Venice

Yesterday I bought deck of Tarot cards from Milan

That I came to Italy

I Love Florence

May 5, 2007
The Lure of Florence

Here is my new happenings here
I decided not to leave this morning – more places to see and walking to do and it’s a good city to buy gifts. In rain went to train station to change ticket. That can be very intimidating for us Americans – since I bought tik in US its international and they cant issue me new one so I get on train tomorrow after Validating it in yellow machine and pay conductor 8 euro. Then my hotel was booked and so I return to the other one this morning
I had too many pictures not uploaded to
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v374/judgo/
So with my card reader left behind in Venice I decided to get another and went to this small store near station and I got it. Came back later and got my photos onto my Album.
I was in magnificent San Croce Church in morning and everyone who was anyone then was buried there so you walk over many burial places on marble floor and they have monuments to Dante, Galileo, Michelangelo.. When they had the 96 flood much was damaged especially this famous Cimabue Cross – I saw it and its still damaged and its beautiful. Lots of marvelous Giotto. Whats interesting you see in churches is remains of painted walls.
Went to Michelangelo Casa and that was wonderful. Of course. His brother did a lot of work with it to pay tribute to him. Its amazing place. His work is unmatched as a sculptor.
Walking along I mistakenly entered a building thru the exit Uscita and I was in Bargello – state museum of sculpture so I walked around and then got into shop and almost couldn’t get out cause I had no ticket and then I was out. Wonderful sculptures – my mother studied sculpture and then stopped it when she was a mother – may have been her downfall to give it up.
I had wonderful lunch at Casa Michelangelo and the first place I found with simple tuna salad. Sandwiches are very popular and all meat and cheese
A few nights ago I saw this big crowd waiting to get into Il Latini restaurant and I decided to return if I could find it. So last night I got there after uploading photos and I got in. It has all these hams hanging and that’s a reason I almost didn’t go – so glad I didn’t let that stop me – They put me and a young man at a table and I see his book in English so I start to talk. So glad I did – he is from Puerto Rico here for conference and hes environmental engineer studied in US – he came early to rent car with friends and travel for day and he was just delightful person. Then lady at table next to us - and we are all close together 3 tables - is from Cuba and they are talking. It was incredibly popular restaurant with 3 rooms and a growing crowd outside to enter – no reservations. They just bring you the food – the waiter spoke Spanish and probably various languages – I got my meal without meat or cheese tho they specialize in meat. Man at front with slicing machine cutting proscuitto and hand cutting salami. Very popular food in Florence is rare bifsteak. They like their meat. So I had first course wonderful barley salad with delicate herbs, celery, tomato and then a large piece of roasted rabbit and spinach and espresso. The bill was the most amazing – 20 euro – about $23. people waiting to get in as I left and said goodbye to my friend.
One last memory was seeing this Pallazo Borghese as I was walking and I go in and realize I am very lucky to get in cause this isnt a tourist site. Lots of activity - its mostly rented by Rotary Club and many many magnificent rooms including this incredible dining room all set up for an event. Libraries. Marvelous doors. Everything restored and beautiful. Then after about 10 minutes someone comes to me and asks Who are you with? and I say "Im just walking and looking". "Its not private". Then I am leaving and he doesnt follow me I think cause hes very busy with this event. I walk thru some other rooms and see him again ask for exit and I leave. What an experience!

That’s all for now ….

Mood of Florence

Well this morning I called my friend Carol in Portland area – and that was another amazing happening cause I have no phone and the 800 number and pin I got doesn’t work on cell phone or pay phone and my room has no real phone. Anyway she told me its Friday and I thought it was Thursday. I used hotel phone to dial 800 number and enter my pin and there was Carol in US talking to me.

Yesterday in Florence I saw the marvelous David by Michelangelo – never fails to move me.
Then I moved to the current hotel Bretagna where I stayed in 97. It’s a part of what was a palace so its special. The room is very tiny and bathroom is outside and the price is low. And there is wireless internet in the main room where I am looking out on Arno River. So glad I brought here my Mac
I walked a lot yesterday around the city and went over bridge to different area less commercial. Florence has so many restaurants and top designer stores. Theres a lot of money here now. Its nice to see so many people using bikes people of all ages and these bikes are not the fancy ones. Someone biking in rain and I don’t think it has brakes and shes also talking on her phone. I got few art books sent to friends so I discovered post office. And there was a small market there selling plants.
I just realized there is a market here today have to find it.
Going to breakfast here at Bretagna so will write tonight after this days adventure.
Had a good dinner last night expensive – the owner of trattoria spoke English and was able to give me healthy choices – no meat, no cheese – very unusual in Florence.

May 3 In Florence

May 3 Thursday
In Florence with Angel

So there I was at this ticket place near one of the greatest museums Uffizi Gallery and you buy tickets w reservation only here for about 10 places w art. I wait and she tells me I can only get ticket for Friday afternoon and I say I will just buy a tik no reservation and she says no. I walk away amazed at the Europe of 2007 and this man on line stops me and says he has extra tik and reservation for now and to wait. So we walk to Uffizi and he explains he does tours. We get there and everywhere are lines confusing cause all different. He gets me on line and I buy ticket – same price of 9.5 Euro – and he stays with me to be sure I get in cause tik is for 12 and its 2p. As I walk in - after hearing people say you can wait on line for more than 3 hours – I feel once again Someone is watching over me here. The museum is marvelous for Renaissance Art - - as I walked in I cried to be in the presence of what I so love. Isnt that what makes life meaningful and rich? The man who guided me said I may have also helped him cause I told him to see Cezanne in Florence exhibit – he could definitely take people to that – it was easy to get in there and just wonderful.
It rained yesterday and warm temp dropped and I have a cold – so I decided to get a warm sweater – without paying too much. Part of Florence is like 5th avenue NY with all the top designers stores. I came upon a place Blunauta and walked in – she speaks English and took out from back sweaters reduced and I got what I wanted really nice wool and cashmere half price for $35.
I am learning here being here what is really important and those things that make the Ego go round and round are not
This morning I change hotels and have reservation to see the David so I am hoping to leave my bags here and go…

In Florence with wireless and Art

May 2
life from the view of Venice

These are the amazing things happened last few days –
• First I am changing style of blog
• Got on all my trains just fine
• Took wrong stop in Firenze Florence and next train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station came in few minutes
• Found right people to direct me to hotel in Pisa – that was long walk
• Went to pay bill in Pisa – it was originally 85 euro – he asked me for 50 and said “discount”
• Almost all of Pisa closed yesterday for holiday of 1 May except near the leaning Tower and I found place for wireless internet walking into 3 star hotel that let me use it free
• Costs almost 15 euro - $20 to go into Leaning Tower and so I just walked around there – awesome experience despite the circus now there selling anything and everything
• Paid to use bathroom at Tower area
• Had marvelous dinner at small café last night and good low price
• Missed rain yesterday
• Got piccolo pink umbrella at train station in Firenze and its raining
• Got to the hotel easily and wireless internet for me in Florence Firenze
• No espresso yesterday
• I am in Florence for 3 days cause dropped one day in Pisa before getting there and really one day in Pisa is enough.
• That’s all for now