Bologna

Well, after hearing that Bologna is one of the culinary capitals of the world, we decided to take a brief detour from Florence to Venice and stop by for a day. After walking around for a bit and stopping for some coffee, we found a restaurant and settled in for our typical 4 hour long lunch. I had a simple pasta cooked with broccoli and it was perfect. Apparently everyone else's fish/duck was excellent so it turned out being a trip worth taking. We walked around a little more, discovered AfroWorld, a little gem of a shop selling Afro friendly beauty products (COCOA BUTTER!), and took the afternoon train out to Venice.



Current Musik: "Be Here" Raphael Saadiq

Florence

We arrived in Florence via shady, midnight train and spent 3 cold and rainy days soaking up everything Firenze had to offer. While we made sure we saw Il Duomo, The Baptistery (with the famous bronze doors), Ponte Vecchio, and Santa Croce (so many famous people buried there, I posted Machiavelli's above), we had the pleasure of also visiting their famous Leather School, a few art galleries and museums and even hiked up a ways to see a view of the city by sunset. We were blessed to meet up with a couple of friends, do Tarot Readings in an Irish Pub and get chased through the streets by a bunch of dancing Hari Krishanas. But all in all it was one of my favorite spots in Italy. I will say I am a bit Jesused out and could do without seeing a Virgin Mary and anything gilded for awhile.



Current Musik: Julieta Venegas (con Anita Tijoux!) "Eres Para Mi"

Rome, Italy

Now this is where I sound like a total brat: I was underwhelmed by Rome. Did the cold, rainy, weather in January have something to do with it? Or the fact that we were staying in Ostia (a 30 minute train ride out of the city)? Maybe. But, to be honest, the Spanish Steps, Colosseum and Pantheon had been so hyped up for me before, that seeing them in person wasn't as 'magical' as anticipated. After six years of studying Latin and being a bit of a mythology geek I had seen more pictures, documentaries, films and books about Roman culture and history than I would care to admit. I will say, however, that our New Year's Eve was fabulous and the gelato throughout our Italian trip was spot on.

Maybe Italy is better seen in the sun? Who knows? If my imaginary, rich uncle ever shows up and decides to send me back and pay the way, I'll let you know.



Current Musik: Dessa's "Dixon's Girl"