Under the Tuscan oven..

We hoped on the our train out of Roma in the early afternoon around 1:15pm. Sometime 4 hours and 19 regional stops later we arrived in Florence under a mild 93 degree day. We took our usual wonder around the train station trying to get our barings and in typical fashion we managed to wonder for half an hour with heads to the skies until we found our street. We should have known from the sights of the check in desk this hostel would be trouble. We calmly walked in the front door and stood among the masses for nearly an hour until finally it was our turn. We provided the proper identification and to the receptionist confused look we knew it wasnt good. Apperently, hostelworld.com, the website we use for all of bookings, had created 4 seperate reservations for our stay in Florence. We dealt with quite a bit of confusion and bit more standing around but eventually made our way to room 410. It was the first air conditioned room since Barcelona and we couldnt have been more excited. It took no time at all to become friends once again with our new found roommates. Collectively we represented the North American continent 2 Americans, 2 Canadians, and 2 mexicans. We also had a 45 year old Aussie sleeping in the corner but we didnt count him. We had heard of an amazing bar/pub that offered 8 euros for a drink and all you eat buffet. The entire room dined together as we shared stories of all our different travels and viewpoints. The men of the group were extremely excited for this dinner as the pub had the Italian fashion network on in the background portraying scantily clad women across the wall.

The next day Mal and I wondered the streets as we usually do. We found our way to the famous piazza mercato centrale and spent most of the afternoon wandering the boothes. After nearly 3 hours of bargaining with vendors Mal was done shopping and Mike was done traveling... The early evening included wondering through the Dromo, the steps of the Uffizi, the ponte vecchio, and the steps of the Pitti Palace. As our stomachs moaned for more gelato we found ourselves once again dining at the Kitsh pub/buffet. Pleasently surprised to see a new array of fine dining items we gorged ourselves worse the night before. We leisurely strolled back to the hostel and enjoyed the last 5 minutes of 2.50 pint specials by each buying 2. Our roommates joined and kindly asked if we were saving the seats for other people since we had four beers and with no hesitation we laughed and told them they were all ours. We enjoyed the conversation and indulged in aother glass of wine, they sell it for 5 euro a bottle on the terrace, and realized the hostel bar had turned into a full blow party around us. Being completely worn out from the Tuscan sun and daily half marathons of walking we headed for bed. As we headed towards our room the terrace bar closed and we were immediately thrown into what seemed to be the running of the bulls as they headed for the basement bar. We made it safely and calmly fell asleep to the pulsating sensation of European techno.

Our last day in Florence was another easy one; spent booking hostels, updating blogs, and strolling the sights we hadnt seen. We made it the Academia gallery, where Michelangelo's david is, and had no desire to stand in the 40 minute line. We substituted David for the lesser known fake versions all around the city. Tonight, we are headed to piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset over Florence.

Tomorrow, we head for Venice for the night then off to Switzerland the following day. We can't believe how fast this trip is going and realized before long we will be right back in the states. Honestly there will be tons of pictures to see when we get home, uploading hasnt been accesible in a while.

Things we learned in Florence:
1) under the Tuscan sun literally means under the Tuscan bakers oven from hell.
2) gelato is a food group
3) don't create 4 reservations on hostel world, you will have to move rooms 3 times like mike.
4)French Canadians are a strange group of people.....
5) my cousin Jen got engaged.

Things we loved in Florence:
1) Buffets that offer drinks dining for 8 euros.
2) Air conditioning, we honestly dont see how people lived without it.
3) finally accepting the european walking pace
4) finally having an American sized shower again.
5) appreciating the renissance artwork while being completely lost in Florence.

Much love and safe travels to the Harnagel family and crew as they head for their third Ride the Rockies.

love and miss you all especially OBIE,

m&m