Florentine Mix

Oh, to have been able to go to the museums yesterday!! It was a lovely sunny day -- the kind of day that you don't mind waiting in the sun. Though, I did do quite a bit of walking around and I visited the Duomo. As much as I really Don't Care If I See Another Cathedral or Church, it was really lovely and stunning -- from the tessera'd marble floor, to the high, high ceilings, to the inside of the fantastically painted dome.

I also bought a[nother] purse. I'm still on the lookout for shoes, but surprising have not found an affordable pair that I like. I've found €80 *sandals* that I like, but I don't have that kind of budget for sandals...

Today: Rain, and lots of it.

I had planned on getting an early start to try and beat the museum lines, but with the rain and a minor sore throat this morning, I decided to finish my book [that I started yesterday -- 700 pages......]. With the sun peeking out around noon, I 'started' my day. And now, a mere 90 minutes of arriving in the city center, it looks like my day is finishing.

The rain has started again. And of course, I'm wearing a completely inappropriate sleeveless top under my (of course) jean jacket.

Normally, the rain wouldn't bother me so much (after all, I am from Seattle), but with the sore throat and no cheap way of dressing warmer and protecting my throat, I will shortly be headed back to the hostel. Just as well, really, as I need to catch up on a few days journal writing, and that will take a while.

And I only have one more book in my backpack, anyway... I've been saving the Carl Hiassen, because I enjoy his books so very much. He's one of the few writers that can really make me actually laugh out loud while reading. I read a variety of Literature and contemporary fiction. Though, I've been pretty deprived of Literature for a while, and as much as I enjoy Chick Lit, I'm quickly starting to weary of it. Simply, it's generally easier to find in hostel book swap shelves than anything remotely challenging and deeper thought inspiring. If you catch my drift. I once picked up a Barbara Kingsolver novel, and was blown away by the exquisite writing. Why can't I find more like that???!?

I've become quite tangential these days, haven't I?

Anyway, I started a post last night, but my time on the hostel computer ended, so it was lost. I'd wanted to share the sunset from last night. It was a dusky, muted violet color, and lasted for ages. Shapes of clouds added depth and changed the violet-ness. It was truly beautiful and I rue that my camera didn't pick up the duskiness of the sky (side note: my camera does exceptionally well in low light situations, and it picked up a lot more light than what I could actually see with my eyes -- as such, the end result photo is much different than what I actually saw).

The only thing to mar the beauty of the sunset was The Americans. American college kids have Arrived in Europe. And I tell you, I don't like them one bit. I'm not found of hearing group sing-alongs to 'With or Without You' or impromtu singing of 'She Rocked Me All Night Long' (at least, I think that's the title of that song). And my god, can they drink!! I went to the bathroom about 5.30 yesterday morning, and saw dozens and dozens of beer cans and wine bottles littering the terrace tables. While reading by flashlight last night, I heard a couple get back to a tent close to mine. She was drunkenly berating him for something and it was getting towards fighting words. I think he caved a little and then distracted her by romancing her. I was thankful for the quiet. She told him (and all the tents surrounding theirs) that she was probably going to get sick 'later'. Thankfully, she had the grace to either avoid the bushes or to sleep through the night. Though, I know she woke up with a massive hangover because I heard her complaining about it this morning...

Then, there was the guy from the tent directly behind mine. Getting sick in the bushes (I've mentioned that I'm staying in a tent on a campsite, right?!), around 1am. At least it didn't smell, and today's rain will wash away, or at least dissipate the sick, instead of sun coming out and fermenting it. Ick.

Anywayyyyy. I was going to head to Milan tomorrow, before going to Germany on the weekend to visit some friends I met in Argentina. However, I am determined to see David, and I can't *not* go to the Uffizi Museum. That just is not possible.

So, my jacket is soaked and the thunder and rain seem to have slightly abated. For the moment.

Which means it's time for me to run to the bus stop and head back to the hostel, put on some warm and dry clothes (I only have a little cardigan...), curl up under my blankets and catch up on my journal writing. I've made a pact with myself that I cannot start reading another book until I catch up on my personal writing.

As a child, one of my father's friends once told me if I ran fast enough, I could run between the raindrops and not get wet.

Wish me luck!