cut and paste which didnt make it

from florence and more...

medici chapels...burial site of medici family...one fo my favs in florence...most incredible frescos in its dome of depicting Christianity from creation to resurrection

duomo...city cathedral...3rd longest nave in christiandom...facade of red, green and white marble

church of santa croce...tombs here of michelangelo and galileo...i sat down to rest my weary hooves on the cool marble...looked down, realized resting on the tomb of a pinelli...perhaps an ancestor...daddy we should ask lucille morris if there are pinellis in the tree

ufizzi gallery...almost...no was...overwhelming...so much fine art...my fav...adoration of the maji by lippi...better than da vince.

ponte vechhio...famous shoppnig bridge...silver, gold, pearls too

church of santa maria novella...near train station...had been in so many churches by this time i really couldnt appreciate it

pitti palace, sumptuous home to medicis and hapsburgs...countless palatial rooms with lots of guilding and chandeliers. gardens as well which i didnt tour but ed did and was eat up with mosquitos

santo spirito church. my fav in florence 2 blocks from hostel...carved wooden crucifix attributed to michelangelo was on loan to another museum

sat pm, walked, wht a hike, up past the plaza of michelangelo to the san miniato church high on a hill above the city. well worth it, most incredible views of the city. st minias, martyred, died here, buried here. 530 mass was gregorian chants...very relaxing and soothing...left after the erman with new friends mike and lindsay from vancouver. service held in crypt behind-beneath the altar...acoustics were perfect. one of the monks started blowing his nose...repeatedly...think that was the hint for the preaching monk to cut it short.

walked with mike and lindsay down to the pontevecchio, he is in real estate...sounds like market there is better than in US. he is 50 and is at a similar place in life as i have been...so very nice...told me about the cinque terra, inspiring me to drop venice...at least for now...and go there...i must email them info i have on paris restaurants for their time there



rome

roma pass was well worth the 25 euro...gave access to all buses, metro and 2 free museum entrances plus discounts at many others. valdid for 3 days, perfect for my time there


visited colosseum late in the day...pefect, pass then good for the next day at forum and pallentine hill

colosseum, when opened, featured 100 days of celebrations, gladiators, etc...5,000 wild beasts were killed and lots of people too...must have been a lot cheaper than keeping cons on death row..but i digress. an imposing, impressife structure

forum and pallentine hill. most amazed at lack of security and assistance...seem to have the attidude that...remants have been here for thousands of years...so have at it. not like in florece at accademia and ufizzi. also amayed that so much was concentrated in such a small area...from teh temple of ceasar, his grave, the senate house, temple of saturn and more

used back door from rick steves guidebucook to enter victor emmanual monument saving me from climbing 242 steps...though truly at this point...242 would be nothing

usually travel with my clock out on the train...without the crackberry i have no concept of time...stopped wearing a watch last fall when the battery died...the clock is actually just a clock since the alarm doesnt work...you can bet i will return it to rei upon return to raleigh

hard to say what item (s) bes tin pack...water bottle is used most often...especially with all the clean water in italy bursting fourt from drinking fountains all over...the rei wool socks are great...hankies are mighty handy and ziploc bags, in qt, gal and super size have been essential for toiletries, wet soap, shoes etc...

hughie macdonald, brother of college friend trisha macdonald cox, loaned me the backpack, aka george. i havent seen another like it on the journey thus far. made by eagle creek, it is durable, has lots of compartments with great straps-support saving the back and actually wraps around the waist over the pants pockets givign additional protection from pick pockets.