indiglo
Free Hug Saturday
Liz and I ventured downtown today to steal some internet from Moyo, a rather trendy semi-expensive restaurant that lures us weekly with "free wireless". I can eat a delicious salad, answer email and waste away a beautiful Sunday afternoon for about 8euro. I was pleasantly surprised with many emails, thanks to all who try and keep in touch. I will eventually be able to respond, I swear. This weekend was exciting to say the least. On Friday Liz and I went to Viareggio, Italy's version of Long Beach. We ate an okay lunch and sadly realized that the murky, grey clouds were quite content blocking our precious sun; after an hour though they eventually sizzled away and we were greeted with a picturesque Friday afternoon, which we spent happily basking our buns. My bathing suit matched the umbrellas (in Italy you cannot just sit on the beach you must rent an umbrella, or beachbed, which we opted for the latter since it was cheaper). Liz took a picture and I eventually will post it. Thursday was Cosimo's very first birthday! We spent Friday night with the family, which turned into Olivia's father trying to fatten us and constantly give us alchohol. I honestly ate so much that I could not move or think for the remainder of the night. I was not given one piece of the teddy bear cake, but two, and then confronted with a fruit tart, which obviously could not go without being eaten. After we thought we were safe we were confronted with biscotti and then I had to wave a white flag in surrender because I feared I would implode. No one really spoke English, but surprisingly Liz and I managed okay. I can understand much more than I can speak. Saturday morning we were invited to join the family to go shopping at the outlets, just outside of Florence. We had heard fabulous stories of marvelous Prada deals, but were sadly disappointed and I left with only a pair of underwear. My wallet thanks me I'm sure. That afternoon I thought for sure I would sleep, but I became anxious and resolved it by going to the Uffizi. I saw Botticelli's The Birth of Venus as well as a piece by Hugo Van Der Goes. Amazing, absolutely Amazing. Botticelli's women are always so sad and removed from their contexts, it's fascinating. Last night we had hopes of leaving the apartment, but I was exhausted and sore so we watched Dexter (a new show Liz has me hooked on) since I've finished Lost. Today is lazy and I have well over two hundred pages of reading to do since next weekend WE ARE GOING TO LONDON!!!! I can't wait to see Vikki; I can, however; wait to turn twenty-one. A few days ago Mom said my muscles were malicious to me because I am "getting old, you know". Oh, Momma Mia.
A group of people I met yesterday that were giving away free hugs because "why not, they are good"
A man who was quite content sitting on top of his van in a piazza blaring Italian techo, which was actually catchy.
Il Duomo as seen from the Uffizi.