attention! this blog is from 3 days ago but because of internet problems, i am giving it to you NOW. enjoy!
to all my loyal readers (i am talking to you, Jen, and maybe my mom. mom, do you still read this?) i apologize for my complete lack of updates over the last week and some days. since my post about London i have been in 4 different cities in 3 countries. in this order - 4 days in Amsterdam, 3 days in Paris, 2 days in Milan, 2 days in Florence. and that's where i am now - Florence - reclining on my bed in a downtown hostel, my new friend Fernando watching horrible Italian TV. sidenote: why does every single show on Italian or Spanish TV feature a really weird looking middle-aged man in a suit and at least two young female co-hosts with HUGE breasts? i mean, i'm not complaining, just wondering.
here we go...after London time was done and i had eaten more than my share of fish and chips i took the train to Amsterdam. there i stayed with my good pal Sam (that's short for Samantha not Samuel). crazy times were had. the thing i loved the most about Amsterdam was that over 1/2 of all traffic is on a bike. a lot of the streets were so peaceful and kept that way by the lack of roaring engines. the Dutch know a thing or two about pollution control. and chocolate. and as they say, when in Amsterdam make sure you eat a lot of chocolate and ride a bike. so i did.
to all my loyal readers (i am talking to you, Jen, and maybe my mom. mom, do you still read this?) i apologize for my complete lack of updates over the last week and some days. since my post about London i have been in 4 different cities in 3 countries. in this order - 4 days in Amsterdam, 3 days in Paris, 2 days in Milan, 2 days in Florence. and that's where i am now - Florence - reclining on my bed in a downtown hostel, my new friend Fernando watching horrible Italian TV. sidenote: why does every single show on Italian or Spanish TV feature a really weird looking middle-aged man in a suit and at least two young female co-hosts with HUGE breasts? i mean, i'm not complaining, just wondering.
here we go...after London time was done and i had eaten more than my share of fish and chips i took the train to Amsterdam. there i stayed with my good pal Sam (that's short for Samantha not Samuel). crazy times were had. the thing i loved the most about Amsterdam was that over 1/2 of all traffic is on a bike. a lot of the streets were so peaceful and kept that way by the lack of roaring engines. the Dutch know a thing or two about pollution control. and chocolate. and as they say, when in Amsterdam make sure you eat a lot of chocolate and ride a bike. so i did.
the glorious canals of Amsterdam
my buddy Sam and the rooftops of the city
the graffiti hallway in the modern art museum
from Amsterdam i returned to Paris and rendevoused with Hannah (see London post) and my second cousin Eugene. i know, second cousins everywhere. to be honest, i have never understood the second cousin concept but i know Eugene and i are related in some ridiculous way, so there it is. Hannah and i stayed with an old couple who are friends of her father. the stay was incredible for several reasons: they are amazingly french - served us croissants and jam every morning, they are both professional violinists - so hanging out in the house while they were practicing was like a free concert, and their apartment was overlooking the Miro Gardens in the Latin Quarter - an interesting area for sure but having meals on the balcony overlooking the garden made it. Hannah and i had a lot of cheese and walked what can only be described as an eternity.
Notre Dame
the Louvre at night. so great.
the Tour de Eiffel at night. also great.
who's that lady?
Hannah trying to get me out of Paris with the
all-french speaking Eurorail Train staff.
by the way, this is taken from the balcony of the violinist's flat.
from Paris i took the overnight train to Milan to visit my cousin Maggie who is studying to become a mad scientist just like her dad. i think she told me her PhD is in Mad Scientistry. i could be wrong on that though. Milan is the capital of fashion for Italy and as far as i am concerned the WORLD. walking around in that city was like being on one giant catwalk. everyone, and i mean everyone, had designer sunglasses and tight pants. well, i guess for the girls it was more of a mini-shirt type season so that's the exception. once again, i am not complaing, just pointing it out. i did feel quite underdressed for what i guess is a 24/7 fancy occassion. you will all be proud to know that i didn't bother with the original Gucci store or the Luis Vuitton crap, i stuck with my jeans a t-shirt (which has been my uniform since i was 3) and went to all the old churches i could find. a lot more peaceful than trying to convince everyone around you that you are a bazillionaire.
the Duomo. probably the coolest building i have ever seen.
mr. da vinci
the frescoed interior of San Maurizio (built 1503)
completely italian guys fixing a completely italian scooter.
what i was really looking at in Milan.
i don't want to completely overdue it on this one post so i will just give you a teaser photograph. i think this is one of the best ones i took in Florence:
Florence at sunset.
and that's that for now. at some point in the next 2 days i will deliver you Florence, Nice, and Barcelona. caio and all that!
