i thought chicago was the windy city

Ugh. Lousy hostels. Fell asleep at midnight, awoken at 6 am by alarm of moron sleeping above Amy. Moron did not even have decency to wake up with alarm. Awoken again at 6:30 by old moron in other bunk of room falling out of bed. Unable to get back to sleep. Grrrrrrrrr. Got out of bed at 8, finally. Amy woke up at 6, too. Ate breakfast yogurt (yum!), bunkmate Josie offered us toast, also good. Josie invited us to English-speaking mass at St. Susanna, American Catholic church. Nice service, received palms as was Palm Sunday. Gospel a bit scary as read in dialogue format, disciples read by 5 people in manner of Borg. Peter had Irish accent. Amy & I stuck out like sore Protestant thumbs as did not go up for communion. Donuts & pastries after service-- go American traditions!

After service did 'historical tour' of St. Susanna's. Many graphic paintings of martyrs w/ heads chopped off. Went wandering after church. Saw men w/ foil thermal blankets, realized Rome Marathon was today. Still v. windy and cold, lousy marathon weather. Ended up at other End of Forums that did not see on Fri. because too tired. Street by ruins was end of Marathon, many runners. Big plaza had festival going on, all kinds of dance. Europeans trying to square-dance is just wrong, even wronger than Twinkies trying to square-dance.

Went up on big chariot-topped monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, crazy windy. Awful weather but gorgeous view. Took pics, went right back down. Wandered back to Beehive to get bags, ate at Termini cafeteria (stupid overpriced food). Gigantic scare when realized at 4:05 that train left at 4:10, not 4:40. Ran like mad, caught train (barely). Long train ride, delayed 70 min by 2 mechanical problem stops. Called Daniela at Florence hotel w/ cellphone of nice American in next seat so she would know we were late. Found out weird Rome protest yesterday was big demonstration by many political parties against proposed labor reforms.

Arrived in Florence OK. New city v. sketchy after dark, sure it will not be like that in daytime. Daniela v. nice, has cute baby. Grabbed my glasses & unzipped purse (baby, not Daniela). Room is perfect, cute, has table, fridge, and bath with shower, eve if shower is over toilet (v. weird, not sure how that will work). Did not want to venture outside for food so ate Amy's granola bars (v. good). Going to bed soon, v. tired & whole new city tomorrow!

i thought chicago was the windy city

Ugh. Lousy hostels. Fell asleep at midnight, awoken at 6 am by alarm of moron sleeping above Amy. Moron did not even have decency to wake up with alarm. Awoken again at 6:30 by old moron in other bunk of room falling out of bed. Unable to get back to sleep. Grrrrrrrrr. Got out of bed at 8, finally. Amy woke up at 6, too. Ate breakfast yogurt (yum!), bunkmate Josie offered us toast, also good. Josie invited us to English-speaking mass at St. Susanna, American Catholic church. Nice service, received palms as was Palm Sunday. Gospel a bit scary as read in dialogue format, disciples read by 5 people in manner of Borg. Peter had Irish accent. Amy & I stuck out like sore Protestant thumbs as did not go up for communion. Donuts & pastries after service-- go American traditions!

After service did 'historical tour' of St. Susanna's. Many graphic paintings of martyrs w/ heads chopped off. Went wandering after church. Saw men w/ foil thermal blankets, realized Rome Marathon was today. Still v. windy and cold, lousy marathon weather. Ended up at other End of Forums that did not see on Fri. because too tired. Street by ruins was end of Marathon, many runners. Big plaza had festival going on, all kinds of dance. Europeans trying to square-dance is just wrong, even wronger than Twinkies trying to square-dance.

Went up on big chariot-topped monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, crazy windy. Awful weather but gorgeous view. Took pics, went right back down. Wandered back to Beehive to get bags, ate at Termini cafeteria (stupid overpriced food). Gigantic scare when realized at 4:05 that train left at 4:10, not 4:40. Ran like mad, caught train (barely). Long train ride, delayed 70 min by 2 mechanical problem stops. Called Daniela at Florence hotel w/ cellphone of nice American in next seat so she would know we were late. Found out weird Rome protest yesterday was big demonstration by many political parties against proposed labor reforms.

Arrived in Florence OK. New city v. sketchy after dark, sure it will not be like that in daytime. Daniela v. nice, has cute baby. Grabbed my glasses & unzipped purse (baby, not Daniela). Room is perfect, cute, has table, fridge, and bath with shower, eve if shower is over toilet (v. weird, not sure how that will work). Did not want to venture outside for food so ate Amy's granola bars (v. good). Going to bed soon, v. tired & whole new city tomorrow!