Strange Things About Europe, Volume 10
1) I love the British accent, but after a while it becomes very irritating.
2) The Brits drive on the wrong side of the road, which is weird enough. But the entrance for the Victoria Train Station is on the right side of the road (which is the wrong side of the road for them). And every time I crossed that street (which was numerous) I almost died because I looked the wrong way.
3) Walking down the streets of London inexplicably made me want to sing. “Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-oo! I do what I likes, and I likes what I do!”
4) About 2/3 of London is either closed or being restored.
5) Walking through St. James Park, I saw some kids flying a kite, and once again I felt like singing. “Let’s go fly a kite. Up to the highest height. Let’s go fly a kite and send it soaring. Up through the atmosphere. Up where the air is clear. Oh, let’s go fly a kite!”
6) It’s actually more difficult to go through customs in Italy than it is in Cuba.
7) I felt like more of an international traveler than ever when I looked into my wallet and found three currencies (pounds, euros, and dollars).

I have returned to Florence after a wonderful weekend in England. I have such a story to tell. You’d better get comfortable for this one.

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Strange Things About Europe, Volume 9
1) In general, Europeans really like Americans.
2) In general, Europeans really hate the American government.

This was a weekend to remember, for a number of reasons. Rome was amazing. I will have stories to tell people from this weekend for the rest of my life.

Friday morning at the crack of dawn I was up and ready to go to Rome. We took a bus there which took 3 1/2 hours. That was probably the only rotten part of the trip. I tuned out the rest of the world with my music for most of the trip, but my legs were crammed behind the seat in front of me.

Our hotel should have been really nice. It was a four star hotel (the one in Florence is a three star), but Paulo and I were put in the old wing. Our room was a piece of junk, but at least it had comfortable beds and working air conditioning.

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Strange Things About Europe, Volume 7
1) Men who wear Capri pants and think it looks good.
2) On the train ride from Sorrento to Naples we were made fun of by an Italian teenager. He did this by asking us what time it was in English. That’s killer material man.
3) Italian children in general are strange, I’ve decided.

Quote of the Day: “Brooke, I heard you was pregnant!” — Brooke Hayes, who was herself quoting someone else from her high school days. It’s a long story.

I’ve got a lot to talk about, so get comfortable.

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Strange Things About Europe, Volume 6
1) While riding a gondola our gondolier was singing a traditional Italian song. Then he broke into the chorus of Like A Virgin.

Quote of the Day: “It sounds like fun. I get to go to Quito and the Galapagos. And get high on whatever made Darwin think up evolution.” — My sister Alison, talking about her possible summer 2005 trip to Ecuador. She has officially been elevated to coolest person of the day.

So Venice… incredible. Beautiful. I’m speechless. But what would a blog be without a speech?

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Strange Things About Europe, Volume 4
1) I saw a women riding a bike and talking on a cell phone at the same time. Somehow that just seems stranger and worse than talking on a cell phone while driving.

So today was our excursion to Siena. You know, I really don’t have much to say about it. It was another beautiful city in a beautiful country. I think that just goes to show that I’m really spoiled by being hear. Siena is the kind of beauty that should be able to make me weak at the knees. Instead, it’s on the same level of beauty as most of the other cities I’ve been to. It wasn’t boring or anything; I’m glad I went. I just find it interesting that these trips are starting to become the norm in my mind.

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