Currently in Italy...

but still on Virginia time! You know you want a run-down on my insane day that started at 6:30am friday, which is totally worth the stamp in my passport!
My mom and kids drove me up to Dulles airport and said their goodbyes at the curb, surprisingly enough I didn't cry. I was terrified of the airport though! Last time I flew was just before 9/11, we're talking 13 years people. That airport has changed a great deal, and I don't mean the addition of the TSA people. Obviously I made it through that massive maze of a terminal. The beast part was finding a Fuddruckers burger place to have my dinner.

My flight was uneventful, but the first half hour was like a roller coaster with the constant altitude changes. I had to stop reading and just watched movies. Yes, I said movies.... you try sleeping in economy, as in 5 rows from the back economy. I did make friends with the guy sitting on my right and tried to help the little old Asian lady on my left watch a movie (which she couldn't on her screen, so she watched her husbands).

Paris..... why are you so dark at 8am?!? My clock was already starting to be off because of the serious

lack of sleep. I tried, but it was more of random power naps. Anyways, that guy I got friendly with had to catch a connecting flight as well, and it was in the same area as my gate, so we became traveling buddies to get through an even bigger maze of an airport. down, then a metro rail ride, then up again, then a long walk to the area that generally serves the connections we were trying to catch. That is where I said my goodbyes and then updated my Facebook status so the family could know I was ok. And, just so you know, Paris was freezing.

My horrid connecting flight was only bad cause it was an hour late, my ear felt like exploding, I was so very tired, and needed some food. A quick nap (at least I think it was quick) a much needed coke and bread thingies and I was feeling better. Soon after that we landed. Florence's airport is fantastically small and easy to navigate.....

so you wanna see pictures? Of course you do. I took over 83 tonight. I won't post all 83, that would be silly, but I will post a few places we went tonight, the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge, and the most awesome dinner I have had in a long time (maybe I think that because I was super hungry.... )

My room for the next 10 days.... it's sparsely elegant.

Yes, the beds are that close.... we moved them.

Small, but it fits my needs greatly.

 Which was a nice hot shower and brushing my teeth!

First meeting in our hotels restaurant. Two ladies were missing; one had to drop out due to her husband getting ill and the other wasn't due in for another half hour

Checking out our AMAZING view from the roof top cafe. Don't worry, I'll get some great night time shots for you.

 Street view from our hotel's entrance

 Guess who I can't get away from!!! This was in a book store next door to the hotel.

My first purchase on the trip (if you don't count the taxi ride)... but which book did I buy for my babies?

Went to a store called Il Papiro and watched this woman make paper patterns with gelatin and colors. REALLY cool

 The inside of Santa Felicita, a church just around the corner

 The Ponte Vecchio bridge, sorry for the blur. I couldn't see anything well enough to get into sharp focus.

 Getting ready to walk the bridge

 View from the bridge

Who doesn't like to end the tour on a happy note of children on a carousel. This little trip around the neighborhood was just to get us acquainted with some good (cheap) places to eat and to go to if we are in need of some supplies.





UNFORTUNATELY, I left the cord for my little digital camera at home.... so there will be no photos of the yummy food today (just now discovered that). Let me just tell you, the food was unbelievable, and that is not the raging hunger talking. So now, I must sleep! Going on 34 hours of being up.