Tracy and I saved the Sistine Chapel for Thursday morning, thinking we would see it right before we left for Firenze (Florence). Up early, dressed, packed and ready to be at the gates for the 8:45am opening. Turns out to be some random Catholic holiday, Tracy (a Catholic) didn't know what it was, so the Chapel was closed. Yup, that's right, we went to Rome and MISSED Michelangelo's famed ceiling. Guess I'll have to come back some day. On to Florence...

A mere 90 minute train ride later and we arrived in lovely Florence with no where to stay and hostels booking fast. We were solicited in the train station (a common way to find a hotel), made our way over what might have been sketchy accommodations and were interrupted by a young English-speaking student. We were re-directed to a hostel right in downtown Florence close to the Duomo. Despite her awful directions, we found the place. A bit damp and dark, but cheap. I stayed one night (last night) and decided to pay 5 more euro to stay in a brighter and cleaner hostel the next building over. I've been fairly surprised by my tolerance of moldy showers and well-worn mattresses. Those of you who know me may be surprised as well by how much dirt and messiness I've endured. It has been hard to resist the urge to clean-up after fellow hostel guests :-) But every now and again, I need a clean, well-lit place.

As usual, lots of young travelers at the hostel. We bought bottles of wine and hung out at one of Florence's many piazzas with a group of French-speaking Canadians. While we were people-watching some random Catholic ritual proceeded through the piazza - robes, candles, singing nuns and priests, etc, paraded by us and around the Duomo. We have no idea what it was, and why it was taking place at 10:30pm!

The weather gets hot during the day (with no beach near by), but the evenings are lovely. Short-sleeves and shorts are okay well into the night. No humidity either. I've heard about the Boston weather. Sorry friends. If it is any consolation, there are mosquitoes in Italy, and I've got a few bites from Rome and Florence.

I went to the Uffizi gallery today and saw more Renaissance art in two hours than I think I have in all my museum visits and art history classes. In an hour Tracy and I have tickets to see David. I think we are done with museums for a while. We plan to go to Siena tomorrow for the day, then leave Florence on Sunday, stop at Pisa and head to the Cinque Terre (Italian Riviera - beaches!). I'm looking forward to getting away from cities.