The last couple days...

Yesterday afternoon (after I last blogged) I actually went inside Il Duomo for the first time. It is big inside! Very impressive in that way. And there are amazing paintings on the inside of the dome, it was beautiful. I just stood there for a minute or two trying to observe as many of the details as I could. I don't even remember exactly how I spent the rest of the afternoon... all those days in downtown Firenze are blending together. I think I had some more gelato though... mmm yes that sounds right.

I had the night at home to myself, because Federico, Cristina, and Lisa went to a birthday party for someone they know. I used the time to relax and go on the internet. This morning I got to sleep nice and late (til 10), and ate a leisurely breakfast and took a long shower. Then I went downtown and tried to send some mail. I say tried because I hope I did it properly... we'll have to see. I also had some lunch at a bookstore that I have visited a couple times. Then I took the bus out of the city up to Fiesole, the town where Georgetown's Villa is located. I will go there another time, but for today my main goal was to go to the "Campionato di Vino" - a wine tasting event in the Roman Theater in Fiesole. I got there a bit early, so I wandered some and went inside the cathedral there, which was also cool. At the actual event, I tried three types of wine - two Chiantis and one Carmignano... or maybe Carmignano is the place where it comes from. I don't know for sure. In any case, it was a good experience... even just being old enough to participate finally! (Here at least... I am beating the system!)

After Fiesole I took the bus back to near the house and checked out the park nearby, which was neat. There was a view of Firenze from the top part. While I was there, my parents called my cell and we talked for a bit. As I thought, it is indeed free to receive calls for me, and I think they arranged to have a rate of $0.09 to call me. I got back to the house around 6 pm. Cristina and Lisa are on a weekend trip to an amusement park somewhere in Piemonte (3 or so hours away), but Federico came home from work in the evening and made dinner for me. I still don't know exactly what he does...

Tomorrow will be a full and long day - it's the day I go to Cinque Terre!! I am so excited, but it will be an early start. I am just going to try to be ready for adventure and fun and take it all in!

Going to go now... before long I will get off the computer and go to bed!

Buona notte a tutti! (Good night everyone!)