UpdateJune 12

 Greetings from a train traveling from Florence to Rome scooting along at 250km/hr. Train travel is very efficient and relatively inexpensive, I’m happy to report this will be our last train ride, we fly to Copenhagen in five days, stay overnight then SFO to Cool.

It has been wonderful, as I’ve shared before we’ve not stopped except to sleep. I will share with all the travel I’ve done in my life, there’s nowhere like California.

So far we’ve enjoyed nearly perfect weather. Jennifer’s planning has been amazing, not a hitch, nearly perfect.

A few observations. The crowds you read about are brutal. Tour groups are everywhere and forget squeezing through one. If you see someone with a flag or sign followed by 60 people with an amplifier around their necks and an earbud, beware. We have learned to “mosey” and never be in a hurry. 

The advent of the cell phone on the streets of Italy has made walking nearly impossible with people looking at their screens and not watching at all where they are going. People also think it’s okay to simply stop in the middle of the sidewalk/street damn those who are behind them. When you go into a museum, everyone is taking pictures of the art without even viewing. I’ve had so many phones put up in my face while looking at paintings and sculptures it’s been all I can do to remain in my happy moment. Before the phone with a camera folks used to just look with the occasional Nikon photographer snapping away. Now, everyone has a camera. I’ve often wonder if they really look at all those shots…

When I came to Italy in my 20’s there seemed to be many students, several rich older couples and the remainder locals. Lots of space, no lines and most businesses were local merchants. No longer, they’ve actually turned ancient buildings into shopping malls and every designer store imaginable. Quite sad from my perspective. 

There were no people from Asia, South America, Russia or Africa. Now, with social media and their new wealth, they make up 50% of tourist’s.

Go to Venice. Go to Verona. Avoid Florence. I’m scared of what awaits us in Rome… yesterday we blew out of town and visited several cities. More to come but it was a relief believe me.

We have visited gardens in every city so far and have seen two great symphony shows and one opera. Sounds like Jen huh?

Okay, I’m gunna sit back and enjoy the Tuscan scenery….