Okay... so I am sooo frustrated... last night I had written THE BEST entry all about how Firenze is in my heart... what I learned about life living here 11 years ago... and on and on and on... maybe a little too much ... and then my computer died... and I lost my adapter... ahhhh, well maybe it's a blessing... I did write a bit... and get a little mooshy...  no one probably would have wanted to read all of it anyways...   (it was defintely longer than most entries if you can believe it)

so I'll  just leave it at.. Florence will always be in my heart and this trip just solidifies it more...  I feel at home here walking the streets it makes me stop and take a deep breath and feel alive!

SO a quick recap of yesterday ...  zipping around Roma in Giuseppe's fast little convertable... a beautiful train ride through the country... and then.. FIRENZE  where my dear friend Nadia (11 years ago she took me to get my nose pierced) picked me up and took me to her "straight out of the movies" veranda for a homemade lunch of pasta and wine... a quick tour of the city via scooter...  and then an evening dinner (at 11:30 p.m.) overlooking the city with a group of Italians... discussing life, love, and well... does anything else matter...



Note.. .my impersonation of Eric Estrada  ala CHIPS with my hot scooter helmet ...  and the last pic is a view from my terrace where I stayed...  man am I lucky... not bad for couch surfing.. eh?!?!

I am back in Italia... ahhhh... I can breathe a little easier. I love this country. I first studied here when I was 18 ... then again when I was 20... and then a couple years ago shot my first destination wedding here...  so this place ALWAYS has a special meaning in my heart.

Well.. I arrived in Roma this afternoon and was met by my very old friend Giuseppe.. I met him on a train going to southern Italy in 1998.. haven't seen him since then... and here I am being graciously hosted by he and his gorgeous girlfriend Giorgia...  its amazing how you can truly have connections that last a life time.. after all these years

As I had mentioned I thought I might have a lot less pics.  Well I was right since the evening was mostly spent catching up and eating dinner.. as you do here!!  We also went and saw Angels & Demons... a movie.. while traveling... it was actually kind of cool considering it was all filmed in Roma and we walked out of the theater directly into one of the main piazza's they filmed in...

Tomorrow.. off to Firenze... so if italy is close to my heart... it is Firenze that holds the key... AND my dear old friend Nadia is picking me up at the train station... she was my Italian "local" friend when I was 20 and living in Firenze...  and here we are 11 years later...


 

Here are a few last images of life in Slovenia... 

I am now sitting at the Budapest airport... waiting for my flight to Roma...  from then more pics (but I'll be honest...  I may not be taking my camera along with me AS MUCH... here is where my vacation begins...but don't worry I won't leave you hanging)!!

Until Roma y Italia..

ciao amici...
A

Yesterday... my last day in Slovenia, Andrej, Katarina, and Lina took my mother and I to the small little Adriatic Coast of Slovenia.. everyone thinks Croatia has all the coastline... but oh no.. my Slovenia has a beach too.. and as the pics will show a beautiful one at that... 

We went to Piran, the oldest coast town (oldest of what.. not sure?... but its old).. It was a great little transition into Italia since every sign was written in Slovenian & Italian, ... my perfect mix...

We also went to this really cool Castle (Grad in Slovenian) that is built into the cliffs... kind of reminded me of Lord of the Rings...

Oh what a wonderful way to end my trip in this country... until I can return.. hopefully next time with more relatives from Cleveland... (yes I'm talking to you my dear cousins)...

So as you've seen I have been spending a lot of time with my older Slovenian relatives... well the other night I spent the evening with my cousin Andrej, his lovely (and hysterical) wife Katarina... and their adorable little girl Lina...  finally an evening where I can speak English...

Those of you in America may be thinking .. wow Andrejka is soooo adventurous traveling off to the far reaches of Eastern Europe... formerly Yugoslavia.. formerly communist country...  well... I'm going to let you in on a little secret (and possibley blow my "coolness" cover)...  they live VERY similar...  we drank beer... talked about hockey (Redwings of course) and the Celtics were playing in the background... and also listened to a little Kid Rock & Sweet Home Alabama... needless to say it was quite an enjoyable evening... but there was defintley slovenian food on the table...

Thanks again you guys...  so...you know the goal...  by next April..!!  See you soon!
Ce veda...  gremo gor..  pivo

Love,
A

Here some adroble pics of LIna... they even give their "little master" baths... just like us!