Wow, Catching Up!!

So far, we have Roma, Florence, Lake Como, Lake Magorrie, Venice, Pisa, Assisi, San Giacomo, Murano, and some other places I cannot remember right now. The wine in Italy is excellent, inexpensive and I have consumed a lot today.

This is the first day I have really had internet without restrictions. No internet in Venice. There were a few internet cafe's but nothing in the hotel. Internet is a new thing for much of Italy. Swisscom has a monopoly and it costs about $15 Euro for 24 hours. Tonight it is free :)

Is there anybody out there?

Our driver, Francesco, drive like a fighter pilot. He shoots the needle like nothing I have seen. Not aggressive, just precise. He is my hero next to F-1 race drivers.

So, what about a bus tour? Well, you like it or you do not. The pace is not for the faint of heart not for photographers. We have seen so much but we have not had a chance to really experience the culture.

So, what about the food? Well, on the tour, the food has been poor. It is OK to good by North American standards but not anything like the healthy food we read about. The breakfast consists of powdered eggs, bacon that is merely warm (NOT COOKED) and cereal or smoke meat. Can you spell coronary? We will see if it is just an American thing or the real Italian food.

The only night we had a super duper meal was in Tuscany at a restaraunt where the cook made a custom meal. Very very very nice. That was the highlight of the food so far.

The hotels range from OK to stunning. In Venice, the hotel smelled like musty rot (not in the rooms). In Lake Magorie, the hotel was 5 star, phasers on stun, spectacular, wow, wow, wow. Simply the best so far and not likely topped.

The trip so far has been fine. The folks on the bus are great and the activities have been worth the extra cost. The pace, sucks. No other way of putting it I guess. Would I do another bus tour? Let;s leave that for a month after I return to Canada.

The fact that the cities in Italy have been populated for over 3000 years is hard to imagine. In Canada, we have had, what, 300 years of history (modern, non-aboriginal history). Multiply by a factor of 10 and you have Italy. It is hard to absorb in the short time we have been her so far. Very very cool.

I have to mention Venice. There are 60,000 people living in Venice. During the peak times, that number rises to 2,000,000 and that must such if you are a venetian. The city floods regularly and is sinking. It is not as dirty as what I was led to believe. Aside from the musty rot in our hotel, you don't notice the damp and smell. Sooooooo much history.

Well, the only thing left for tonight is to post some images. I hope y0u enjoy :)