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Mmmmm… grapes for lunch in the Florentine heat of the day.

My last night perhaps in Florence. The heat has been off the charts, so I think… dizzying…. I’ve been lying low, indoors though have taken some photographs in the past day, might take some more if it cools down tonight.

This is a pretty city. Unfortunately, full of spoiled, pissy American girls in black dresses trying to be adults and drunk American boys yelling unintelligibly in the streets. I have to admit, being an American can be embarrassing when abroad, sad to say. Hearing people speak in English is actually annoying. No wonder they hate us. Though Giani, the concierge at this hotel, says American tourism is down because of the dollar. I guess money overrides even pissy attitudes. (more…)

Partial view out the window of the Tiffany Cafe in Milano.

Rather than spend the last 10 days trapped in Poland, which was great for the prior 10 days, I am now working my way back to London for the flight home. First stop, too late for my conference unfortunately, but nonetheless a requirement, is Italy. So another 10 days left, the impossibility of making it to my final conference in Helsinki a major disappointment, but making the best of it while in Italy en route to London. Working my way toward London is the most practical $$$ solution.

The flight from Krakow to Milan was the most comfortable, most spectacular, and most enjoyable flight I have ever taken, even if it was delayed 30 minutes. And the ticket from Volareweb.com was somewhat cheap, affordable I should say when the chips are down, just over $150 US, so I am on the clouds again, though sitting for the last few hours in the Tiffany Cafe where I have Internet access once more and am planning the rest of what is turning out to be a once-in-a-lifetime European journey.