Adventure is Out There: A dream come true

We woke up and traveled to Florence today. Maybe it's the heat or maybe the time change (although we've adjusted pretty good) but we woke up exhausted again today. We had to pack up from the hostel and catch our first train to Florence.

At 8:00 it already felt like 97 degrees with extreme humidity. Our navigation to the train stations was a true challenge. Super Nel and I were both tired, hot, hungry and had no clue how to navigate the trains. Also less and less people we encounter speak English and if you say one or two words in Italian they assume you are fluent in Italian and start talking quickly. The first train place we checked into said we had the wrong company. At this point Super Nel starts freaking out. I blame the heat and exhaustion. We were both frustrated and got snappy (bound to happen). But then we found the right train, apologized and all was right again.

On board the train we made breakfast. We're trying to save some money on meals so we'd bought some bread the day before for 1 euro and I'd packed some peanut butter packets (very hard to find in Europe) and we had stashed jelly packets away from our 1st class plane ride. Yesterday we found a market and picked up some grapefruit and bananas. Breakfast of champions.

We arrived in Florence at 10am and stashed our luggage at the train baggage area. We walked over to the Gallery del Academia with our day packs and by the time we arrived we were soaking wet with sweat. It was even hotter in Florence than Venice.

At the Academia we entered via the pre-purchased ticket line (really-why wouldn't you pre-book your tickets?? The lines are hours long, around the block and in the heat!). Inside we made a mad dash to see the David statue. It takes your breath away! I don't care how many pictures of this statue you see in your lifetime-until you've looked up at Michelangelo's masterpiece nothing compares. What was really great is that there are other slabs of marble represented next to David that were made by Michelangelo. You can see how he practiced to make the David. His David is perfect and its hard to believe that it was chiseled from stone. The hands and feet look real and you can even see the veins in his arms (easy stick by my nursing standards).

After enjoying David we looked at other pieces of art and toured the marble room. Again it was hot everywhere in the museum.

One observation I made that gave feel feelings of sadness was an American tour group of 30 high schoolers. I heard the instructor ask if anyone wanted to join her in the next exhibit. A handful of teens went with her. The rest stayed behind to sit and listen to their iPods. It felt wasteful. I would of loved to have come to Italy at their age and yet I feel like they have no appreciation for the beauty they're surrounded by. Maybe this is what happens with age-we appreciate the old stuff a lot more.

After the Academia we headed to our hotel. It was early afternoon and when we arrived in the little town of Signa we were ready for a Siesta. But we still had to find a bus or taxi to get us to our hotel. This town is small and out in the country and quiet. It was exactly what we wanted. A hotel called us a cab and while waiting we met an older gentlemen about 70 years old. He speaks only Italian and we proceeded to converse with him. He started by asking if we needed a ride but I said we had a taxi coming. He thought I said "We need a taxi" and proceeded to tell me how he does taxi work as a side job. Once we explained we already had a taxi he said he'd take us if the taxi didn't show up soon. Then he asked if Super Nel was Bolovian and I explained that he's Filipino. The man wanted to know if he's from Manilla. We said yes just because it was easier to explain. Then we all began the craziest game of charades that discussed if we were married (no-not yet) if the man is married (yes but his wife passed away-very sad) and if we're Catholic (me-no Super Nel yes). It was a great conversation.

We finally arrive at our hotel that is in the middle of nowhere-again perfection. It's a huge old renovated farmhouse. The family is very hospitable and they offer us a suite for no extra charge. Our room is huge with a fabulous view. The rooms are all named after artists and ours is called "The Michelangelo suite." As soon as we enter our room it starts pouring rain outside. I don't mean a San Diego rain. I mean super hard rain with loud thunder and lighting. It last about 45 minutes and we laid down with the window open just enjoying the sounds. Siesta time! It lasted longer than we expected but out bodies obviously needed it. We woke up in time to make it to the restaurant. The grounds of the hotel are gorgeous. All outdoors and hiking trails and a pool!

Our meal was like no other. The best meal I've had yet. The waitress was very kind. What's better than eating yummy food and listening to 80's music pop music? Listening to 80's pop music while drinking wine and eating all the local foods from Tuscany. We has a Tuscany platter (salami, prochutto, olives, peppers, pâté, and bruschetta), spaghetti with meat sauce, beef and potatoes and chicken/rabbit and Italian tempera veggies. And lots of local chianti. I love prie fix menus.

As Super Nel and I sat at dinner I couldn't help but think about life and what it took to get to this moment. It took a lot perseverance and endurance. There's so many moments in life when we encounter a challenge or something difficult. And it's so easy to say "I'm done. I can't deal with this. I don't want to." And believe me-I've said before (in fact some of you might of witnessed me say it). However it's the endurance and perseverance that has kept me moving forward and allowed me to experience this amazing day. And all the help from friends, family and God.