Intense!

Wow! I feel like i've done more in these last couple days than i have in the last 3 months. I flew out of Anchorage Alaska Sunday at 1:20 pm. After a relatively easy 8 and a half hour flight ( which I got no sleep on) the fun began. First we landed in Frankfurt and waited on the tarmac while buses came to load us up and take us to the terminal. Once inside (which was full of smokers) we (my girlfriend Brittany) found our way to the baggage claim. After gathering our 300 punds of luggage we walked right through customs and up to the Eurail station, which was a huge glas and metal dome. We arrived about 5 minuted before the next train to firenze was to leave. We hurried on and settlled into some nice, big leather chairs. When the attendant came to check our tickets we found out that their were so many empty seats. We gathered all 300 punds and started the journey to the coach cart - which was only 4 cars away. After two cars of bumping into people that speak different languages than us we gave up and stood in the area where people get on and off. The first train was from frankfurt to Basel, switzerland: The thing that stuck out was how every available surface along the tracks, every wall and fence was covered in grafitti. (some of it quite good) There was even a G-Unit Germany tag. after the about 4 hour ride we arrived in basel where we switched trains. A canadian man that I had been talking too gave us a hand with the luggage and some tips on using the eurail. The next train we entered was older and much hotter than the previous. This leg of the trip was from Basel to Milano Italy. Switzerland was full of beautiful towns, homes and the greenest grass ive ever seen. I tried talking to an Italian couple and their kids but they didnt speak English and mu Italian is pretty limited. (although im pretty good with the basics now) When we arrived in Milano the Italian customs swarmed the sweltering train and stood around looking at paperwork while I sat sweated. Brittany was able to sleep on the plane and had slept on much of the train rides. I was exhausted and my brain was confused by the time change. We arrived in Milano at 5:45 PMlocal time, which was supposed to be 7:45 AM (Alaska time). The train station in Milano was huge and busier than the others we had been to. It was still hot out and by the time we found our train and loaded our luggage i was soaked in sweat again. During this train ride i was so tired i wasn't even enjoying the scenery anymore, which was so cool and surpassed my imaginations before the trip. On the way to Firenze I wouldnt let myself fall asleep, as Brittany already had and I had been subjected to months of stories about how I would be robbed blind at any second. I bought a panino at the train cafe, enjoying my first Italian food. I then began to worry about what we would do that night. We werent scheduled to checkin at our schools until the next day and had nowhere to stay. Luckily my step-mom had made a list of hotels close to the trainstation, and although we had no reservations it was a chance to avoid sleeping at the trainstation, which seemed to me an invitation for robbery. When we reached Florence we gathered our bags and tried to find a phone. Florence was hot and humid and the station was full of people. After a few attempts we figured out the phone and called the first on the list: hotel roma. ( http://www.hotel-roma-firenze.it/ ) The lady at the other end answered my "Parle Inglese" with a "si" and confirmed they had rooms available, only not at the quoted student rate. She said they would be 160 euro, which is about 200 dollars. We had no other options, plus splitting it it would only be 80 each. We hailed a cab and loaded up our luggage. We drove the five minutes to the hotel and the fare was 6.40. When we got out the fare jumped to 14. It took a few cab rides to realize they add tips and luggage charges themselves. (although not one refused the tips i offered) We arrived at the hotel and had new energy. We were finally here! the city was so beautiful. Huge stone building that you knew were there long before the country that i live in. Out hotel was beautiful also. When we checked in the kind desk lady took pity and lowered our rate to 120. We went to our room and got settled, looking out the giant windows at Firenze's noisy night life. Motorcycle and car engines revved, weird sirens screamed, and drunk people yelled. The building directly across the impossibly small street had red clay tile roofs and beautiful columns. Our room was very nice and we enjoyed the bidet that was provided. (makes you feel very clean). I went out by myself and explored a little bit. I brought back a couple Gellatos (yogurt and strawberry flavored) which were sooooooo good. We went to bed at about midnight. We woke up at about 6 and couldnt fall back asleep. We repacked, showered and went down stairs to get the free breakfast. I dressed a little differently than i do in fairbanks. No white shirt under the button up, just the wife beater and my black dress shoes. The waiters were in tuxes and the food was great. Fresh bread, different kinds of prosciutto, cheeses, croissants, cereal, orange juice and other food. I ordered a cappuchino which turned out to be the best ive ever had, which i kind of expected. After breakfast we loaded up and headed to our school check in. When we arrived i couldnt feel my passport. I got all worried and nervous but figured i would retrace my steps and if I couldnt find it there was no sense getting all worked up. I filled out the paperwork to get my room key, cell phone and instructions. The cab that picked us up and we swung by the hotel, where my passport was waiting on the counter. The scare convinced me to carry around a copy and leave the real one at home. We then took a cab to Brittanys apartment, or as close as we could get. We had to awlk a couple blocks as her apartment is in a building in the middle of the downtown market, which is awesome. On the way there we saw all the stores you hear about, Gucci, Farragamo, fendi, and all the rest. The street market was really cool. It was ON THE SAME STREET as the Duomo ( google it) which is the most amazing building i had ever seen (until we found THE most amazing building later). Its a huge building with an impossible number of detailed statues and painting all over it. I havent been inside it yet. Right next door to that was the medici building, where the statue of david is. And this is right in front of her apartment. (which has a really cool rooftop patio that loos over the entire plaza. After unloading her bags we walked about 4 blocks up through the market to my flat, which doesnt have the view hers does but still was in an excellent location. The duomo towered ower all the other builings, making it impossible to get lost, as we lived right next to the structure that dominates the skyline. We then set out to shop. I have never even imagined the amount of stores that exist in Florence. Every other door is full of designer clother or the best looking food and gellato you have ever seen. We stopped by a little cafe and bought some pizza which, once again as expected, was easily the best pizza i have ever had. we walked around and shopped for a few hours. I tried my hand at haggling and it worked out well. I was able to get some money off almost everything we bought. While looking for the arno river we walked into a large plaza with statues. At the other end was an ancient looking huge building. On a whim i decided to go in. Inside was the mose breathtaking building I have ever seen. It was a church called : Bsilica Santuaio della ss. Annunnziata . Please google it. It was huge and every inch was filled with art. The ceilings were so high up. The walls were covered in sculptures big and small. Different areas branched off and were dedicated to different saints or religious figures. the center ceiling was huge and domed and had a painting comparable to the sistine chapel. After taking about a hundred pictures we left. After some more shopping we returned to our respective homes and met some of the roommates. I am now at an internet cafe. I dont have my cord for my phone but i promise pictures. they are pretty cool. I had high expectations and so far everyone of them has been surpassed. The people are great (especially if you try to speak in italian) the food is amazing, and the buildings and ard is unbelievable. It seems like a dream. I wish my entire family was here to share my experiences. There have been things all day that have made me think of you guys and how you would enjoy them. Not trying to rub it it! Just saying come visit..... More later. Arrivederci