Back from Rome, Italy

Oh, it's too bad it was rainy when you were in Florence. I have friends who lived in Florence for a few years, and I looked forward to any time I could go visit them. It's such a lovely city for walking and browsing market stalls. The architecture is beautiful, even when you're right next to it, but from above the city it's even better, which would be a little difficult to do and see well if it's rainy.

I fell in love with Italy the first time I went (I was 14). That was the year I got to hear the pope speak when I was in Rome. It wasn't as exciting for me as it would be for a Catholic, of course, but it was still incredible to be standing in the middle on St. Peter's Square and look up and see this tiny vision of the pope in his window. I didn't understand a word he said, but it was a good experience.

I've spent more time in Florence than anywhere else in Italy, and when I took a college course on the Renaissance in Florence, it was great, because I was familiar with so much of the art and architecture we studied.

I know you didn't ask the question of me, Dr. Bob, but I like Italy for myriad reasons. The architecture is lovely, the history is rich and evident absolutely everywhere you go, the language is beautiful, the cities tend to be a wonderful mixture of old and new world, you can walk for hours, the food is excellent (had to mention that), as is the wine, and I really like the people I've met there! Lots of reasons, and perhaps none are great enough in and of themselves, but of the countries I've visited (which are, granted, relatively few), Italy is probably my favorite. I feel very comfortable there, even though I speak very very little Italian. I could sing you a song in it, but couldn't carry on a decent conversation to save my life.