vini, vidi, vici...and then I left for Capri

...where was I last?

Oh yes, Lucca and Florence, then Rome.  Bella, bella, bella.

Lucca, the quiet verson of beautiful Florence.  I loved both, spent my days wandering and eating fabulous pasta (odd, since I rarely eat pasta at home).  Then off to Rome, where I came, I saw, and I conquered (if I may quote my old friend Julius.)  I wandered through the Colsseum, the Vatican and Ballista, and took a walking tour of the city.  I loved the combination of the old and the new, paricularly the area that is still being excavated and is now a cat sanctuary in the meantime.

The Vatican... wow, what can I say?  For someone like me who is not Catholic, or even Christian, it was more of a study of a culture and religion that has had such a tremendous impact on ancient and modern society.  I marvelled at the richness of the sculptures, buildings and paintings, appreciating for the first time why people pay so much money for this stuff.  I watched devout Christians follow their practices of crossing themselves with holy water and eating the cookie (ok, I know I just pissed off a few Catholic friends here... no offense meant, I just cant remember what its called).  And I was struck by the depth of their devotion, the smiles on their faces.  It reminded me that it doesnt matter what religion you are, it matters what that religion encourages you to become. 

Tonight Im in a hotel in Capri.  Now, for those of you that have never backpacked, there is no apt metaphore for the happiness I feel right now knowing I have clean sheets, a tv, and my own bathroom.  Seriously.  Up until now, perhaps youve forgotten, I have been living with at least 5 other people in a room, showering with flip flops on, and listening to other people snore at night.  Tonight is pure bliss.  Dinner was the best Ive ever had, and I wandered through the Piazza watching children chase each other, yelling things in Italian with glee.  A woman walked through the center carrying a stack of full pizza boxes with the Virgin Mary printed on the tops.  This place simply could not get any more Italian if it tried.

Additional picutures added here (Brussels):  share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8Abt2rFw3Yt2E1
And more (Paris, Switzerland):  share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8Abt2rFw3Yt2FC

I hope life is well for all of you, and you know Im not too far away to hear of your trials and successes. 
Much love,
A

ps - apostrophe doesnt work, and neither does spell check... at least for english.  you all are discovering here what a terrible speller I am :)