13 May - Anna

Hmmm the last two days...more walking! I would never drive a car here, no matter how small. But we have actually seen people taking little ones on the back of their scooters. We read (and actually understood the article!) that they are making helmets and child seats mandatory on the back of scooters. Whoda thunk it!

Yesterday after school we visited 3 different gelateries. No sampling, darn it. I think JIll indulged in two of the three, but I resisted two of them. Broke down at the last one and got a scoop of white chocolate, and another of Tiramisu. Ever so yummy, but pe rhaps not as good as at San Gimigniano??

The sun broke through this morning and stayed until about 2:30 or so, when another shower hit. This makes the apt damp, so it takes about 3 days to dry a pair of jeans. Yesterday while we were out at the gelateries a HUGE rainstorm hit. We were like 2 km from home and headedi n the other direction. Got soaked. And Jills school notebook disintegrated. So the drying rack in my room came to yet another good use. My wallet got soaked too. Good thing money does not disintegrate.

We went today to the Mercato central. Think Halifax market down on the waterfront but all on one level. Neither of us cared for the smell of the meat, cheese, etc., but it didnt stop us from having lunch there. Its filled more with Italians than tourists, so a bit of a taste of Fiorentini life. Then we shopped the cheap market stalls, and finally I bought a jacket. Short, black, with brown cuffs and colours. Sooo soft! It was really a painful experience as the guy was way in my personal space, then a lot of haggling. Jill was also trying on, and while I was having my sale rung through he gave her a tremendous deal on, of all things, a jacket made from the humps of camels! Neither of us know if camel humps are really a highly sought after material, but the jacket is really cute, sort of black suede. I wonder if, when she drinks water, she will swell up???

Jill went on the afternoon tour to towers and castles. Since I have only seen a couple of towers (campanile - cam-pan-ee-lay) I figured that translates into way too much walking.

I think tomorrow we may go to da Vinci s Science Museum, maybe to Dante s house. But I now have to avoid the leather store where the fellow is making me a jacket. Or so he says. We popped in yesterday to see if it might be ready, and he said they ran out of leather of the right colour. But he reminded me that if the jacket fits then I am expected to buy it. Of course that was the obvious he was stating, but it annoyed me. nonetheless, I told him to go ahead, as I really thought I wanted the light brown. I still may go back...or not.

We are going out to a trattoria for s upper this evening. Will likely do more strolling around, or go study in Piazza San Marco if it isnt raining.

ciao for now! Oh...Amy...the only horses we have seen are either pulling a carriage, or done in bronze! Everyone has a dog it seems, but I have yet to see one single cat!

OH...we were also told that Brad Pitt is in Venice. Maybe it was JIll who mentioned that? Our teacher, Ri ta, told us she was in the Piazza di Signori at a cafe and someone tapped her on the shoulder and asked for sugar. She turned around and it was Brad himself. She said that was 2 years ago and she hasnt washed her shoulder since! rita is an absolute riot. Maybe 30 years old. Very very expressive. Does a lot of miming (mimeing?), belly laughs, and eye rolling. Quite a hoot!

I am off to the apt, which is about 3 blocks from here.