Italia!

Italy:  Arrived at midnight and needed to take a taxi to the drag party I was about to join Justine (fellow teaching assistant in Paris) and her gay Italian friend Valerio & Co at.  I had exactly 10 euros that Danny so graciously loaned me for this purpose, and I was stoked when the put the the taxi driver put the counter to 10euros.  However, I was shocked when after 5 minutes the counter started going up.  Oh no.  I asked if it was far...euh, je veux dire 'pantomimed how far' and he said 'cinque minuti'.  I was fucked.  But, I was not about to have him drop me off in the middle of nowhere, at midnight, in a city I've never been to so I just said OK.
When we arrived at the club (Cassero) and I was missing 5 euros Mr. Taximan was unamused.  He explained to me in Italian pantomime 10x that I was missing 5 euros.  And I explained back to him 5x in pantomime English, that I didn't have any more money and my phone wasn't working (of course it wasn't) so I could go find my friends if he really needed the 5 euros.  It was only a putain de 7 minute ride!  But I wasn't really in a position to argue the price.  He didn't speak a word of English and I only knew numbers in Italian.
I got out of the car to go find Justine and Valerio closely followed by a yelling taxi man who was most likely rallying to have me burned at the stake.  There were quite a few people in line and the bouncer said I was not allowed in until I paid the taxi.  Balls.  Luckily, Justine heard the commotion and saved me!  The taxi man got paid and we went in through the - devoid of evil lines - VIP section.  Quite entrance.
And what a party!  I didn't take any pictures, but I felt like I was in Rocky Horror; it was awesome.  The GenderBender party was quite the success and Justine and I fully enjoyed our free long-islands from the lesbian bartenders.  Grazie

After Bologna it was off to my old stomping grounds.  Firenze!

My favorite place in the world :)

After Florence, we visited Lucca.  I will add more photos once Justine posts them.  Her camera captured it better.  There is also a photo for Lila she has and this is my reminder to post it!

Fall is so pretty!

We spent the night in Pisa (bc Justine had never been) and experienced my least favorite couchsurfing to date.  There was a mosquito in my ear the whole night!  And the guy was smoking in the room.  Torture, I didn't sleep.  The next day however, was fantastic.  Justine is an avid horse rider/professional so we decided to ride horses through the Tuscan hills to a castle in Chianti.  How romantic!  It was beautiful and I will post pictures when I get them from her.

After Chianti, it was back to Bologna et puis Paris.  Quick little vacation from the work that still hasn't started for me in France !

Italia:  The land of cappuccinos...

...naked men...

...and praying little girls.