Sorry thin, not into modern art at all!

Just want to report that Pendini's wifi is pathetic!!!

Did not realize that places in Italy would have the Bangkok "toilet hose" rather than a bidet (or nothing except toilet) in the bathroom. This is the first time ever seeing one in my dozens of trips to Europe. Just really caught off guard, that's all. Always thinking Europe is more sophisticated than my exotic S E Asia favorite. Although, I do have to say that we've found more than one "hole in the floor toilet" along European highways over the last 30 years of travel.

Today will be museum/cathedral day in Florence. Weather is still being exceptionally perfect. Hope it keeps it up.

Agree with Thin. The Guggenheim is more than modern art - you can enjoy the building, the location, the courtyard, the cafe, the history etc without liking modern art. I went with reluctant anti-modern-art-ers and they loved it.

I find the canal side area of the Guggenheim a great place to pass half an hour watching the boats in comfort

Simpson - I apologise for mis-guessing that you were an Italy novice. I am surprised that you were surprised by the variability of cover-charges etc - surely not the first time that you've come across this?

anyway, glad that you got to Florence in one piece and are enjoying fine weather.

annhig, I've been a few times (7?) now and I've not been hit by one, but I guess I always eat three streets back, or I get others to pay :-)

My Italian friends were always hosting, so I never saw the bill.... oh well.

Update: we left Florence on the regionale train to Chuisi, where my lovely Italian friends picked us up and showed us around Umbria for a couple of days. We spent two nights at Hotel Duomo in Orvieto. From there we visited Monteleone, Spoleto and Gubbio. Of course we spent time looking around Orvieto as well. Today we head to Rome.

The favorite city on this trip has been Venice, for sure. But the happiest time was spent touring Umbria with my friends. Lots of lovely memories (and many photos) to take home! We leave from Rome for NYC on Tuesday morning.

simpson - how lucky to be able to tour Italy with italians. IME it is a country where local knowledge is really at a premium, preferably as local as possible. So much there operates on a who you know not what you know basis, so personal contact is everything.