Funny how...

one meal can change your perspective so quickly.

I arrived in Firenze (Florence) about 5 hours late after riding on a dirty nasty train in 2nd class. I had paid for a 1st class reservation, but my train got cancelled, so I was just screwed. I had a crappy ham and mushroom sandwich and a Nestea for dinner, and was just pissed off. I was in no mood to enjoy Firenze at all. After a sweat-drenched sleep in a hostel (what the hell is wrong with the Spanish girls who decided the window must be shut??), I spent the morning confirming everything to get the hell out of here. I took a bus, wandered around, read my guidebook, and decided I had played enough of the "Let's see how long I can possibly go without food in order to save money" game.

I went to a little restaurant in a basement that didn't look like much of anything, but it was in the Rick Steves' guidebook and they had a 10-euro lunch special. The food was pretty good, but there was a big group of annoying American tourists (teenagers, no less). Despite that, I had a great lunch. It was an insane amount of food- big bowl of spaghetti to start, bread and olive oil, grilled pork chop, and fried potatoes. Ugh. The waiters were fun. Apparently someone in that restaurant had a thing for me. I couldn't figure out who, but a few different waiters came over to me and asked me questions about where I was going, etc. Then, somehow I got a free shot of Limoncello after my meal. And the manager came up and talked to me for a while. I wonder if they are that friendly with all single women who come into their restaurant, or if there was a reason the guy sat me where I was facing the kitchen and the cooks could watch me?

No matter, it just put me in a much better mood. Plus, it rained, so it cooled way off outside! I'm waiting around to see if I can sneak into the Uffizi gallery just about an hour before closing without waiting in the insane line that is out there right now. Here's hoping...