Bloody computers

Ok, I have been trying for the last week to post photos. But it doesn't seem to work. Either they wont load, or the page wont display.... ARRRGGGHHH!

Anyway, I'm in relaxing Bologna right now. It's got a huge student population, as well as being a fairly wealthy city in a region reknown for it's food, so it's a nice spot. On top of that, it's known as the Red Capital of a country which has the largest democratic communist voting blocks apparently - all I know is that there is a museum of Communist propoganda here. So I'm off to join the Reds this afternoon.

An update of whats been happening...

I went to Gubbio (in Tuscany, the same region as Florence and Pisa) on Tuesday to see the Corsa di Ceri. That was what I really wanted to post because it was one of the most impressive and entertaining things I've seen in ages. There are three teams, each with a patron saint, of about 60 men who carry these huge ceri up a hill. (A ceri kind of looks like two vases stuck end to end, about 3 metres tall, with shoulder rafts and it takes at least 10 guys to carry it around... on top of the ceri is a little statue of the patron saint of each team)
I say 'hill' but it would be more accurate to describe it as a cliff-face... and they run with the ceri full tilt up the hill. The first team into the basillica gets to slam the doors on the other team... of course, by tradition, the yellow St Ulbino team always wins but that didn't seem to bother anyone.
There were marching bands, and fairy floss and tons of randoms running through the streets... I had a great time. And the best roast pork.
Really wish I could put up the photos... will try and see what I can do.

Only have one day in Bologna and then I'm off to Venice to join up with my topdeck tour. I'm not sure how often I'll manage to post but I'll try and keep it up.

Just a quickie, to let you know I'm alive. My credit is about to run out... will try tommorrow although I have to fit in Assisi and Bologna so will see how we go Love you all

a Just

Uffitzi

I'm having a lot of problems with these computers - they like to do random punctuation, I can't attach my memory stick and they wont accept CD's so I have no idea if if the 5 euros I just spent were actually buying a disk with my photos on it or a table coaster...

Anyway, went to the Uffitzi today which is THE museum in Florence (apparently). And it was free because it's culture week or something so woo hoo. Spent three hours there - well worth the money :o)
It's got over 50 rooms dedicated to various artists, periods and styles... Caravaggio, Raphael, Botticelli... it was pretty amazing. It's home to the 'Birth of Venus' (the one with the naked chick standing on a shell) and some other classics as well as the scariest medusa head I've ever seen.

Then I finished my book on Hadrian, had some vegetables for lunch and proceeded to get completely lost. Eventually (after two hours) I managed to find my way home. All in all I'd call today a sucess. Except that it's only 3:30 but that's the problem when you wake up at 6:30 to visit an art gallery. Maybe it's time for a quick siesta and then I'll once again resume my endless search for a cheap, decent place to eat in Florence. Then it's off to Perugia tommorrow.