Ah, Florence, or Firenze as it is called in Italian. One of the oldest cities in Italy, I'd been hearing a lot about how beautiful it is. Because of the differences in taste between Americans and Italians I wasn't sure what to expect. But I wasn't disappointed. Far from conventional beauty in my opinion, it reminded me of my history books back in the states. It also had a different affect on me. It gave me a concept of time. I felt old and young at the same time looking at this ancient city. I felt young because literally the vessel my soul resides in was not even a child compared to this place. But also my immortal soul having no concept of time would make the cities time in existence seem insignificant. It was a strange paradox and it added to the allure of the city.

When we got off the train everyone only had vague ideas on where they wanted to go and because I was the person designated to research the city everyone turned to me. I was feeling like the big cheese and then I realized I didn't know my way around. Right about then I wasn't feeling so great anymore. So everyone went and bought a map checked out my pathetic info and split. Then I was all alone. What do you do in situations like that? I had the least idea what to do so I did what I felt any red-blooded inner city American male would do in that situation. I pretended I knew where the hell I was going and took a lot of pictures. Fortunately for me I had my information and my few Italian phrases (thanks Fulvia) working in my favor. So with a few glances around I was on my way.

After leaving the station I saw a huge domed building at eleven o'clock from me. This was to be my first target. Turns out this was Santa Maria Del Fiore. So I had accidentally found my way to the first target on the printout I had gotten from the Internet. There were three big attractions in this square that I recognized form my printout. Santa Maria Del Fiore, a cathedral, Giotto's bell tower, and the Baptistery. At first they all looked like one building from where I'd walked in. However, it was when I circled the buildings that I realized they were three separate structures. While circling the cathedral I was struck by the moral weight its age carried as well as the power its presence had over people. The number of people who have come there to worship, the number of years since it's first brick had been laid, the number of different priests who have changed lives within those walls, It was breath taking. To examine each different factor of this would take seemingly forever. After hours of wandering I found myself at the bridge.

The bridge was next to the famous old bridge, both of which I regrettably do not know the name to. Then I decided to take some more pictures of the water and the other bridges near me, then feeling ignorant and semi-lost, I decided to return to the train station. In the process I got more lost. Now, some people would argue that if you're lost you can't get "more" lost but let me tell you that's hogwash. I had begun to spiraling outwards from the station. After realizing I couldn't get any closer by trying to use my terrible sense of direction I decided to put some ketchup and salt on my pride and swallow it. The first guy I asked for direction looked at me, sneered and walked away. After that I decided to look for someone with a more pleasant disposition. The next person I asked was a police officer of some kind. I must have asked him wrong because he began to shout excitedly and point. People began to stop and stare and I felt like turning around and running but I just kept smiling and nodding like I understood what the hell he was talking about.

After he finished I began to walk away pretending to follow his instructions. Unfortunately I was walking in the opposite direction of his instructions. He called me back and proceeded to walk me to my destination. When I reached it a funny thing happened, I realized (I did a lot of realizing that day) that he had taken me to a restaurant. Now I was lost and beginning to get pissed. I knew I was very far from where I wanted to be and it was getting late. I decided to ask a woman instead of a man and hope for the best. Jackpot! It turns out I was two blocks from the train station and after she showed me I stood around feeling like the worlds biggest idiot. I thought maybe I better get on the train and get back to Rome before my stupidity started to wear off on the Florencian people.

After a two-hour wait and many blank stares from people who couldn't understand what train I wanted I finally began my journey back. About forty minutes into the trip the train was delayed. Then after we began moving again we were held up again. By then my anger had turned into resignation. I finally reached the hotel without any major hardships and promptly fell asleep. Afterwards, I did some thinking and decided that if you're traveling in a foreign country it's best to make sure you have someone who can help you navigate and understand the language around to help. Otherwise you'll end up like I did. And trust me, not many people have the patience to withstand torture of that sort without going postal on everyone within a five mile radius.

PS: While Oba was getting lost. everyone else was enjoying themselves in Florence. We broke off into groups. Some went shopping, some went to eat, most saw the sites, such as Michelangelo's David, Pont Vecchio (the old bridge) and many others. Many of us were admiring how different Florence was so different from Rome. The buildings looked more new and didn't have graffiti on it. The food was much better then the food in Rome. We just walked around meeting new people who felt the same thoughts about the city as us. All in all we had a good time in this beautiful city of Florence.

See the slideshow to be posted later this week on the sites in Florence.