Forgive me for the delay in blog posts, but it's a challenge to find time to blog when I'm Carpe Diem-ing as much as possible in Italia.

&nbsp;

In order to catch up on posts, I've come to the realization that I will need to play show and tell through sharing photos and telling a Soul-Scintillating Highlight of the Day.  (Note to self:  Ask an Italian how to say "Soul-Scintillating Highlight of the Day" in Italian.)

&nbsp;

Day 350 blurred with Day 349, as 7 hours vanished as I headed east.  I also lost a night's sleep and was delirious with sleep deprivation.  But when you're in Italia, the sensory overload spurs you on for the remainder of the day.

&nbsp;

On my first day in Italia, I met up with my cousins.  We then promptly ate and walked our way through Firenze.  I learned that it's the most walkable big city that I've ever visited.

&nbsp;

<span style="color: #800000; font-size: medium;"><strong>Soul-Scintillating Highlight of the Day:</strong></span>  The bells tolling at the Duomo in Firenze.

&nbsp;

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f0ebW_pswEM" frameborder="0" width="420" height="315"></iframe>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<span style="font-size: medium; color: #800000;"><strong>Soul-Scintallating Bonuses</strong></span> (because how can you possible pick one when you are in Florence?!):  Pictured from left to right, top to bottom:

&nbsp;

Vino, art (everywhere you look), Brunelleschi's dome of the Duomo, The Fountain of Neptune at the Piazza della Signoria, David (the fake one in the Piazza della Signoria), impromptu carousel ride at Piazza della Republica with mia cugina (this is what I look like when I haven't slept for over 24+ hours)

&nbsp;

[gallery columns="4" orderby="ID"]

&nbsp;

*****

&nbsp;

P.S.  This was written when I was in Italia.  The Internet access (the day that I actually had access) was so incredibly s-l-o-w that I couldn't upload the blog post.  For the remainder of my trip, I had no Internet access at all.  This was for the best, because Italia really should be experienced fully without the distraction of computers and cell phones.

&nbsp;

I am now back in the States (much to my dismay -- sniff, sniff), and I will begin recapping my Italian Adventure pronto.  Ciao!

&nbsp;