A question I do not mind answering, but one that can consume too much time once I begin explaining and others begin asking questions.

Look to this map.

London, England was my starting point, then I worked south, going somewhat-counterclockwise to Paris, France… Bern, Switzerland… Florence, Italy… Torino, Italy… Pisa, Italy… Rome, Italy… Cortona, Italy… Venice, Italy… Vienna, Austria… Budapest, Hungary… Prague, Czech Republic… Berlin, Germany… Amsterdam, The Netherlands… Bruges, Belgium… and back to London, England.

Miles : 3,500 [approximately, point-to-point]

Number of Cities : 15

Number of Countries : 10

Favorite Small City : Bruges, Belgium

Favorite Large City : Berlin, Germany

I took a truck-load of pictures in Florence, Italy. These are most, but not all.

This one is my favorite. But you can enjoy them all.

The most awkward moment of my trip to Europe took place Saturday afternoon in an Internet Café in Venice, Italy.

Landon: I need to use a computer.
Worker: No problem. Let me see your passport and you can take a seat.
Landon: Great! How’s your day going?
Worker: Hmm?
Landon: How are you today?
Worker: Why?
Landon: Just asking.
Worker: (Turns back to his computer… raises his eyebrows.)

Here are some pics from my 24 hour excursion to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino.

Also included are a few pictures from the Today Show taken during my attempt to spend half of my afternoon getting my mug on TV.

So, it’s been a crazy past 48 hours, and it looks to be a little nuts for the next 24.

I waited until the last minute to get a hostel in Venice, so I ended up with a no-too-shabby hotel just beside the train station (which, being located beside a train station can either be very good or very bad in Europe… this time was good.)

Most-likely, I’ll be catching a sleeper car tonight to Vienna, Austria… not Salzburg (looong story), where I’ll be staying for 48 hours.

Until then, just pray that someone doesn’t snatch my pack on the train tonight.

I’m kidding, but no… really… pray.

After finally finding an Internet Café with a “USB Pass”… it won’t recognize my disk.

Right no I’ve got aound 400 pictures that need uploading… and I can’t delete many more.

That said, have patience my darlings… and I appreciate the positive comments thus-far.

We may just have to have a “pictures by location” series of posts when I get back. A group of pictures from each city, everyday of the week for 2 weeks when I return.

That sounds nice. Until then, I’ll continue to post my favorites (when I can).

John Byars has inspired me to write a food post on the eatings in Italy, and Europe.

In the comming days, I’ll try to photograph some of the cuisine from across the pond.

Some things you should know… and I didn’t:

You have to pay for ketchup at McDonald’s… per pack.

Meals are expensive. Can you say: £2.99 ($5.50) Pepsi in London? €6.00 ($7.25) McNugget Value Meal at McDonald’s?

However, the bottled water is about the same. But, Rome has hundreds of amazing natural drinking fountains throughout the city.

Refills are not free. Asking for a drink refill is like asking for a meal refill. They look at you like you just asked if you could do jumping-jacks on their face.

They really do have pizza places on every corner of cities in Italy. In my three-block-walk from my hostel to the Rome train station, I have the option of 15 pizza diners.

Gelato (Italian ice cream) is fast approaching the level of love I currently only have for good ‘ole southern homemade ice cream. Your life is never the same after you’ve had classic, Italian gelato.

You don’t have to tip your waiter/waitress in Italy.

As I get more info as I travel, I’ll let you know.

Words cannot describe the soccer match I sat through last night. I have a video of about 10 seconds from the start of the game, Italian laws force me to have to post it later.

Let’s just put it this way:

Rome has two major soccer teams. You live and die for one team or the other.

Take one part Alabama vs. Auburn.

Throw in some road flares.

Add a few miniature bombs (not joking).

Invite a few hundred (500) armed policemen with shields, sticks, and helmets.

Then, see a few fights brew, every 10-15 minutes, to which cops stand-by, and let the brawl take care of itself.

It. Was. Awesome.

Oh yeah, there was a soccer game too.

A quick wrap-up from Day 1 (Sunday) in Rome.

Visited Vatican City

Attended Mass at St. Peter’s Bascilia

Saw the Pope, heard him speak.

Visited the Pantheon

Walked through the Colliseum

Visited Capitol Hill

Again, I’m sure I missed something, but oh well.

By the way, I have some nice shots of the Pope. When I can find an Internet Cafe with a “USB Pass” I’ll let you see ‘em.

When you use any computer in Italy, you must first submit your passport t be “approved” to use the Internet.

Also, you must get a “USB Pass” in order to hook up and upload material to the net.

Therefore, I can’t upload any videos or pictures for a few days… sorry.

I’m in Rome. I’m exhausted.

Let me start off by saying that the random side-trip to Torino was one of the best decisions I have ever made. However, I spent 36 hours in the same clothes, walked through the most amazing porticos I’ve ever seen, and attempted to sleep in the train station but actually sat in the corner and watched some Pakistani man sleep with his eyes half-open. Weird.

A brief synopsis of the last 48 hours:

Went to the Today Show. Got on TV. Got thisclose to Katy, Matt, and Al.

Visited Olympic Stadium/saw the flame (It is huuuge).

Tried to negotiate for a ticket to the Norway vs. Russia hockey game. The most I talked anyone down to was €140.00 (about $180.00) which was downfrom €240.00 ($300.00).

Visited the Sponsor Villiage (booooring).

Saw some famous Italian singer.

Braved the crowds at the one-and-only Olympic Store. They were out of everything good… so I got a cowbell.

Tried to carry on a conversation with some Italian teenagers about said singer.

Met some awesome undergrads from Geogia on a bus, and had a mutual friend from MC with one of them.

“Slept” in the Torino train station. I honestly got all of 15 minutes… no joking here.

Hopped on a train at 6:35 AM this morning.

Went to Pisa. Saw/went up the Leaning Tower.

Arrived in Rome, wasn’t paying attention, got off at the wrong station, had to wait 20 minutes for another train.

So, as you can tell by the crummy writing, I’m a little pooped, and a little ticked cause I know I don’t need to go walk around Rome tonight, but I want to so badly. Oh well.

Tomorrow I’ll be attending Sunday Mass at Vatican City. MC alum Courtney Church will be joining me for a day of fun on Monday.

Alright, I’m about to fall asleep. G’night.

So, I am hanging out in my hostel in Florence, Italy. It is around 10:00 PM, things are winding down, and the Italian version of Deal or No Deal just ended.

The owner of the Hostel is flipping though the channels, when what do we stumble across?

LAGUNA BEACH!!! In Italian!!!

It was the episode where Casey gets caught talking about the “hygene problems” Alex is rumored to have.

Too classic. I knew I loved Italy.

I am headed to Milan tomorrow. I will possibly be making a side-trip the day after… but I am not quite sure if it is going to work out yet.

If it happens, you will most likely find out after the fact.

Quick tidbits…

Switzerland is expensive.
Swiss women are better looking than Paris women.
Paris women are better looking than London women.
London women need help… badly.