THIS one will shock those who know me best.

I had to write this short comment seperately:

Okay well in the next section you will read about what I did the last week but yesterday Friday June 31 needs it own quick side note. Yesterday I went to pick up Maria from the train station. It was so great to have someone from back home with me again. I was so excited to see her. I knew I would be but didn't know how much it would mean to me to see a face from home. It was great. We then did a walking tour of the city to show Maria what I saw in a month in 3 hours. We walked so much. Then we did 1 thing I wanted to do since I got here and that is go to the top of Piazza Michelangelo and watch the sun set. IT was amaznig. We also went there because they were going to show the Italy game on Jumbotrons around the Piazza. I was meeting the last few friends who stayed in Flornce there for our last goodbye. We saw the game with it seemed like every Italian in Florence. Oh, when they won it was amazing. They whole place went crazy. Maria and I were laughing because people were honking and screaming and this big guy on a little bike was beeping his bike bell. It was so funny. Well, then it was so great because there were these Arab- Italian guys who were playing congo drums and dancing. Then a little bit away there were these Brazilian-italians who were dancing "Capoera." If you don't know what this is it is that dance where it looks like they are fighting. It is amazing I got it on video no worries. Well everyone was celebrating me and Maria and Zara had bought a bottle of wine. When we were watching the Brazilian people the Arab people came over and helped on Drums it was so cool to see the 2 cultures embrace each other you never see that in Dallas. Well we had finished our bottle and these Italian guys next to us heard me say "I ran out and there is no more how sad." He said Italy won how can you stop celebrating here. He gave got out some bottle of something called GRAPA. It is an Italian drink you can only get here and it is 40% they say. Well he gave each of us a shot in celebration. Then he gave us one more to toast our last night. At this point it is just me, Maria and Zara I had to say goodbye to my other friends. I did cry a few tears when I had to say bye. I remembered this comment about one chapter ending and one new one beginning. I was glad Maria was there to help me see my new chapter is just about to start so I was able to cope well and quickly. Then people were starting to leave the area to drive around and scream and honk. It is like the city went into a party mode. It was amazing. But the big thing that will shock you all happened next. As we were waking back the guys tell us there is this place in front of Santo Spiritu where all the Italian people hang out we said sure. By this time another friend Luis had joined us. Well, when I saw all the mopeds and bikes driving around I was telling Maria since the day I arrived in Florence I always wanted to get on a moped and drive around the city. I am so sad I was never able to. Well one of the guys over heard me and offered to take me. I was so excited. Maria and my other friends were going to walk to the church with all his friends so I felt it was okay. I finally got on a bike. I was so excited. I had never been on one before. I have always been to scared. I said though one day before I die I would. I am excited I did it. I was expecting a little moped. No the guy had this Kawasaki Ninja bike. It was amaznig. I had a helmet it is law here so don't worry. He took me through the whole city. Everytime I didn't recognize where I was I always asked where the river was. If you see the river or duomo you are good. You can find anything. I was being safe. I figured I could jump off and run if I need to. He did seem like a real nice guy though. Anyway I am just so shocked I did it. With no apprehension or fear. It was the right time I guess. Well it may not seem like a big deal to some but to me it was huge. I use to tell Juan all the time he should never get a bike it was to dangerous. There I was traveling with a true Italian "meaning Italian driving" and going throughout Florence at midnight. It was so amazing. We were going so fast and weaving in and out of the crazyiest places. Then we went to the church and met the rest. On the way home I was so extatic about the ride we were walking in front of the Duomo and I told Maria you know what else I have always wanted to do. I always wanted to dance in front of the Duomo at night. I thought it would be with some guy I cared about, or met in Italy but screw guys who needs them let us dance. So we did. It was great. We danced the waltz and we spinned in cirlces in front of the 4th largest church in the world. It was great. Then we went on a little more. We started to dance the Brazilan dance and Sumo wrestle in front of the Duomo as well just for kicks. Yes there were people around just a few by this time it is 3 in the morning. It was the most fun I ever had in Flornece and it is on the top most fun things I have ever done in my life. It may have been the Grapa or the freedom I felt on the bike but I was not scared or embarassed I felt so free and who cares about what anyone else thinks. It was amazing. This was the best way to say bye to Florence. It also leaves me in suspense as to what will happen in ROME. I will see Rome in just a few hours.
I am just excited that I did everything I wanted to here even things that I thought I would never do. I thought they would just be a fantasy. I made even the fantasy a reality. It was great. Bye, Florence and Hello the rest of the world.
Ciao
Ps. I don't know if I will be able to write as often but I will try