Someone was praying for me last night. I know because just before every train was delayed and I was in the sketchiest parts of Italy, I met two Canadian girls who just happened to be leaving Florence for Nice... to stay in the same hostel in France. The three of us kept each other awake and stumbled onto and off of trains where people were packed like sardines in little sleeping cars. We got here safe at noon (a twelve hour trip!) and walked up and up and up a huge hill until we found our paradise of a hostel. I almost cried and kissed the ground after the last place I stayed. Here there is a cathedral turned bar cafe, and we were greeted with peach iced tea and free internet and clean showers, and what more could a girl want in the world?!? I'm staying tonight, and maybe tomorrow, and then it is off to Barcelona, the cheapest way possible. We shall see what happens.

I met Suki in my Hostel last night. I say hostel, but it was actually an unfinished warehouse room in the back of a hotel up three flights of stais. 8 bare beds in the square room, and clean sheets, which was nice. A man in the train station gave me his card and told me £20 a night for a dorm style room. It really was a bed and nothing else. Detached from the hotel so no a/c, no breakfast, one shower in the one bathroom. Anyway, Suki and Taya came in around 7pm, both beautiful European women with lovely accents, sunburned faces and perfect sun dresses. They seemed happy with the find being so cheap, dropped off their stuff and headed out. In the morning Taya was gone and Suki and I went to the Uffizi together. We spent the morning looking at art, art and more art. Boticelli, Carvaggio, Raffaello, until our heads were spinning. She bought some meat and I pulled out my bread and cheese that I have been living on, and we had a proper picnic in the Rail Station. We talked about her job settling border disputes, and her family in Ireland, and we talked about my book, and about almost getting married. She headed off for Milan and I waited in a queu for about an hour until I purchased my cheapest ticket to Nice, France. It leaves at midnight tonight and there are four transfer trains. I will get there at 10 in the morning. So the rest of my day has been wandering, sitting. Napping. Praying. Eating cheese and bread. Feeling sick. Finding this wonderful little internet hookup and posting the latest.

Im packed and ready to head to Florence.
I bumped into a backpacker who was sleeping
one bunk bed away from me this morning at
breakfast. Hes from Canada and my, the world
gets smaller and bigger and stretched out
when you travel. I am thinking about home alot
lately. All of the babies and family.
Cant say Im lonely though. A woman alone
in Europe isnt such a bad idea.

I was talked into coming to Italy instead of going to Hungary and Czech Republic. I dont know how I am going to force myself to leave Venice. I wandered and wandered over bridges through tiny cobblestone streets. I got lost in Murano after watching a glass blower in his factory. I slept in the sun on a dock and met a futbol team from Argentina. Fresh mozzarella and tomatoes with baguette. Gelato when I got tired and hot. Its old and perfect here and the water is blue and green. Lots of people dont speak English. I like that. There are too many churches that have to be seen in Europe. Old and rich with art and icons. Cover your shoulders and catch an organ concerto if you have the time. Wine and cheese and chocolate are a stones throw away. More soon.

I left Vienna and lost my breath as the train pushed further into the Austrian countryside. This country is overflowing with sunbeams on hills and proud trees and perfect old farm houses on the vast lands. I'm in Salzberg, where the Sound of Music was filled, and I swear there is sugar in the water, in the air. Plans have changed and after exploring the countryside today, I will take a night train to Venice. So now Budapest or Prague this time, but Venice and Florence before Barcelona. This journey has provoked my sickness. I am full up of needing to travel. Everywhere new that I go I find out about everywhere else I need to go. It won't end for me. I will be plagued with this itch for life. The hills are singing to me and I have to answer. I'll check in when I get to Italy. Lots of love.

Vienna is filled with more beautiful things than can be written about or painted. We walked through the city eating strawberries and stopping to look at old restaurants with gardens and vineyards for growing their own herbs and making their own wine. There is a rose garden here with every scent, colour, and size of the species. I wandered through while the sun was setting on an old cathedral through the trees. Friends were easy to drink wine with and sit outside with at the Museum Quartiers, while music poured out of surrounding pubs and cafes. Tomorrow will be exploring and meeting up with new friends and Friday will be Salzburg and the Alps. Vienna is the city of music, and the water here is sweet.

The wedding was beautiful. Zuzanna Wyrzykowska to Manuel Hubschmann on Friday at 4pm. The service was in English, broken apart by translations into German and Polish. The reception was held in a hall with peacock stained glass windows, candles, flowers and traditional polish china. The food was more than even I could handle. Cold meats and smoked salmon and salads. Zurek soup with egg and white sausage, pork salmon, beef stroganoff, wild mushroom soup. Wine throughout and dancing too. Cakes and cake and cappucinno and wine. It was cozy and elegant and Zuzia's brother often translated games and instructions in all three languages for the guests. I danced until the music stopped and slept well that night, knowing that something beautiful and lasting took place that day. I could have danced all night.