I got this feeling as soon as I arrived Florence, that I dun like it.

The signs in the train station are confusing (actually there're not many of them), the called the hostel I booked and they said they can't find my name (AGAIN!), they said they still have single but it cost L10,000 more than yesterday, and this lady on the phone who can't really speak English just really rude. So I decided not to go there, I'll get another one in the tourist information centre. But when I got there, they said that they dun do bookings, so I just ran back to the train station with my backpack, then queued up outside the only agency in the train station. I waited for like 35 minutes, then finally gotta meet that 'beg-me-then-I'll-find-a-bed-for-you' bitch. If she was not behind the window I'll give her a smack! But she did find a bed, finally, a single room, in a so-called hotel. I stayed in something like this last year in France, run by a family, it was terrible. Anyway I got there, the people are alright, at least I got my own room. The owner is a lady, she does everything. I was so surprised that she said I can use the telephone, it's free of charge. And even more surprisingly I got a bed in Venice by simply calling! Then I called mum, 云姨 (thank God somebody answer the phone at last), and Siu Kuen (who's having dessert buffet with ah Ling). After these calls I was so tired I actually lied down and sleep.

Remember those HK people I met in Rome? A group of four from Canada, HK and Venice? We had a date on 7/7 at 8pm at the train station in Florence. That's today. I woke up at 6:45pm, then I took a shower and dressed up and happily walk to the train station looking forward to this special meeting with a bunch of strangers in a foreign country. On my way to the train station I met the first Italian guy----Marco. He keeps talking to me and asked me to have a coffee. At first I just thought 'it's good to have a companion to walk with, and he knows the way, why not', then I literally followed him! He kept trying to talk me into something I dunno what is that (sex?!), and I kept pushing him away. I finally agreed to go for a coffee (what was I thinking?!). He tried his best with his poor English (he likes to start a sentence with his name, e.g. "Marco is a nice guy", who teach them, Godfather?!) to talk me into 'that' thing. I said 'no' then he said he can do massage for me...blablabla. After a long 'discussion', he drew the conclusion that Chinese are different and difficult then we said goodbye. When I arrived the train station it's already 8:05pm. The Hong Kong people are not there. I'm kinda angry with the stupid Italian who's ruined my night! >.< Of course it's also possible that they stood me up. So I end up here, now, sitting all by myself, feeling extremely full and tired (I finished the whole pizza!). I guess I should go back and sleep. I really dun like it here...unfortunately, again. Maybe I just dun like Italy. You dun always like the country you visit, that's all I'm saying.

7/7/01  Florence