Side Trip #2 Verona, Italy. Verona is the second largest city in Italy's northeast, with more than 715,000 inhabitants! We had to rent a car and drive here because it is about 200KM away, which is about 125 miles. There are many tourist traps here because it is one of most visited cities in Northern Italy. It is also seen as the city where Romeo and Juliet met and fell in love. You can see cathedrals, towers and piazzas. It ,again, differs from Florence because it is a bustling, new, city, not and old, relaxed one. Tourism is a large part of the economy. Many families get their living off owning vending racks at squares and malls. It was great visiting Verona and seeing what northern Italy is like.

Side Trip 1#

Today we are visiting Roma, or more commonly know as Rome. I am traveling there by train, which is the common transportation mode here for short distances. Though there are 2 main airports here, trains are cheaper. The people are like Florence's population, but are more busy. With a higher population density and more business-oriented, instead of Florence's agriculture-oriented culture, Romans are faster-paced and more lively. Tourism is a big part of the economy because of such things as The Roman Coliseum, Tiberius' Arch, and The Great Forum. Rome is renown around the globe for beauty and was the center of the Roman Empire.

There are a vast number of things to do in Florence for a tourist. They have everything. Here are some options. Cooking classes taught by real Italian cooks; sightseeing around the city; tours of museums, art galleries, or famous landmarks; wine tasting; taking hikes in the hills; and much much more. Those are just some of the options we have seen this week. It costs about an average of 7000$ for a fancy week-long trip to Italy, but if you get the cheapest hotels, guide yourself and so on, you can go for around 4000$. Tourism is a large part of Florence's income, so come visit!

Severely impacted by the Great Depression, Italy's Government is now not very strong. And with the Euro in extreme decline, the Economy is sure to get a lot worse. Most people are parts of large corporations, since Italy's unforgiving economy discourages small business. Though there are many options in those large businesses, the common worker is usually stuck in a small cubicle. Italy's Government is a Republic. With a President, Prime Minister, and different diplomatic parties, it is much like that of England's Government. Besides some minor air pollution in industrial areas, Italy is a fairly green country.

Florence's population has very high social standard. Etiquette is pretty lax in Italy outside the business realm.  To be accepted in the business world you have to have a nice, custom tailored suit with fancy leather shoes. Women are treated just as men, now that they are allowed into big corporations as managers. Holidays are a special time of year all around the globe, but are celebrated in a special way in Florence, Italy. Big family parties and large business breaks contribute to exiting Holidays. Soccer is without a doubt Italy's biggest sport. Italians are huge fans and are very spirited to their team.

 Family life is very important to Italian culture. On average there are 4 or 5 kids per household. This means the father has to work for a long time to pay for his kids. The standard of living is high. There are many farmers in the south, but also business men in the north. It is about the same as the US. Homes in the city are like american apartment basically, but with an Italian fell of course. Houses in the countryside are like villas, and usually very expansive. With a storehouse and a grain room , you have all your farming storage needs satisfied. Meals in Florence are very large and are almost always eaten with family and friends. Meals can last for hours and start late at night. A large percentage of Italians are Roman Catholic, and with the Vatican city so close, Florence is no different. With many churches and parishes, the Italians are very religious. Their religion affects their life on Sundays, but most people just carry on and don't act on their religion. Italians in general love sports and love to eat and cook.

Florence is located in middle-Italy, Europe. We can see the Senese Clavey Hills from our hotel room! With 3 minor rivers flowing through it, Florence has many pretty bridges. It has mild to warm weather so i will probably not need my jacket, but with an average annual rainfall of about 4 inches, there is a chance I will need an umbrella! Florence's population is around 370,000 people and about 9,400 people per square mile. Its pretty crowded here. I have seen many Asians, and i just found out that there are around 7,000 here! 87% of the population is Italian. We saw a cemetery today and I learned that the US used florence as a medical base in WWII. We now have a Veterans Cemetery here that anyone can visit. I arrived here in florence just in time because right before I came there was a medium-sized earthquake, but besides that the people here are very calm and peaceable. I have heard their language, Italian, before, but its different here because of the many dialects for each province. Their Euros look extremely intricate for a modern currency, and are worth more than the US dollar. I got here by plane, but we are traveling around on a train, and plan to head back to the states by boat. Almost every transportation system you can think of is here! I have asked around and heard that 80% of the people here are Roman Catholic. They have some smog and air pollution from industries north of here but its not that bad. The US and Italy have became allies after WWII and there aren't any outstanding threats to Italy, so all is well. Farewell until tomorrow! (Family life in Florence)