Art, mosquitoes, and heat

It's very hot here. I really should have thought this going to Italy in the high season thing through a little more carefully, but... in the end, this isn't going to be what I remember. I won't remember the dozens of mosquito bites covering my legs, or the trickle of sweat that constantly runs down the side of my face whenever I'm outside.

What I will remember is the quick peeks of the hills outside the city as I walk by a long street. Or finally seeing an original Artemisia painting seven years after the project I did on her. Or splurging on an audio guide and getting an entire history of Italian painting from the 13th to the 18th century at the Uffizi. I will remember David, who I did decide to see (and only waited for an hour!) and how struck sad he looked, not at all like the pictures. I will remember refilling my water bottle at a pump outside the Duomo. I may remember the constant thirst, but hopefully not...

Florence is lovely, but like Venice, I think I would rather come here at a different time in my life, when I have a little more money and maybe even more understanding of the history. Coming when it's twenty degrees cooler also seems like a clever idea.

From what I've read about Rome however, it seems as if there are lots of things to see and do that you don't pay for. More local colour perhaps. Hopefully not so many tourists, or at least, with a larger city, not so many noticeable tourists. I guess we'll find out tomorrow.