What is it like to be home? Um..the same as it was when I left. But really, I would really like to see you and hug you and share some stories in person. So, this Sunday July 15th you are invited to my house.

WHAT: BBQ
WHEN: JULY 15th, 3pm till late
WHY: Because I miss you
WHere: My parent's backyard

Oh, and please bring somethin' to eat and share with everyone. This is going to be fun.

Last days

I don't really know what to say. Here I am about to leave a whole year behind. I have said goodbye and helped friends pack and move and now it's my turn. I don't know what I will say to all of you when I am home. I don't know if your life is different or the same. I don't know If I will live my life differently, or will seem the same to you.

I don't know if Emma and Greta know that I am going home and not coming back. Raffaella just sent me a text saying that she will "miss me to death." when I leave.

My friend from Finland, Marianne, just started dating a street pefromer from chile. He is a super-fly in a dramatic skit with superman. "We are professionals!!" they always say. They have competetions all over Europe, next week Barcelona. Eric and Mariann live in a tent on a camping ground out in Aurelia. They had bbq last night after a day at the lake. All of the crazy acrobatic fire juggling artists are dating very sensible level headed girls who are their managers or work some stable jobs. And they are all a few decades apart in age. We watched the fantastic 5 the other day. Taking them places, is just like taking children somewhere. They are hillarious and funny and love to be the center of attention and genuinely just love people. When I asked Mariannne what she loved most about Eric, "Because there is never a boring moment."

I think that is important in a relationship.

My last days here in Rome are reminding me a lot of my first. The smells of the flowers in bloom the smelly streets and crowded metro people smells are bringing back memories. I like that I have lived through all the seasons here. Coming full circle to summer again makes my time here complete.

I have so much time to think. And read. And paint.

When Ruby left last week, we were all in tears. I think her leaving signified a chapter in all of our lives closing soon.

Much of my free time is spent on the beach. At Ostiense, Sperlonga, but mostly at Ledispoli with Irene. The sand is black and sticks to you. My arm looked like a bagel, oiled and rolled in poppy seeds. People are like Brusceta oiled and toasting in the sun. mmm.crunchy..

School is finished for Greta and Emma tomorrow, which means I get to spend the next two weeks at the pool from 10 am to 5pm with them.

Pools and Seas. Life is at full summer swing. The heat from Africa is supposed to hit Rome tomorrow. And Bush, is supposed to be here Saturday morning! He is clogging up all the streets in Trastevere for the weekend.

I miss you all!! All these changes in your lives, graduating and getting married, babies being born. I am ready to come home and I can't wait to see all your beautiful faces.

4 nights without a hostel....

MUNICH: So far, our trip had run smoothly without problems until the bus never arrived for Barcelona from Munich. We checked the schedule for alternative routes: "WANNA GO TO PARIS?" Ingrid yells across the abandoned bus terminal. How weird that we could actually just hop a bus to Paris on a whim?

MILAN: We took the night bus here, to avoid paying for a hostel. People are quiet here, and people are more diverse, but it still feels like Rome. No as much Gucci as I expected. We bought lunch at the supermarcato and shared it with the pigeons and a gypsies in front of the Cathedral. Washed our hair and face in McDonalds. Went to a park and slept on the grass while our hair dried.

MONTPILLIER: Another night bus, decided this was on our way to Barcelona, and why not stop in France for some really good Pan au chocolate pastries for breakfast? Seemed to forget the problems of arriving at 4:30am. Sat on a bench as the add sign changed across the street, with only us to read it. Finally had breakfast three hours later. exhausted, we slept on a park bench again, taking turns. watching our stuff. We liked this city. Bright colourful and warm.

BARCELONA: Arrived at 5pm. No room anywhere inside the city. Once again, we were without a place to sleep. Tired of living without a shower, we found a swimming pool and showered there. Locked our bags in public lockers and walked around town. "I am tired of being homeless." I said. Sat and people watched the hip, trendy crowd parade around Catalyn square. Saw some amazing artists and street performers. Danced till dawn in a club where we befriended three French guys who were dancing like wounded birds. Caught a taxi to the beach and watched the sunrise over the Mediterranean sea. Jumped in the water for a morning swim. Realized everyone else was naked and drunk, and that you were the only one sober and clothed. Ate Croissants and drank cafe as we talked about Spain France and Italy. they invite us over for soufflé tonight. Saw the Park Guell and la Sacred famiglia before napping at starbucks and recharging your camera battery. Feel sick at the thought of one more homeless night before your flight home at 8:50am. Arrive at 2:30 am am and fall asleep at the airport. Wake up at 4:30 four thirty and realize you are at the WRONG airport. Arrive at the RIGHT airport at 6:30am.

ROME: Finally back in Italy realize you have no cash left for the €5 shuttle into town. Your bank card does not work in the only ATM and the company of course, only takes cash. You dump out your bags and collectively have €4 in small change. figure out how to take a bus to the end of the metro line for €1 each and then pay the other €1 ticket to get home. Never been so happy to take a shower and sleep in your bed. Sleep for 18 hours straight.

Among the famous

"who are they?" Ingrid asked the bartender in a pub. She asked this in Polish, and he answered in Czech. We were clearly in the presence of someone famous.
"The plasic People...Come." He grabbed my arm and pulled us to the laughing group of old, aged faces.

So there we were, laughing and talking among the swirling cigerette smoke frothy beer and crazy grey hair. Pragues first psychidelic group.

"Did that really happen?" Ingrid asked? As we emerged from the warm dark

Plus Prauge Hostel

It makes all the difference when you travel with an easy going, optimistic person.
There seems to be a lot of collegeish aged loud males from around the world in our hostel and not so many females. My backpack is getting heavier and I feel as if someone stole something it would be a relief not to carry it around anymore. ( I know I should not say this...) My new advice is make sure the outfit you are wearing when you leave fits in your luggage before you leave. Another thing, mixed room doorms with more than 8 beds are not so fun. Drunk Aussie guys do not make for a good night sleep.

pictures taken: 268
cities covered: 3
cities to go: 2
hotels with swimming pools: 1
hours on a bus: 28 1/2
number of helpful, kind people in Prague: 123,156,240
Rick Steve guides sighted: 12

Prague

Full of beauty and layers with close-knit buildings and scatteed cobblestones just like Rome. Red roofs like Florence. Gothic Cathedreal like Vienna. Pretty much everything amazing all rolled up into one. With green bronze domes and the dusk lighting on the river.

We climbed the tower over charles bridge and took model shots with Ingrids new camera with the glam flash that makes your skin glow. Everyone else was snapping shots of the panoramic scenes, we were taking pictures of ourselves using the copper roof as our backdrop.

"I am so glad you like to take pictures like I do!" she said. We like to look through them all over and over and edit the ones that are not worthy to be shown. No boring slideshows in our pictures.

p.s. Do not go on more than a 2 hour walking tour. If you do, you will feel the need to break free and explore things on your own. This way you can lay in the grass, take pictures, giggle hysterically and take many breaks to eat in cafes, and relax by the river and talk to people from around the world.

p.p.s. Rent bikes wherever you go. They are an amazing way to get around a city and see everything faster.