Two Down, Lots to Go!

Zenon: Two more cities down.  Florence can be summed up in one sentence: we waited half the day in the scorching heat to see Michaelangelo's David, and developed a very noticeable farmer's tan in the process.  Apparently, it's "frowned upon" to take your shirt off in public places in Italy.  You know what else was "frowned upon..?" Drinking on the streets in Ukrayina.  For anyone who's ever been at Bessarabs'kyj Rynok in Kyiv from the hours of 9 pm to 7 am, you all know how that works out every night.  Now its technically illegal in Ukrayina.  They might as well have left it as "frowned upon."  But, we're just humble tourists, so we kept our shirts on, and we'll have to straighten out that farmer's tan when we're at CYMivskyj tabir in England.  They have constant heat waves and sunshine there, right? 

Next, we had 5 nights Rome-ing around (we're not ones to steal jokes.... Comedic credit: Rick Steves, our 3rd best friend), and we are ready to move on.   Next stop, Milan.  It feels like we've been gone from Ukraine for ages, but it's only been a week.  It’s a little odd to be reminiscing about Ukraine instead of Canada, as if Ukraine had been our home all along.  We had a little taste of Ukraine today though - on our way out of Cavour subway station, a homeless person gave us a leaflet titled, "Manifestazione!"  To sum it up in a nutshell, the Ukrainian Embassy in Rome is calling all Ukrainian expatriates to demonstrate against the Ukrainian language law changes.  Appropriately enough, they are planning to hold this demonstration on August 24th, the anniversary of Ukraine's Independence.  Though there are (at last official count) about 5 million Ukrainians in Italy - mostly for short term work purposes - they have no real coordinated hromada here.  Even in Rome, where Ukrainians are scattered and lack direction, they've managed to get their act together.  A few more demonstrations from the diaspora, and that should be enough to send Yanu packing with his tail between his legs, I figure.  Oh no, I feel a verbal tangent coming on... Seriously, who voted for this guy?  We've been as far east and as far west as you can possibly go in Ukraine, and we have yet to come across genuine supporters of Yanu.  Yulia's people are camped out on the streets, Yatsenyuk's crew is handing out flyers left right and centre, and Klitschko... Well, I wouldn't want Dr. Iron Fist to know that I didn't vote for him.  I know he's the nicest guy around, and I've read all about his philanthropic work, but - excuse my French, mama - he scares the shit out of me.  When either of the Klitschko brothers looks at the camera, I half expect him to say, "I have crushed David Haye... You're next, Zenon Ciz."  Stoic and relentless, yet good natured and well meaning.  Intelligent and fierce.  He may be a little green, but put some political experience in him, and doesn't that sound like exactly what Ukraine needs?  So, Klitschko-Yanukovych Fight Club to decide the Presidency of Ukraine, or....?

But I digress... We're in Italy now.  (punches own head) We're on vacation - save the zeal and ire for when we're back in Canada!   ...And even though I hear more Russian than Italian (not much of an exaggeration), and have seen almost as many Asians as in Toronto (what's up with that, Italy?  When did you let that happen?), Rome is wicked.  For a self-proclaimed history buff like me, it is an endless labyrinth of interesting stuff.  You almost can't take a step without tripping on a rock Julius Caesar bled on, sitting on a ledge that Michaelangelo sculpted, or leaning on a wall that Mussolini probably punched in a fit of Nazi rage.  I don't think we're going to see a single city with as rich and storied a history as Rome. Well, only one way to find out!  ...And it starts where we are sitting right now, the world's least comfortable overnight train.  Eat your heart out, Ukraina - not only did we not get beds here, our seats are missing half of their back rests.  And I'm pretty sure they're made of the same material as the carpet I slept under back at Baba Vera's in Kyiv; a.k.a., a Brillo pad.  When we arrive in Milan in the morning, I am going to be seriously grumpy... Milan better be the coolest city in the world.