Vent Time

I'm going to start this out by venting about a few Italian things that have been bothering me.  First of all stores don't stay open as long as they say they will, I am saying this in reference to the Gelateria the girls and I have gone to twice now and it has been closed before it said it would.  

Second, big buildings always have lots of double doors to choose from when entering yet they only choose one, randomly, to leave unlocked.  So as you go down the line trying to get in the building you look like a fool.  

Third, you can never tell if the doors are push or pull.  Also makes you look a fool.  

Fourth, the residency packet is in Italian, yes the residency packet for foreign people trying to stay in the country temporarily.  Italy is the only country that speaks Italian, why would they put a packet for foreigners in Italian?  

Fifth, the residency packet is ridiculous.  10 pages long.  I had my roommates help me translate it and even they had trouble.  I had to find a place to photocopy my passport, get more passport photos taken, and get this stamp thing that cost 14 euro.  Once I got there, waited a half hour in line, the woman said I needed copies of every single page in my passport.  So at that point I was in a different part of the city, no idea where to get things copied there.  I finally found a place, got the copies made, went back and I was 8 euro short of the 58 euros needed just to live in the country for a few months.  So I had to leave again, find an atm, and go back for the final time and pay.  

Six, These banks are ridiculous.  I went to 4 different banks to cash travelers cheques and none of them would do it.  I ended up having to go to the exchange office near the Duomo in the city center and only get 80% of what the cheque said.  Lame.

Ok enough venting.  Good news now!  Everything else in Italy is fantastic.  Kate arrives on Saturday morning and we are spending 3 days in Rome and 2 days in Florence.  Her aunt was able to contact their family friend who is a Cardinal in Rome and we have an audience with the Pope on Ash Wednesday next week!!!  We also are having mass there too. Amazing!!!  I'm excited to see the parts of Italy that I've always wanted to see.  Milan is nice but it doesn't have the same charm that the rest of Italy has.  I'll be sure to post pictures.