Tamara Otto Christina... Have fun exploring--and soak it all in. I'm so happy for you that you're having this experience. I'll keep checking in on you through your website to read about your adventures. Meanwhile, back here in Maryland, we have our little Sarah who is 22 months going on 6 years and she'd love to fill you in on her current fascination with spaceships. :-) Although, in addition to that, she IS a self-described fashion maven, so keep her in mind as a potential model for your future work as a designer! She has more shoes and clothes than her Mommy. :-) Lots of love to you!

Christy Vahling Christina!!!! Happy Birthday!!!! I hope you are having the time of your life! Remember when we went out for lunch on your birthday last year?! That was fun. Let me know how you're doing. Miss Ya! Christy

steffanie We had meal tickets that we could use at certain restaurants. That was one of the best parts of my trip, to get a group of people together and find one of the places on our list to eat. I'll give you some of the ones that I remember as being pretty good. Bar Le Torri - borgo san jacopo 31r (the one I all told you about) Gustapanino - via de michelozzi 13r ( you can build your own sandwiches! we loved this place. its next to san spritito church) Ristorante Chinatown - via vecchietti 6/8/10r (chinese in italy!) Caffe Trinta - via de maggio 2r (good/cheap sandwiches! at the end of borgo s. japoco , across the street) Ristorante Golden View - via de bardi 58r (really nice and good! for your apt - to the right of the ponte vecchio ) Ristorante Rotondo - via dei Prato10/16 (on the other side of town to the right of the train station but yummy!) Ristorante/Pizzeria Osteria dell' Agnolo- borgo san lorenzo 24r (they also gave us free dessert here! It was good food too) Ristorante Salamanca - via ghibellina 80r (spanish style restaurant) Pizzeria/Spaghetteria I Tarrocchi - via dei renai 14r (good food -outside and inside dining) Frutta e Verdura Vettori - borgo s. jacopo 63r ( i dont remember this one but i know that i most have gone it. )

steffanie Hey! I looked on yahoo maps to see where your apartment was. It is literally right down the street from where I lived. I had some friends that lived in an apartment right there. It is a great location. Their apartement was really nice, I would be crazy if it was the exact some one!(well I guess it wouldnt be cuz it had two rooms and yours will only have one) Anyway, they had air conditioning in their apartment, I think and two nice bathrooms. great view of the ponte vecchio. thats were everything is goin on. There is a little geletaria on that corner of the ponte vecchio. Its good but you can find it cheaper other places. If you go across the pt. vecchio and and to the right towards the Uffizi gallery, I think that is one of the best. On Borgo San Japoco (where I lived) There is a good and pretty cheap cafe called Cafe Torre, I think. The internet cafe I was talking about is also right there. Also if you go farther away from your apartment down Borgo San Japoco toward Via de Maggio, there is a little irish bar called Friends that we used to go to all the time and on that corner is the pharmicia I was talking about. Across from the pharmicia is a little market with fresh foods and vegetables. The bridge I was talkin about is the Trintia Bridge. It is where Via de Maggio goes across the Arno river. Its a good place to chill without being to crowded, like on the Ponte Vecchio. ( but it is fall so there will be less tourist.) Also, when I was there, there was two big markets with like everything, thats is were I got most of my souveniors: one is on Borgo San Lorenzo and the other is in the Signora la Republia. Anyways, I know that you can explore the city for yourself and find things, but I just thought that some of this would help. You will have so much fun I'm sure. Make sure to post lots of pictures so I can be jealous!