Porn

My hotel in Milan is clean, warm, comfortable and has wifi. It also has a predominantly male clientele. In fact, I am the only woman on the premises (apart from the receptionist but she has a mustache). My PayTv has an impressive list of adult movies, 9 out 12 in total. Impressive is also the amount of strip clubs and porn shops in the surrounding area. This area is supposed to be the main centre for telecoms companies...interesting, will have to discuss this with my friends at Ericsson!

Below is my porn-street at 7 am this morning.

The force, Luke!

I'm in Milan now. Long train journey and I've gone straight to bed. A very entertaining email regarding squirrells and star wars ended a rather hectic day - I shall leave you all to ponder on that - there is a connection between the two, use the force and you shall see it.

Milan today.

Been up since 5 am working , I know this is not like me at all! I'm packing up and will be leaving for Milan after my visits today. I'm really sorry to be leaving Rome but let's see if the Fashion Capital has got anything to offer a girl who doesn't care much for fashion (well, apart from shoes)

When in Rome (I just had to!)

Been out power walking for 2 hours or so. I have made 2 observations:

1. Rome has the friendliest drivers in the world. Whenever you need to cross the road, just walk and they will stop for you. Being normally a very careful road-crosser I find myself walking along like any other Roman. I even crossed the road a couple times when I didn't need to - just for fun. (so you can now start betting on how long it will take until Marie gets run over)

2. Rome doesn't photograph well. You know how when you get to a famous landmark for the first time you are always a bit disappointed because it looked better in the photos. This is not the case for Rome. My powerwalk took me past Piazza di Bernini, to Fontana di Trevi and the Spanish Steps - there is just no comparison to photographs...amazing! I need to come back here!

Back in the hotel, had a quick bite, a shower and will now get on with some work, while listening to Black Car Race of course!

My hotel btw is called Domus

Swedes will understand what's funny about that

And then there was the lovely taxi driver...

...who took me back to the hotel. He was playing a CD with a kind of of jazzy-Joe Crocker type of music, with a bit of country thrown in, sung in English with an Italian accent.

I had to ask about it, it was really quite...unusual. Turned out it was his band (obviously not doing very well since he's driving a taxi) and he gave me a free copy of his CD! Bless him!

So I will now start to market the band in the hopes that he can leave the "mines" and fulfill his dreams.

The group is called Black Car Race and the album (who knows, they might have more than one) is Summer of Love. I'm listening to it now. My favourite track is "The Colours of the Night". Look out for it people, I think it's the next big thing!

Blonde, Si! Idiot, No!

I've just had my first big fight in Italian. It went something like this

- Scuzi, but I want Via Cassia
- Si, si via Cassia
- You just turned off via Cassia
- Si, Si via Cassia
- Si, Via Cassia is over there
- No, blablablablablabla......blabla
- No, you need to turn back
- No, blablablablablabla......blabla
- Quicker? Ok then

5 min later

- Meter is 15 Euro, solo 10 Euro to Via Cassia, dieci euro!!
- No, Via Cassia blablablabla
- No, dieci!!!

He turns the taxi and heads back to Via Cassia - stops with the meter at 25 Euro

- Grazi, I'm paying ten euro only
- No, 25 euro
- No
- 25 Euro blablablabla
- No, you didn't go straight here, I have a map and I followed how you were driving. It's 10 euro
- (staring at me with angry eyes)
- Blonde, Si! Idiot, No!

He takes my 10 Euro and leaves. Should teach him not to mess with a Swede!