ha! I can get up in the morning

what to do in the morning...

I got an early start and went to the vatican today. I read in my book that the sistene chapel gets really crowded and is hard to get to because the man puts it at the end of a long line of rooms and passageways.
The museum opens at 845am or so my book told me and I wanted to get there before every bluehair and high school jackass had the chance to take his picture with gods finger up his nose. The book said you have to sign up for a tour to even get to the chapel but I wasnt having any of that for the afformentioned reasons.
I got to the entrance at 820am. As I got there masses of tourists had just arrived. The doors were open so I went in. Looks like they opened a little earlier than the book said.
I went through room after room of paintings and sculptures. The man was not going to make this an easy trip. Luckily it seemed the groups behind me were stuck getting tickets and getting everyone to emply their bladders before going in so I had some time. I passed a couple of smaller groups already in the building and on their way to the chapel. I cut through them as they were frozen like deer listening to their guides in german french and japanese.
I finally got to the end and was amazed at how small and close the paintings were. The quality was amazing and the expressions were masterful.The didnt look like anything that I was expecting because I wasnt there yet. I was in the Raphael rooms. Great stuff, glad I saw it but not my final destination.
Literally, over and around more rooms, passages and stairs I finally got there.
The sistene chapel.
And there were about 70 people there already. Ok, 70 does not make for a solitary art appreicating moment but not as bad as it could be. People were quiet and the guide of the only group in there was talking in a low tone so I could enjoy it.
And I did, as much as I could because it was 850am and like being at the beach up to your waist I could feel the swell of people building. I could hear the chatter in the backround from the path I just came from. They were coming.
So I just took deep breaths and drank in as much of the ceiling and the surroundings as I could. And I enjoyed it, until 857am, when they started to spill in through the door. I moved to the smaller partitioned room, but it was no use I could feel the masses building so I left.
It was good but there are a lot of tourists here.
My luck with my birthday trip is holding true. I was worried about rain and it was about 70F today with just a few clouds to shade me.
I havent seen nearly enough of this city so I will have to come back.
I may be moving on Florence tomorrow.
Im off to see the pantheon.
later...

got here now what...

I got in yesterday. The last flight and the tram to get to the city took the last bit of energy out of me. I got to the hotel (a good choice by the way, just 15 steps from the exit of the subway)took a quick shower and boom! asleep.
The voice on the tram from the airport was funny. In italian it was an italian guy, but in english it was a british guy. What the hell? Only the english can speak english? Which may be the thought process because for the english it was the english guy but when he got to an italian name....BOOM! italian guy stepped in and said MANZONI....then it was back to the british guy.
Interesting.
Shot a video of this morning, you may like.
and yes I did get up early. I couldn't help it I slept about 14 hours.
later.

layover

This thing was going pretty well, only an hour layover in New York, but, I didn't look to close at the reservation at this point. I'll be in Brussels for 4 hours. It's a nice airport. High ceilings. Clean. And people speak mainly french here which for some reason makes me stand up a little straighter. Why? Who knows.
I've been on a plane for the last 14 hours and I'll be glad to get into a hotel, which is again half a day away at this point.
Take a look at the coke machine graphic here. Local airport culture. I don't even know what the coke machines in LAX look like.
I had a coffee and a biscuit. Which killed about 40 minutes. The day is plodding along. I'm beat. I'm going to be out in Rome this evening but I won't really appreciate it until I can recharge.
I'm running on caffiene and sugar right now. and I smell like ...well like you smell when you've been on an airplane all day in the same clothes.
I'll give my fellow travelers a break and brush my teeth.
What a saint I am.
Rome is next.
later.

PCH

I went for a practice ride last week. A friend rented a motorcycle and we rode around an elementary school parking lot. It sounds lame but I dropped the bike once. I have a great deal of respect for the motorcycle and everything that it takes to pilot safely.

After last week I decided that I needed to go further, so this week I rented a bike and not going round and round in a parking lot I drove to my friend's house, with mapquest in my head and my stomach in my mouth I set off this morning. I felt like the first time I rode my bicycle into the next city over. I was extending my reach and I was nervous but exhilarated.

I made it to my friends house and we set out. Three at first then only two. We went down PCH and ended up at Laguna. AMAZING! I live in one of the most beautiful spots in the world. I hesitate to say that because there are too many people here already but it's true. We stopped at a spot and looked at the beach and sea lions on the rocks below and back out on the road.

Today was one to the best days I've ever had, and my birthday is only two weeks away.

rolling

I'm a gambler. I love it. I can mostly control it. It's one of the sources of great pleasure in my life. When I started going to vegas I was intimidated by the craps table but now that's the only reason I go to a casino.
I was in vegas this weekend. I had the best run at the table I've ever had! I rolled for about 30 minutes. I made 4 of the 6 points. I didn't make a ton of money but more than I ever had, but the best part was I had the table howling. I've had that experience before when the whole table feels you are lucky. You feel everything is going right but could collapse at any moment and the dice stop, and the players look and yell, shake their head and smile. There is nothing. NOTHING like it.
I hit one of my favorite casinos downtown on this trip. I got to the table. There was just one other guy there. The dice came to me and I was rolling again. Making money and I did something I've always wanted to do.
I bet seven for a dollar....and hit it...parlayed...hit it...and parlayed it again....and HIT IT! I turned one dollar into one hundred and twenty five! I've hit three or four in a row but hadn't bet on it...and I've won two in a row...but betting for three and hitting them...it was great!
I didn't bring back all the money I won but I came out ahead, for only the second time in my history of vegas.
I have to let this adrenaline pass before I go again....that is going to take awhile.

4 to 2

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine surprised me...HEY! We're going to get our motorcycle licenses! (We she meant a co-worker I'm good friends with as well) LET"S DO IT!.
Getting a motorcycle is on my list of things to do before I die, and I hadn't thought about it much so...WHAT THE HELL! With a little coaxing I signed up.
I failed the DMV test right off. Took it again. Failure. I was a bit peeved.
Yesterday and today I was at the riding class. Yesterday was the first day I've ever driven a motorcycle. I was very tentative. The exercises were basic and my comfort increased and today...I passed the certification! I'll get my certificate in a few day and I'm headed back to the DMV with a little more swagger than before.
I probably won't buy a bike unless a great deal comes my way. I'm not planning on riding a lot but I like to know that I have the ability.
However, I may just rent a bike on my birthday trip.