-----Original Message-----

From: Dan Burke

Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 9:52 AM

To: Dan Burke

Subject: Florence is home.

I have been seeing a lot. Seeing. Not feeling.

Every other day I've been in a new city. It has become

routine. The program: Get in sweating. Shower. Go see

the church, the museum, the old square, pass out. Next

town.

Feels like work.

Not down with that any more.

Needed to take some time to FEEL Italy. Needed to stop

and smell the roses.

Today, I landed in Florence. My little hotel is

stylish, small, quaint, quiet. The vibe there is

waaaay low. Dark paint, soft music, incense. Just my

vibe.

The couple that own it are my age, speak English, and

best of all, are totally in love with Florence. They

gave me the inside scoop. Best square, best gelato,

best pizza, best church. You get the idea, right?

Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Today I changed my plans.

Instead of running, running, running for my last 14

days of vacation, splitting my time between 7 more

cities, I decided to pull up and post up. I will be

here in Florence, drinking espresso, vino; eating

gelato and writing occasionally. I'll strum my $300

guitar and FEEL Italy for the next 8 days. From here,

I will train to Venice for 2 days, then fly to Prague

for my last 4 to recoup and relax before coming home.

I'm thinking about summering in San Luis Obispo with

the crowd down there, then maybe getting a room in San

Francisco during the Indian summer.

Italy has made my love for California grow. Nice to be

able to think of it as home.

Love from Florence,

The D