Florence

It is 6.20pm, and I just came back to my hostel in Florence. Actually, I've checked out since morning, but the hostel has been really nice to allow me to deposit my luggage and use its facilities (computer). I'm catching a train to Venice tomorrow at about 4am, and I will be heading to the train station later, and spend my night there. I'll be spending a couple of days in Venice and maybe Trieste, before making my way to Zagreb.

My trip has been full of scares.

The Scares:

- That initial (wee) bit of culture shock - Language barriers, hospitality

- Being stranded in awkward situations but not able to get the help I needed, because people couldn't speak English

- Moments that I felt like crying because I felt so, so cold and homeless

- Meeting creeps and rubbish people

- Couch-surfed, and my host's house short circuited. When I shone the torch on the walls, gore-y faces (posters) greet me - She's into gore. Miscommunication, and before I knew it, I had to get ready to leave her house within 3 minutes on that next morning.

- Being stranded in the quiet alley past midnight

- Couchsurfed with an extremely romantic host who had sex with previous guests who surfed at his place, and told me at 1am that he's feeling hot and that his heart is beating very fast.

- The train inspector who was a complete shit-head - Who wanted to charge me 40euros for "not validating the train ticket". I said that I didn't have cash, he asked me (twice) how much money do I have. I reasserted that I didn't have cash. He tried to scare me by asking for my passport and mentioning about the "police", before telling me to get out at the next stop which was in the middle of nowhere. And it was so dark (night time).

- Feeling so sorry for myself as I walked through puddles with my socks soaked, and my feet feeling so cold. Stones and water kept getting into my boots (it was tattered with a few holes in the sole).

- Losing my wallet just yesterday.

On a brighter note, I've had fantastic times and met great people as well. It's like an emotional roller coaster ride, though sometimes, a tad dramatic. I'm thankful that I'm still safe.