Ciao!   this is how people in Italy say hello and goodbye - something like Aloha!  

We spent the night in Graz Austria and started out on foot to see the town.   Simon and Manuel from the Graz church came to meet us and give us a personal tour - what a splendid gift!   We started by seing a funky art building that looks like a dark aqua sea slug? looking building - very cool - to crossing the bridge with a bowl and a dome in the middle of the river.  
Some walked up the steps and others took the elevator up to the clock tower that has been keeping time since about 1770!   This was beautiful and gave a good overview of the city.

Napolean tried to conquer Graz and they couldn't succeed so he went after Vienna instead!  When the country capitulated they had to give up Graz :(  

11:00 was the time for the Glockenspeil to play.   It marks the time with a couple of Austrian dancers - for over 100 years now.

up the hill the group was able to explore the small cathedral - very beautiful woodwork throughout.  They were able to sing again  - what a privilege!

We trouped back through the quaint city streets with cable cars and old stone roads to meet the bus and pick up groceries and head back to the SDA church.  The lovely church ladies (and gentlemen) provided another lovely meal - pita pocket sandwiches!

Did you ever go on an 8 hour bus ride?  We did today!   Through beautiful countryside and the Italian alps we headed west to Venice and then south to Florence - arrived about 10:30 pm.  We had a short stop for supper and the kids enjoyed the merry-go-round!   Simple pleasures!

We are in the Plus hostel in old town Florence - a youth hostel.  It is in walking distance to many things.  We start early with 9 am visit to see David!   We will have two days and three nights here so we should get to know the city fairly well.  

Less pictures today - but I highly reccomend that you visit all the churches we have visited as everyone has been extremely kind!   God bless them all!