Piazza Della Repubblica: Friday, 11:55 PM

guess I shouldn't be surprised, but a smile comes to my face when from across the square, the none-too subtle strains of The Macarena waft my way. I suppose I somehow figured that 4,000 miles would be enough to escape its evil influence, but I guess there's no escaping a global phenomenon.

Speaking of global phenomena, it's interesting to be so far away from the pull of daily American life. In Canada, even if you ignore the news, current events from south of the border always seem to find a way to filter into your consciousness. Here, though, the happenings in the U.S. of A. are as remote as those in Chad. America just doesn't exist.

That's not to say it has no influence. From the McDonald's I saw outside the Roma Termini train station, to the Foot Lockers and Guess Jeans stores that infest Florence's streets, to the American music you hear from the buskers and the radio, Yankee culture is an integral part of everyday life here.

Florentine Notebook	David2	Fiesole

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