Oggi: Degustazione Gratuita

Today: ventured to the city center

• Ran up the Arno River
  - went further than I had on my walk yesterday and it was absolutely beautiful.
  -There were a fair amount of people out walking their dogs and running
  -the weather was great for a run.
  
The Arno River


• Walked to Mercato Centrale--bought cucumbers and apples
• Piazza San Lorenzo
  -sat and ate my cucumber and apple
  -went in the Basilica di San Lorenzo
• Walked down the street towards the Duomo, actually gasped when I turned the corner: The Duomo is unreal. It is not only huge but elaborate, intriquite, colorful, and surrounded by people. Took some photos here for awhile

The Duomo

• Walked to Piazza Santa Croce in search of a coffee and a bite to eat. Wandered around for awhile taking photos and exploring
• Ended up near the Ponte Vecchio (bridge to the other side of the river) and Biblioteca Nazionale Central (library), but I decided to save the other side for another day and the library was closed.
• Eventually decided on Vestri for mango and strachiatella gelato in a cone :)
• Walked back to Piazza Santa Croce to sit down and eat said gelato, then sat on the outside patio of a restaurant and had a glass of wine while people watching.

Gelato

Santa Croce

Gelato and Santa Croce

• Decided to venture back home because I was getting tired.
• Walked through an open air market on my way back, as well as stopped in some stores along the way:
  -stopped in a neat furniture/lighting/bathroom/tiling store that would've been 100 times better had I been with mom, but still fun
  
  
  
  
awesome chair



• -wandered in to a wine store for the best surprise ever and the title of this blog post: free tasting. I was a little confused at first, it kind of looked like I had walked into a private party by accident so I want to leave but the man started yelling "prego" (which means both please and you're welcome...) and I turned around to him pouring me a glass of wine and putting bruschetta on a plate for me. I was confused and didn't want to get tricked into something expensive so I asked if I had to pay (in English) and he looked at me, clearly having no idea what I had just sad, so I added "free?" and he said "free," and it was awesome. The bruschetta and wine were delicious, not to mention the cheeses. The salamis didn't really do it for me...I'm still adjusting and figuring out how I feel about the whole non-kosher meat business. But I tried them!

best sign ever

• Came home, moved into my actual room (because the other girl left today), took a short nap, then ventured back out to find something for dinner
• I was going to stay close to home but ended up walking back towards the center of the city and stopped in a little cafe for a spinach and feta foccacia: not the best thing I've ever eaten, but I was hungry and tired of walking so it did the job.
• Tonight is "white night" where apparently stores all over the city are open late and have big sales. I, however, am exhausted and ready for bed. After dinner I just came home and want to rest up so I can have another big day tomorrow!

Lesson of the day: when visiting churches and other buildings, look UP... the artwork and architecture are amazing from floor to ceiling

Photo of the day:

Sassy McSass in the Piazza di Santa Croce

Tomorrow: crossing the Ponte Vecchio--visiting Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, Gusto pizza, and Piazza Michelangelo at sunset

Will post all my photos online at some point. I don't have Photoshop on this computer so some could still use tweaking, but I'll make due with what I've got.

Bed time!

Arrivo

I have arrived!

Flights, etc. went smoothly.

I left the US yesterday at 6:30 pm, had a two hour layover in Munich, Germany and arrive at my host family's home in Firenze, Italia at around 1:00 pm, local time (7:00 am East Coast). They are a family of four: Manuela and Claudio have two kids Andrea (21) and Galileo (16). There are currently two other study abroad students staying with them. The one who I met, Rachel, is leaving tomorrow, so for tonight I am in another guest room in the basement. I spent the afternoon wandering around the "neighborhood." It seems like they live in a more residential area--20 minutes walking distance from the Duomo and city center, very close to a bus stop, and two-three blocks from the Arno River. I visited with the family and then walked along the river for a bit. It looked like it was going to rain, though, so I found a cafe and had lunch, a cup of tea and read a bit. Given that I was falling asleep in my plate I decided to venture back home and take a nap.

What I learned today: I really don't know any Italian.

Tomorrow: Venture towards the Duomo...prepared to be mobbed by tourists.

Dinner time!