We've had a whirlwind first few days in Florence with a perfect combo of adjustment and exploration. Our welcome dinner on Wednesday night was delicious (not that I had expected anything different, but what they say about Italian food is right!) My family and friends can tell you, I'm ALWAYS the last one to finish eating at meals because of my double-edged love of chatting AND eating, so the pace of the meal really made it for me. I love when a meal takes 2 hours. It forces you to sit, enjoy, and communicate with the people around you, something us Americans aren't known for.
Thursday morning we took a tour of the fresh market that I can see from my window. We spent an hour walking and smelling and tasting what JD coined the "food porn of Florence" -- fresh veggies, fruit, fish, meat, cheese, pasta, and bread. YUM. Afterwards, we went back to LdM and took a cooking class from Milva, one of our Wells advisors. We prepared bruschetta, pesto pasta, and tiramisu for lunch. Another YUM. After we awoke from our food coma, a LdM history professor named Marcello took us on a 2 hour walking tour of Florence. Eye opening. Never will so many strokes of genius in a few short years happen as it did here in the beginning years of the renaissance. At the end of one block, Leoardo di Vinci painted the Mona Lisa as Michelangelo carved David. Literally, the same block. Now, a public high school occupies the space. Can you imagine??! I have plenty of touristy shots that I can't wait to load and share from the day.
Last night was our first true night out on the town in Firenze where the Connor girls happily endulged in a European court party. From becoming best friends with the bartender to my terrible luck with shoes breaking to 3 AM pictures in front of the Duomo, we all made it home safe and sound last night.... we just woke up with 3 hours of sleep and headaches this morning. WHICH made orientation today all the more painful.
Florence is a small city, all well within walking distance unless you are Caroline and me who get lost for hours (yes, hours) in wedges. I'm talking bigger blisters than you can imagine. Milva commented that the many hours of walking and thousands of stairs are the reasons that Italians are so skinny while eating pasta and drinking wine. I like that diet plan. Italy made be comprised of Medieval buildings and cobblestone streets, but they DO have spas for mani/pedis. Ahh, the amenities of home. Necessary amenities in our case.
Tomorrow we head to a small medieval town in Tuscany between Florence and Siena called San Gimignano followed by an aperitif (appetizers and drinks) on a terrace back in Florence. Should be another long and full day, but we're loving every minute.
I'm in a weird place between thrilled and excited and missing familiar and comfortable people and places. When we're out and busy, I'm a girl in my element, but when things are difficult (our phone situation, the gargantuan mosquitos and consequently the bites, or the separation from family and friends), I do miss the US. I haven't even teared up yet because I truly am on sensory overload still, but during quiet times, I miss Lincolnton football, Connor girls, fried chicken, Lily Pulitzer and pastels... but I DO love this and I will continue to embrace Florence for the next 14 weeks. I've said this a thousand times, but when else in my life can I live in Europe without a house payment, car payment, job, spouse, or children for 6 months? Not until after Med school, that's for sure. Until then, Firenze is our playground.
No comments:
Post a Comment