March 26-29: Florence,Italy
Ahh Florence… my favourite city in the world. We arrived via bus around 2 and then finding our airbnb was a little difficult, but we figured it out. Carrying our bags through the streets was a little frustrating, especially after carrying our suitcases over tons of bridges in Venice earlier, but we managed. An airbnb is basically a house or room that is rented out to travellers. It was this art studio and when you entered it was all this art stuff and desks and stuff and then a kitchen and then in the back was our room and bathroom. It was a super cool and fun layout. There was a bigger bed and a small bed on the ground floor, then there was a little ladder like stairway that led to a loft with another big bed, but the best part was the hammock that dangled over the stairs. Just so relaxing. Anyway, I just love Florence. The old schoolish and authentic feeling you have when you’re there is just so nice. We would go out to eat and get wine and pizza or gnocchi or pasta… honestly the life. I think I have gotten a glass of good wine with every sit down meal I have had in Italy, again – the life. Just like Venice, we did a lot of walking around and just enjoying. The first night, we went out and enjoyed the night life of Florence – see? A different experience than last time. ---- Get this. The club we were trying to get into was pretty crowded and the bouncer wasn’t going to let us in… BUT I was able to convince him to let us in using my Spanish skills to let us in, close enough to Italian. We even got on stage and sang karaoke… we’re wild, but it was super fun.---- On the walk back, me and Marissa found this little tower with illuminated astrological signs on the ground… sound familiar Momma and Dad? Well it should because we took pictures there last time we were in Italy, so of course I had to this time as well.
We celebrated Easter in Florence, but we couldn’t make it to church, which I was really sad about. But we walked around a bunch and checked out Il Duomo, which is a massive and beautiful church, which is a huge symbol for Florence. It’s just so big and it’s all green and white and super detailed and beautiful, we would just stare at it and would try to focus on one little part, like a statue and focus on the detail and it’s really crazy to think about it that way. Then we walked up to this overlook, which I appreciated cause it was a little workout. The city from the overlook is just so beautiful. The colors, the architecture, and way the streets are set up, and the random tall cathedrals and buildings sticking up above the other buildings makes it even more beautiful.
We lay on the grass and got ice cream at the overlook and just enjoyed being in Italy and the scenery and the warm weather. I don’t think we went up to this overlook when I was there with the family, which was pretty surprising to me. Though while walking along the main river, I am pretty sure that I walked past where we stayed last time. I feel like I explored a completely different part of Florence than last time. We walked around more of the city rather than the back streets, but we got to the little squares in Florence again. I just love Florence and Italy so much. This trip really made that obvious to me. Travelling to Italy made me realize I could never live in England, weather wise. I would grow so depressed there, which is a shame because it really is such a nice place. We were two bridges down from the Ponte Vecchio, the big bridge with the tons of jewelry stores on it. I picked out some rings and necklaces if anyone needs gift ideas for me hehe.
Anyway, the last day in Florence, we travelled out to Pisa. I have been before, but we entered a completely different way. I didn’t know that there was an actual city really outside where the leaning tower is because last time we got dropped off right outside and then we walked through some small markets and that’s what I thought it was. Maybe it changed, but it’s a really cute city. Filled with designer store and painted a pale yellow with green open shutters. We went and watched a mini concert and danced a bit there which was funny. In the abbey area we got some really fun pictures of us with the leaning tower. I think it might be tilted maybe 3 more inches than last time I was there. We weren’t allowed in the chapel because you needed tickets, but it was still pretty from the outside. It was a fun little day trip.
Our Italy trip has consisted mostly of random sight seeing, eating, and wine – but no complaints from me. There was this orange colored drink that we noticed in both Venice and Florence that seriously everyone drank, it’s called Aperol Spritz and it is made up of prosecco, aperol (whatever that is, but boy is it bitter), and some spritz filled with some fruit. We were all so excited to try it and we got it in Pisa… well it was pretty rough. Very bitter and the after taste left my tongue feeling strange and bad tasting. We ended up putting sugar in it to try and help with the taste because they cost us 6 euros each so we weren’t going to waste them! I’m happy I tried it because it is apparently a popular Italian drink, but I think I’ll just stick with wine.
One of my favourite parts is surprisingly when we are on the buses and I just stare out the window at the countryside. Mountains aren’t usually the first thing you think of when you think of Italy, but it’s filled with them and there are a bunch of little villas on the mountain sides and it’s so pretty. Off to Roma!
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