First Full Day in Firenze

After a short sleep (or long nap) after Twenty One we were all up and about at a reasonable time thanks to the beautiful sunlight pouring through the window and the sounds of a market just outside our hostel. What a wonderful way to wake up! It took the seven of us a little while to get out the door between everyone showering and us girls primping (ok Aven too) but we hit the streets in search of brunch. When we went outside we realized that the large empty portico/covered square we saw the night before had transformed into a bustling crowded market of stalls selling leather goods, shot glasses, scarves, and mementos of all sorts. We stopped for a couple minutes to browse. In the meantime Lexi and I formed a plan to meet up at Astor for our lunch and a coffee break for her after classes. We walked out of the market and past the Duomo, getting a good look at it in the daylight and of course Ghiberti's doors on the baptistery. If you're not familiar with the contest for the bronze doors do a little research on it. Donatello was a sore loser and never returned to metalwork afterwards! While everyone chatted admiring the buildings I was turning round and round trying to absorb it all, I didn't know which way to look! Aven handed me his camera and said "I don't know what I'm looking at, take pictures for me"  what a sweetheart. So I used up nearly all his memory I'm sure. Just on the opposite side of the Duomo from our hostel (that would be the north side for those keeping score at home, padre) we found Astor. Astor is a casual economic dining place during the day, offering hamburgers and breakfast!! Two things I haven't seen in a while and everyone was very excited to see again. At night however they clear out all the tables and it becomes a dance club. We met up with Lexi and she was rushed through all six of my friend's names, sorry Lex! So we chatted and her friend AJ showed up for a bit. She grabbed my guidebook (thank you Snoble!!!) and started pointing out and writing down all the best restaurants and clubs and museums that she has been to or heard of, including Dante's Pizzeria which gives students free wine. Dinner plans were quickly decided upon. We chatted for a bit more but Lexi was headed to Napoli for the weekend and needed to get home. It was wonderful seeing my high school friend while in Italy and I hope to see more soon Ellisians!

Aven rubbing the boar's nose for luck
at the market just outside the hostel

Gatto and I in front of the Duomo

The Dome

beautiful

Ghiberti's winning panel is the upper right

After we stuffed ourselves we got in line to climb the campanile (bell tower) of the duomo. My (Snoble's) guidebook said it was less crowded and a little more interesting which I completely agree with! There were only a few other climbers besides us, there were scenic views where you could stop and breath or just soak it all in (while the duomo gives you no rest) and best of all it was a little cheaper. You MUST climb the tower if you ever visit. It is breathtaking and each platform you reach just gets more and more amazing. As we climbed the wind grew stronger and was whipping my scarf until I had fear it would fly away! It was exhilarating! There was a point near the top where you can look down a grate straight to the bottom level. The staircase was nice and wide after St. Peter's and had windows looking out over the sprawling city soaking up the morning sun. Giotto was a pro (literally) and made a beautiful campanile. Once we reached the top and stood in silence looking out over the city we all agreed that one moment was worth the price of the trains and hostels, just for that single moment in the sun looking out over picturesque Firenze. Climbing back down was just as pretty but the rush of racing up to the highest point was past. We somehow got a little split up at the top and a couple of us sat on the benches from the night before gazing at the church and tourists and Italians while we waited for the other group. My tummy was full, my friends were around me, and Giotto was in front of me. I was so happy. This entire trip was amazing.

Vista on the way up

It keeps getting better

 

What a beautiful city

From the top

Made it!

ciao duomo, colline, e la mia citta perfetta

The baptistery from above

Picture of the Centro ladies on the trip

Fierenze, Italy 2011

Since I kinda know my stuff about Renaissance art (beep beep?) and Snoble had gifted me a sick guidebook of Florence I was charged with producing suggestions for our itinerary. I suggested Santa Maria Novella because it houses Masaccio's Trinity (one of the biggies at the turn of the Renaissance) aaaand Giotto's crucifixion, what could be more perfect for the low low price of 2,50euro? We trooped over and actually ended up finding the side of the church (right across the street from the train station!) so we could admire the architecture which ties in with, but is different from the facade. Around the front of the building though we discovered a pleasant green piazza without the confusion of cars or shops, just a quiet place to rest and admire the beauty of la chiesa. We walked inside (sadly no pictures allowed) and found the price was a whopping 3,50euro and after the hour or so we spent inside I would have paid 50euro for that place. It is amazing how many influential artists they have collected or have worked on this building, and it's some of the better known works of art! Sure the only Michaelangelo they had was a vase (which was still cool) but the chapels were all so elaborately decorated in different styles each perfectly expressing a significant artistic trend and for the most part designed or produced by really really famous artists! I was in heaven. My favorite piece was the round stained glass window at the back of the church, with piercingly brilliant colors perfectly lit by the early afternoon sun. I tried to share some of my info with my friends who patiently listened to my rushed excited whispers, but at some point I drifted off and had little moments of peace, trying to memorize every moment inside that church. This was my favorite part of the trip. When I wandered back towards the alter where my friends were seated, all together, chatting with each other, giggling, resting, admiring the church around them, that was my perfect moment. I was in the most gorgeous church I have ever seen and with some of my best friends in Firenze. Perfect.  What was even nicer, when they tore me away from my Santa Maria Novella we went out to the piazza again where a small band had set up and was playing sweet folky music to a gathered crowd by the fountain. We all took a sit break in the grass, in the sunshine, goofing off and planning out our next move together. It was really nice to have these relaxing times as well as our nutso dance offs and potlucks.   thanks guys :)

Sitting on the obelisk in front of Santa Maria Novella 

This video makes me smile

Aven in front of Santa Maria Novella

Tom was on the phone with Joe and Dre (a couple from our IES Roma program) who were also spending the weekend in Florence, to celebrate their two year anniversary. Too cute. So we met up with them at the duomo to try and do something fun together. The original plan was to go to the Uffizi next but I knew I would overload on art way too quickly after that feast inside Santa Maria Novella. When we found Joe and Dre they told us they had just been to the leather market and bought Joe a nice new jacket and that we just had to go and explore. They were going to see another part of Florence but we planned to meet up for dinner, turns out that cute couple on our floor of the hostel... yeah it was them! perfetto! So while the seven of us headed towards the fresh smell of leather and some serious retail therapy (and haggling practice) they promised to meet us back at the hostel before dinner.

The leather market is two or three long winding streets with stalls on either side selling a few souvenirs and lots of leather products. I'm talking so make jackets and purses and wallets I didn't know what to do! We all sort of split into small groups bumping into each other now and again and mixing it up. It was nice and sunny and little bit windy. I found a small change purse made from the softest leather. I keep losing my coins in my purses and my one crappy wallet and coins in Europe really add up (they love exact change and those two euro coins are important). Kat found a jacket she loved but couldn't bring herself to buy, Julie got the perfect small backpack and small purse, along with a cherry red wallet small enough to fit in said purse. Pepperoni got some belts and everyone bought little gifties to bring home to friends and family. At one point Pepperoni, Aven, and I bought bracelets from a vendor who was very outgoing. This man, dubbed "Our Albanian Friend", spoke English very well and had lots of cute smaller items at his stall. We chatted about NYC and Philly and how he doesn't like people from Philly (not sorry Tahm) and his impersonation of an American young man is very funny. We talked about the cast from The Jersey Shore who were filming in Florence not too long ago. He was just a funny funny guy and was cracking jokes the entire time we talked with him. Tom and Pepperoni were both wearing short sleeved shirts and were getting very chilly so they wanted to go coat shopping. Pepperoni didn't even bring a coat with him to Europe! boys. So we hit the more modern streets in search of a nice jacket. In the same store we found the exact style of jacket Tom wanted, the perfect coat for Peppers, a blazer that looks so fine on Aven, and when Mattly found us he managed to swipe a navy peacoat that makes that gentleman look like a model! We left the store with the boys looking sharp!

The boys in their new jackets!
Aven, Pepperoni, Mattly, Tom, Joe

View from Ponte Vecchio at sunset

The girls
Dre, Kat, Julie, Me

All together now!

The roomies and Mattly

Back at the hostel we compared our purchases and haggling skills. Mattly walked away with the most (aka no food money for a month now) we think but he looks so good in his new coat and shoes, what a stud. Joe and Dre came over to our room and we all sat around chatting for an hour or so to recharge for that night. Tom's friend insisted that we go to Piazzale Michaelangelo at sunset so Tom got us moving out the door in that direction. We took the slightly longer route to get there, traversing Ponte Vecchio and stopping for a photoshoot. Once across the river we were faced with a mountain to climb! We thought we had reached the top, but oh no, that 300 step staircase was waiting for us. Whew! First the bell tower, then the hill, now the stairs! Told you we climbed a lot. The hike is most definitely worth it though. We were just a little past sunset but the fierce fiery orange sky contrasted with the pitch black skyline which was so crisp that night. We could see out over the entire city and the river from this spot. The bell tower was nice because you had the 360 view of Florence, but from Piazzale Michaelangelo it was spread before you like a picture in a book. The stunning view left us all silent for minute as we soaked up the view, the reality that we were in Florence, studying in Italy, and with the greatest group of friends. We walked around a bit at the piazzale until the glowing lights were brighter than the sinking sun. Next stop was dinner because we were famished! We walked along the river for a while but it was quaint because it was mostly modernish stores and houses styled after the originals, so it was neither obnoxious and new nor crumbling and sketchy. It was a pleasant walk to Dante's with big carved wooden doors to every house or apartment building. Once at Dante's we foolishly forgot to get a reservation for the nine of us. Sorry! But we only waited for maybe ten minutes before they could seat us in two groups. Aven, Pepperoni, Mattly, Gatto and I all ate together, trying to take bites of our food between laughing. It was a fun meal and just a little classier than usual. I treated myself to the tiramisu for dessert..... I just don't know what I'm going to do when I get home. I'm in love with this food. It was just .... nope. no words. so good. Sadly the waitress informed us that the free wine discount was only for students studying in Florence, but that was ok with us and it's a nice idea (hint hint Roma, catch on). After we had all eaten and the other table sipped their grappa we slowly made our way along the river back to our hostel with grins on our faces and good Italian food in our bellies.

Piazzale Michaelangelo

Only thing keeping this from perfection:
Principe is taking the picture instead of in it

Fierenze

Dinner group

At the hostel we all changed for the club, more than one of us had heard that Space is a really cool club and it wasn't far from our hostel (primo location) so we thought we would check it out. We started off in that direction, then realized we actually didn't know where we were going exactly so we ran back up to our room to double check on the laptop. Did I mention we were on the 4th floor of this hostel and that the elevator fit only 3 people at a time. Lots of stairs. Once we were confident with the directions we found the club and again no cover charge, but there's a catch. They cleverly hand out tickets when you enter and every time you get a drink they punch your ticket. It's ten euro for the ticket and one drink, but you pay when you leave. So either you had had enough to drink that you don't realize how much you've spent, or what we liked was that we could go in and dance without the initial guilt "wow I just spent ten euro, this had better be fun". Also if you lose your ticket they make you pay 50 euro when you leave, ouch. So we all took good care of our tickets and avoided more than the first drink that came with the cover charge. We all had the dancing fever and shared another fantastic night out on the floor together. One bummer of the night: I took charge of Julie's camera because I take more pictures than she does, to make it fit in my pocket I moved my cell phone into the pocket with my new change purse and over the course of the night I didn't realize my phone fell out! We searched the club, Pepperoni went back to the club after he walked home with Kat and I and looked again, I even called the club's number and talked with a gentleman who called the cleaning people but to no avail. I lost my phone (sorry Victoria!). Thankfully it's not my real cell phone, just a cheapo nokia vodafone. So that needs to be replaced pronto. Besides that, great night! We were all so tired from our adventures and the late night we cuddled up with our pillows and went to sleep.

 

Perfect day.
Simply Perfect.