I’m actually in Firenze!

Today was our final day of orientation, and probably the most helpful as well.  We arrived on campus to find that most people had opted to sleep in rather than come to helpful info sessions…they finally started to trickle in for the afternoon sessions.  It was also our last chance at getting to into Villa Sassetti, as they only use this for special events and rent it out to groups in Firenze.  As we made our way upstairs to one of the afternoon sessions, we noticed a door opened that led out onto a balcony.  The views were amazing.  You could see most of the campus, as well as part of the Duomo.    We decided to stay on campus for a little while after the orientation finished up so we could see the sunset on a gorgeous, clear day.  While it was a bit chilly, the view was one of the best I have ever seen.  After we took a ton of pictures, we made our way down Via Bolognese on the 25 bus so we could explore a little more of Firenze and also to find the ONLY Citibank in the entire city (and the entire provice of Toscana!).  We walked through some interesting neighborhoods on the way back to Pizza San Marco, but we were fine since we stuck in a group.  Along the way I remembered that I needed a few items from the Farmacia, so I stopped in one of what seems like thousands of green crossed pharmacies in Firenze.  I learned a quick and harsh lesson upon paying for my purchase…bring stuff from America in your checked luggage.  Paying 9.50 Euro for one ( 1 ) stick of deodorant hurts…A LOT!   Our walk back to the apartment made me feel a lot better, though, as we walked through the really trendy area that would be the equivalent of New York’s 5th Avenue.  I stopped to stare at the amazing stuff in the windows at Ferragamo, Armani, and a few other really nice Italian stores.  I think if I don’t waste all of my money while I’m here that I may treat myself to something at one of the previously mentioned stores (family, please ignore that part…I’m only kidding!).   Aside from having fashionable everything in this city, Firenze also offers the most amazing historical landmarks in the world.  The architecture is unlike any that I have ever seen.  Patrick and I decided to cross the Ponte Alla Carraia to return to the apartment.  As I looked to my left, I could see the Ponte Vecchio lit up with its lights reflecting off the Arno River.  Of course, I had to stop to take a few pictures of it…almost getting hit by a few Vespas in the process…that’s part of the fun of living here.  As we finally made our way back to Via Maffia, it hit me that I really am living in Firenze.  Amazing! Ciao!