One Week in Florence

How can 1 week feel like a month but also like 2 days?

I am not sure either, but this past week has definitely had its moments where it felt like both.

The day that I had to carry my 50lb suitcase for 30 min in downtown Florence in crowds of people in 90 degree weather, because the airport had my luggage stuck in Vienna for several days....was obviously a day that felt weeks long. Bonus points!...for having to buy 2 new dresses and borrowing one of my roommates outfits so I would have clothes to wear the next days while I waited for this bag.

But moments where I was sitting along the Arno River sipping a cappuccino and eating a cinnamon bun, made me feel that I could stare at the view forever and time wouldn't pass by.

Monday and Tuesday I started classes! Oh yeah that's right.... I did come on this trip for school and not just for pleasure! Although once you hear what classes I am taking, it will still sound for pleasure.

Mondays and Wednesdays, I am taking an Oil Painting class. Tuesdays and Thursdays, I am taking a Digital Photography class. Each are 3 1/2 hours long! And lucky for us, no classes on Fridays! All mostly intro classes so far, but since our courses are squeezed into 6 weeks, we start our assignments almost instantly.

I visited my first market with produce and small restaurants the other day, called Il Mercato È Aperto Tutti I Giorni. Ate more pizza, had more gelato over the past couple days.

I knew I would be walking a lot while I was here, but I didn't realize that I would not walk less than 6 miles a day! Which is a lot for me, cause even at college I would only walk around 3-4 miles a day. There have been even 2 days here where I have actually walked 10 miles! The blisters on my feet are not happy with me haha.

On Sunday, my roommates and I sat down together to discuss our plans for the following weekends. We all easily agreed on booking a few trips coming up including Venice, an I love Tuscany Tour (includes visiting Pisa!), a Wine Tasting Tour, and the Amalfi Coast!

Tuesday evening was my favorite yet... a couple of us waited towards the evening to go to see the David in the Accademia Gallery. Since it was later, we had almost no line and only took us about 5-10 minutes to get in! $16 later and we were standing in front of the famous Michelangelo statue, all in marble and standing 17 feet tall! It was amazing to see it in person and to learn that it was built between 1501-1504.

After the museum, we headed across the Arno River to walk up to a lookout point above Florence. I can't even begin to explain how beautiful the view was. I could stay there forever and take it in while the sun was setting. (I think we are planning on going again tonight and bringing snacks!)

The rest of this week/weekend includes going to the Uffizi Gallery and the Gucci Garden in Florence, traveling to Tuscany countryside and Pisa for tours, and going on a Wine Tasting Tour on Sunday:)