6/14/2018 0 Comments May 18 (pt 1)For our last day in Florence, we only had two main places on our agenda: The Santa Croce Basilica & Leather School and Ganzo, an FUA (Florence University of the Arts) student-run restaurant. Afterwards, we were to start our journey to Rome (where you will find May 18 pt 2). The Santa Croce Leather School is a beautiful artisan showroom that is tucked into the Santa Croce Basilica. They make gorgeous, handmade, high-end leather goods in the shop itself. Almost anything you buy there can be monogrammed with your initials in white or yellow gold. (image source) The purses cost upwards of 100-150 euros and the wallets can run you anywhere from 55-200 euros. However, I purchased a small but very well-made forest green leather pouch for 15 euros, that I got monogrammed. He can use it for his chargers/electronic accessories or even as a shaving pouch. They had some really great things that would make for personal, well-crafted gifts for your loved ones. I ended up treating myself to a small but adorable coin purse, which proved itself to be extremely useful in carrying my euros throughout the trip. We then went to Ganzo, the FUA student-run restaurant, where we were treated to a delicious four-course meal, complete with wine pairings. The students who served us were actually American students taking summer hospitality courses abroad in Florence. Afterwards, we boarded our bus to Roma! Click here!
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6/14/2018 0 Comments May 17In the morning, we visited the Duomo, where we climbed 463 steps. Not for the faint of heart!! However, it was completely worth it. Not only was the interior beautiful, but the view was amazing. Florence Tip #9: If you plan on visiting the Duomo, prepare for long lines!! We got there well before our 9:30 am reservation and there was already a long line. Thankfully, we were able to skip it because we were such a large group. Florence Tip #10: When you visit the Duomo, be sure to make a stop at Edoardo- arguably one of the best gelato places I've encountered in Italy. Highly recommend. To recover from the Duomo, we made our way to Eataly. Eataly is basically the Italian version of a Whole Foods but better. It comprises of a variety of restaurants, food and beverage counters, bakery, retail items, and a cooking school. Basically, if you want delicious Italian goods to bring home to your family, this is the place to go to. I didn't have a chance to take any pictures, so here are some from online just to give you an idea of the Florence location set up. In the evening, there was an optional trip to Pisa that I did not attend because I wasn't feeling too well. It was probably due to a combination of jet lag, too much good food at Eataly, and the Duomo steps. It was a good time for me to rest, and I felt refreshed once dinner rolled around. Our professor graciously organized a group dinner for us at La Giostra, one of the best, if not the best restaurant in all of Florence. The ambiance inside of the restaurant was magical- tiny fairy lights and candles lit up the entire space. I can' t believe I almost went here for dinner, alone on my first night. I am so glad I waited to experience it with a group. They say pictures are worth a thousand words- so here is my best explanation of my life-changing experience. Florence Tip #11: TRY THE CHICKEN LIVER APPETIZER. Just do it. It's so good, but most people are so afraid to try it. Don't be like those people.
6/14/2018 0 Comments May 16On Wednesday we woke up bright and early and completed our culture test in the hotel lobby. Afterwards, we visited the San Lorenzo Leather Market. Unfortunately, the weather was very gloomy and rainy, which was not a good day at all for leather. Florence Tip #8: Pack for any type of weather, no matter the season. I was lucky that almost 80% of the time it had rained unexpectedly I had my umbrella with me. You can purchase really compact, light models at any Target, Walmart or even amazon. Also, don't expect the weather to be sunny and Spring-appropriate every where you go in Italy. It was hot most of the time in Rome and the perfect, sunny beach weather in Sorrento and Capri, but Florence was COLD. My one regret the entire trip was not bringing an extra sweater, but I was thankful for the Zicam (homeopathic cold shortener) that saved me from sickness. I was surprisingly very well-behaved at the leather market. I didn't buy anything, but I did find a lot of joy in helping my friends with their purchases (and bargaining). If you decide to go to the leather market, which is another Florentine specialty, make sure you brush up a little on your bargaining/haggling skills. If you really like something, know when to buckle down, but never buy a bag there for the original price. In Italy, artisanship is very respected and importance to commerce. Many of the vendors are selling hand-crafted, artisan bags but most of them will be selling you something well-made but mass produced. Afterwards, we visited the Palazzo Vecchio, the historical town hall of Florence. Built between the 13th and 14th centuries, it overlooks the Piazza della Signoria and has a copy of Michelangelo's David statue as well as a gallery of statues. Fun fact: parts of the movie 'Inferno' were filmed here. We ended the day on San Miniato al Monte, a beautiful church on a hill overlooking Florence, giving us one of the most picturesque views we had seen on the trip. After, a bunch of us picked up some pizza and ate it outside of a museum courtyard. It was a good group bonding moment.
6/13/2018 0 Comments May 15It had been almost three full days in Italy and somehow I was still not over my jet lag. Thankfully, Italy happens to be famous for a tiny but mighty cups of coffee known to many as the espresso. Florence/Italy Tip #7: Take the espresso. Trust me. Whether it is offered at breakfast or offered sometime around afternoon nap time, the espresso is the perfect boost of energy that saves us from that mid-day slump. Cafe's are everywhere. Most hotels offer it with their breakfasts, as well as some restaurants after a hearty meal. My previous hotel, although quaint, had the most adorable espresso machine that I would use every morning and my gracious host was even nice enough to provide a cup of warm milk to go with it. Espresso is bitter- don't be afraid to ask for milk with it and make it a latte if it is too strong for you. We had a long, early day ahead of us so I was especially thankful for my latte this morning. After an extremely interesting, informative lecture on fashion merchandising at the Polimoda Fashion School, we took a tour of the university. I was absolutely in awe- the school was beautiful. I enjoyed observing the students as well. All of them were dressed extremely well, which was extremely appropriate given that they were students at a fashion school. I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to study there, fulfilling my childhood dreams of becoming a fashion designer. After lunch, we visited the Opera di Firenze - Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, where we were treated to a tour of the beautiful facility and a performance by one of the soprano singers (who was also our tour guide). I always love seeing musical theaters because of the architecture that goes behind ensuring good acoustics. The supervisor of the theater gave us so much valuable insight on the importance of opera in Florentine culture, as well as how they are working to keep it alive in the modern age. On top of everything, the experience ended with a gorgeous view of Florence.
Afterwards, we were on our own for dinner and all pretty exhausted from the busy day. I was finally over my jet lag and was able to sleep through the whole night. 6/13/2018 0 Comments May 14Before checking out of my first hotel at 11 am, I decided to make a reservation for 1 at Il Gatto e la Volpe, a restaurant near the Duomo. It allowed me to kill sometime before our check in at 3 pm, so I checked my luggage in to the new hotel, Hotel Arizona, and walked over. After a delicious lunch, I walked back to the hotel, took a nap, and met my wonderful group and roommate, Hana. Looking back, it is hard to believe that we only met a few weeks ago. By the end of the trip, we were extremely close. I am incredibly thankful that I had the opportunity to get to know her and 18 other amazing individuals.
Before our welcome dinner, we got to know each other over apertivo- a magic hour (or two) of Italian tradition that I miss very much. The idea of the apertivo is simple and beautiful- it is a very social and functional way of meeting with loved ones before dinner over hors d'oeuvres and a cocktail. Florence/Italy Tip #6: For those who find themselves feeling extremely hungry before dinner, the apertivo is perfect for you. Often times, hors d'oeuvres are complimentary at most bars/small eateries with the purchase of a drink. The Spritz, said to have originated in Venice under the Austrian Empire, is a popular apertivo drink that typically mixes Aperol, sparkling white wine, and soda. 6/11/2018 0 Comments May 13After a jet lag induced slumber, I finally rolled out of bed around 3 pm and forced myself to get dressed and enjoy the city. Since our Maymester had a pretty dense schedule attached to it, I needed to take advantage of as much free time in Italy as possible. After plugging in directions into google maps using the hotel wifi while I still had it, Florence Tip #3: If you are staying in a smaller hotel, the chances that you have a consistently good connection are extremely slim. Treasure a strong wifi connection when you have one and take that opportunity to download any information or maps that you may need. Maps.me is a great app for downloadable, interactive maps. I ventured towards the Piazza della Repubblica, which is where a lot of the stores and restaurants are located. I ended up doing a little bit of shopping in Zara. Florence/Europe Tip #4: For some reason, Zara is a lot cheaper in European countries. For example, 29 euros for a pair of pants vs. 50 dollars in America. It might have to do with import fees & the exchange rate. If you enjoy their clothing, take advantage of it! Afterwards, I found myself eating in a restaurant near the Piazza, on a side street. I tried to avoid the "tourist trap" restaurants on the main piazza, although I realized the restaurant was a tourist trap as soon as the bill arrived. Florence Tip #5: Be wary of certain restaurants and always remember that there will always be a coperto charge and a water charge (if you get water, but they will charge you for it even if they offer it to you and do not mention that it is never free). These costs are typically higher than in a non-touristy restaurant. I believe that the coperto in this specific restaurant was four euros (as opposed to the usual 2) and the bottle of still water cost 4.50 euro. All in all, it was good day and I looked forward to meeting my group in the morning. 6/11/2018 0 Comments May 12Although the course started on May 14th, my parents wanted me to arrive earlier so I could get adjusted in the new city and with the time difference. I arrived in Florence, Italy on May 12th on my own. Immediately after flying into the Florence airport from my connecting flight in Munich, I found the nearest taxi and started my journey to the hotel. Using a taxi, in my opinion, is the best way to travel to and from the Florence airport if your hotel is located in the city center. It costs a flat fare of 23 euros from the airport to the city center. Since there were not any rooms available in the hotel my group would be staying at, my parents booked me a room at the Guest House Santambrogio. It is located in an apartment that contains four private rooms, each with private bathrooms and free coffee in the mornings. It is also situated on the third floor of the building, which brings me to my first tip. Florence Tip #1: Do not expect there to be elevators in most buildings, especially Airbnbs, smaller hotels, and hostels located in older buildings (which most buildings in Florence are). This is slightly unrelated, but the sidewalks are also extremely NARROW in Florence. Lugging around a nearly 50 lb suitcase on the narrow sidewalks of Florence was quite a struggle, so I was thankful that my next hotel was down the block. I slept until about 6 pm and then got ready for dinner. Luckily, I was only a short walk away from Il Pizzaiuolo, a phenomenal Neapolitan pizza place with a delicious Margherita pizza that will only run you 6 euros, if you order to go. Florence/Italy Tip #2: Due to the long line, I brought my Margherita back to my hotel room and ate it there. However, if you decide to indulge in the full dining experience, you must be prepared to pay the "coperto"- a fee for sitting down in restaurants, which typically costs about 2 euros a person. However, copertos tend to be a little higher in more touristy restaurants, something I will touch on in a later post. |