Arrival and Hotel Medici

I have been in Florence a few days and I have my head on straight (enough) to sit down and write about everything that has happened so far. I had my tickets ready and waiting for a month or so before I left. With a week left to go, I was bouncing off the walls. I had said goodbye to so many people that I emotionally prepared to be gone for a year. My poor father was quite ready for me to begin my journey, after many of my restless nights. Sean happens to live 10 minutes from the airport, so after a quick goodbye to my dad, I was on my way. I spent one last night with Sean and then Thursday evening, I nervously headed to LAX.

Plane ticket

I was flying with Air France and the culture shock began as soon as I stepped on the plane. The flight attendants, pilot, and even the safety video were all French. After a few bottles of wine and a pretty sleepless night with a German lady using me as a pillow, I arrived in the Paris airport. My transfer was three hours with no free Wi-Fi and no way to get in touch with home. It was my first experience with the mild panic that has followed me thus far in my adventures. I arrived in the Florence airport, which is very tiny, and no customs office. I was at the ATM getting Euros only ten minutes after my arrival. I took a taxi from the airport to my hotel, which was a flat rate of 20 euros. 
(Good to Know: You do not tip in Italy. It is not expected and it makes you look like more of a tourist.) 
After being sent to a different hotel run by the original hotel, I had to climb 2 flights of stairs(felt like 5 flights) to get to my hotel. My hotel room was so small and the floor is all tile. The beds are firm and old. But I was lucky with an actual shower, instead of the showerhead-over-the-toilette deal some people had to deal with. There is also no such thing as air-conditioning in Italy. 
(Good to Know: All utilities are more expensive here, so Italians are very stingy about things like electricity, water, air...) 

My hotel room

After I showered and changed out of my plane clothes that I had been wearing for 2 days, I went in search of food. My hotel was located right next to the Duomo, in the center of the city so everything was open. I found a serve-yourself place around the corner, ate quickly and then headed for bed. 

Self-Serve Dinner

A few hours and many bug bites later, I wandered into the lobby to find the free breakfast, only to find coffee from a machine, bread, and jam. That's all. After showering and quick networking, I went out to meet some other people in the program looking to explore. We met at the Piazza della Repubblica, which is the location of Neptune's Fountain, Palazzo Vecchio, a copy of the David, and many other famous works of art. Kallan, Effie, Kieran, and I wandered around Florence, deliriously happy to have found people to wander with. I saw where my school was located and began to understand the way Florence works. We eventually found dinner at 8/9pm and we got a discount for being students. I had my first taste of Italian pasta and vino. YUM!!
(Good to Know: In Florence, anything open for dinner before 8pm is not worth going to. And if you sit anywhere to eat, there is a seating charge. Also a charge for water.) 

Yay new friends!!

Vino biano e pasta con pesto

View from the top

Kallan, Effie, Me, Kieran

The next day, we met up again and walked to the top of the hill to see the bronze statue of David. It is a long way to the top, with a ton of stairs, but when you make it, the views are incredible. You can see all of Florence. After that, we wandered into Santa Croce and then a flea market. I had to keep an eye out for gypsies and pickpockets because they are sneaky and very persistent. We found a fabulous panini place and headed home for a nap/rest before dinner. 

Yummy paninos!

My friend Gabi and the girl she was traveling with met me at the Duomo and we walked to dinner. There was a huge group of us, which is not conducive to sitting at an italian restaurant, so we ended up choosing a place that was kinda nasty. Finally arriving home that Sunday night and packing up my suitcases, I collapsed on the bed and passed out.