So my first week in Florence has been an interesting one, but I honestly haven't been up to much. THe first fews days here I spent most of my days in Hotel Armonia by myself sleeping off my jet lag. The first day when I got in I was going to try and stay awake all day so that I could get in with the time zone. I went out into the city. I left my camera and map in the hostel, figuring I would have plenty of time to do the tourist picture taking thing. I left my hostel and head toward what seemed the busier end of the street. WIthin a few minutes I stumbled upon one of the little market areas where vendors set up shops selling scarves, leather bags, paintings, and collections of touristy trinkets. I followed the line of vendors and all of sudden I was in the Piazza of the Duomo. All of the sudden the things I had read about, studied, dreamt about where there right in front of me- and a million other tourists. Supposedly this is the slow season for tourism, but I can't imagine it being more busy. On the streets I saw more Japanese, German, and American tourist than I saw Italians. Lines flowed out the doors and huge groups gathered around the cathedral and the batistery. The Duomo, from my experience, is mostly talked about for the great dome designed by Brunelleschi- because of that, most of the pictures I've seen of it are taken from the air to show the dome. I didn't realize just how intricate and opulent the facades actually were. In my very tired, almost sleep walking state- I was literally just visually overwhelmed. It was kind of crazy. I kept on walking stubbled into many other great piazzas- like the Piazza della Signoria. This is right next the Uffizi gallery and where there is replicas of some great marble sculptures- like the David. This is also where there is the great fountain of Neptune- God of the Sea. These statues are enormous- and again were simply overwhelming. After this I found my way to the lovely Arno river- which itself is actually really dirty and kind of gross- but the vies of the city- the Ponte Vecchio- the old medieval bridge- the only one that wasn't bombed during WWII- and the Appenine Mountians in the back- it's pretty amazing. I decided to cross the river, walk along the other side, and cross back over- or so I thought. I don't know how I didn't realize that I didn't cross the river- I was really that tired. But I basically spent an hour and half wandering on the other side of the river. Yeah, probably should have brought my map. But it was good sight seeing of the less touristy areas of downtown Florence. I finally found the river again- and made it back to my hostel- after getting a little most lost- and then I crashed until some hour wee hour in the morning when I woke up and was wide awake- so just read my book from Noka, A Room With a View- very fitting for my location.

The next day I went back out- with my map- and headed straight for the Piazza della Signoria to spend more time in from the amazing statues and to take just a few pictures. But it was raining, really cold, and I didn't feel well, perhaps from the oranges I bought while on the other side of the river and ate before washing the outsides- which looked like they could have used a wash. So I headed back to the hostel and slept some more. In the evening I went to bus station to figure out where I needed to go the next day so I wasn't wandering around with all of my luggage- and then I had my first real italian calzone- which was not at all what I expected- basically a hot ham and cheese sandwich. By this time it was dark and still rainy and cold so I just went back to the hostel. I little later one of my hostel mates was going out for dinner so I tagged along and got some eggplant dish- which was really gross and tasteless. Oh, and also, Tuscan bread doesn't have salt in it- so it basically tastes like cardboard. After being spoiled with meals out in Madison at Husnuss, the MC, and CocoLiquot- I was beginning to feel really disappointed with Italian food.

The next day I head to the villa- was lucky enough to find my stop. I was the first in my room for three. I admit we have a pretty nice room. It's spacious- we have a window out of the front of villa with a view of the mountains. And then we have a door to the balcony- which is actually blocked with a giant screen- but it lets it tons of light- or I would think it will if the sun ever comes out! So I just got situated- went to Essalunga- the grocery store, which also sells um, everything. It's like a supertarget- but not seperate. In one aisle you'll be looking at cereal and in the next there will be socks, bras, and underwear.... kind of random. I spent about 10 minutes trying to figure out the different shampoos and conditioners- which I found aren't next to the matching shampoos but at the other end of the aisle. It was interesting. The lady who was stocking the aisle was looking at my like I was nuts.