Firenze

wow I am really sorry.. falling way behind on the blogging! A lot has happened since Milan…..

The week after Milan was midterms which was funny because we kind of forgot how to study with all this traveling and adventures ( don't' worry Mom and Dad, we buckled down and think we aced them all :) ) 

Ok so we met the accessories designer for Brandy Mellvile, which is a really cool Urban Outfitters- like place.  They have two stores in the US, LA and NYC, and then all over Europe.  He asked Danielle and I to come to the store and meet with the boss to give our opinions for the new accessories collection.  Every one of our friends is obsessed with the store here so we were really excited!! 

So we went to the Brandy on Via del Corso, which is the main shopping street in Rome, and went to the back room for our meeting.  We met the head of accessories and the head of Brandy in Rome.  They brought a huge bag into the room and dumped a bunch of handbags on the table.  They wanted us to say what we liked and didn't like about them and what we would change and then why.  It was so fun and we gave our honest opinions. Then she told us to pick out something we liked so they could make it for us! Danielle and I each grabbed a bag and then she said, "no grab everything that you like!"  We couldn't believe it… so we each grabbed three more! Then they had us go through jewelry and do the same thing! We came home with so much jewelry, six bags, and two shirts… it was unreal! Danielle and I were kind of in shock and couldn't believe all of that happened…. Apparently the bosses all really liked us and want us to continue to help and give our opinions.  They asked us to see if we wanted to go to with them to London this weekend for another meeting and it just so happens, we already were planning to go there anyways with all of our roommates! 

Friday morning we hopped on the train to Florence with our program. Right when we got there we headed over the the Academia to see Michelangelo's David.  It was so impressive! So much more beautiful and gigantic than I ever imagined!  We also saw all of his unfinished slaves which were in the hallway on the way to see the David.  On our way there we ran into my friend Jessica on the street! it was so amazing to see her!

Afterwards we had a guided tour of the city and then had lunch at Il Gato e Il Volupe. On our way there we heard someone call our names and my friend Lucie was waving out her window, which is right in front of the Duomo! It is so crazy that Florence is so small that you can run into people you know on the street! That would never happen in Rome..

After lunch, I went back to Jessica and Lucie's apartment because thats where I was staying.  We took naps and then got ready for dinner.  We were meeting my best friend Alli, who is also studying in Florence, there.  We hadn't had Mexican food in forever!! It was so good.  They are also famous for their Margheritas, so of course, we couldn't pass them up!  We all got a different flavor so we could try them all.  Afterwards, Jess and Lucie had everyone over to their apartment and it was like a Providence reunion!! It did not feel like we were in Italy at all.  

The next morning, Alli took me to her favorite bar to get cappuccini and her favorite sandwich place, Antico Noe, which is famous in florence.  Then we went back to her apartment to get all of her roommates who were hungry as well so we went to the other most famous sandwich place, Antico Vanaio.  Next we went to the Duomo to climb to the top.  Right before we went in we ran into my roommates and Christine's friends who wanted to climb as well so it was perfect!  The view from the top was stunning and It was the most perfect day because the sun was shining and it was warm out.  

The next thing I wanted to see was Santa Croce, so Alli and her roommates and I split up from the group to go to the church.  Inside are the tombs of Machiavelli, Dante, Michelangelo, and Galileo.  It was beautiful and the architecture and decorations were so much different from the churches in Rome. There was also a spectacular courtyard out side that was golden because the sun was about  to set.  

Machiavelli's Tomb 

Dante's Tomb 

Michelangelo's Tomb 

Galileo's Tomb 

I was told that one thing I could not miss was the sunset from Piazza del Michelangelo so I hurried over there to meet my roommates and we all sat and watched the sun go down over all of Florence with a bottle of wine and some cheese.  It was breathtaking and looked so unreal! 

Afterwards we had reservations at this Florentine steak restaurant called Aqua il Due.  Danielle came with me and we met Alli and her roommates.  We ordered a pasta sampler was five different pastas of the chef's choice.  We ended up getting a gorgonzola risotto, broccoli pasta, gnocchi with an onion ragu, penne all'arrabbiata, and a Bolognese sauce.  We then all ordered streaks.  They are famous for their blubbery steaks so two of the girls ordered that.  The owner came out and told us his favorites so I decided to order one of them, the steak with green pepper corns.  It was delicious and I hadn't had any type of red meat in so long so it tasted even better because of that.  I also tried the blubbery steak which was surprisingly really good! We got the dessert sampler afterwards which was the perfect amount for all of us. 

View from Jessica and Lucie's Room

The next morning, Alli took me to the Diner, which is a favorite of all the American students there.  We ordered iced coffees and I got a breakfast sandwich.  I never imagined I would be able to order something like that in Italy!! It was kind of nice to have some american food (not complaining at all about Italian food!).  Florence really felt comfortable for us.  We all almost felt like we were back in the states because they really cater to all of the American students.  Almost everyone spoke English and you could get a large coffee (which is unheard of in Roma).  It was a great place to visit but we were all excited to get back to Rome!

Alli and I strolled around all day because It was absolutely gorgeous out that day.  We went to the Ponte Vecchio and afterwards went to the leather markets so I could get a pair of gloves.  You cannot go to Florence and not come back with something leather! I bargained with the vendor and got them 25 euros cheaper than the original price! I was really proud of myself :) 

We went to mass at Santa Croce afterwards which was so beautiful.  

Then I had to catch a train back home to Rome! 

It was crazy to be able to be with so many of my best friends at one time!! I saw Alli more than I would have back in the states! I was in heaven :) 

Florence was incredible and was so beautiful but we missed our Roma... 

My next blog about this past weekend will be up shortly!!

Bacioni xxx