So many surprises everywhere!

My plans for my first Sunday changed because of the constant rain- I swear it’s like being back in Pittsburgh! I had planned to go to the Market at Santo Spirito, which is on the other side of the Arno River but due to the rain, I thought it could wait another week. I didn’t want to stay home all day, so Kelsey, Julia, and I met up for lunch and went to this little restaurant thing where we all had pizza and fruit with a whipped cream for dessert. And honestly, the pizza was VERY good, but I can’t wait to try even BETTER pizza. The fruit was BEYOND amazing… siiiiigh.

After lunch we decided we weren’t ready to go home so we explored the city a bit more… 4 hours more. Now, my family and friends know how lazy I am when it comes to physical activity, so I am completely amazed at myself for being able to walk for so long on these cobblestone streets with heeled wedged boots!

Sunday wasn’t the most exciting day, mainly because of the rain and because a lot of things are closed on Sundays! After walking around for so long, I was absolutely pooped and so I went home and lay around until dinner, showered, and went to sleep. I had to wake up around 7:30 to take a language placement exam at the Centro di Cultura per Stranieri (the Culture Center for Foreigners at the University of Florence) the next morning.

So far, I’m loving Florence! Although I definitely experienced some homesickness on Sunday, due to the weather and my jet lag, I am incredibly lucky and excited to be here! Something I find truly beautiful is the fact that while wandering around, you could turn on a random corner and immediately be in a piazza or near a gorgeous church without any real previous hint! The streets are so narrow and tall that it is almost impossible to see anything past what’s directly in front of you, so it was such a nice surprise when I accidentally stumbled upon the Basilica Santa Croce and the statue of Dante Alighieri. I was literally in shock and couldn’t even move… which is dangerous considering that people drive pretty crazily in Florence! 

Ciao ciao, y’all!