I just returned from the perfect little Italian bristro outside the Palazzo Pitti here in Florence. Notwithstanding that fact that the prices were exorbitant because a) It was near a tourist haven b) I can order a glass of wine with dinner c) Due to my in capabilities to order the right amount of meat for one and then cook it, I’ve resolved to order meat every time I eat out and d) Everything in Italy is expensive, it was the perfect little meal after two and half days of little sleep and large amounts of walking.
All my flights went smoothly and I arrived in Florence to a gorgeous hot and sticky Florentine morning. I arrived in a bit of confusion because I neglected to send an email to my landlords reminding them of my arrival and so the keys were not at the restaurant as planned. But all was quickly settled and I moved into my little room in their apartment on the Via Romana.
The difference between moving into una citta’ like Florence instead of New York is this: If I had moved to New York, I would have located the nearest Whole Foods and H&M, run some other errands and then been set. In Firenze, I have to start from scratch. I have to buy some foods here, some foods there and coffee someplace else entirely. And, do you know how hard it is to find a hairdryer? I don’t mind it though. It’s all part of building a frame of reference for the coming months and future years of travel.
After a nap yesterday, I spent the afternoon and early evening wandering around the main streets of the city getting my bearings. I feel somewhat sheepish for not visiting a museum yet, but it’s different when you’ve just moved to a city and have so many competing objectives as well as sightseeing to do. After grocery shopping, I made a small dinner of prosciutto, bread, mozzarella, an apple and a glass of red wine and then went to bed. This morning, I got up around 8 and was at a caffe drinking the world’s best cappuccino by 9:30. After that, I walked to the school just so that, come Monday, I know where I’m going. The location of the apartment is such that it takes less than 10 min to walk to the Ponte Vecchio, after which is everything, and then only another 15 to school. The walk is interesting and not even remotely uphill, so it’s definitely do-able everyday, but I’ve decided I need a bike. Before lunch, I walked through the Piazza della Repubblica and passed the Duomo. I stopped at a bookstore and bought the latest major Italian magazines, which ironically include Marie Claire and Elle in Italian, and a Nora Roberts book. I figure it’s the best way to start picking up on conversational Italian.
My Italian is coming along all right. I wouldn’t say it’s improved since I got here (all of 36 hours ago) but it’s not proving to be an obstacle. I suspect that my speaking abilities will improve by leaps and bounds once school starts and I have occasion to speak in full sentences. It’s funny how when I practice to myself or mutter under my breath, my Italian is strong and sure of itself just like other Italian women speak, but when spoken out loud, it’s under my breath and sounds very Mid-Western, thereby instantly branding me as more American than I already am. I must work on that.
It’s interesting that after, 24+ hours without sleep and little food, everything that is quintessential about a country that you want to experience can be daunting, like the climb up 6 flights of stairs to my surprisingly modern apartment on a prime street in the city or a walk to see the Statue of David. It helped to walk around today though, to stop in a few shops and see just how expensive everything is, to take stock of how much grocery shopping I’ll need to do, to see how long the lines to museums are. It all reminded me exactly why I wanted to move to an older European city. I love it! However, I can tell I’ll definitely be ready for classes on Monday so that I have a purpose every day. I don’t have many pictures to post yet, but, I promise, they’re coming.
Buona sera tutti!
-Em
