Weekend Update

Saturday, January 17:

Saturday breakfast is from 9:00-11:00, so everyone enjoys sleeping in. Of course, I still got up early and went down to work out in the gym.

After breakfast, we had a “Gelato Neighborhood Tour” where our PAs (Peer Advisors, like RAs, basically…) lead us down through the eastern part of Florence to a good gelato place.

Which was closed.

So we went back toward home and found another place, and I had my first taste of Italian gelato. It was quite good, of course.

After that we all just kind of bummed around until dinnertime. I slept, did some reading…

Dinner gets more and more chaotic every night. Why?

The freshmen have arrived.

And boy, have they EVER. My hall is now constantly filled with loud running footsteps and screaming adolescents who should NEVER have been sent to Italy for their first year at NYU, but somehow have done just that because their parents are rich. Students admitted to the LSP (Liberal Studies Program) have the option of spending their entire first year abroad here in Florence. So essentially, they are rewarded for their mediocrity. And we reap the benefits here in the second semester and endure their over-zealous reunions.

The other arrival we had was roommate 3 of 4: Carmen! He was taking a Winter Session course at NYU so he arrived late. We thought he wasn’t coming! He’s from Jersey, and he’s an Economics major with an English minor. I think. He’s very nice.

Saturday night was a blast. My British friend Rishma said she knew a couple of Italian guys through a friend of hers, and they would take us around Florence and show us the cool places to go at night. On the way to meet them, we stopped at one of the “off-campus” housing sites in downtown Florence. I won’t lie, it was REALLY nice. But you still can’t beat the beauty and convenience of living at La Pietra.

We met the guys on the steps of the Duomo. They took us to a small, CHEAP little bar that had a nice atmosphere. Then we went to this club called “Astor” which was just…insane and loud and filled with Americans, so we left. We wandered around before ending up at this place called “21” which is also popular among Americans and study abroad students, but it’s huge and they play music and there’s dancing.

European clubs and dancing are VASTLY different from American ones. I became keenly aware of how sex-oriented our music and dance is in America. I mean, I knew that, of course, but it’s just so evident in Italy because no one on the dance floor is getting “freaky” and the music doesn’t condone it. We all found it sort of difficult to dance to, to be honest. They’re very into techno music here. Heavy beat, not a lot of variety, certainly no vocals.

On our way home (at 2:30 AM or so) we tried to find food, which was QUITE difficult. EVERYTHING closes in Italy at about 10:00. So…the only places open are these Turkish places (that are common) that sell Kabobs. We, however, got chicken nuggets and French fries. It was a late night, but a lot of fun!

Sunday January 18:

I woke up at quarter to 10:00. It felt good to sleep in. Today was the day for the Red Bus city tour of Florence! After taking the city bus for the first time down to the Santa Maria Novella train station, (and making a coffee stop at the gourmet McDonalds) we got on our red double-decker bus and took off around the city! It was nice to see Florence from that view. I took lots of pictures, the best of which can be seen on my facebook (even if you don't have one!) by clicking here.

It’s raining today, but it was nice when we went out on the bus.

After the tour, we found a restaurant and I had delicious authentic Italian lasagna for only € 5,80!

Then we went shopping. I’ve been on the hunt for a journal and a nice leather wallet. I managed to get both, today! We first looked on this street market that reminded me of Canal Street in atmosphere and quality of the items…so we moved on.

We went past the Duomo and the Piazza della Repubblica to Mercato Nuovo, a covered market where vendors were selling lots of leather products. I successfully purchased a nice wallet for € 17,00 and a journal for € 20,00.

It started to rain on our way home, but otherwise our day was dry, though cold and overcast with sun-breaks.

Classes start tomorrow! AH!