Yesterday (June 1st)
Wednesday June 1st, 2005
Oh! It was so god to see friendly familiar faces. I got up at 8 am and went to find a bank so I could get a taxi to CAPA. Then I checked out of the hostel. From there I went to CAPA, but I wasn't completely sure where it was! I thought it was 22 Via dei Pandolfini, but it was 20. So, not too far off and a nice gentleman who was walking by helped me find it. It wasn't labeled CAPA on the outside of the building, but an Italian name for arts and music school. So, I checked in and they showed me around CAPA, then they told me that my apartment wouldn't be ready ntil 3. So, I went to explore that part of the city. And it was so neat and full of life. I saw the Duomo and there were a ton of street markets that I enjoyed walking around in. It reminded me of the Maple Leaf Festival from home. A few of the street vendors tried to appeal to my interests, but they key word is: TRIED. haha! But it was flattering. However, no pinching as of yet. Then I started to look for a relatively cheap place to eat when I came across this cute little osteria. Hani, the manager, was outside on its patio and he spoke to me in English and I replied in Italian. He was very nice and so I spoke with him for awhile and then offered me coffee on the house. So, we sat and I enjoyed my cup of coffee. However, had it not been on the house, I later found out that I would've been charged extra for sitting down. And the osteria was nice because it was air conditioned and Hani and everyone working for him were very nice to me. Especially considering, I wasn't paying them. Hani said he wouldn't accept my money at his restaurant. Haha! I'm wondering how long that'll last when he realizes I won't be anything more than a friend with him. Anyway. He did say I could eat and drink whatever I wanted on him. And he asked me what I wanted to eat for pranza (lunch) so I ordered a pesto pasta with clams. Mmm! Then he asked me what kind of wine I wanted, rosso (red) or bianco (white). So, I had a really good white wine with my lunch. Now, before anyone calls me a lush, it's the only alcohol I've had in Italy and I only had one cup. Also, it was after noon! LOL... I felt so bad eating and drinking without paying, but he insisted. When I told him that I had to go, he asked me to come back for dinner with his friends, but I told him I couldn't because I had to go to my apartment, but I told him maybe later in the evening if I had time. But I wasn't able to. So I'll try to find it tomorrow to say hi. Then, I tried to find my ay back to CAPA, but I was more lost than I thought. That's when I ran into Todd and he showed me back. It was good to see someone I knew! Then we were taken to our apartments by taxis, but ours was mislabeled as 16 when it was actually 12. But, all in all, we found it after the landlord stuck his head out of the window and told us how to get there. We all love it! It's spacious and has that beautiful European appeal with much history. It's also only a half hour walk to CAPA. The ceilings are all over 15 ft. tall (except for the second floor, where I soon learned was made for little people... haha...) and there are 5 rooms that are wonderfully spacious. It's great. There are 3 bathrooms and ample storage. So, we all unpacked and hung out and explored the apartment. Then, me and two other students, Valerie and Mary Ellen, went to find the grocery store, which was an adventure in itself. Especially since we didn't know exactly where it was. We only knew it was across from a post office. Needless to say, there is more than one post office in Florence. Haha! But with the help of a map and a few friendly Italians we found our way. We got some yummy stuff (including Nutella!!!) and only spent about 20 € each. For those of you who don't know what € is, € is the symbol for Euros. Neat little bugger, isn't it??? Well, orientation is tomorrow and I think I've written enough for one day. I'm excited to get classes started!
P.S. I'm going to continue to include the date in my post that will be contrary to what the blog puts as the post because, I want to be able to put the whole day down at once and so I write at home before bed and then I'll post here the next day.
Oh! It was so god to see friendly familiar faces. I got up at 8 am and went to find a bank so I could get a taxi to CAPA. Then I checked out of the hostel. From there I went to CAPA, but I wasn't completely sure where it was! I thought it was 22 Via dei Pandolfini, but it was 20. So, not too far off and a nice gentleman who was walking by helped me find it. It wasn't labeled CAPA on the outside of the building, but an Italian name for arts and music school. So, I checked in and they showed me around CAPA, then they told me that my apartment wouldn't be ready ntil 3. So, I went to explore that part of the city. And it was so neat and full of life. I saw the Duomo and there were a ton of street markets that I enjoyed walking around in. It reminded me of the Maple Leaf Festival from home. A few of the street vendors tried to appeal to my interests, but they key word is: TRIED. haha! But it was flattering. However, no pinching as of yet. Then I started to look for a relatively cheap place to eat when I came across this cute little osteria. Hani, the manager, was outside on its patio and he spoke to me in English and I replied in Italian. He was very nice and so I spoke with him for awhile and then offered me coffee on the house. So, we sat and I enjoyed my cup of coffee. However, had it not been on the house, I later found out that I would've been charged extra for sitting down. And the osteria was nice because it was air conditioned and Hani and everyone working for him were very nice to me. Especially considering, I wasn't paying them. Hani said he wouldn't accept my money at his restaurant. Haha! I'm wondering how long that'll last when he realizes I won't be anything more than a friend with him. Anyway. He did say I could eat and drink whatever I wanted on him. And he asked me what I wanted to eat for pranza (lunch) so I ordered a pesto pasta with clams. Mmm! Then he asked me what kind of wine I wanted, rosso (red) or bianco (white). So, I had a really good white wine with my lunch. Now, before anyone calls me a lush, it's the only alcohol I've had in Italy and I only had one cup. Also, it was after noon! LOL... I felt so bad eating and drinking without paying, but he insisted. When I told him that I had to go, he asked me to come back for dinner with his friends, but I told him I couldn't because I had to go to my apartment, but I told him maybe later in the evening if I had time. But I wasn't able to. So I'll try to find it tomorrow to say hi. Then, I tried to find my ay back to CAPA, but I was more lost than I thought. That's when I ran into Todd and he showed me back. It was good to see someone I knew! Then we were taken to our apartments by taxis, but ours was mislabeled as 16 when it was actually 12. But, all in all, we found it after the landlord stuck his head out of the window and told us how to get there. We all love it! It's spacious and has that beautiful European appeal with much history. It's also only a half hour walk to CAPA. The ceilings are all over 15 ft. tall (except for the second floor, where I soon learned was made for little people... haha...) and there are 5 rooms that are wonderfully spacious. It's great. There are 3 bathrooms and ample storage. So, we all unpacked and hung out and explored the apartment. Then, me and two other students, Valerie and Mary Ellen, went to find the grocery store, which was an adventure in itself. Especially since we didn't know exactly where it was. We only knew it was across from a post office. Needless to say, there is more than one post office in Florence. Haha! But with the help of a map and a few friendly Italians we found our way. We got some yummy stuff (including Nutella!!!) and only spent about 20 € each. For those of you who don't know what € is, € is the symbol for Euros. Neat little bugger, isn't it??? Well, orientation is tomorrow and I think I've written enough for one day. I'm excited to get classes started!
P.S. I'm going to continue to include the date in my post that will be contrary to what the blog puts as the post because, I want to be able to put the whole day down at once and so I write at home before bed and then I'll post here the next day.
posted by Unknown @ 5:05 AM
1 Comments:
At 5:29 AM,
Unknown said…
I am constantly thinking of you. Keep commenting and texting. I miss you so much. I'm going to be so greedy with our time when I get back, so be prepared! LOL
Ciao bella!
Stephanie
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