Getting Fresh in Florence

I've been in Florence for almost 2 weeks now and I'm just getting into the first day here. Sorry, I'm not the best blogger. Anyways I'm here.

Get off the train, first things first, Bruschetta. Fresh tomatoes and basil get in my mouth so yummy, but then I'm like why does this taste weird? Somethings bland and not tasty. I know, strange for Italy. But then I realize its the bread. It tastes like air. I find out that they don't use salt in their bread and it makes its taste like nothing. Apparently bread is a tool for wiping your plate, not for eating plain.

Double rainbow baby

I get the keys to my place, take a cab and climb the 72 steps to the "3rd floor" not 4th cause the bottom is floor zero. Apartments nice. Chic, modern, gets the job done. When I looked out the windows, I just wanted to go Jason Bourne and assassins creed my way all through the city, cause the rooftops are sickk!

A whole day goes by before I meet any roommates and then a young Colburn Mowry walks through the door. A cool kid from Santa Barbara, but the third is still missing. Kevin is no where to be found and not even the staff know where hes at, until 2 days later, he stumbled through the door half naked and beaten. Just kidding, he was fine. His flight was just delayed. 

Canolito

Santa Croce

Doug at Duomo

So we explore the city, I find my IV roommates Preston and Eric and we frolick together buying canolis and drinking cappuccinos. This is Preston's new thing btw, taking pictures of desserts in front of people's faces. I think its funny. There are 2 huge churches in the city we've found so far, The Duomo, and Santa Croce. We decided to do some modeling shots in front of the them.

Aside from the trillion tourists and super annoying street venders that hustle fake Louis v and ray bans and throw squishy balls at the ground so kids will beg their parents to buy things, I like this place. Alot. 

Bridge

The city is split in 2  by the Arno river, and my apartment is on the opposite side from the school, that means a 20 minute walk and a crossing over the bridge. I can't complain when it looks like this. But a UCSB beach cruiser wouldn't hurt.

This is some of the crew, they're cool people.

Kevin always rocks thumbs

The Lions Fountain

I live here now, it's exciting.

I didn't take this

An American in Rome

6:34 am, waiting for my bags in Rome's FCO airport. Even though i can barely keep my eyes from closing, i can't help but notice that everyone on my flight has got there bags in the first few minutes and I'm still waiting here in the same spot watching the carousel with the same Louis V bag go round and round. I slowly realize my bag isn't coming..... i file a report and they tell me it'll come tomorrow because it was left behind in Charlotte. But suddenly a light shown on me and the Santo Nino delivered the bag to me himself, and I was free to Rome... Rome.

My Aunt Leah picked me up in the airport, and having never met her before, it was an excellent first meeting. She bought me my first Italian cappuccino and I think I almost cried. I was in coffee heaven, and it was only airport coffee..

My Aunt Leah - I look gross.

Then the fun started. Took a train from the airport to Termini, the main transport hub in Rome. Then from there the metro to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Chiggity check it out!

Colosseum

Tomb of Unknowns

Old things

 

Pantheon

Trevi Fountain

So we walked around and I was just completely mesmerized by how old and huge things were and how completely intact everything was.  The Colosseum was actually smaller than I thought it would be but everything else was massive. Walking through the tiny tiny city streets was a trip, because whenever you turned the corner, another MASSIVE thing was all up in your face! Everything was just plain cool, can't describe it any other way. 

At this point i had been up for almost 40 hours, I was exhausted and I was still running solely on the dried out chicken meal that US Airways provided me. (if it was actually chicken) Time to eat.

First meal: Pizza con Smoked salmon, lettuce and cherry tomatoes.

Then Gelato. This place was killing it! SOO packed and there was a reason why. Dank-tastic gelato.

They eat pizza with forks and knives??

Stracciacello and dark cioccolatte and fresh whip

Then another 4 hours to get to my bed and breakfast on the other side of Rome and then I knocked out for days. 

Next morning, one cappuccino, one cornetto and a train ticket to Florence.