I had nearly forgotten my love for Italy before I returned to one of the most beautiful cities of all: Florence. After we parted ways with Talissa and her sister Nyah in Berlin, Morgan and I flew to Florence to visit a good friend, Ale. On the way we had such a wholesome human interaction it made my day. A fellow abroad student studying in Berlin from Reed College approached us at the Pisa train station asking for help buying another ticket because he missed his train to Siena and didn’t have service. We figured out he could just get on our train and try to make the 9:08 connection at Empoli. We soon discovered that he is good friends with one of my friends from the Outdoor Academy, Franny. We helped him pinpoint the exact platform and his route to get there in 1 minute since our train stopped there at 9:07. He said farewell as he rushed out of our train with all his luggage like a bull rushing at a matador. Morgan and I watched in suspense from the window to see if he would make it, the 9:08 train was at platform 4 already and we pulled into platform 2. We cheered as we watched him triumphantly board the Siena train to visit a friend for her birthday.
Once we arrived in Florence, Ale greeted us with a delectable home-cooked meal and a much needed night of rest before our big day Friday. Morgan and I were both lucky enough to secure a bed at Ale’s place as many of her roommates were traveling. We went quite literally everywhere Friday, and having an Italian-speaking tour guide (Ale) made it so much better. We made flower crowns while drinking bubbly in the Bobili gardens, sitting next to statues dating back to the 1400s. We took e-bikes along the cobblestone alleys, over bridges, and into the city centre.
My favorite part of the day was our 20 euro pasta making class. We made ricotta tortellini, ravioli, and a thicker pasta without filling. Our chef instructor agreed to come out with us that night (although he flaked) but we had a grand old time regardless.
After pasta making, we got gelato and made our way to Pizzale Micheale Angelo. This is a beautiful lookout spot where we got blessed with a spectacular sunset. I met up with Susannah, a high school friend who is also studying in Florence.
The only downside of my experience in Florence was getting robbed of 100 euros. Given the circumstances I was easy pickings. I brought my wallet with cash I had just taken out of the ATM the day before to a bar and (idiotically) hid it in the side of the bar instead of carrying it with me. When I returned, my credit cards were strewn on the floor and the cash was gone. Luckily, they left my ID and everything else, but it was still very unfortunate. I am just glad I had my phone on me.
The next day we went to the Uffizi museum (which I had been to before with my parents but appreciated it much more this time around) and saw some of the most famous paintings in the world. Among them were Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’ and ‘Primavera,’ Da Vinci’s ‘Annunciation,’ Caravaggio’s ‘Medusa,’ and my personal favorite Judith Beheading Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi. Ale is taking an art history class in Florence so she was very knowledgeable about even the pieces that aren’t world renowned.
That evening, being our last in Florence, we went to a restaurant known for its vodka penne. It was so good that I will be dreaming of it for years to come. The whole restaurant erupted in song when a regular guitarist/singer came in to serenade us. It felt very local, very Italian, and altogether a lovely eating experience. We ordered a 20 euro steak to share, but found out it was actually 20 euros per kg and spent 66 euros on it at the end of the meal. It was worth it.
