Finally: Firenze With Friends

Despite the fact that this trip took place...oh three weeks to a month ago, I am vowing to finish catching up on my adventures this weekend (aka I’m procrastinating studying for midterms). These blogs seem to sneak up on me every time I try to catch up!

The easiest way to describe this trip: the reunion of a lifetime, the trip from hell

In order to get the cheapest ticket to Italy, I settled for a 6 hour layover in Birmingham, UK...yes that is in the complete opposite direction of Italy. Luckily there I was able to meet up with a friend Kara and continue my travels with her and her friends from Scotland. We arrived in Bologna the next morning and headed over to Florence on one of those cool trains with the tables in between the seats (unfortunately nothing like that exists down here in Granada. It’s a bus or nothing).

The hostel was nice; before now, I had been a hostel virgin. Needless to say, this was an experience... I thought I got away from public bathrooms when I left Bucknell...

When we first arrived, the friends I was visiting (Laura and Lauren, as well as Becca who was flying in from France) were not around, so I went with Kara and her friends on a leisurely walk over the Ponte Vecchio 1. It was raining

2. I went to whip out my camera for some nice shots and low and behold, I was ingenious enough to put it in the bottom of my backpack, causing it to break. Awesome.

After having a minor meltdown, running up my parents phone bill freaking out, and proceeding to buy a camera (thus running up the credit card bill as well- Love you Mom and Dad!) with an instruction manual in every language EXCEPT Spanish and English, I calmed down, took a shower and got ready to reunite with some of my favorite people.

Nothing had changed since we last saw each other and it was amazing seeing all of these familiar faces! The biggest vacation I have taken with these girls in the past was bus trips to Ohio or Pittsburgh for a lacrosse game; we finally had the opportunity to travel together without uniforms or feeling car sick*

I have to say, 4 days is the perfect amount of time for a vacation like this. I got to see the big sites - Uffizi (The Birth of Venus painting), the Duomo, Boboli Gardens, etc. but got to relax and have an amazing time with my friends.

A few things I was introduced to this weekend:

-Grom: by far some of the best gelato I have ever tasted.**

- Cider: who knew beer could taste so good

- Italian men: as Lauren says "NO GRAZIE"

- A secret bakery: unfortunately I never got to actually experience this thanks to someone's need to try and kick down the door (ahem Laura)

As well as some of the best bread pizza, pasta, etc. in the world. There was no holding back; after all I was on vacation...***

This was definitely a trip I will never forget and I cannot wait until I get to see these lovely girls again. It's true; distance makes the heart grow fonder

Until next time Italy! Ciao!****

-

*and no 24 hour rule

** turns out Grom has a store in NYC...I'll be visiting shortly after my return to the states

*** I've been using that vacation card the whole semester abroad (oops)

****Grom however, I shall see you next month