Got up at 7:25AM, ate some oatmeal really quick and was off to the bus. Amy and I were running a bit late and arrived at Termini at the exact time our train was departing (which meant we were not going to get on it). However, as we were running into the station, we were told that the train actually takes off from a different station. While in line at customer service, we met a couple from Canada who were traveling too and we decided to venture out to the other station together. We sat with each other talking at the new train station for about 2 hours until the train arrived and then sat with each other on the train. We talked about random things like traveling, global events----they were a very nice couple just adventuring around Europe together.
The train was moving at a very slow rate (I mean we decided on the slow train due to the cheaper cost, but we didn't think it would be this slow). The entire ride was over 4 hours and about 25 stops along the way. It is usually about 2 hours on a fast train, but we wanted to see the countryside and enjoy the travel a bit.
About half-way, the couple got off, and Amy and I decided to get up and move a bit. I did some lunges, squats, Pull-ups, dips (yes on the train I got a decent workout in haha---there was no one else in our cart so I didn't feel as weird), and used the bathroom on the train (called the WC) then decided to sit back down, snack and take a nap. Amy woke me up about 20 min later when we were at our stop.
Because of the long delay of the train, we were told we would get 50% refunded so when we arrived in Florence, we went on a search to get refunded, had to fill out some paperwork, and get mailed the refund----I guess we will just have to wait and see if I ever get one when I get home.
Our first stop was the Information Center where we picked up a map and then headed out to find a hostel. The first two we stopped at were expensive so we went across the Flume Arno River to Ostello Santa Monaca-cost 19.50Euro + 1Euro Tourist Tax (newly stated in Florence). The hostel was very clean and the guy working the desk was very nice and understanding (we forgot our passports in Rome so he worked with us by giving us the room, but allowing Fabio to fax the passports to Amy's email so we were saved and could stay in the place).
The first image of Florence-Rude people in the train station---while waiting in a line for customer assistance, another guy cuts the line and is screaming at the service man---He spoke with a lot of emotion and seemed to very upset. I felt dirty in the station too.
However, I didn feel Florence had a higher style level than Rome--with very high fashion-Prada, Gucci, and D&B. Everyone dressed very well--classy.
The town was very clean, and lots of boutiques on the streets--more so boutiques than markets like Rome. The streets were even more narrow than Rome. The streets were way less packed than Rome, but I felt very safe with Amy.
There were lots of Asians in Florence and windows and shutters on the buildings. We just walked around the city--saw a few Piazzas, museums and then we headed to the hostel. We got a bunk-bed in a 8-bed all female dorm. We dropped our backpacks and were off to explore more of the city.
We had a new map and new adventures to conquer. We walked around lots of shops, churches, went to the Galleria dell' Academia where Michelangelo's David statue is. On the way to the museum, we stopped to eat at Self Service Ristorante--which was very cheap, tray meal (go down the food and pick and choose whatever you want). We each had salads and shared this spinach manicotti dish in an Alfredo sauce--cream sauce was not very good but no expectations because it was so cheap. Then it was off to David!
On this evening, it just so happened to be a free night at the museums---so we sat in line for about 30 minutes, making friends with some Australians. The security was very relaxed as well, Amy spotted a 99 Cent store and saw beer so she bought two bottles and had one but the other one was in her bag still, but the security did not pay much attention to bag content.
We saw some old musical instruments, statues, layered crosses with Amy enjoyed a lot and then on to David. He stood in the center of an open room, what a brilliant piece of art. We were told no pictures, but again everyone was including me! I was very impressed by the human detail---veins in his hands, muscular definition. We spent about 30 minutes inside and then were off to explore some more.
We heard some drumming sounds and decided to head toward the music. W ended up in Piazza Della Signoira where there was a huge precession with lots of bright, colorful costumes (very medieval-looking), banners, and trumpets. At first the music was playing and they were all hovering by a church and then the procession started and they strolled down the street-there had to have been at least 50 women, men, and children in the procession. We had no idea what they were celebrating, but very cool to see.
Then we were off to the Piazza Duomo which is close to the Opera Museum and Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (renown church in Florence--had a very unique pattern and building material). We sat in the Piazza and a small group of guys starting playing music and they were just phenomenal--they had such a great instrumental rhythm going on--using only a man-made drum, wooden and tin instruments. They just started with a rhythm and then kept adding on to each other. It was outstanding, I wish they had a cd. We stayed listening for about 20 minutes and just enjoyed people watching. Florence is definitely a lot less crowded than Rome and it was nice to have a little space to ourselves.
After leaving the Piazza we went to the Piazza Santa Croce (there are Piazzas everywhere I tell ya). This is where we found a wine/grocery shop which I brought back home. I got two bottle of red and one white (one bottle of red was free because they did not give me the students discount on my first bottle so he let me pick out another bottle of wine for free).
We continued on to the famous bridge over the river called Ponte Vecchio. There are a lot of jewelry stores all very close together along the bridge. This is a very long bridge with many lookouts to the other arches. We were both getting very tired so we headed back to the hostel just over the water. We checked our emails and then got ready for bed. Our room had a bathroom which was nice. We also shared with 5 other girls (One from Mexico, 3 from Norway or Finland, and one older African American woman who walked in really late in the evening).
What a great first day in Florence---I think we conquered most of the city to be honest!
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