How amazing this place is! We spent the few hours before going to Lido in several different bars, chatting and having a few glasses of this and that. When we finally decided to head over to Lido, it was cold and I was not particularly excited, as one who does not much enjoy this type of night life. I was taken by surprise when we entered this huge place to see half of it, easily 400 sq ft., was set up as a restaurant, but had a slightly different atmosphere with people dancing on the tables. The other half inside was a bar, with another bar outside on the upstairs patio. Below the patio was a huge beach, three bars, and an enormous dance floor. All of our new friends came to join us and we danced the night away until I finally left around 2:30.
6:00 a.m., Friday I was up, packing for Florence, with a boat to catch at 6:45. I suppose we shouldn't have been so surprised that half of our Lido group from the night before didn't catch the boat, and our good (albeit new) friend Daniele drove them to meet us at the train station in Como. We transferred from Como to Milan, heading to Florence on a train traveling 180 kilometers per hour, and made it to the city in time to trek over to our hotel to drop off our things, head across the city for lunch, and then go to the Duomo where we climbed over 300 feet, or 462 stairs, into the sky to see Firenze from a view I think no one but God himself could possibly imagine. You could see the whole city from the top of the church, spanning out into the Tuscan countryside of rolling hills, stucco houses, all tightly built but beautifully architectured. It was an absolute blast. We left the Duomo for dinner, where some friends and I split a Margherita pizza like nothing I've ever had before, and I ate half of the thing in less than 5 minutes. We shared a bottle of wine and enjoyed a two or so hour dinner without once being bothered by a waiter or offered a check...truly this is one if the things Italy really has right compared to the States. On our way back to the hotel, we found a leather shop, and although I swore I wanted nothing to do with a leather jacket, I agreed to go in nonetheless. After trying on a few jackets, and finally finding one that was audibly calling my name, I agreed on a price at the same time as my friends Jeff, Emily, and Kaila, and an hour later we all left with heavy, cow smelling bags swinging in our arms. :-) it was a pretty successful trip.
I am proud to say that after this I went back home and got nine hours of sleep that night! Many of you are asking whether or not I have been sleeping, and the honest answer is, no. The previous thee nights combined I got about twelve hours of sleep, so this nine was much needed and appreciated.
The following day, as we roamed around Florence, got a two hour walking tour where we learned more about the Duomo, the city buildings, the golden hog that you're supposed to rub for luck, and some key places named in Dan Browns Inferno, and then wandered off to do some more shopping, where I made out with a few post cards, and this gorgeous spoon rest decorated as a sun flower with a picture of David and several other famous Florence sights, for only 5€!
Although we stopped and stood in line for the Accademia, we decided there wasn't time enough to see the original statue of David, and had to head back to the hotel, and then to the train station.
Another thing that may be worth mentioning is the hot Italian man that you're all waiting for me to bring up! I was actually lucky enough to meet him before coming out here, so while I am visiting his homeland, my Nick is waiting for me back in the states. Not being able to talk with him or my family has been difficult, especially because of the time difference, but I'm adjusting well and really enjoying my time here. Despite that it is hard at times to accept everything I am missing at home, including the weddings of two close friends.
But, back to Italy stuff, I will close with my new favorite thing: a long term love of my mother's - the cappuccino. I tried my first one this morning at a cafè. As I sit here at the Hotel DuLac writing to you, I am sipping on my third of the day. I may not sleep tonight, but it will be worth it! Plus the work schedule came in and I'm not due until 11:30 tomorrow...hello sleep!
Love and Hugs! sorry the four letter word had to enter the blog vocab.
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