Firenze

A few weeks ago I went to visit one of my friends from UNC, Gillian Cronin, who is studying in Florence. I took a flight from Dusseldorf, Germany into Pisa where Gillian met me at the airport. We walked around Pisa for about an hour- mostly just to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa and quickly check out the city (which is very small). The Leaning Tower was really neat and hysterically titled. There is no way that thing is safe to walk up.

Later the same afternoon we took a train from Pisa to Cinque Terre, one of the revered beaches in Northern Italy. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great and my pictures didn't look like the postcards (how sad). However, the towns were beautiful and I got my first glimpse of an ocean in about 10 months, so I was happy.

I spent the next two days in Florence with Gillian, who was a wonderful host. After living in the city for a few months, Gillian knew her way around really well and was able to take me for quick, efficient tours in various parts of the city. We had great weather (aside from a random thunderstorm) and I purchased a lovely leather jacket that I now guard with my life (mostly because my life savings are invested in it).

The food was incredible. And I really mean incredible. I got bruschetta quite a few times, and had the most delicious pasta of my life- gnocchi with a truffle sauce. Dante's Restaurant served the best meal I ate while in Italy, and they offer unlimited wine for students... talk about a sweet deal!

Gillian and I at Dante's 

My gnocchi! 

Gillian and her flatmates were required by their university in Florence to get a museum card which (after paying a flat fee) let them into museums and various other educational venues in Florence for free. One of Gillian's flatmates was generous enough to let me borrow her card, and we went to the Galleria degli Uffizi and to the Boboli Gardens at the Pitti Palace where I took the picture below. We also saw the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and of course the beautiful Ponte Vecchio.