Firenze!

We got on the train and quickly made ourselves at home because our clothes didn't have enough time to dry the night before.

Europeans don't believe in dryers. 

Once we made it to Florence we dragged our suitcases through the streets in hopes we were walking somewhat close to the city center. We found a Mexican restaurant (our Chipotle cravings need to be satisfied somehow) and found a hostel to stay in. After dropping our things off we headed to the Duomo where it proceeded to pour and a nice lady offered us her umbrella! So sweet. Climbing up the Duomo proved to be a challenge because people were coming down the same way we were going up. At first Abby and I thought they were just being assholes who decided to take the wrong way down. Then on our way down we realized there was only one way down, and we became the assholes. 

After the Duomo we walked around, while making a pit stop for some delicious coffee and chocolate gelato. 

Girl with the Pearl Earring is done by a Dutch painter! Learned that in Intro to Dutch Culture, yea yea!

We worked up an appetite, so we went to the first restaurant we found. The waiter must have liked us, because when we ordered tap water he laughed and brought out two glasses of wine, and proceeded to keep re-filling them until we finished the entire bottle. He then brought out free bruschetta and limoncello. We decided we were never leaving Italy. 

Our waiter!

The next day we were supposed to meet the guy we were couch surfing with before he left for work. After a few mishaps we eventually found his apartment and thanked our lucky stars he hadn't left for work yet. He had to leave but left us his only set of keys to the apartment (trustworthy much?) and gave us all the breakfast food he had, apologizing that there wasn't more. How nice?! 

Can you believe we stayed here for free?

Bidets are weird. I'm also weird for taking pictures of the bathroom.

We were really tired from being up so early (my usual rise and shine starts around noon) so we decided to take a little nap. At first we were going to sleep on the pull out couch but after feeling how comfy his bed was, we ended up sleeping there. Extremely weird and creepy but it was really comfortable! We made sure to make the bed so he wouldn't know. 

After our fantastic nap we woke up and went to the Boboli Gardens, recommended by Chelsea Farrall. On our way there we stopped at Speedy Panini, where we had delicious 3 euro sammys. Dutch food is really paling in comparison. 

We didn't really know what the Boboli Gardens were, but I felt like I was in the maze from the Triwizard Tournament (Harry Potter reference for all you muggles out there). 

After the gardens we hiked an extreme roundabout way to Piazzale Michelangelo. This was one of my favorite parts of Florence! The square has a panoramic view of Florence that is gorgeous! An American couple approached us and asked if we spoke English, which we said that was the only language we spoke. (Joke I have heard many times here: What is it called when you can speak several languages? Multilingual. What is it called when you can speak two languages? Bilingual. What is it called when you can speak one language? American. Bada bing, bada boom.) She said she figured we were American by our running shorts and tennis shoes. No truer words have been spoken. 

Representing College Park Fire Department for ya bro!

We have to eat gelato a minimum of once a day in Italy.

When we got home we waited for Vito to get home from work and when he did he decided to make us some appetizers that were DELICIOUS. Boar's sausage, with sun-dried tomatoes, lettuce, mozzarella, and stracciatella, accompanied with some red wine. 

Vito!

Really getting the five star treatment here. Then he took us took a local pizza place with his friend Fillipo, where they treated us to the greatest pizza I will ever eat in my lifetime. After dinner we went to a local bar that had pictures of people's faces all over the walls. 

Strange.

Abby had to go to the bathroom and when she went in Vito said, "She's going to be in for a shock." She immediately walked back out.

Hopefully that is the first and last time I will ever have to use that type of toilet. 

After a few drinks we said bye to Fillipo and went home.

The next morning we went back to Speedy Panini for lunch (you really can't beat a 3 euro sammy) and they gave us a frequent buyer card, where we already earned a free soda! We had been in Florence for 3 days. 

We attempted to wait in line for the Accademia Gallery but decided it was too long and that we didn't really like museums anyway. Plus this guy's hairy mole freaked me out. 

We didn't have much else planned so we wandered around Florence.

The only reason I would have gone in that museum was to see Michelangelo's David but what do you know- there is a replica right outside! Good enough for me!

Hi Abby. 

We then went home where Vito again amazed us with his cooking skills! Dinner included noodles, mushrooms and zucchini, as well as mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and prosciutto, and finally gnocchi with nuts and prosciutto! Delicious. 

Dinner was finished with melon gelato with limoncello and chocolate chips! A great ending to a wonderful time in Florence. Next stop: Venice!