Warm at Last in Florence

Our super train!!
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I wish we were not only in Florence for one night! I really love it here. It's one of the prettiest cities I have ever seen. We left Milan at 10:00 and hopped on the train again. This train ride felt like it went by really quickly and we got into Florence around quarter to one. Although here of course it is Firenze. Or Firanze... something like that. Whatever it is, it reminds me of Harry Potter. As soon as we got off the train the humidity hit us like a brick. We are finally by the water! And it is so warm!! Its around 10 or something here (p.m) and its still as warm as day out. Our hotel is fabulous. I rate this one the best lobby-look wise, but Milan still takes best room. We have a little balcony in Kathryn and I's room and it is perfect - it looks out onto the wide river and the city on the other side. It was very soothing standing there in the heat looking at this foreign city. I love it, it's very different from my love of Paris. Here, it feels... homey. Eclectic. A little bit of Spanish and almost run down arcitecture gives the city just a great vibe. We changed out of our jeans and set out to find lunch. Here in Italy all the restaurants close down around 3ish until at least 5:30. Why? I don't know. They love to take their breaks. So we ran the to the first pizzaria we saw, which was pretty good. The shops here! You never see these designer stores in North America - Gucci, Prada, Versace, and Mui Mui. They have a Mui Mui store!! I lovee it. It's always in Vogue. I found the most perfect bag in the entire world. I fell in love. It was a browny color, kind of poofed a little, very soft leather and it went on my shoulder. I wanted it so bad. 720 euros. Choke. That's over 1000 dollars. I was so close to getting it!! But I would feel so guilty if I bought a bag that pricey. I think my heart broke. Well I'm exaggerating a liitlle. Ok. Here is a quick list.

I think I look very excited to be on this train.
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Things I love:

Here, it feels... homey. Eclectic. A little bit of Spanish and almost run down arcitecture gives the city just a great vibe.

1. Mui Mui handbag *tear*

2. Spagehtti Aglio Olio (so good! who needs tomato sauce?)

The view of Florence from our balcony
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3. Gelato

4. Ink pens

But in Florence they have all of these open markets, which kind of reminded me of the farmer's market. Except not. They were more like Mexican markets actually. The wares were: leather bags, pashmina and cashmere scarves, books/pens/masks, and the odd jewerly. and then it was repeated all over again. So basically here, and at the larger one futher on, you had the exact same products over and over again, with a little bit of varience in between. Kas and I got 3 cashmere scarves between us for 15, and they look like burberry which is a scoop because I love burberry. but now I love Mui Mui. Anyway, then Mom and Kathryn got a purse and dad got a wallet. I refused to get a purse because nothing would compare (hey, it saved money!) but then the last stall we walked by had adorible bags that reminded me of versailles (dont' knw why) and I got it for 25! a bit less then 720 I can tell you. I was also very close to buying a feather quill pen and ink, because I want one so, but I didn't. I love stationary and pens and journals and all that stuff. We went by the Domo, which is their cathedral. NOT what i was expecting. It's pink! and green!! I loved it. I dubbed it the cookie cutter cathedral. I also fended off my first creepy guy of the trip! "What's your name, where you from?" Come on. You honestly think people will talk to you when you say that? you just want to say put a sock in it. Oh well. I find it quite amusing. Now all this walking was kind of hot and uncomfortable for us Canucks because we aren't used to the humidity. So we were sticky so we went back to the hotel and got changed. And for the first time in two weeks I kind of dressed up! The city had put me in a great mood. There is just something about it here that made me want to dress up. So I put on makeup!! I know, doesn't sound dressy but I very rarely wear makeup anymore so it was special. We went for dinner late like true Euros, and spent had a real italian meal (lots of courses, lots of time) Then by quite accident we stumbled across the David statue!! I had thought it was in a museum but it wasn't. It was dark now, and very lovely weather. We walked to this square by the restaraunt with a huuge aray of sculptures, including David. I still don't know how someone can make something so extroidinary out of a slab of rock. And he was huge! All of them were. We walked down a street which was tributed to the Renisannse (spelling, sorry) dudes (as my dad calls them). They had statues of each one, including Davinci and Redi and went and watched the water for a little. It was perfect. I love it here. We then got our gelato (yay!) and leasuirly walked back to the hotel. I wish we didn't go to Rome tomorrow. Ciao Ciao!