Scenes from Firenze

Woke up 5:30AM and left my couch-surfing host's house in Bologna at 6AM to walk to the train station - headed to Firenze. A little freaked out because it was dark, very cold, and and all I had was a dinky little map to figure out how to get where I was going. Traveling alone is definitely scary, but exhilarating. I spend a lot of time with my own thoughts and my journal. Despite being in a packed train or surrounded by tourists, it can get pretty quiet, but comfortable. It's been a feast for the senses, that's for sure.

Some Favorite Moments:

Walking around in the city center, freezing, by myself, with hardly anyone awake... Climbing the steps of the Duomo & the view from the top... Sitting on the steps of the square with the "giant horse" reading/writing/watching... Sitting Indian style in the square with the sleeping backpackers... Secretly spying on the sweetest looking old couple: He/She wearing matching powder blue shirts and khakis. She had a red Gucci belt and a striped umbrella. He had a fancy cane. They held hands and seemed truly in love... Tiny cars and dogs everywhere... Locks of love chained around the city... Squatting toilets... Hoarder's style vintage shops... The ultimate 1% designer shops: Chanel, Ferragamo, Valentino, etc... Seeing 2 weddings... Having 2 photo shoots... Finding loved one's names scribbled on walls and on restaurant entrances... The best gelato on the far side of the Ponte Vecchio... One new couch surfing friend... Walking into a bar alone, coming out together... Reading side-by-side with an old, wrinkly, super tan, short shorts wearing Italian man... Dinner dining solo... Dreams of teeth falling out... Actually having my fake tooth fall out... Unsuccessfully trying to find wifi, and being completely alright with it... Military boys with fancy hats and swords... The smell of leather... Chianti... Staring at the moon, videotaping the moon, falling in love with the moon. 

A Few Photos: 

Side note: I just finished a small-ish (maybe medium) sized jar of Nutella I bought maybe a week ago. Delicious stuff. Good thing I walked absolutely everywhere in Florence, despite my right ankle still being swollen from a bike ride fall last week.