Spring Break part due

I booked myself at Hotel Aldobrandini through www.bookings.com and eagerly put directions from the train station to the hostel in my iPod. However, in God’s infinite humor, it started to downpour the moment I stepped out of the train. I put my hood up and carried my two bags like the ghetto woman that I am, and headed in the general direction of the hotel. After a few wrong turns, I found myself at iron gates with the words hotel written next to a buzzer. I was buzzed in and started to not believe my luck: there was an elevator, a fountain in the courtyard! This place was going to get a huge 5 star rating from me on hostelworld.com. In my state of joy, I went to the concierge, (they even had a concierge!) and gave him my passport. After a few frustrated taps on his computer, he informed me that I did not have a reservation here. My mind started to run, like it always does in times when I just need it to stop. Maybe I can get back on another train and back it back to Salerno in time for dinner, no! I’ve made it this far, dammit! I’m staying! I took my drowned rat self and walked to the nearest piazza. 

I sat down next to the fountain and started to look at the address for the hotel. Just as I was starting to hyperventilate, I watched an older German couple, complete with leaderhosen and suitcases, walk to a hidden alleyway. (because, how could you not, even in times of pending homelessness, watch German couples) I followed them and sure enough, my correct hotel was hidden from me and the Germs lead me right to it!

Of course this hotel was more of what I had in mind, it was on the third floor of an office building, with no elevator. As I walked in, a maid with a button up dress, two sizes too large, came stomping down the staircase. After leaning over and grabbing me my key and exposing her whole chestles to me, I opened the door to my closet of a room. There was no shower and only a toilet. Oookk then. I dropped off my bags and quickly picked up my camera. The rain had let up and I was able to explore the city. 

One of my favorite things in life is the smell of wet concert after the rain. As soon as I inhaled that smell, I knew Florence and I were going to have a love affair. I strolled for hours in Piazza Signori, under the Uffizzi Museum and over Ponte Vecchio.

Ponte Vecchio

Hotel Aldobrandini

the last line says, "I want you to be my wife."

Spring Break part uno

In March I knew my time in Italy was coming to an end. The shiny new-ness of living somewhere foreign was starting to fade. The long, slimy stare the cashier at the grocery store gave me was no longer authentic and nowhere near as exciting. It was downright annoying: give me my effin buffalo mozzarella, gyp me out of 5 cents and let’s stop pretending I’d sleep with you, you’re 55 and live with your mom, she owns the place. 

The sun was starting to make a daily appearance and my English lessons were finally starting to see that I had something more to teach them besides duck-duck-GOOSE! Life was good. I thought I’d push my luck and book an Easter trip to Florence.  

By myself.  Alone. Solo io. 

Moving to a foreign country by myself seemed a league below booking a vacation just. For. Me. The move to Italy was clouded with “where will I live?” “What will I make for dinner?” but a vacation, I’d actually have to start enjoying time with myself. Alone. Did I mention I was going unaccompanied? 

I heard mysterious praises for Florence but most intriguing were from a half-drunken fraternity boy that spent a promiscuous semester abroad and said it was “totally awesome”. Sold. 

I booked my train tickets through tren italia, which gave me a 20% discount for booking online and two weeks in advance.  I browsed the borrowed guide books,  Frommer's and Let's Go, asked the hedonistic frat boy for ideas on where to stay and packed a bag full of layers. 

With my iPod full of new music, my camera’s batteries charged , numerous emails to local friends and family in America with exact address and phone numbers just in case. With my bravery at an all time high, I was on my way.