Ultimate Adventure Part 3

I always find it amusing how days can change so quickly. One day can be slow and lazy, where I feel like I talk to no one in particular. The next I can be fast friends with everyone in my dorm and we will be continually doing things and hanging out together.

The other day started off simple enough. I spent time wandering around Florence, just taking in the sights, and enjoying the good food. The town is really quite beautiful when it is all gray and misty. And here, even when it is rainy and overcast, it has been wonderfully warm. All I need is a long sleeved shirt or a light sweater, and I'm good to wander all day.

I spent a good deal more time in the leather market too. I was tempted to buy a dark brown middle length jacket(the only color and length not yet in my leather jacket collection), but happily when I tried it on, it was not right. Makes me glad I tried it on though, or else I would have been mooning over it the whole time I was here and wishing I had bought it. Now I can just move on to other things. Switzerland and Iceland are going to be expensive enough on their own without adding additional costs beforehand.

After these laid back days, it was funny to suddenly have a room full of awesome people again. Blair from PA, Andrew from WA, Luke from Australia, and Nicole and Jenny our resident Kiwi's from New Zealand. They all arrived yesterday and we have had some awesomely good times hanging out. Blair, Luke, Andrew and myself spent an hour moaning about how hungry we were last night, and not doing anything about it, before we decided, "Hey! Let's all go out together!" We went to Acqua al 2, which was recommended by a customer. So good! Andrew and I had cannolini, Blair an artichoke pasta, and Luke the risotto. Everyone's meals were fantastic; Luke and Andrew said the best they've had yet. Topped off with some gelato, we were good for the evening.

When we got back, we found out that the next day(today) was Nicole and Jenny's half way point in their trip. So we all decided to celebrate by having a Wine Half Way Party in the room the next night. Then we found out Andrew had been accepted to his grad school of choice that day too, and we had even more to celebrate.

Andrew even does a drawing thing similar to mine, and got me started getting people to draw for me again, something I am sad I slacked on in the first part of my journey. I think that was what the journal I bought here was meant for, and I am excited to fill it with drawings from everyone I meet from here on out.

Today, Blaire headed out on a several city tour, the others to Pisa and Cinque Terre, and I roamed the area again. I bought my ticket to Interlaken for tomorrow, booked my hostel, bought snacks for the next couple legs of my journey(in anticipation of Switzerland's expensiveness), and explored the east side of the city, where I have yet to go.

I found the Leather School, which I have heard great things about, but of course they were closed. Some sort of Italian national holiday, though I have yet to figure out what. No one seems to know when I ask. After the lack of leatherness, I found a restaurant which served spaghetti alla carbonara, which I have been meaning to try, after hearing Jinnie rave about it this summer at the lake. So good! Now I know what all the hype is about! Topped off with bruschetta and some hot chocolate, and you have yourself a fabulous rainy day meal. The hot chocolate here is so different from the states. It's like hot chocolate pudding really, you almost need a spoon to eat it. In fact, they give you a spoon with the "drink" just in case.

After this I went to the hostel to dry off a little, before heading out for Ultimate Adventure Part 3. This leg of the Ultimate Bagel over seas was hosted by Dominic. We hung out in the area for a while, he showed me the Christmas market, and the Pont Vecchio by night. Then we went to the big Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Duomo. They had flags being thrown, trumpets and drums being played, and a giant Christmas tree to illuminate. Very cool experience. Plus Dom and I always have the most interesting conversations. Part of tonight's was all about aliens and if and how they would/do exist. Always random, always fascinating. He also gave me good tips and activities for Switzerland, and took me to another awesome gelataria.

Once I got back to the dorm, Blair was there and decided she wanted gelato, so I went with. We ended up getting really good pizza first, and just hanging out before checking back to see if the others had returned. They had, and were drinking boxed wine and eating Chinese food. We spent the evening playing silly drinking games with cheap wine, friending each other on facebook(I can't wait to visit people in New Zealand now!), and telling stories of our days.

All in all, it was a wonderful couple days. I can't believe my time in Florence is at an end already, though I am very excited for Switzerland.