Europe adventure. Day 15 of 34.
Written in Piazza Santa Spirito on day 17.
I got two breakfasts that day, as thanks from the first hostel in Rome. Then I went to go catch the bus to Termini. I sat there waiting for the bus to for almost an hour, and when I asked someone why it had not come she said there were no rules, they just came when they wanted to. The bus, when I finally got on it, was full to the brim. There were angry people everywhere, with one lady yelling at the driver in Italian. It took forever, but I eventually got to Termini, where I bought my train ticket to Florence.
The soonest ticket was sold out, so I had another hour to spare. At least by that point it was like waiting in my own home. That's how used to sitting in the central station I was. Then I boarded the train. Soon I was getting off in Florence!
Understandably, when you think about my experiences with public transportation in Rome, I opted for a taxi to my host's house. His name was Davide, and his apartment was in a very old building that apparently used to be a convent. The stairway was nice and cool, with a smell almost like a cave. After the heat of outside it was very refreshing to walk in. So was the homemade lemon iced tea Davide offered me when I got up to his place. He was very welcoming and his home was very nice. I even had a room to myself. After the stress of Rome, Florence was already seeming a million times better.
Soon after I arrived Davide had to go back to work, and I left the apartment with him. In this same square where I am sitting now I sat down in a little outdoor cafe and got some lunch. I ordered chicken with mixed vegetables and a cappuccino. Both were fantastic, and I took my time eating to enjoy the new environment and take advantage of their wifi.
At the cafe I introduced myself to two travelers sitting next to me, who I found out were from Sweden. I also found out that so was ABBA, because Mama Mia happened to be playing at the time and they told me. I think I did know that at some point.
After eating I went over to Palazzo Pitti, because it was right around the corner. Knowing nothing about the place, I bought a ticket and went in. It had some absolutely amazing art inside, and there were hardly any crowds. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, a thousand times more than The Vatican museum and The Sistine Chapel.
When Davide got home from work we went in his motorcycle to Piazzale Michelangelo, which was the most amazing view I have ever seen. We got there right as the sun was setting, and even with the crowds it was just gorgeous.
Back at the apartment Davide and I made a great salad for dinner. My job was chopping the vegetables, which I did badly. We had some nice wine with dinner, and afterward took some with us down to this square, the Piazza Santa Spirito. We sat by the fountain with one of Davide's friends, Andrea, and Nicole from New Orleans (originally Michigan), who was staying with Andrea.
Before going to sleep in my amazing bed, Davide and I opened a bottle of some sort of Polish cherry liqueur given to him by a previous couchsurfer. It was very strong and very sweet. Kind of like the sleep I had that night.
I got two breakfasts that day, as thanks from the first hostel in Rome. Then I went to go catch the bus to Termini. I sat there waiting for the bus to for almost an hour, and when I asked someone why it had not come she said there were no rules, they just came when they wanted to. The bus, when I finally got on it, was full to the brim. There were angry people everywhere, with one lady yelling at the driver in Italian. It took forever, but I eventually got to Termini, where I bought my train ticket to Florence. The soonest ticket was sold out, so I had another hour to spare. At least by that point it was like waiting in my own home. That's how used to sitting in the central station I was. Then I boarded the train. Soon I was getting off in Florence!
Understandably, when you think about my experiences with public transportation in Rome, I opted for a taxi to my host's house. His name was Davide, and his apartment was in a very old building that apparently used to be a convent. The stairway was nice and cool, with a smell almost like a cave. After the heat of outside it was very refreshing to walk in. So was the homemade lemon iced tea Davide offered me when I got up to his place. He was very welcoming and his home was very nice. I even had a room to myself. After the stress of Rome, Florence was already seeming a million times better.
Soon after I arrived Davide had to go back to work, and I left the apartment with him. In this same square where I am sitting now I sat down in a little outdoor cafe and got some lunch. I ordered chicken with mixed vegetables and a cappuccino. Both were fantastic, and I took my time eating to enjoy the new environment and take advantage of their wifi.
At the cafe I introduced myself to two travelers sitting next to me, who I found out were from Sweden. I also found out that so was ABBA, because Mama Mia happened to be playing at the time and they told me. I think I did know that at some point.After eating I went over to Palazzo Pitti, because it was right around the corner. Knowing nothing about the place, I bought a ticket and went in. It had some absolutely amazing art inside, and there were hardly any crowds. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, a thousand times more than The Vatican museum and The Sistine Chapel.
When Davide got home from work we went in his motorcycle to Piazzale Michelangelo, which was the most amazing view I have ever seen. We got there right as the sun was setting, and even with the crowds it was just gorgeous.Back at the apartment Davide and I made a great salad for dinner. My job was chopping the vegetables, which I did badly. We had some nice wine with dinner, and afterward took some with us down to this square, the Piazza Santa Spirito. We sat by the fountain with one of Davide's friends, Andrea, and Nicole from New Orleans (originally Michigan), who was staying with Andrea.
Before going to sleep in my amazing bed, Davide and I opened a bottle of some sort of Polish cherry liqueur given to him by a previous couchsurfer. It was very strong and very sweet. Kind of like the sleep I had that night.
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