Florence, Italy

My Room!

My Room!

After two nights in the luxurious Hotel Baglioni we rose early in order to check out of our hotel rooms and prepare for the big move-in to the apartments! We boarded the buses and took a quick drive over towards the Piazza della Independenza which is a small square near Via XXVII Aprile, which is where my apartment is located. Prior to move-in we were forewarned about the possibility of having to carry our luggage up multiple flights of stairs to reach our actual apartment door. Elevators in Italian apartment buildings can be quite unique and temperamental and sometimes even nonexistent. To our surprise we discovered a small service elevator to help accelerate the move-in process! Walking through our apartment doors for the first time was such an exhilarating feeling. The charming Italian apartment has a modern twist, which makes for an attractive looking flat. Soon after meeting our landlord and going over the logistics and rules we finally found the time to unpack! It was such a relief after living out of a bag for the past two and a half weeks.

Living Room

            Having the rest of the afternoon free we explored the area around the Duomo and stopped in at a little ristorante for a small bite to eat. The cafes and sandwich shops can be found on every street corner and the aroma of fresh bread becomes intoxicating after awhile! Later on we participated in a study abroad student night out which was a great opportunity to meet more people from my program as well as others.

            The next day required another early morning to link up with a program director, who brought us on a walking “survival tour” of the city. Specifically, we learned more about the hot spots around our particular neighborhood. Learning more about the side streets and various routes to take to important squares, restaurants, and markets will certainly help me feel more comfortable meandering around Florence.

Bathroom

Bathroom

Dining Room

Kitchen

View from back balcony

            Later on in the day we decided to head over to a hidden panini restaurant called the Oil Shoppe. This sandwich place is well known by study abroad students and sometimes the line is even out the door! All of the sandwiches are less than 5 euro and come with fries and a drink. Because my roommates and I were so indecisive, some of us decided to split two sandwiches. I was able to taste both the white focaccia with cheese, mushrooms, and truffle sauce, as well as the chicken, lettuce, tomato, mozzarella, and pesto on wheat focaccia bread – both were amazing! This place is overrun with study abroad students for good reason.