Ciao ragazzi! As you may already know, I was a study abroad student in summer, 2015 at the Apicius, Florence University of the Arts! Firenze was my home for three weeks of my trip. I found it amazing how small the city actually is! Better for me, I was able to get around without a problem, memorizing streets & finding my favorite gelato shops around each corner. I'll discuss gelato in more detail a little later,... because you can't visit Italy without trying gelato everywhere you go! My apartment was located across the Arno River on a hill called Costa di San Giorgio! Good for a nice view, but slightly exhausting for carrying grocery bags in 101 degree weather! Nonetheless, I had an outstanding view of the Duomo & Arno River. What can be better than looking out your bedroom window at night watching the moon meet the sky like a big pizza pie?! Now THAT'S what I call AMORE! For those of you who don't know, the Duomo, as everyone refers to it, is the famous Florence Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore! It is extremely large, and pretty much in the middle of the city, so if you're ever lost, search for the Duomo & you'll find your way from there. If you're a tourist, its probably better to walk, so you have a chance to run into the little cafe's and shops. If you absolutely dread walking, then you can rent a bike, or motorbike to get around quicker and there are several spots for motor bike parking! Enough transportation talk... it's time to get serious! Gelato! What I call the ultimate dessert on a cone! Gelato in Italy is definitely something special. I have tried gelato in Greece, which is just across the sea and it was almost the same, but not quite. There's something about gelato in Italy that you just can't duplicate anywhere else. As we often mention in hospitality management, it is all about the experience; atmosphere included! It's time for a language lesson! The first thing I learned in Italian was how to order gelato... that's the most important thing to know when you're in Italy, right? Let's get into it! Can I have one small chocolate gelato on a cone? Posse avere un piccolo gelato Chocolato su un cono? Grazie! Wait, what am I saying... one GRANDE gelato please! Now that's better!
Granita's are also good for those extremely hot days when you're professor decides to take you on a walking tour from one end of the city to another. My favorite granita flavor is grapefruit! Better than a smoothie & better than shaved ice! It's also good to explore other cafes and dessert shops. We had dinner at a fancy hotel restaurant and enjoyed their pistachio, vanilla, & chocolate cream puffs!
What I enjoyed about Florence was the architecture of the buildings and the colors of the apartments. There were mostly buildings painted in golden shades of yellow with dark green shutters for shade. Beige, brown, and light reddish brown roofs also made the city look peaceful. I also noticed a lot of greenery, which helped balance a busy city & a neighborhood life. When I went for an early walk through the city around 6AM, I noticed that a big truck came and poured water on the streets to clean the city! It dries for about an hour or two, so if you're out and about & wonder why the streets are wet with no rain, it is because they cleaned the streets. They also wipe off the street art, which is something that is extremely popular in Italy. Artists duplicate famous paintings, such as the Mona Lisa, in chalk on the streets. Tourists are always amazed at the drawings, but after living there for three weeks, you notice that the artists duplicate the same painting almost everyday. For a stunning view of Firenze & the Arno River, walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo! It is the perfect location for a panoramic view! If you plan to visit Florence for a longer length of time, then you'll probably end up going to the grocery market. Tip: if you plan to purchase produce, know that you will have to weigh each bag and use the touch screen to find the correct item. Once weighed, you can print a sticker to place on the bag before taking it to the register. Each type of fruit, or vegetable can be a challenge to find, because they all have specific, abbreviated, detailed names. Going to the grocery store was not my favorite thing to do. The cashiers tend to rush you and they don't like giving you extra bags, even if you need them to carry heavy items up the hill to your apartment. You also have to bag everything yourself in the small square area, while trying to juggle paying at the same time. Don't expect any staff members to be helpful, because that's just not the culture. Nonetheless, the food items, which would be very expensive in the states are very cheap! A package of Prosciutto, which would normally cost around $6-$8 in the U.S. only cost around $2-3, while a tiny to-go jar of American branded peanut butter was $5 instead of $2! It was definitely an experience seeing the difference in prices! Be sure to visit the new Mercato Centrale, or Italian food court market. This food court features a variety of Italian delights. Some stands include pizza and smoked meats, other corners include Chianti wine tasting and a gelato station. Not your ordinary food court! Mercado Centrale is a delicious two-story dining experience!
In Firenze, I noticed that the business people who live there usually take a motor bike to and from work. Seeing people in suites riding motor bikes is unusual in America, but it is very normal in Italy. What I found most interesting was that the stores close very early, usually around 8pm. They do have American brands including H&M, so don't be worried that the city is too old to have any of your favorite shops. They actually have expensive stores including Prada & Gucci! The hotels in Europe are also very modern as well, some even better than our economy class hotels. Yes, the city is old, but modern places do exist! For that, I was very grateful! A little piece of home, I suppose! I would definitely visit Florence if I were to travel through Italy again. It is not as packed as Rome and it is definitely a more calming city. It is easy to get to the train station & airport no matter which end of the city you might live. Firenze is an interesting delight! I would say that it is a little bit of everything! Love Always, Mia.
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AuthorHi guys! My passion is anything and everything SWEET! I am a graduate from Los Angeles, California with a hospitality degree. I have experienced many inspiring delights of the world as I have traveled here & there. Whatever the future may bring, I will always observe with my eyes & enjoy with my heart. Love Always, MARIA CEKO (Mia) Always #HEARTInspired Archives
January 2017
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