After four months in the heart of the renaissance...
On a rainy (torrential, and, hopefully, temporary) Sunday morning in Florence, I am getting ready to leave.
I have had four wonderful months in Florence and am not ready to go -- I'm in conflict about it all...
THE BEST OF FLORENCE (FOR ME)...
1. I have set up a lovely community of friends.
Today Emily and Karen, new and dear friends, and I are going out for hot chocolate/wine at Rivoire, for a quiet 'goodbye' -- this is hard!
3. The students are on vacation.
4. I can usually get somewhere (not always by the most direct route, admittedly), by feet, bus or train.
5. I have so many favorite places in Florence.
6. I have so many more favorite places to discover in Florence.
7. The tourists and students have (temporarily) gone home.
8. I now know where to get my important and/or necessaries (even though they are not always necessary, I have discovered).
9. I haven't seen everything, and I haven't had enough of Florence!
1. The tourists and students have ONLY gone home temporarily.
2. The complexities still abound.
3. The ages-old stone streets, sidewalks, buildings continue to cause havoc on bodies that try to walk everywhere.
4. The sunshine of Sicily beckons.
5. Florence weather can be miserable. When the sun shines, as it does tend to do for brief periods almost every day, and the sky is blue and sparkling, I am happy. The old, tall, narrow buildings (many old towers that were inhabited by multi-generational families), however, do block most of the sunlight; Florentines do tend to seek the sunny spots in the piazzas and to luxuriate in them (as always, with dogs and kids) -- the viewing is spectacular!
Otherwise, it can be really really cold now (ok -- I know Boston is really really cold now, too, and covered with snow and ice); the ubiquitous stones really do radiate the cold, so that there is no escape from it (especially when walking and surrounded on all sides by the stones).
And the rain -- we (all Florentines, that is) always carry our umbrellas, because we never know when the skies will open on our heads. I get very pleased to see that it has rained and stopped while I was inside a building, so that the rain didn't inconvenience me at all (aside from the walking on wet, slippery stones). Amazing what makes me happy!
7. "Living in the moment" and expanding my horizons and learning about it all...
8. This is my 'senior year abroad' and I have so much to see, do and learn.....
Ok -- off to pack... making order out of chaos has never been easy for me. I do seem to create chaos easily, though, I think...
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.