Andrushka

This is a post I wrote after my first day in Florence, but didn't have the ability to post until now.

I'm a little frustrated tonight that my plug adapter doesn't fit into the electrical sockets in the convent in Florence. It worked beautifully in Rome, and I don't get how sockets in the same country can be different. Also, I'm fairly sure their Web site said this place has wifi access in the lobby. However, the nun at the front desk doesn't think so (and wasn't too clear on what "Internet" means), so despite being able to detect a strong but password-protected signal, I now have even less Internet access than I did in Rome. It's only for one night here though, than a night train to Paris. My plan is to work as long as I can on battery and then save things to a USB drive and go to an Internet cafe. (P.S. Internet guy wouldn't let me use a USB drive because of virus concerns. What was I paying for again?)

Despite all that and the continual smell of urine in the streets, Florence is wonderful. After breakfast in Rome, I got the 8:30 train to Florence and arrived just after 11:00 a.m. I was able to use the time to sort through and resize the photos from my first day in Rome, so hopefuly I can get those posted when the gods of fortune and Web access smile upon me again.

When I got on the city bus in Florence to go to the convent (and was able to identify the correct bus myself!), it was pretty empty, so I sat in one of the seats and put my luggage in the other. At the next stop, it quickly filled up, and left standing were two Spanish ladies, an older Italian woman, and two American guys, a college-aged son and his fifty-something father. Recalling discussions with students in Ukraine about examples politeness, I got up, moved my luggage, and offered seats to the ladies. Immediately, the two American men sat down. Sigh. There are names for people like that, but none of them are fit for polite company, which is actually kind of convenient, since it means I could share them with those two.

After dropping off my bags, I walked by the Palace Pitti, over Ponte Vecchio, ate lunch, and wandered around until I eventually found the Duomo, but not until after finding a lot of other places I should probably return to but wanted me to buy admission tickets I wasn't interested in paying for at the moment.

The Duomo is one of the most amazing churches I've ever seen on the outside, but inside it's surprisingly sparse and austere. It's a night and day difference from the ornate interiors of the basilicas of Rome.

I climbed the 414 steps of the campanile, which nearly caused heat stroke. The staircase is barely wider than my shoulders and with very little air circulation. Add in a steady stream of people headed both up and down plus the actual exertion of climbing the steps, and it all sums up to heat, exhaustion and uncomfortably close encounters with people just as hot and sweaty as you. The view is worth it though, and descending the staircase was much easier. In fact, coming down I felt like a conquering hero.

After the campanile, I went in search of more water. You would think someone would make a fortune selling water and little fans at the base of it (or better yet, at the security office at the top), but neither the guards nor the souvenir stands had any. I asked for mineral water at a nearby restaurant and they directed me to find a grocery store, which seems counterproductive for a restaurateur, since I know they had it on the menu. I eventually got a liter at a Gelateria. Anyway, I feel this all points to one of the problems with too much tourism. It makes the locals not really care about the well being of guests. If you go to someplace that rarely gets tourists, for instance, Alliance, Nebraska or Koszalin, Poland and look on the verge of a heat-related medical incident (I felt like I looked that way anyway), people will find you water.

I'm sorry to be so negative all the time. I really am enjoying myself and experiencing amazing sites and tastes. I guess one of the downsides of not having a traveling companion is not having anyone to vent to, so it all goes on the blog.

Anyway, by the time I finished all my Duomo-related sight seeing, I'd been walking for about three hours straight, so I went to the train station and got on one of the open-air sight seeing busses. I've decided they're a great way of getting a handle on sightseeing priorities, and a godsend when you're tired. (Thanks, Jaque!)

One of the stops was the belvedere overlooking the city. The view is amazing. You'll see what I mean whenever I have the ability to post photos. Camera and I were there for about half an hour.

I got back on the bus and continued around the city. At a little afer six I started falling asleep on the bus and it conveniently stopped a block away from my convent. That's when I came in and started getting frustrated about power outlets and Internet access.

Tommorrow I do all the things I didn't buy tickets for today.

For now though, I'm going to head out in search of gelato before bed.

Posted by Scott on 16 September 2009 at 9/16/2009 12:41:00 AM | Permalink