Standards

Oh man, these Italians know how to go out. Since Sunday is the day of rest, these people GO OUT on Saturday night, and they go out classy. Everything seems so high end and elegant. The only crazy bingers are all the American students trying to break the records of how many nights that they can go out in a row -- way to suit the stereotype people.

Italians have this thing called "Apertivo" that is raved about by all of the people who aren't from Italy. It's from about 6-10 p.m. and basically all of the resturants do it. You pick which "Apertivo" that you want to go to that night (there are almost too many choices) and then you go into the bar to buy a drink. Once you buy which ever drink you are feeling that night, you are then free to eat whatever is out on display. It's usually a combination of salads, cheeses, meats, breads, you know -- Italian stuff. We hit up our first Apertivo randomly while searching for this place called Kitch. I'm still not even sure now where it is but it's been my favorite place in Florence so far. The bartenders were fun, the drinks were good, and the food was even better, and whoever did the interior decorating of this place needs to visit me.

After we left Rex, we went down to Santa Croce to where one of the girls lives that Catherine knows from South Carolina. Reid lives directly across the street from ALL of the bars. We went upstairs to check out her place after climbing stairs that felt like would never end. She lives with six other girls! Since there is only the four of us, their place seemed huge! I really liked their set up and her roommates were shifting in and out of the apartment. We had some more wine and then left our coats upstairs to run acorss the street in 35 degree weather. The streets were packed and it was hard to keep up with all of the people around me. The first place we went to was called Kikuya on Via de' Benci. The bartenders are all Brazilian, we became friends. The guys next to us bought is all Russian Roulettes (which is my new thing now) and we ended up not even talking to them. Kikuya was very small, dark bar but I really liked the vibe.

We then ran next door to the Red Garter (note to self -- all bars with English named are tailormade to American students a.k.a. all of the local men know that!). There was a series of rooms, each one with a different music theme. We stayed in the middle, packed in with people. Catherine had it in with the DJ (who was incredible) and we got to go behind the scenes and mix music for a while. He must have really had a thing for her because the next morning he somehow founded her on facebook. He sent her an inbox (with very poor English) asking her out to Aperitivo one night. His facebook name is "DJ JetFlorence TheBest" -- we're still laughing about it. We had more episodes throughout the night that made every moment a little more fun (Cecily, please get here NOW!). On the walk home we stopped by the Duomo (since we basically live right next door to it) and laid down on the steps and took pictures from below. I would post the ones I have but my camera is acting up for some reason. I'm not used to such cold weather so the walks home after a night like that seem harder and longer.

Like I said before, I thought that Sunday was the day of rest but apparently not. Maybe it was because it was the last day of the month for the "saldi" but the streets seemed pretty crowded. We went back to this bar called "Finnegan's" that we had come across right before we found Rex the night before to watch the Arsenal v. Manchester United game over beers with the boys. Since it was an Irish place, they had cider and I about died of happiness. It reminded me of London and I began to miss how much fun I had there last weekend. I became besties with the ginger, English speaking bartender Toby and he made us promise that we'd come back. Having cider in a pub while watching a soccer game made me feel comfortable. I could have done that all day. Going out so much tends to be rather expensive so I stayed in and made some of the pasta that I had bought downstairs.

Monday is when we all start school. IT'S ABOUT TIME. I haven't been in school since the beginning of December and it just feels weird. My roommates all had class but I don't start until Wednesday. So yesterday was just full of errands and becoming more acquianted with the city. The other day I went for a run and I finally crossed over to the other side of the river. I didn't go into the neighborhoods too far but I found my new favorite park overlooking the damn of the Arno. I went over the Ponte Vecchio for the first time as well, I just keep finding all of this cool stuff! The girls and I made our first trip to H&M and I went crazy because I just wanted to buy everythingggg in there.

We met up with some people around 7:30 to indulge in another Aperitivo at this place called Moyo. The bar itself had perfect lighting and the furniture was beautiful. The backs of the wooden chairs were all in an "M" shape. Once again, the girls from Via Faenza 18 became friends with the bartender Gonzale who later started to give us free drinks. The Apertivo there was much different than what we had earlier found at Rex. Moyo's apertivo was all about carbs and it filled you up quickly. Partially Americanized style since they were serving hot dogs at one point but they were disguised well. The candles and the edgy lighting was definitely what drew me in but I still liked Rex better.

After Apertivo we got lost by the river trying to find this place that Carlos raves about (since he apparently goes there every night) called Joshua's Tree. Once we found it, we lit up the place when we all walked in. We met more bartenders and two regulars who later told me that they studied abroad in Florence about two years ago and just never went home! These girls Shannon and Mara were a riot and told us some local secrets about Florence. We also met Carlos' friend Joel who I talked to most of the night. He's only 19 and this is his FIFTH time in Europe! Lucky guy. He was telling me about the house stay set up he landed. He lives with 3 other guys and 1 girl with an old woman who doesn't speak English and makes them dinner every night AND does their laundry for them. Sounds like a sweet deal to me!

Ugh, I just can't wait for school to start. I'm soooo interested in what it will be like! I'm excited to meet more people and to actually be in a classroom again (I know it sounds weird but not being in school when your so used to it starts to mess with your head). I can't believe it's February already, January was an out of control month for me. I started in L.A. then went back to Florida for a couple weeks (living wherever I could) then to New York, then to London, and now I'm here. Ahhh, best month ever! Barcelona is next (still need to work out more details) and then hopefully Paris soon as well. I can't wait, this is sooo cool. The euro is killing everyone's wallet because it's usually just chillin' at 1.5 but it could be worse at 1.7 for the pound (sorry Alex and Morgan).

Tomorrow should be fun and Thursday will be superrrr busy. I have an internship btws. It's at Ganzo (it's like the culinary kitchen where all of our incredible food is served). I have an in with our student liason Eddie and I start tonight actually. I have no idea what I'll be doing but whatever it is it'll be new and fun. The people who work this place are just like us except they never left Florence (it's weird how many of those stories I'm hearing). We're gonna go to the other side of the river on Friday I think to see the real David and explore more what the other side has to offer. The only thing that we ever listen to in this apartment is Kid Cudi's new album "Man on the Moon: End of the Day" and it's starting to get repetitive. I need to be pinched or something because all of this just seems too good to be true. I am loving living in another culture without television, a dryer, or franchises. Change is good. I want to go everywhere, I think Europe is a good start.