The Life in the Day

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

(Source: quote-book)

So I am counting last night as my last night here, because I am catching a cab at 4:30 am on Saturday morning for my 6:30 am flight which puts a damper on going out on Friday night. But, Thursday night, my last night in Florence, was fantastic. In typical fashion, all of the roommates and I enjoyed a couple-hour dinner over wine and pasta at a new restaurant and found ourselves at a bar talking some more over a couple beers which lead to some karaoke at Red Garter and then dancing at Twice. Now the reason that we didn’t retire in our normal, eighty year old lady fashion (no offense grandma), is because we were determined- finally- to stay out until the “secret bakery” opened.

The secret bakery is something that I heard about my very first week in Florence and cannot believe that I waited until my last night to find it- save the best for last? I was led to believe that it was a hole-in-the-wall bakery that opened for students on their way home from their long nights out, fortifying them with warm croissants and baked goods for only a Euro. I also heard that you had to use a secret knock to find the door for someone to open it for you and out pops a croissant. So after piecing together all semester where the closest one to our house is located, Ali lead us all to one at 2:30 am. We knew we had arrived when we began to smell that oh so distinct scent of freshly baked croissants here in Florence- almost lemony. However, it was far from an old wooden door that you had to use a secret knock- it was the back side of a full on, stainless steel, glass window-lined kitchen that had opened at 2 am to begin baking goods for the next morning.

As the smile grew on my face, one of the two men in baking uniforms came to the open glass door and gave me a “dime” or “tell me” as in “tell me what you would like” in Italian. I asked for “sei corneti, por favore, con coiccolato” and he handed me a bag of six warm, gooey, chocolate croissants in exchange for 6 Euro. We all enjoyed one (we won’t talk about how we all had chocolate all over our faces and Sam refused to deal with it until she got home, and we also won’t talk about how Katherine and I had to enjoy another, immediately, in a nutella, pastry form.) We were all very satiated that we had finally experienced the joy of the secret bakery!

Havelock Ellis

(Source: quote-book)

Bruce Lee

(Source: quote-book)

Final Photos for my classical photography class

Here it is! I have been lucky enough to work with Nataly, Jessica, and Marta to bring this book to all of the students studying in Florence this semester from USD- hope it helps everyone remember it forever!

There’s just something about that sound of rain outside of your apartment in Florence. Oh wait… haha, goodness, I cannot believe this apartment is only “mine” until Saturday. It has become a home to me, and as I take down the pictures of everyone I love at home that kept me comfort on my bulletin board all semester long, I really cannot grasp that it is almost over. I know, I know, I’ve written nearly 10 “closing” entries- but goodness- have to come down from this experience somehow!

I have been looking forward to this experience since I learned what study abroad was and now I’ve had the experience. I’ve done it! I survived (pretty successfully, if I do say so myself) in Italy and around Europe for the last almost 4 months, okay 3 and a half. I must say that it has become normal to walk everywhere, normal to enjoy lunch at 2 PM and dinner at 9 PM, and normal to order my cappuccino in Italian, although that’s about all I can fluently say in Italian- the important things, right? I can confidently say that I can get myself around town and feed myself- in Italian. I think that means I’ve become some what assimilated into the culture, yeah? 

I successfully completed one final today, so that leaves four more before Friday and I am on a flight home. As someone I love very much wished me, “I hope that your lasts are your bests,” I hope that my last few days in Florence help me realize all that I have learned and all that has become part of my person forever more. Get ready America, I’m comin home with lots of Italian flair! …And a bag of my favorite cookies for my family to try!

The Power of Kindness by Piero Ferrucci

(Source: sueswink, via sueswink)

(Source: Flickr / missvu, via infinitelycaptivating)

Included:

-Sleeping in 

-A trip to the San Lorenzo market where a cappuccino and nutella muffins were enjoyed with Katherine and Sam

-Dried fruit, biscotti, and lemoncello (for the roomies in SD to try and enjoy!) were purchased 

-A viewing of Santa Maria Novella Church, finally

-A last lap through the leather market and Christmas market was taken

-A Pino’s panini was enjoyed- tried the veggie- wish I would have tried it sooner!

-Studying for finals begins now… 

Bittersweet! Next Saturday I will be home in the AZ! Cannot wait : )