We checked in with our school and got our apartment today. We schlepped our luggage all the way up to our apartment which, even though they aren’t on the same map, wasn’t all that far. We are on the “first piano” which is actually what we could be considered the second floor; though with fifteen foot ceilings and ten foot doors, it is more like three.
After getting into our apartment we went to a neighborhood market and bought some groceries thinking it would be good to have a cooked meal. Walking the store the language barrier really came out and we were mostly just going by pictures on a lot of things; though I was totally able to pick-up a six pack of Pelligrino for €2,30 which is about $.50 a piece. Considering it is bottled not more than 10k from here, I am not that surprised but damn… Florence is looking up.
The small market is totally awesome, full of fresh produce and great meats. We were able to navigate it fairly well and observing Italians who know what the hell they are doing, we didn’t make any cultural faux pas, at least none that I am aware of. It really is like having to learn everything all over again, and not in a bad way. We learned that when you pick out produce, you have to use a disposable plastic glove and price it yourself. They have these cool scales with pictures on it where you put your produce down and push the picture that corresponds with what you want and bam a barcode comes out so you know exactly how much your produce is going to be and they can just scan it at the register.
Also, Italian grocery clerks seated, Local 141 take note, and you do all your own bagging. Also available are a full assortments of wines, beers and various alcohols. I have noticed though that there are not nearly as many alcohols as there are in the states. Beer and wine are everywhere but hard alcohol isn’t. The store sells a lot of wine and most are less than €4,00 or about $5.00. Kinda cool.
Today also felt a lot better being able to get out of the mega tourist are of central Florence. Our apartment is about a fifteen minute walk from the main part of the city and already we are in the land of the people who actually live here. So far, Florence is also quite a bit quieter than Paris and the drivers are far different. I would have thought here in the land of Vespa, there would be way more scooters on the road but there are less than in Paris, which in some way make sense.
The school seems to have great facilities and while we can’t get a wireless internet connection, the school has net ports for us to plug into so we can update our blogs and WebPages without having to do a complicated dance with our iPods.
Speaking of which, we both have new photo galleries and I have posted some of the videos I have taken since arriving…. check them out.
Well, time to go to bed, class in the morning!
Ciao.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
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2 comments:
Of corse you are making me sick but I'm glad you two are enjoying your time there so far. Don't forget to check out the Cinghiale Bianco (White Boar) restaurant on Birgo S.Jacopo. just over the Arno via Ponte Vecchio. If you want hard liquor there is a place right next to this restaurant that serves great tortellini but I can't remember the name of street. It's off of Via de Lamberrti or Via Porta Rossa from the Piazza della Signoria if I'm remembering correctly. In any case it's next to a restaurant and across from it is a place with African art/clothes. It's a stand-up bar where you purchase your drink and chug it down on the street. Don't forget to try some Grappa with your cappuccino at the Rivoire which fronts Piazza Della Signoria. That'll put some real hairs on your chest. Also they have the best chocolate...try some.
I can actually see you loving the stickers for the produce.
Honestly I can see you wanting to put these stickers on everything. Weigh everything and properly label it.
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