Wow - the past week has been so busy that I don't even know where to start! Actually, I think that it has been nearly two weeks since I last updated this. Sorry about the really long wait! Quickly, I just want to say that I think my midterms went fairly well, I got A's in three classes, and a C in ethics. That one was kind of disappointing, but honestly I was expecting it. It was one of those tests where I knew the material, but while actually sitting there I couldn't organize my thoughts. Oh well...
But, on a better note I was so excited to see Mom last week! We had been talking almost every night the previous week about hotels, trains, last minute reminders and arrangements, and packing. I will admit that I was so worried about midterms thought, that I didn't get completely excited and filled with anticipation until my last midterm was done on Thursday. By Saturday morning, I was on the shuttle bus to pick Mom up at the airport! I could hardly believe it when we met up in the airport - she was really here, halfway around the world, in Italy with me!
We took a crazy taxi ride back to my apartment (the taxis drive really fast here), where she dropped off her bags and showed me all of the goodies that she had brought for me, including a box of my all-time favorite girl scout cookies (by the way, they are already gone), and some homemade kruscikis that Busia had sent up for me - they are a polish deep-fried cookie thing tied into a bow shape, and absolutely amazing. That totally made my day - so thanks once again! We checked out Santa Croce first, and I then proceeded to, according to Mom, "drag her all over the city instead of letting her sleep." We went to my favorite outdoor food market, Sant'ambrogio to get some fruit and veggies, and then went on a walking tour of the city: the Duomo and the Baptistry (with an amazing gold mosaic ceiling), the mercato San Lorenzo, through the Piazza's, and Ponte Vecchio.
The next day, and a good night sleep later (I went to the train station in the morning to sort out some train ticket issues, while Mom slept in) and we were ready for another amazing day together in Florence. I took Mom up to my absolute favorite spot of the city - the Piazzale Michelangelo, San Miniato, and what I refer to as "the woods" - a small green area next to the church that is always empty and a great place to just walk by myself. It's almost a relief to be able to show someone this area, so that they know what I am talking about when I get back home. Unfortunately, the cemetary was closed (the hours can be confusing here) so we came back the next day to check that out, Monday! After exploring San Miniato cemetary, we headed to the Boboli Gardens for the remainder of the afternoon. (We had talked about climbing the dome, but the line was insane when we got there - I was completely frustrated, not being used to the tourism yet, but Mom just calmly suggested that we head back up to San Miniato instead. She really did managed to keep me calm a lot that week when things seemed to go wrong - thanks Mom!) Early that evening, we packed, walked to Statione Santa Maria Novella, and boarded a train on our way to Salzburg, Austria!
One thing that has happened in Florence, is that the tourists have started to come out in flocks. Sometimes it literally feels like picking my way through the tour groups following the leader with the umbrella or the random trinket taped to the top of a long pole is like trying to pick my way through a flock of sheep. (Not that I've ever done that, but hey - I can imagine it!) I think I'm finally starting to understand the love/hate relationship of tourism. The money it brings in is what keeps the city going, but it really can try your patience day after day.
That's as far as I am going to go for today - it's getting late here and I want to actually wake up tomorrow for a day trip to Assisi.
By the way - I am slowly putting up more pictures on Flickr, keep looking!
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