Getting out of Florence

One huge reason I came to europe this quarter is to explore, and more than just the city of Florence, its a neat city, but it is loud. My apartment is street-side, and it can get a bit overwhelming sometimes. However, it isn't hard to get out of the city center for a few days, or even just a few hours. There is a nice walk up a fairly steep hill to get to La Piazza di Michelangelo. At the top of the hill is a bronze statue of the David, and a phenomenal view of the city. Just a 5 minute walk from this piazza is a church that is really right on top of the hill, it is quiet and cool. The carvings and frescoes are beautiful, and there was even a mosaic with gold leaf covering a half dome over the alter area. I went by myself and had some peaceful quiet and an escape from the heat for a few hours.

The bronze David at the top of the hill
8.9.2011

There is also a really awesome carousel at the Piazza Republica, and before gelato one night we went to ride it, then stumbled upon a street performer with a whole show just right there on one of the side streets. After our carousel adventures and stopping to watch the performance, we ate gelato from Grom, which is supposed to be just the best, I had some delicious fig gelato!

The carousel at Piazza Republica
9.9.2011

This weekend we had a planned excursion with the program I am here with (API) and we went out to Pisa and Cinque Terre, with a stop in the coast town of Viarreggio. This was so cool, I had been wanting to go to the ocean since I got here. It is weird moving to a place where there isn't a body of water readily available. Pisa is a beautiful town, and believe it or not it has more in it than the leaning tower! we toured around and took pictures holding up the tower - and kicking it down. We got kicked off the grass by the police...oops! We didn't have enough time to climb it, but we are going back in a couple of weeks to climb it! 

All of the buildings in the square with the tower are gorgeous, and very ornate, I chose to not show a picture of the tower for my photo for this day, because everyone has seen one, and I think that a lot of people skim over the beautiful carvings on the cathedral.

Incredible carvings on the Cathedral in Pisa
10.9.2011

The next day we were off to Cinque Terre. Once we got to the coast we had a short tour in Porto Venere (not one of the 5 towns), then we took a boat to Manarola (2 of 5), ate some pesto, after all it was invented there, and hiked up and over the hill to Corniglia (3 of 5), the hike was long and ALL up a very steep hill, but it was straight up EPIC. We were hiking through terraced vineyards, admittedly stealing a few sweet grapes along the way. 

The views of the oceans and the town were breathtaking, and the people I was hiking with were just as excited as I was, which made the whole trip that much more fun! Once in Corniglia which is the only town not directly on the water, we hopped a 5 min train to Vernazza (4 of 5). The waters there are crystal blue and so warm. we found a place to cliff jump (about as high as top, for the Laurelhurst ppl, maybe a little higher.) After a little convincing, almost everyone I was with jumped. It was a perfect day.

A  vineyard on the hills of Cinque Terre
11.9.2011

Class had to start again at some point... but when my friend McKenzie and I got lost looking for good gelato we stumbled upon the most amazing gelateria, I don't know what its called, but it is better than Grom, and without the line out the door. It's our secret gelateria.

Gelato from the secret spot
12.9.2011