Firenze

      Growing up my family and I always had the same seating arrangement when we flew. My brother got the window seat, but I always wanted to sit next to him - and besides, my tall mom had to have the aisle - so I was left with the middle. My poor dad was the brave soul who had to sit away from the family, either across the row, or next to total strangers. Even now I hardly ever end up with a coveted window seat, for one reason or another. But this morning I got the window seat, and flying in to Florence was the most breathtaking sight I’ve ever seen from a plane window. I woke up at 3:30 am to catch my flight to Florence, so I was dozing when the flight attendant announced we would be landing in a half an hour. I started awake and struggled out of my delirium. I rubbed my eyes to the dazzling afternoon sun, and eventually adjusted to see the coastline of Italy as it met the Mediterranean Sea. We were flying in, I believe, somewhere between the island of Elba and the city of Pisa, and as we drew closer to shore I could see the miniscule little boats trailing white in the bright blue sea. The coast gave way to villages and towns that were all white-wash, with red brick roofs. The plane turned to circumvent a mountain range, which eventually gave way to the rolling hills of Tuscany. I could see the tiny rows of grapes, accompanied by miniature villas, some with the bright blue dot of a swimming pool. It looked like the stereotypical, poster-card perfect wine country of Italy; all spread out beneath me like a painting. Suddenly the hills gave way to city, and as I looked up I could see the Duomo of Florence, overshadowing everything else in the city, looking like a normal sized building amongst toys. This building transfixed me, even from the air. It was surrounded by sun-baked, red orange buildings and several other towering monuments, but it held my attention until the plane dropped close to the ground, and it was finally lost behind the skyline of other buildings.

      I fell in love with Florence the minute we entered city limits. After excitedly grabbing my bags and finding my group, I was loaded onto a bus with other API students. Once again I ended up in a window seat, and as we drove to the historic center of town I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the window. Even the outskirts of town, with graffiti marked walls and crumbled buildings, was gorgeous, and it became even more fantastic as we pulled into the city center. I felt like I was at Disneyland, or had taken a step back in time, because I simply could not believe how picture-perfect this city is. We were dropped outside of the Hotel Astoria, a building whose insides were just as gorgeous as the outside. I was given an old brass key to my room, which sported chandeliers and a ten foot tall window, that looked out on a little terrace and beautiful orange rooftops.

            I had been so nervous for so long to arrive in this city all by myself, to leave the people I love for so long, but I couldn’t stop smiling as I unpacked my bag. I ended up in the lobby and went on a stroll around the city with a bunch of girls I had met on the bus. We started wandering and found our way, inevitably, to the monumental Duomo. Words can simply not do this building justice. The most impressive aspect of this building is it’s simple sheer size. It is a hulk of a building, and yet as you draw closer you realize that every inch of it is so intricate, with carvings and paintings and recesses with statues that I could stare at for ages. We circled the whole thing, and as we reached the end the bell tower chimed the hour – five o’clock. The sheer power, size, and art of the Duomo is indescribable. I feel as if I could stare at it for hours, and I know that every time I see it something inside of me will sigh in breathless awe. Wow. After meandering through more wandering cobblestone streets I ended up back at the hotel.

          
    A while later we went to the orientation dinner, which was on the rooftop of the Hotel Baglioni, which gave breathtaking views of the entire city, the Duomo looming over it all. This was followed by another wandering around the city with another group of new friends in search of “real” gelato, the kind that comes with silver covers, not in heaping piles. We eventually found a shop right outside the Duomo, and ate in near silence as we all continued to stare at the massive building.

            It’s been a matter of hours and I am absolutely, completely, and totally smitten with this city. Tomorrow we move in to our apartments, where I will live for the next month. My nerves for this trip have, for the time being, been replaced with a contented feeling of awe.

Everyone I’ve talked to about my trip to Italy this summer has told me “You’re so lucky, you’re going to have an amazing time! I’m so jealous! Italy is so beautiful.”  I’ve usually responded with a muttered “I know,” but it wasn’t until today that I really agreed with what everyone has been telling me. I am so lucky, Italy is the most beautiful place I have ever seen, and I am going to have an amazing time, despite missing everything back home. I am exhausted, physically and emotionally, so for now I say buonanotte – goodnight!