Saturday in Florence
Time for shopping. There's an "international" market near us (sections for different countries, the USA section has cereal) and then Conad, the other chain in town besides La Standa. It is much smaller than La Standa, but it had everything I needed, so I can now eat in the apartment and wash clothes.
There is an internet cafe in the same block our apartment is in, around the back nearer to San Lorenzo, and they have a flat rate "month" deal -- thirty euros. This place is a little bigger than the internet train, and also has wifi so I can take my laptop and do work (Italian keyboards are different and confusing -- try to find the @ key). So I did a little work there.
Then off to wander Florence. Zigzagging, remembering this place and that place. Walked back to our old neighborhood, then decided that I wanted lunch at the restaurant that we discovered at the end of our trip last year, the one across from the Ferragamo museum. Really nice pasta dish, and what seemed like the same people as last year.
More wandering, then came back to the apartment to check everything out. Started a list for the housing people to attend to next week before the rest of the family arrives. I think we will be good sleeping everyone for the few days of overlap -- Mom & Dad will have a room, and there are two beds and two couches that should take care of everyone else. I will try to get some extra pillows, though.
Austin and I decided to meet up for dinner and went to Baldovino and ate outside. Same waiter as last year. He's been doing study abroad for a long time and so we talked about working together and I think it will make things easier for both of us. This will be great, and Ross will start to get new programs because we can fill them with a few PSU and a few UConn students in the early years. We also started brainstorming about finding a third or fourth partner, too.
Beth was able to call a couple of times while we were eating, and it is good to know that we are connected. I sure miss everyone, but I will be busy and they will be here soon.
The students all planned to head to Cinque Terra on Sunday, and will all make it back for class on Monday. More tomorrow.
