Arrived in Italy
I am here in Italy!
The flight from Hartford to New York was only thirty minutes and was fine. I had a bit of a layover at JFK, but I got something to eat and read a little. I met up with the other UConn faculty members, Margaret and David, and we talked a little and then boarded the plane. The eight hour flight to Pisa was pretty comfortable, and I even got a little sleep.
The plane landed and passport control was slow but they hardly did anything. We got our luggage and then got tickets on the TerraVision bus that goes to Florence. That took about an hour and a half - waiting for the bus to come and some traffic delays. A person from Palazzo Rucellai met us at the bus. She got a cab for me, and went with the other couple to their apartment.
The apartment agent, Antonio, was there to meet me at the apartment. It was in better shape than the one last year, and is just one big room with furniture dividers to make a kitchen and bedroom. The hot water heater was not acting right, so a plumber came this morning to look at it. We've never had much luck with water heaters in Italy.
First night I got a pizza at a place I like near San Lorenzo, and today I got a sub at the Oil Shoppe. I am getting my computer set up for wireless access all over town, and then will get my phone set up to be able to call home.
Some students arrived at 10:30 today and the rest arrive in Pisa at 5:30. There is an orientation in Fiesole tomorrow, and the rest on Sunday at Palazzo Rucellai. If the weather is good there will be a picnic on Sunday afternoon. Classes start on Monday.
Some pictures of the apartment next.
