Florence and Tuscany

Cab:

So we take the train from Florence to our little village where the camp is at. When we get there we called the office. Well, after about 10 minutes looking like imbeciles as we put in coins, put in our ATM card, take it out, hang up, dial, hang up, repeat 90 times. Any-who we get in touch with them and they called a cab for us. So we're waiting outside the bar like we were told to watching car after car slow down (because there's a big curve in the road there) and each time we get our little hopes up. We have been on trains for over 24 hours and we are so tired. So this one yellow Fiat with black checkers on the side pulls up. We get all excited pick up our bags and quickly walk over. By this time the man got out of his car, sees our eager/haggard faces, gives us a skeptical look and said something and WALKS BY US! Shocked we walk over to examine the cab...which it is NOT! It was just a yellow fiat with checkered racing stripes! We embarrassingly go back the 5 feet to where we were standing and try to look away when he comes back out.

Okay so 10 or so minutes later a car comes around and the guy looks at us and does a little come here motion with his hand. He has parked behind other cars so this MUST be the cab right? Well as we walk over he starts looking confused and does a little get out of here motion! I immediately turn on my heel and walk back to our post. I feel like I might throw up from embarrassment and I just stare the opposite direction hoping he'll go away soon. After a minute I notice Greg isn't beside me. I slowly turn my head and he has put his bag in the trunk and is staring at me confused...It was the taxi. I am so AWKWARD!

Tuscany:

We are staying in a little town about 30 minutes outside of Florence called Figline Valdarno. We are not in a hostel...WE ARE IN A CAMPGROUND! :) The Norcenni Girasole Club is a huge complex of different types of cabins, bungalows, Rvs, and tents. There are two pool areas, 6 or so restaurants, a nightclub, bar, spa, fitness center, horses, and tennis/volleyball courts! Yesterday we spent all morning/early afternoon at the pool. There was a spinning class where they put the spin bikes in the shallow end and work out in the water! Then there was a water aerobics class with the instructor jumping around by the edge of the pool in a very, very tiny bikini (she got quite a crowd). Followed up with choreographed dances by 5 employees just for the pool goers entertainment! After we played at both pools we rented a scooter!

At one of the pools, dinner the first night at camp!

View from our cabin door, the other pool!

The people here are so laid back. To rent the scooter he just made sure we had a license, told us to make sure it was 'all the way' aka a full tank and that's it. We headed out of the camp and just drove around for a solid 2 hours. The sights were breathtaking! I think this is one of the most beautiful places in the world! On our drive we would pass through little villages (with about 20 buildings) and there were always groups of Italians sitting and talking outside. We passed by a million wineries. After an hour or so we went back to camp and got food for a picnic. Now this is why I LOVE Italy...at our camp grocer we got insalata di mar (Seafood salad), calamata olives, roasted eggplant, fresh mozzarella and pudding cups! We rode back out to a lookout by our camp and had a delicious picnic with a most wonderful view. Then we rode into town to fill up the scooter...which was super fun! At the gas station Greg went in to pay. It was 2.20 Euros and Greg gave the guy a 20 and 20 cents. The guy said something in Italian and rolled his eyes. Then he pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket, put the twenty around it and pulled out the 18 Euros. He then pulled out a dish where he kept the change and put the 20 Euros in it. I guess no registers out here?

Scooter time!!

Italian Picnic

Fun night at camp!

Florence:

We went into Florence today. We climbed to the top of the dome. Greg was quite scared on the spiral staircase and had to utilize some deep breathing techniques hehe! When we got to the very top of the dome it started to poor! It was wonderful watching the lightning and seeing the clouds roll down off the mountains. Great views! We also toured the Ufizzi di Medici (that family pretty much owned Florence back in the day...or the 1500s). Outside of this place we heard a school group getting chewed out by the leader. The leader said' “From now on no one, NO ONE can go anywhere without an adult!” He then named the three adults and then apparently one of the kids, because he then said' “Yes, Brian is an adult, which is sad because he is younger than most of you but is the only one acting responsibily!” He then went on about how their behavior had to change and said something about how he has the power to cancle this trip!! Greg said that was why he hated school trips. This is where we thought the David was... but it wasn't. We'll make another day of Florence. Ponte Vecchio was a little ridiculous. It is a beautiful old bridge lined on either side by buildings filled with jewelry stores. I have never seen so many diamonds in my life! Why would one bridge need 50 jewlery stores...how do they all make money?

Running around Florence, I mean seriously Italians LOVE their wine!

Climbing the Dome! Look at Greg's brave face!

At the top!

The 'balloon' and a Happy Birthday note in Japanese

Greg with the dome in the background

We rubbed the warthog to ensure a return to Florence, the 'Green Room' from the Medici's office

Disgraziad:

I love Italians! When we were getting on the train from Venice to Florence I heard my new favorite word for the first time...disgraziad (spelling?), which pretty much means 'a disgrace'! A woman got caught in the automatic doors and then she said it once she got freed. Our cab driver also said it when he had to pull around some guy parked irresponsibly on the campground. I think it will be my new word of choice for when I am clumsy or if someone opens an umbrella ON me, soaking me (which happened in the line for the dome)!

Greg bought some tiny European swim shorts at this store in Florence (pictures will be posted soon!). Our store clerk there couldn't get anything to scan and mumbles 'perfecto' sarcastically and then she goes and gets another tag to scan and it came up as the wrong price...she angrily says 'magnifico!' as she throws the tag on the floor. Then she picks up her little store id, and now it won't let her change the price! She just starts repeating 'IMPOSIBLE, IMPOSIBLE'(pronounced im-pos-ee-blay) and I chuckle and she says a sentence in Italian and we just nod and agree. We are totally passing for Italian! Me, more by association.

Ciao for now!