Ponte Vecchio.

The following morning we had to wake up early to catch our high speed train to Firenze (Florence for you silly American folk). Yet we decided eating would be great. So when we ordered our super simple breakfast (a roll, croissant, little thing of butter and jam, and to-go juice) I told the woman we need to go and ASAP.

After 10 minutes I say "Hey, can we get our food soon, we have a train to catch that leaves in like 15 minutes". She says "Oh yeah, no problem"

We wait another 10 minutes.

I approach her and say "Okay, well we are going to go because we have to catch our train"

Knowing she is going to lose the money she says "wait, wait, let me get it for you"

In like a minute.5 she comes back with our little baggies of food. What a terdie.


Anywho! We run to our train and magically get on it. I have made the train ride from Rome to Florence before and it was just as spectacular riding in coach as it was riding in first class. There were sunflowers Everywhere!! It was spectacular. I couldn't help but think of Chelsea and her love for the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. So beautiful.

So we get to Florence, and it's not so big, and fortunately our Hostel is close to the train station. In the blazing heat of the morning we hike to the Academy hostel. They are fabulous and let us drop off our bags until we can check in at like 1pm.

The gates on the inside of our Hostel complex.

The door leading to the complex from the outside. Can those large doors even open? No one can actually reach and pull those doorpulls...

They also give us a little map and mark places we should go, I of course thought I was already a pro since I had been there before. And I kind of rock so it was good.

Liz love Gelato forever. Even in Firenze.

Then we saw David. MOST AMAZING THING EVER. I also purchased a David fridge magnet complete with business attire and beach wear.

We walked all around Florence, across Ponte Vecchio, to Piazzalo Michaelangelo, the Uffizi, etc. If you are ever in Florence walk to the Piazzalo Michaelangelo. You have to walk up a bajillion stairs but it's immensely worth it.

Me in Firenze, with a white van...

We so totally are friends in Firenze.

Ponte Vecchio. The Queen's Walkway above it (the upper windows). Last time I was in Florence we got to walk through it. I felt very special.

This is us on Piazzalo Michaelangelo. That is Florence behind us.

When we were walking back to the hostel to check in and grab some grub we ran into a mime that was talking. That's a contradiction, non?

When we check in to Academy they ask if we want to eat first.... but OF COURSE! They gave us some awesome grub, after to find out it was all covered in Vodka! They had a spray bottle full of vodka and sprayed it on everything we ate. It had some wonderful tang to it and we just accepted it for what it was. Alas - it was Vodka.

This is me next to my loft-style bed. Incredible? Yes.

So now I'm in the mood for a Coke and they have some vendies! I go over with the intent of buying a coca light. Somehow I end up with three waters, and a candy bar. NO COKE. Then Amanda comes over and shows me what I'm doing wrong. But now I have 3 waters and a candy bar. Yikesabee - I should never operate vendies.

We leave the Hostel and go to watch the sunset on a bridge. It's totally fab - we went to the bridge just north of Ponte Vecchio (I'm pretty sure it's north, it might be south, west, or east..who knows). As we're sitting on it, some woman named Martha asks to take our picture.

"Uh sure.."
"Okay (snap). That was great! I'm Martha! We're friends now!"
"ha. ha. yeah..."
"What are you names? We're friends!!"
"Amanda, Liz, and Lacey (we turn away a little)"
"You girls are so pretty, thanks for the picture!"
"kay bye!"

That was good. So we are happy she is leaving, when after 5 minutes she COMES BACK. She wants to have another conversation. It was just as weird and awkward. She asks for another picture with Liz and I. Not Amanda. They don't like brown hair in Italy apparently.

Then she leaves, and comes back a THIRD TIME. This time we kind of make it apparent that she is freaking us out and she, as nice as she was, leaves us alone. But MY OH MY was that sunset beautiful!!

We head back to the hostel after sitting on Ponte Vecchio watching some famous dude play his guitar.. complete with Toga party running across the bridge, a couple couples dancing, etc. But Amanda pretends to talk on a cell phone (using her hand) and a guy runs up to her and goes "You don't have phone? Use mine!!!" and whips it out. Good times.

I also decided this day that I will make sure whoever I marry doesn't snore. Some dude in our hostel was snoring up like a monster truck. I seriously considered hitting him over the head with a pillow. And that's the end of our day adventure in Florence.