Florence is famous for leather; I didn't buy any but I saw some. Just don't have much need for leathery items in my life, you know? I hear that one can actually eat leather and gain some (if minimal) sustenance... I didn't eat any either.
In fact I must say I didn't really do much at all in Florence. I spent a total of 3 nights in a hostel just down from The Duomo - the more interesting cathedral that has free entry ... which is just as well as inside it's really boring. It's not even pretty inside. Inside was visited in about 4 minutes. The outside however is amazing. I only really ever saw it in the afternoon or at night as these have become my active periods but I assume in the morning it's just as impressive. It became a beacon for me if I got lost.
(MY EYESSSS)
At night I guess is where I spent most of my time in Florence. The first night I caught up with the Aussies that I have seen all over. Really fun night. Second night I went out with the friend who came to Florence with me. Third night was a bit strange and involved a lot of walking to meet people (friends of the friend), not much drinking on my part, and then more walking back to the hostel (with the help of DUOMO).
I met a friend in Rome who also made the journey to Florence and we arranged to stay at the same hostel. We were staying over the weekend period so I'm a bit embarrassed to say I didn't get to see much of the city while it was light out. What I DID see was pretty cool. I walked down to the riverside area and there was an exposed part of the concrete under the river due to a lack of rainfall. After a quick jumping of a fence, I found people were just lying around, reading, writing, drawing all while next to them the river was roaring down it's path.
This discovery was during the one real day of sight seeing I had. I was going to visit the Uffizi which is supposed to be one of the best art museums in Europe but the line was suuuuuper long and I guess art isn't something I'm willing to wait in line for - especially when the weather outside is beautiful and the rest of the city is calling. Truth be told, the internet at the hostel was appalling so a lot of time was spent wondering around deciding what to eat and if the place has wifi we can use. A lot of places will advertise wifi only to have it 'be broken' after you've already ordered food.
(Lying, sitting, standing. Levels. Interesting photography. Hashtag)
This discovery was during the one real day of sight seeing I had. I was going to visit the Uffizi which is supposed to be one of the best art museums in Europe but the line was suuuuuper long and I guess art isn't something I'm willing to wait in line for - especially when the weather outside is beautiful and the rest of the city is calling. Truth be told, the internet at the hostel was appalling so a lot of time was spent wondering around deciding what to eat and if the place has wifi we can use. A lot of places will advertise wifi only to have it 'be broken' after you've already ordered food.
I had a moment on a bridge watching the river and listening to music but in the back of my mind I was worried someone would push me into the river. Apparently this is a completely irrational worry but I had mapped out where I'd swim to get out and everything. Don't worry everyone - I'm all prepared.
(I'd have to swim to the left I think. Stressful)
Somewhere during the second day I was talking to a nice guy from Sweden and I mentioned that I didn't really know where to go from Florence and he just piped up that he has some train tickets to Bologna that he wasn't going to use and gave them to me. That's a saving of 24 euro which is good because I'm just now starting to realise how obscenely expensive Italian hostels are becoming!
The problem, I feel, is that every hostel only seems to offer these 'private' rooms which means if you book them then you're expected to fill the whole room (as in, pay the fare for the bed for every bed in the room). Being a solo traveller it's not really an option for me and yet when I'm seeing a bed in a 6 bed dorm for 30 god damned euros in BOLOGNA. I'm kind of left shaking my head. Also because I'm travelling so last minute the cheapest hostels often don't have any room which suuucks. Tonight I'm going to plan the rest of my trip. It has to happen.
The problem, I feel, is that every hostel only seems to offer these 'private' rooms which means if you book them then you're expected to fill the whole room (as in, pay the fare for the bed for every bed in the room). Being a solo traveller it's not really an option for me and yet when I'm seeing a bed in a 6 bed dorm for 30 god damned euros in BOLOGNA. I'm kind of left shaking my head. Also because I'm travelling so last minute the cheapest hostels often don't have any room which suuucks. Tonight I'm going to plan the rest of my trip. It has to happen.
In any case, I've got three nights in Bologna (including one night in a HOTEL - whatttt) then I'm thinking Venice. Just so you're all in the loop I'm thinkinnnggg of going through Parma to get to La Spezia (More specifically Cinque Terre) then flying from Milan to London to get to WORK! I'm sort of starting to feel a bit jaded by just going from big city to big city. I'd like to spend some time out in relative countryside for a while ... Hmmm we'll see what I can come up with.
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