Wine Bar & More

Okay, So I mentioned in one of my previous blogs about how the Italians are crazy drivers and how I never see any speed limit signs anywhere within central Florence... while I was reading a Tourist Guidebook to Italy the other day, I found out some interesting facts: The speed limits within the city center and surrounding streets is 31 miles per hour, on main highways the speed limit is about 68 miles per hour but they up the speed limit to 81 miles per hour on the weekend in order to keep traffic moving... however, most Italians fail to abide to these limits and therefore are very erratic drivers as I have very well witnessed. Also, yesterday was the closest call yet to being run over by a scooter, we were walking around a corner and one came around the corner from an adjacent street and literally I think I felt it touch my leg. Mind you, I was on the sidewalk but it came so close, I saw my life flash before my eyes for a second. I jumped because it scared me so much!

Thanks to Miss. Katie Holmes, Emily and I have found our new favorite place in Florence. It is a cute little wine bar and the owners and so nice. We went yesterday and had a glass of Vin Santo which is a very sweet wine (That was my homework for wine class.) This white wine is made from the best grapes in the harvest, is full of concentrated sugars, and is a dessert wine that you dip biscotti into in order to soften it. We went back again today because yesterday one of the owners claimed to be a cook but we did not believe hi at all so we went in today and he proved himself and had made us apple crumb cake, warm from the oven! We seriously eat all the time because the food is just so good.

We also stumbled upon H&M today which started in Europe but is now seen in the United States. This H&M was crowded with people and huge lines for the dressing rooms, this is another one of those things that reminds me a lot of home. The H&M was four stories tall. I have never seen such a big clothing store, we actually got lost for a few minutes because there were so many floors and some of the floors overlook the others. I was good though and did not buy anything, saving my money for better things!

I am now just at school waiting for Emily to get out of Italian class. That is one thing that I do regret now is that I did not enroll in an Italian language class over here. I took a semester of Italian at Endicott but it was very beginner level and although I can understand some things and I know pronounication, there is so much more to learn. Last night, I attended a community service meeting so I am hoping to get involved will immerse me that much more in the culture. I really want to do the program that is an English Language teaching school for children. Although, I am a native English speaker.. I was thinking to myself how I could teach it to other people. English is unlike any other language, follows no patterns, is very unique and is one of the most if not the most difficult language to learn. I think this would be a really cool experience though among other community service activities.

It is freezing here! I think it may even be cold enough for it to snow now. On our way to school, it started to lightly rain but the temperature has dropped so I would not be surprised if we see some snow although it is very rare for there to be snow in Florence. I am very upset that I left my camera at home today and therefore have no new pictures to post but do not worry, I will make up for it in Rome.