Shenanigans

3/17/15

Day 61

I keep forgetting that my days here are numbered. I may (hopefully) come back to visit but realistically, what are the chances I get to live in Florence again, much less the city center? And, as a student, I have a museum pass that gets me into a lot of museums for free and I've barely even used it!! That's unacceptable. Today me and my roommate decided to seize the day and go admire the David while we can. I also wanted to compare and contrast the real David with his plaster brother at the Istituto Statale d'Arte. 

On our way, we stumbled across Piazza Santissima Annunziata and, seeing it for the first time reminded me that there is still so much I haven't seen and done yet. I really want to go to the Hospital of the Innocents (Ospedale degli Innocenti) so now that's on the Things Left to Do in Florence list. 

We just stood and admired David when we reached the Galleria dell'Accademia. Then we sat and stared some more. He definitely looked bigger today than yesterday. One thing about seeing him for yourself rather than through a picture is that you can appreciate all sides. Who knew the back was as good as the front?

Also, you can see all the little subtle details like muscles and veins that Michelangelo thought to include. 

We took our time strolling back through the city, stopping in the Piazza Santa Annunziata and to look up at the Duomo and on our street where we can see the Bargello and the spire of the Badia Fiorentina. (Which also gets a mention in Dan Brown's Inferno)

I squeezed in some quick grocery shopping after Literature and Teaching English (where, side note: we played I Spy with the kids and I realized I would be a terrible teacher because I don't like yelling at people) and before Exploring the Global City. This is typical- to shop a lot more than at home, since nothing has preservatives in it. 

In my afternoon class, I almost got to try tripe/lampredotto which are the local Florentine special way of eating a cows 3rd stomach or something. It sounds disgusting so I was really excited to just get a small taste in class without committing to a whole sandwich, but Eataly wasn't open. I couldn't be too upset though because then we got free Cenci from a nearby bakery instead. 

There aren't many places to go out in Florence except for American bars and clubs, so I usually don't. But today was St. Patty's Day! I went out with my friends for green drinks and was excited to find green everything: mixed drinks, green cider, and green beer! Well, the green beer ran out before we got any :(

Even the lighting was green so you almost can't tell from the picture that the drinks were green too! The night ended with us meeting an Italian and playing the game where you guess the card on your forehead with him and his friends from England and the Netherlands and Singapore while taking advantage of the free beer they shared with us. 

(Green Cider)