day thirty-seven; july 30th
Woke up early to finish the last of my packing and do a final clean of the apartment. I was expecting the apartment guy around 11 and guess what…he turned up on time! I know, I nearly bowled over. Of course there had to be one last mishap and that was he didn’t have my safety deposit money because they hadn’t organised it. Tried really hard not to twitch, as if I’m going to ever get it back. I then went out for one last walk. Took my usual route to the Duomo and then back along the main strip past Piazza Repubblica and ending in Piazza Signoria. Had a gelato from my favourite shop, unfortunately though he got my order wrong! Had a last ponder and at the jewellery on the Ponte Vecchio, sighed as you do at the view, and made my way back home. I’ll miss this walk dearly! Met Serena outside my building and we proceeded to do a final check of the apartment. I was running ahead of schedule so I was able to take my time before leaving. She called a taxi for me as I struggled with my suitcase down the stairs, I can tell I will have some sore muscles over the coming days! Closed the door on my little home for the last five weeks and tumbled down my stairwell for the last time (one thing I will not miss). We said our goodbyes and I headed to the train station. Had a short while to wait for the train and got on as soon as it arrived so I wouldn’t have to (politely) fight for my own seat. Off to Rome!
Felt a little queasy arriving in Rome, think it was just from a lot of hype in the morning and my sheer exhaustion from carrying all my luggage by myself. Caught a cab to my hotel, back at Tritone - how I love this street! Spent a few hours just relaxing in my room and got my carry-on bag and clothes ready for tomorrow. At about 6pm or so I walked up Tritone so I could look for a place to eat. As I was looking at a few shops, I noticed each time I came out of one the sky was becoming darker, but not nighttime dark, storm dark. Cursed myself for not bringing my umbrella that I had to buy after the freak storm in Florence yesterday. Just my luck! I walked past Hard Rock Cafe and decided it was my best bet for a good meal as I hadn’t seen one restaurant yet that advanced away from spaghetti and pomodoro pizza. After a long wait (though much shorter than others because I was by myself) I was seated which was lucky as it started to pour. I ordered this fajita style meal which included freshly chopped vegetables and fajita bread and then sliced beef and grilled onion on one of those sizzling plates with the intention of making your own fajita. It was delicious! And very, very filling. I realise it wasn’t very Italian of me to have an overtly American dinner on my last night in Italy but at least I extended my palate greatly during my stay. It was pouring severely when I left and so I had to make my way home in parts, stopping under buildings that I recognised from four years ago. I love Rome, it really has a special feeling about it. I was followed and pushed around by street vendors with umbrellas at ridiculous prices but I was so determined not to give in due to my recent purchase of one(!). I must’ve looked ridiculous! Finally made it back to my hotel room, albeit drenched. Considering that it was only about 9pm I didn’t want to waste my time in Rome so I changed my shoes and went out again - tis time with my umbrella. Went to the Trevi and had a really good walk around the area at the bottom of Tritone before finally giving in and calling it a night.
day thirty-six; july 29th
Final class today! Which means that it’s my second last day in Florence. :( Although I enjoy the beautiful scenery and monuments I pass on my way to school: the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi and looking up into the hills, I will not miss the long walk! Today in class we continued to work on the photos we scanned into the computer on Photoshop. Obviously it’s ridiculously easy to get the photos the way I want them with this method, however I have come to appreciate the manual and much longer effort required when in the darkroom. It’s like recreating the photo again and you appreciate the outcome so much more. We then laid out all the photos we had printed from the four weeks and reminisced on the situations we were in when taking them; such as the portrait assignment - a lot of pretending to aim somewhere beyond the person we were actually focusing on, it was quite awkward even if they did not know we were looking at them! I’m really happy with how my photos have turned out and I feel that I have been able to capture the “essence” of Florentine life and culture. I’ve learnt a lot from the course but I am glad I was able to intertwine my self-taught knowledge on the rules (more like guidelines!) of photography so I could further develop my eye. Said goodbye to my professor which was quite sad as he’s been a great help in class and outside of class when I was sick.
When I left the school the sky was very dark and I could tell the rain would be imminent. Sure enough it started to pour and I had no umbrella but not to worry, the street vendors were out like vultures in seconds, yes seconds, after the rain started with ridiculously priced umbrellas. Love it. Nonetheless, I spent my money on a decent one that was sure to have no holes! The sky was so dark that I could have sworn it was late at night and the rain became so heavy that eventually having an umbrella was not enough. I quickly rushed to my school’s main campus to pick up my graduation certificate and headed home. Of course the rain stopped not long after I was inside! Met Serena at 3pm and we headed for a walk around Santo Spirito which is the neighbourhood next to mine and then over to the train station so I could buy my ticket to Rome. It started to rain again as we headed towards San Lorenzo and continued to get heavier as we walked back to my apartment. I had dinner with Emilie, a girl from the group I met on the Cinque Terre trip, at this really traditional restaurant in a small piazza just off my street. We walked to the Ponte Santa Trinita and said our goodbyes as she had to go off to her Italian class. I had the intention of going to get my camera from my apartment so I could take some night photos however it started to rain again, and this time there was thunder and lightning so I had to abandon my plan which I was quite sad about as Florence is really special at night. Finished packing and headed to bed.
day thirty-five; july 27th
Got up early with the intent to climb the Duomo which opens at 9am. Thankfully not too many people had the same idea to get there early so I was close to the front of the line and got in pretty quickly. I had my water and my puffer ready and had taken Nurofen earlier for my hip so nothing could stop me! To my surprise it wasn’t as claustrophobic or difficult as I had been told to expect. Maybe I’ve become used to the tight spaces from other monuments I’ve been to with similar indoor spaces to get from A to B? Or maybe it was just a determination to get to the top and so the process in between doesn’t play on your mind. I definitely believe that my ease at climbing the 463 steps has do with five weeks of contending with my stairwell everyday. Nonetheless, it was an experience and when you make the final vertical climb to the top (you actually go between the inner and outer dome!) the view that awaits you is staggering. It was awesome to be able to spot all the different neighbourhoods and how, like the Vatican, the Duomo is at the centre of it all. Of course I took a million photos and a few panoramas on my film camera. The air was very fresh which was a kind relief. Climbing back down you come out onto a tight balcony that goes around the top of the whole dome where you can look up to see the frescos on the ceiling (which were quite disturbing close up, think paintings of the devil pulling people apart) and then look down to get an immediate case of vertigo at the church below with ant-sized people. Then you make your descent down a continuous spiral staircase which after awhile becomes very dizzying and then ten or so minutes later you’re out into fresh air again. I’m really happy I did it and although my hip is suffering now, it was worth every cent, no make that step!
Got back to my apartment around lunch as Serena was coming over. I cooked us a pasta dish so I could start to use up what was left of my food. She bought me a beautiful book that has beautiful black and white film photos of Florence from the 18 and 1900’s which is so kind of her. I packed a bit more and then made my way to school where we printed some more photos from out last assignment and finished up in the darkroom for the last time. We also scanned a few of our negatives and worked with them in Photoshop, an image editing program. I had an early dinner in San Lorenzo and walked home through the markets.
day thirty-four; july 26th
Today in class we developed out film from last week’s night time assignment. I’m really happy with how my photos have turned out which would have had a lot to do with the fact that we each had tripods so no chance for blurriness. It was very cloudy outside and looked like it would rain any minute as I made my way to the Bargello, otherwise known as The National Museum. Sure enough once I was inside it did! Albeit lightly. The Bargello is very famous for its great array of statues and sculptures as well as collections of jewellery and ceramic art of the once prestigious families of Florence, mainly the Medici’s. There was a lot of Michelangelo’s earlier work which was interesting to see. The place is filled with large halls and very dark rooms so the gloominess outside made it seem very eery inside. When I left the museum it was still sprinkling but I took the chance to soak up the coolness of the rain and the breeze that came with it - what a change to the past five weeks of scorching hot weather! Walked back through the San Lorenzo neighbourhood and slowly home.
Sorted through some photos and having dinner baked beans on bread! How Australian is that! I know it should have been toast but I have no griller or toaster so I’ve made do. I then took my camera to the bridge at the end of my street which I have slowly fallen in love with thanks to its beautiful views and just for the fact that it’s a really nice spot to just sit and “chill.” Treated myself to a gelato, was quite boring this time and had chocolate and vanilla, which turned out to be the best chocolate and vanilla I’ve had so far! I’m going to miss this gelato habit I’ve developed, though I think I’m better than most in the fact that I only allow myself one every two days at least. Whilst I’ve heard stories of up to four in one day! If only I could achieve such a feat! Walked back to my place and organised things for packing before going to bed.
day thirty-three; july 26th
UPDATE YET TO COME.
day thirty-two; july 25th
Had a great sleep, still short of breath but yesterday’s rest inside seems to have helped a lot. Meet with Emilie around 10.30am as she and another girl from her class were going out to La Cascine, a large garden and parklands out of central Florence to a pool. Didn’t know what to expect but it was in avery nice setting, at the back of what once may have been a villa, not sure. There were a lot of people there, all on lounge chairs so we naturally got our own but were stopped because you had to pay a ridiculous amount per chair. So we resorted to sitting on our towels. I have to say, there wasn’t much I like about this place at all! Although the pool was very nice (and it was great to finally have a swim!), the people, especially the men, were not very nice and the atmosphere made me feel uncomfortable. Mainly the fact that we were there to have a nice time and were not being left alone by very unappealing men (I know, I know, it’s to be expected in Italy!). And then when we left they would not tell us where the exit was! Interesting people. So Em and I were happy to leave there and we had a nice walk through the park before waiting for a tram we had been told about which took us right to the train station. We walked back to her apartment that she shares with Cheryl and talked for a bit before I went home and got ready to meet them after dinner.
We met at the carousel in Piazza Repubblica and as Emilie and her friend were to there yet, Cheryl, Liz and I all went on the carousel! Why not?! It looked fun! :P It was surprisingly very cheap too considering it’s a major attraction in Florence for it’s position and features. We had great fun! The others had turned up by then and we made our way to Carabe again for gelato. A really sad goodbye to Liz and Cheryl as they were both leaving early the next day - I’m going to miss them a lot! I feel so lucky to have met them and I’m not sure how the rest of my stay alone would have panned out if I had not met them and Emilie.
day thirty-one; july 24th
Had a much better sleep last night, only woke up twice for a coughing fit. Still woke up pretty exhausted though and my ribs and throat are extremely sore from coughing so much so as per the doctor’s orders, I spent most of the day at home either reading or watching TV. Had a sleep in the afternoon and then got ready to meet Emilie and some of her friends from her class for dinner. We went to Trattoria Nella which I went to with Em and Cheryl last Thursday. It’s a lovely little restaurant, family owned and has some really different dishes, not just the traditional Italian meals. Em and I then went to Carabe which is a very famous gelato shop down the road from the Duomo. It’s not like your nomad gelato, it’s almost sorbet like - very icy but very refreshing. I then made the long trek home and went to bed feeling a lot better. Sorry, not a very interesting day!
