wasting time while it rains in Florence..

I have one more paper to write, one more test to study for.
Yesterday was our first full day in Florence.  Once again so happy to be back in a some-what familiar city.  Alisha (one of my current roommates and friends) and I had an early start.  We ate breakfast and walked around until we found ourself in front of the Uffizi Gallery and decided we better get in line.  In our 45 minute que we started talking with the American couple behind us.  They were from Pennsylvania visiting their daughter and her husband who lived in Florence.  We talked about what they had done in Itlay, what they did back at home, the nature of our program, I do not even remember much else.  All I remember thinking was how nice they were and how glad I was to meet friendly Americans with good hearts and intentions.  Alisha and I championed the Uffizi.  I got to sit on the ground in front of one of my favorite paintings of all time.  Caravaggio's Doubting Thomas (which they failed to have a postcard for, unbelievable).

We then got a little bit lost, continually contemplated going to see Michelangelo's David, but didn't.  Got lost, ate gelato, went to a vintage store, made it back to our hotel/ hostel around 5 pm, completely sore and tired, but feeling very accomplished.  I then had a normal night of doner kebabs, paper writing, a good game of Go Fish, and Whose Line Is It Anyway clips on YouTube.  

Another early start this morning as Alisha and David and I went to see the David.  Breakfast and another 45 minute wait.  About halfway through we started talking to the American couple behind us.  They were in their mid-50's like the first couple, and from Connecticut.  We talked of our travels, our majors, Westmont, their experiences in Israel, their children and coming grandchildren.  Once again, such nice good-hearted people.  As we parted ways in the museum the man said to me. "You have very lucky parents".  I do not feel like that is a sentence people throw out lightly.  It was one of the best compliments I have ever received.
They made me miss being at home with my own parents.  Cold weather always makes me miss home, especially wind and rain.  I think of my fire place, my dining room table, playing cribbage on the living room carpet, the sound of rain tapping on my bedroom window, driving through my wet neighborhood streets.  Sometimes when it rains I have the overwhelming urge to sit out in the middle of the worst of it, looking up and the sky as I get irreversibly soaked.  I honestly don't know why this is.  On my late drives home in the winter I roll down all the windows and drive fast enough to fill my car with as much cold wind as I possibly can.

Tomorrow I will hopefully be going to the Cinque Terra islands.  And on our last day my hopes are to climb Brunneleschi's dome, see the inside of the Duomo, and watch the sunset from Michelangelo's hill.


Until then, I will sit in the lobby under the skylight, listening to Horse Feathers, editing photos and avoiding homework.