i'm back from italy.

the first day i ended up walking up to piazza san michelangelo which made me want to die a little... so many stairs! afterwards, i drank some vino with some really great people from the hostel i was staying at - the b&b maison. you HAVE TO STAY THERE WHEN YOU GO TO FLORENCE. they make breakfast and dinner every day. i felt like i was staying at an old friends house, it was wonderful and felt really great - since i was staying there alone. i met some really great people that i think i'll be friends with for a long time after this, or i hope.

doesn't ponte vecchio remind you of the movie Perfume? -- not this side in particular, but...

anyway, a lot of the time i spent just aimlessly wandering around florence and happening upon the historic sites - the duomo, statue of david, the monk perfumery, ponte vecchio, etc... and certain days i took day trips to different cities -

pisa (the leaning tower - HELLO) and san giminorno.

san giminano was beautiful, and i got to taste the worlds best gelato! literally, it was the worlds best. and it tasted SO GOOD.

i didn't buy much - just a pair of leather driving gloves, perfume and a chunk of amethyst from san giminano.

oh, and if you ever end up going to flo... DO NOT skip seeing the statue of david. it is actually an emotional experience that i was not expecting. honest! :)