I've been home for about a month now and when I arrived back in SC I was so incredibly happy about being back and seeing familiar things are understanding what people were saying around me. Lately, I've been finding myself reminiscing about my semester abroad and I realized how many things I loved about Florence. While there are quite a few things I don't miss, like the constant smell of cigarette smoke and the rain, here are a few things I miss about Florence now that I've been back for a while.
1. My roommates
Maggie, Kate, and Rachel were the best roommates a gal could ask for! I tell people at home stories about you guys all the time (mostly when I have to explain doing Maggie's pasta making dance), which is weird because they don't know you at all. It's so wild that we went from living in our tiny apartment and seeing each other every day to being miles away from each other.
2. Being able to walk anywhere in the city
Charleston is kind of similar but not in the same way. In Florence, you're never more than 10 minutes away from anything you could ever need (except chick-fil-a) and I appreciated that.
3. Conad
"The Nad" as Kate would say. I went to this grocery store almost every single day, whether to buy stuff for dinner, just a pack of cookies, or a baguette on my way back from class. I loved Conad and I LOVED only spending 15 euro on groceries that held me over for a whole week.
4. Sitting on Ponte Alla Carraia with a cup of gelato in my hand
In my previous articles, I mentioned how I got gelato almost every single day. Well, the bridge by my apartment is where I would perch myself and enjoy some people watching, the sunset, and most importantly my gelato. I've inserted a picture from the last night I was there and everything was so incredibly golden.
5. Piazzale Michelangelo
A classic spot on any tourist itinerary but something that you should never skip seeing. The hike up there wasn't ideal but the view was wonderful.
6. Taking the train
I LOVE traveling by train. It was so convenient (well for me anyway) and so relaxing. I know people take the AMTRAK here but I don't so this was special for me.
7. Pizza
I don't want to be that bitch when I say that I don't think I will ever have the desire for American pizza ever again. Il Pizzaiolo has a little piece of my heart forever and I just can't eat Dominos anymore (well at least not yet).
8. Going to Zara every other day
I might have had a small shopping problem while abroad. Whenever I went out for a walk I would end up in one of the two Zaras that were only 5 minutes from my apartment. I couldn't be tamed. I don't have a Zara anywhere near me at home so I guess I'll have to settle for shopping online
9. All of the rat dogs
I didn't think I loved the truly tiny dogs but now I want like, 12.
There many more obvious things that I know I miss too, like the history and seeing the Duomo every day on my way class but these things just ring true today. I didn't think I would miss Florence already, but I kind of do.
