Everybody has different ways they like to spend their weekend evenings. For most college students, it involves some sort of party or bar. Either way alcoholic beverages are involved and socialization of many friend groups. Personally I enjoy either, I love gathering a few friends and hanging at a bar with some good music. Or going to chill at someones house with fun humans. If there is dancing, even better!
In general I would not say that I am a club person. I haven't had much experience in the scene and the few I have had was fun but not exactly my definition of an ideal weekend. So when I arrived in Florence and the club scene was popular, I said why the hell not I'm here to do new things anyway?
With my limited club experience and my only idea of an Italian style club life as jersey shore I embarked on this new experience.
First off, the basic idea is pretty much the same as America, dancing to upbeat/mixed sometimes EDM music and of course a bar for drinks. There is also a line to get into the club and what is nice is that before a certain time, depending on the club, entry is free.
Though, once you get to the entry of the club, they couldn't care less about your ID. As long as you look older than 12 you pretty much get waved in. That was an odd change compared to the awkward strict ID process in the US. Where there is typically a huge man with a "if this is fake I will end your life" face on and even if you are 21 they still look at you like you committed a crime.
Inside the majority of these club, chances are you will find almost all American/Foreign study abroad students. The rest of the crowd is sprinkled with very flirtatious Italian men. When I say flirtatious I really mean flirtatious. When they attempt to talk to you, any sort of personal space is completely lost and even physical touch is involved. I have found myself kicking or nudging more humans off me than I have ever experienced. When dancing often males will gesture to come dance close to them, or they will just pull your hips. Also when it comes to kissing, there is always many attempts.
What I found very different than American clubs was the wide age range between the people in the club. There was 16 year olds dancing about with men and woman (mostly men) that looked like they were in their 40s or even 50s. It's a bit uncomfortable to look at.
Some of these Florentine clubs also contain a dress code and you are forced to check your coat. Its pretty intense but sometimes makes you feel like VIP, till you enter and feel as ratchet as everyone else.
One time at my friends 21st birthday (no one in Italy gave a flying F&% that she was 21) we deiced to go to one of these dress code clubs. Once we entered I walked down the stairs to see the all the human's crowded into the dance floor. I deiced to stop at the bar to get a drink. After I decided to make my way to the dance floor. As I swatted off Italian men like mosquitoes, I suddenly felt a terrible pain in my foot. I had broken my toe on a couch leg in the club. Leaning on my friends shoulders they escorted me out.
Allora! The club itself maybe had very little to do with the braking of my toe but, all in all it just proves that maybe this whole club thing isn't exactly for me. Don't get me wrong, I am stilling gonna go out and have some fun. Though once I get back to the states I think I'll pick back up my spot at the bar.
