As we stood outside the intimidatingly tall brick façade of the Florence apartment building that would become our home base for the next four days, my family and I all began to chuckle nervously as we realized we had no idea how to get in. We aimlessly pressed buzzers and knocked, hoping we were in the right place as every so often we jumped and pressed against the wall to avoid getting clipped by a car or vespa making its way through the frighteningly narrow street at highway speeds. After a few more minutes of bewilderment, an extremely nice lady in the next apartment over helped us get in touch with the company we had rented the apartment from, even offering to translate for us if necessary. This was our first taste of just how kind Italians can be. Thanks to her help, we escaped the perilous game of roadkill and began to experience our own attempt at living in Italy.

Our second day was full of history and food; really what more could one desire on a vacation to Europe? This day also had us asking the comical question: don’t you just love it when you randomly book a tour of the city on one of the three major holidays of the year? We were able to watch in awe as hundreds of Florentines dressed in all kinds of costumes and historical clothes made their way through the main streets as part of a parade leading up to a highly-anticipated soccer game between the two regions of Florence. The crowds buzzed with excitement around us, and being surrounded by such raw happiness and city unity was inspiring and indicative of the rich traditions and tightly-knit communities present here. Along with the other festivities, we were able to catch the fireworks display that night: a beautiful red, green and white tribute to the magnificence of the country.

Next up was a slow day in Tuscany that included leisurely rides in a yellow minibus with our entertaining and knowledgeable guide, Simon. We learned to appreciate the intricacies of the wine bottling process, toured two different cellars and feasted on classic prosciutto and melon while feasting our eyes on the gorgeous surrounding scenery of other vineyards and small hilltop towns. We also had some insightful political discussions, solidifying our suspicions that as soon as anyone knew we were American, they would ask us about the current election. Trump or Hillary? Not our favorite topic while on vacation, considering it will soon be our reality in November, but a fascinating discussion to have with our British tour companions. We were also able to gain a new perspective from them on the recent Brexit controversy. This was like our own bit of the Renaissance in a way: eating, sharing perspectives on different issues and appreciating the majesty of what was around us.

Lessons Learned:

1. Gelato starts melting immediately. We attempted to bring some back to our apartment and it was dripping in rivulets down our fingers before we had made it half a block. Not a good plan: consume immediately.

2. The majority of waiters/guides/attendants/etc. speak English perfectly but it is still polite to attempt to speak Italian with them. At the very least, my dad ending each encounter with “grazie” makes shop owners smile.

3. Skip the grandiose pizza shops. If you’re looking for high quality Italian pizza (let’s face it, that’s the main goal of most Americans that come), look no further than one of the many tiny shops nestled in between larger restaurants and clothing stores.

4. Don’t set the deadbolt unless you’re 100 percent sure you know how to unlock it. Somehow we managed to be both locked in and locked out of the same place within two days.

5. If the instructions for the washing machine explicitly state that you cannot go near it with bare feet or wet hands, be very, very wary. It might sound like a spaceship but must be handled like a bomb.