Florence

This year I had the wonderful opportunity to spend my Thanksgiving in Florence! My abroad group and I left on the Thursday of Thanksgiving and arrived with enough time to spare to explore the famous leather market.

Most of my time at the market was spent searching for... LEATHER BOOTS- I had been saving my money until this opportune moment and it was ready for it! We had a group dinner that night specially prepared for us by the cooks of the Hotel (California was the name). The menu consisted of an antipasta course of meat, cheese and olives, followed by a course of mushroom pasta, then a salad on the side of what we believe to the leg of a turkey; all to be washed down with some red wine. To top off the dinner they made us a special cake consisting of the colors of our flag- well they attempted with a frosting donning the colors of pink (red), white, and blue (turquoise). Below is a photo of the girls and boys of the trip all dressed up for dinner.

The other part of my time I spent with my classmates following around my amazing art and architecture professor Paulo to the many beautiful sites of Florence. I was able to feast my eyes on Bottecelli's "Birth of Venus" and "Primavera" along with many other works of the Uffizi museum (such as the Annunciation by Leonardo Da Vinci)- we were not allowed to take photos of the paintings but I did capture a beautiful scene of the Tuscan sun setting over the River Arno from the top floor of the Uffizi museum. The other famous artwork of Florence that I was able to view was Michelangelo's marble statue of David along with Cellini's bronze statue of Pericles beheading Medusa.

After some long hours spent with our Professor Paulo we still were able to explore the wonderful city of Florence. I spent hours walking up and down the picturesque cobble stone paved roads losing myself (with others- don't worry mom!) in the beauty of the sun awakening the reds, oranges, and yellows of the city. Here is a photo of Brandon and I along accompanied with some others on our charming walk through the city.

My final day was spent purchasing my long anticipated leather boots (don't worry about the price mom and dad!) with a good amount of sight seeing- going to places such as Michelangelo's Piazza, the Medici Palace, the Boboli gardens, the Duomo, and Ponte Vecchio- many breathtaking views of the Tuscan landscape!

A look from the Boboli Gardens

This is a view from the Michelangelo's Piazza

The photo above is of some of the ladies that I explored the city with taking a rest on the steps of Michelangelo's Piazza. There is a perfect viewpoint of the city of Florence in the background with the Duomo dome present right on top of Ricki's head.

Inside the church called the Duomo or also known as Saint Mary of the Flower- built in 1436 it fashions Gothic and Renaissance style. The exterior of the basilica is a unique design of different shades of pink, green, and white polychrome panels giving it a very interesting look.

Taylor (a.k.a. Jordan) and I sitting on a bench down the hill from the Michelangelo's Piazza; reminiscing in our love from Florence and for each other. Sadly in both circumstances we had to part. 

That concludes the highlights from my trip to Florence which was a book mark of my travels indicating that I am now on my last half of my trip abroad..! 

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with many things to be thankful for and that you are enjoying your preparation for the holiday season to come!