The Duomo, Wine Corner, and friends from Spain.

Here's the video blog! 

With love, Kenzie 

Wine corner at Ganzo...

On the way up to the top of the Duomo 

Mi amica Natalia

Love the camera pose <3

Museums and Chocolate

Video Blog again, because I hate writing  :) 

Dinner at Ganzo! 

Before our seven course meal :)

Shrimp wrapped in Proscuitto 

Perseus and Medusa-  One of my favorite Greek mythology stories. 

Inside the Medici Riccardi 

 Chocolate Festival in Piazza Republica. 

Two weeks later...

Video Blog, because I hate typing. 

Canollis  and tea at Cafe Maoil 

 Birthday boy Jojo 

First Few Days

My journey to Firenze was quite interesting, and long.  Everyone knows I hate flying but what I hate even more are 10 hour layovers in Seattle. Very thankful I will not have to do that when I return home.  When I finally did arrive in Italy I took a shuttle but to the train station in downtown Florence called Santa Maria Novella where I met my girlfriend from Alaska Marchese.  Caze and I went to high school together, we played volleyball together and were also on the yearbook staff together.  She's doing a year long program here and let me stay with her my first two nights so I didn't have to pay for a hotel.  I'm very thankful I had her to meet me because I would have been so lost these first couple of days trying to navigate.  

My first evening in Italy Caze, her roommates and I went to a place called Mr.Pizza down the street.  Italian pizza is very different from what we're use to in the US.  It's very thin and has a lot let cheese and more vegetables.  It was so very delicious and you can order a whole pizza to yourself and not have to force yourself to finish it.  The next day I was so Jet Lagged I woke up at 5am here and could not go back to sleep.  There's a 10 hour difference between Alaska and Italy and even on my third day here my sleeping schedule is still messed up.  My second day in Italy Caze and I walked around, I saw the Duomo which the largest Church in Florence I believe.  For dinner we went out to this restaurant called OK Bar.  I ordered a white cream sauce pasta with asparagus.  I cannot put into words how good this pasta was. I finished the whole plate... that never happens.  While I was staying with Caze on of her roommates had people staying there a couple days as well. Matt and Rebecca from the UK.  I enjoying talking to them about Ireland, where Matt is from and Brittan where Rebecca is from.  Since it was their last night in town we went to an Irish pub after dinner to get steamboats.  For those who have never heard of them, they consist of southern comfort, carbonated water, and lime juice.  They are very sweet and I could only handle two.  This Irish pub we went to had a underground level that was set up for karaoke on days that are more busier.  We were there on a Tuesday night and it was quite packed.  There was a large group of Scandinavian people on the lower lever and it was amusing to listen to them try and sing karaoke.  Most of the songs available we're US top 40.   

My third day here I could finally check in with the school, get my keys and move into my apartment.  I live in an area of town called Santo Spirito that is across the river but still very close to a lot of stores and restaurants.  I also live 5 minutes away from Ponte Vecchio which is the only bridge in Florence that was not destroyed in World War II. Ponte Vecchio translates directly into "Old Bridge" in Italian.  My apartment is much nicer and cleaner than I expected and quite spacious.  The only thing I wish we had is more storage and closet space.  There's not really a pantry in the kitchen and just a little chest in each double room so a lot of us still have clothes in our suitcases.  The kitchen is adorable too, as I hoped it would be.  I have 5 roommates, all of which are extremely friendly and up for exploring the city with me.  We went to a supermarket the first night together and bought some groceries.  I made pasta tossed with pesto and sautee'd artichoke hearts and Parmesan cheese.  Everyone loved it too so that's a plus!  Orientation starts today for all of us and classes start next Monday.  More to come on my semester abroad!!