Spring Break!

Buon giorno Amici Americani,

What a week! It's hard to believe that I'm halfway through the semester! In a month and half I will be all alone on a continent where I know absolutely no one. I have noticed that I feel much more alone over here, as I do not have a cell phone which can send and receive texts/calls from both family and friends whenever I want. I only have internet at my apartment, versus all the time on my phone (sounds weird, but that was really nice to instantly google and locate something!). 

Sighhh. But, atlas, I am in Italy, and those feelings are offset by the beautiful nature of the city of Florence and all the places that I've been to. Sunday I plan to take a nature hike and see where the heck I end up. I found a few Florence guide books in the apartment, and I'm just going to pack a lunch and gooo. I hope pictures will follow. 

I have so many blogs waiting in the wings, but it takes time to upload pictures, and I just now have some free time to finally finish them!

Just a quick shout out to all the family that have encouraged me to go along with this idea and really made this possible, I can't thank you enough! It has been an enriching experience, filled with exploration and personal growth that I could never trade away. Love you all!

Here is just a random day out and about in Florence!

 

These little street sweepers will sneak up on you! haha

Florentine Police

Here are some shots of the "Ponte Vecchio" which means, "The Old Bridge".  I will actually blog about the bridge, as it holds some historical importance, which is always fun!

Vespas are everywhere!!!

hahaha.

Ciao for now! 

Museo di Storia del Scienza

A bust of Galileo






Considered one of the most influential men of science, Galileo Galilei, was born in Pisa and buried in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence This museum is located right next to the Ponte Vecchio and is full of little trinkets of history, some gadgets causing some of the most dramatic leaps in medicine, astrology, and physics. I paid 5 euro for a group ticket, we went as part of my Physical Anthropology class, and it was really neat to see some of the things that are talked about and explained on the history channel or PBS.

Galileo has been called the Father of Modern Physics, and notably backed philosophy that the Earth was not the center of the universe but the sun - a heliocentric theory that placed him in immediate controversy.

Inside the museum, Galileo's actual middle finger is displayed in a glass egg-shaped container, which the guide suggested was his viewpoint of the Catholic Church - which is ironic, because he is buried in one now. 

Photographs were not allowed, but being the tricky guy that I am, here is what I came up with ( - though as a result, I do not have an explanation for many of these, but most are self-explanatory)

Galileo's Middle Finger, I know its really hard to see, but I couldn't take a picture fast enough!
sorry! I have a google photo of it later. :)

And here is the google image of Galileo's finger, which was my favorite part of the whole trip.

Now whether or not this is Galileo's defiance to the church or pointing upwards to a place where he often explored through his telescope....

well, you can decide. : )

Ciao for now blog buddies!

Postcards and Address

Buon Giorno Blogger Readers,

It is a bit cloudy and murky outside today...

Outside my Kitchen Window

It is the first day of March and my third month outside the USA ( January, I was only gone for a couple of days... haha)... I've finally figured out my side of town and can navigate most of the Historical Center of Florence, but I always carry a map of the city in my back pocket. Why? Well, the third night of living here, I was lost and straggled outside the center of the city, where graffiti and nicely dressed ladies waited on the street corners. I am not jumping to conclusions on their profession, but it was late, and the environment was foreign... So your mind begins to play tricks on you, and the little kid down the street suddenly looks like a thug that will shank you, and all the stories you hear about getting robbed, suddenly creep out from the back of your mind.

Okay, so it wasn't that bad. haha.

I found my way back, but still, it was intense... So maps are critical! Just a basic one could make a huge difference. They are about a Euro... Just get one!

The good thing though, is that the parties and the Italians that go to them stay out late. Most clubs and pubs, for example, do not really open their doors until 11, and people don't show up til about 1:00 or 2:00 am then close at 5:00. And that goes the same with some of the small little cafes and restaurants.

The weekends here bring on a new set of tourists, and just like me, they'll have their large maps and frazzled looks on their faces as they wander in the wrong direction. People from all of the world come here and its interesting to see what they came for. I met a bunch of Americans from "Philly" as they called it, and helped them find their way to a point across the city... I think that was the moment when I felt a little more... at home...where I am. If that makes sense!

Today, even though I've written a bunch of postcards, I haven't mailed any yet, because I couldn't find the stamps! But now I have them. So in about two weeks, you should receive a letter from me!

Yours might be here!

: )

And if you want to write me:

Alex Twomey
c/o AIFS
CLI Dante Alighieri
Piazza della Repubblica, 5
...50123 Florence
Italy


Ciao for now! :D