Monday, November 21, 2011

almost caught up!

 I have been trying to update and blog about my fall break but its just to difficult to sit in and write when there's so much to do and see! I'm going to step away from my (almost three weeks) traveling posts to write about a few of the things that have been going on around Florence.

WEATHER - although its been absolutely beautiful and rather warm everyone walks around Florence bundled up as if its about to snow! European fashion is surprisingly more functional then just style - they just know how to do it right.  Over the past few weeks, the mornings and evenings have been cool but the day's still embrace early fall sun and warmth! How to dress for weather like this? - one word. LAYERS and lot's of 'em. If you watch people walk down the street (I've become quite the people watcher) you noticed that everyone is dressed in numerous layers. Women in dresses, tights, socks, boots then scarves and sweaters and coats. After being stared at for still not wearing a coat some days, I think I've learned some tricks. 1. Its November - which to the people of Florence means, its winter and its cold. So if you are going outside, wear a jacket. 2. Wear a scarf! Women, Men, Children dogs, everyone wears them. Fashionable yet very practical. Even the Bentley boys have begun to purchase the scarves and layer up to fit in with the locals. There seems to be one factor that can make your appearance seem much more European here and that's layers. When leaving the house, I get dressed as I normally would gauging the temperature then always add an additional layer. At night, with my coat and scarf one, I'll add gloves! simple but effective.

Christmas - In Italy, even in Florence where there are SO many tourist and Americans, there is no Thanksgiving. This means the lines are blurred when it is socially acceptable to start listening to Christmas music. Although I have not started listening to Christmas music, tempted this weekend with all the decorations and lights emerging around Florence - I will be having a mini thanksgiving with friends in Dublin, afterwards its all jolly Christmas music for the last few weeks! Did you catch that I said decorations and lights have been emerging this past weekend? Italy hasn't commercialized Christmas to the extent the States have. As of the past week shops have begun to decorate and its beginning to look a lot like Christmas :)



Soccer - This past weekend I went to my first European Soccer game - Calcio in Italian is a loved sport here and we snagged some tickets to one of the most competitive games of the season! Fiorentina (Florence) vs. AC Milan - AC Milan was heavily favored to win and who doesn't want to see an underdog come out on top. I have NEVER in all the sporting events I've attended been to a game with so much excitement! The crowd was insane with the amount of yelling and cheering that occurred the entire game felt like a bottom of the 9th Sox down by one with a runner on third scenario! 

girls with their purple

definition of jam packed stadium


giant flags






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