Saying Goodbye

I have never been a fan of goodbyes. Whether its a family member or friend leaving, people dying or me leaving a situation in which I finally got "comfortable" with, I just don't like goodbyes. I know some people don't put that much pressure on goodbyes, but I know I do. They mean so much to me. The first thing I think of is "What if I never see that person or place again?" Now I know you are probably thinking that it's a pretty negative way to think, but I don't see it that way. I think about it like this. I have had so many good times with that person or in that place that I want to keep those memories alive by being around that person or place just a little while longer. I also have to admit that for a girl who just picked up 6 months ago and moved to Italy I really don't like change. ;) Goodbyes are a very big change.

As I left Florence today (and for the last couple of days actually), I have been going over in my mind, if in fact, I will ever get back to Italy. The answer to my question is, I don't know. However, if the last 6 months of my life are any indication to me what my future might hold, I know that in my heart someday I will be back.

I know that also I can say honestly that Italy wasn't my favorite country in Europe. If I had to choose a country that I have been to that once leaving I said, "I have to come back here!", I would put a few on my list. Ireland of course, as well as Scotland and Switzerland. There was something about each of these countries that caught my attention the first moment I saw them and I just knew that they were places I wanted to share with someone else one day.

I enjoyed Italy though. I had so many experiences here, good and bad and it's because of those experiences that I will never forget my time here. I do believe that I achieved all of my goals that I had set for myself before I left 6 months ago. I also believe that I am coming back to Canada tomorrow with a better understanding of who I am and what I want to achieve in my life. It might sound a little hokey and I can't guarantee that I won't have moments where I loose my way, but I think I will leave Europe tomorrow proudly. I will miss so many things here, but I look forward to my future and see very good things in it.

With that, I guess I will say goodbye to Italy. I will keep blogging though, maybe not as ofter. 112 posts in 172 days... not bad eh? ;)

See you tomorrow Canada!

P.S. The temp today was a beautiful 12 degrees. I killed 2 mosquito's before I left the house this morning and I had a 3.50euro cup of gelato last night with 4 flavors in it. Mmmm

My Top 10's

It is so hard for me to believe sometimes that this is my last night in Florence. Tomorrow I head for Rome and then Sunday morning I am Canada bound. So much has happened along the way and I have shared most (if not all) with you.

I want to tell you what reached my top 10 favorite and not so favorite moments here in Europe these past 6 months.

Top 10 Favorites
10-Riding on the London Eye
9-Enjoying the sunset in Sorrento
8-Swimming off the Island of Capri
7-Hanging my feet off of a cliff in Ireland
6-Vespa Riding through the Chianti
5-Wine and Scamorza cheese, among many other food items
4-Sitting up at the Piazzale Michelangelo
3-Standing at the top of the Eiffel Tower
2-Canyon Jumping in the Swiss Alps
and my #1 favorite moment
1-When the plane touched down in Rome 178 days ago. I knew I was embarking on something really special that was for me and me alone. If I hadn't of done that then the other 9 (and of course many other moments as well) would never had happened.

Top 10 Least Favorites
10-Weird showers
9-Not riding my bike more than 3 days.
8-Getting sick over and over again
7-Beds in Trains
6-Piano player above my room
5-bad hair do for most of the trip
4-Creep Wannabe Italians yelling "Ciao Belle!"
3-Squat toilets
2-Getting scammed out of $1200
and my #1 least favorite moment
1-Not learning the language as thoroughly as I had wanted to

The football (aka soccer) game

Last week I had went to the FlorenceForFun office and I purchased a ticket for yesterdays football game. I was pretty excited for it. I am not the biggest sports fan at all, but I really thought that going to a football game here in Florence would be a perfect way to end my vacation.

Well I showed up at a restaurant (also owned by FFF) and went in to get my ticket. I'm not sure what went wrong or who dropped the ball, but no one had my ticket! I guess the guy that took my money forgot to tell the guy that was in charge of getting the tickets and well, no ticket for me.

Frederico, one of the FFF guys that I have gone on a few trips with already asked if I wanted to sit down and have some brunch. I said sure but then noticed that everything was very expensive. Sigh... I ordered anyway and enjoyed my 'Americanized' breakfast. I was ready to go but when I asked for my bill all Frederico said was no problem Abbott (that's what he calls me) and said he would see me tomorrow to give me my money back for the ticket.

So in the long run, I was still really upset that I couldn't go to the game but was happy that I got brunch on the house.

The BEST look out spot in Florence

On Saturday I decided to make my way up to Piazzale Michelangiolo. I had been there once before on my Birthday for about 5min but was really looking forward to going back up again. Saturday was a beautiful day. Around 13degrees out. What could be better for December 5th, right? Well, I meant to just go up, take some pictures and then head back down but once I got up there I just couldn't get myself to leave.

I didn't realize how beautiful Florence really was until I sat on a step and overlooked the Arno (the river in Florence), the Duomo and many, many other buildings that I have been seeing on a daily basis. It was so peaceful.

I ended up sitting up there for over an hour just thinking about my time here in Florence and Europe in general. After that I headed back into the center to get me another one of those yummy crepes. Mmmm :)

The Grocery Store

I have grown to love the Esselunga. At the beginning of my stay here I dreaded every time I needed to go the grocery store to buy food. I never knew what I was getting and where it was coming from. I would leave not knowing what I was going to eat and for the first couple of weeks counted on my bread and raspberry jam sandwiches for my meals some days.

However as time went on, I was able to develop a bit of a relationship with my grocery store. Now when I go in, I know exactly where the things are that I like to eat. I know when to buy and when to wait for my next shopping trip. I know the grumpy tellers, in which I avoid at all cost.

I am going to miss this little Esselunga. It is in no means a big store. It had a whopping 7 aisles, but it had everything I needed. I am also going to miss one teller in particular. There were some nice ones, but this one was the best. He knew who I was the moment I stepped in line. I never knew his name but he would always say hello and try to speak some English to me even though his English was as good as my Italian. :) When he was talking to other customers telling a joke, he would always look at me in line and try to translate it for me so that I could be part of the joke as well. I never got to say goodbye to him and I guess that makes me a little sad. I'm not sure why but he almost felt like a type of friend to me some days. Bye Esselunga

The Christmas season has finally begun!

It was a beautiful 12 degrees in Florence today with no rain, so I got up relatively early and headed out for some fresh air. I had heard a rumour that everything Christmas was supposed to start today including a Christmas market and all of the streets Christmas lights were supposed to be lite up. Well, the rumours were true!

I first went to the Christmas market which was really cool. It was unlike any of the regular markets around Florence. This was definitely Christmas. There were booths from all different countries in Europe. Food booths, toy booths, candy and other random trinket booths. I quite enjoyed looking around and will for sure go back before I leave next Friday. I also stopped at the crepe booth and had myself a "rolled pancake" as my family called them. Basically, its a crepe rolled up and then dipped in sugar. Mmmmm trust me, I grew up on these things, they're good!

After the market I just wandered around taking some pictures and doing a few errands. I made it the FlorenceForFun office to drop off my pictures that I had taken for them in Switzerland and I ended up buying a ticket for this weekends Football (soccer) match so I'm pretty excited about it. I hear they crowds around Florence get pretty crazy so I can't wait. I will wear my purple with pride and cheer them on as best I can. :)

I ended up being out until about 6pm and by the time I got home the temperature had drastically dropped to a quite chilling 5 degrees.

When one door shuts another one opens...

It's interesting to me how some people deal with the coming and going of people in there lives. Some get very upset, share hugs, nights out before they leave and genuinely get very upset when the dreaded leaving/move out day comes. Others deal with it by saying a nice farewell goodbye, share a hug (or a hand shake), give them well wishes for the future and then send them on there way.

Marlene moved out yesterday. I wasn't sure how I was going to react to this. If we were talking about the me 6 months ago, I probably would have shed a tear (or ten), helped her get ready and probably try to just visit before she left. However, I have noticed in the last 5 months that the way I feel when people come in and out of my life has changed drastically. I want to make a side note here and say that this in no way changes the way I would/do react when around family and close friends.

Many people in the last 5+ months have come into and out of my life. Some for just one day, some for 3 days up to 3 weeks and a couple for the whole length of my stay here in Italy. It really depends on who they are and what type of connection we make in that time but really the result has (for the most part) always been the same.

Some of them I have added to facebook and we have and still will communicate that way. Others, I have spent a wonderful day or weekend with doing some life changing things and yet at the end of the day I leave without even the thought of getting an email address or other ways to stay in touch. At the beginning I was a little upset at this process as it seemed to be the "European way". Then, as time went on, I realized they were right. It really is, just the way it is. I might not have been able to do some of the things I have done without some of these people by my side.

This is what travelling solo does to you. It makes you open your eyes to your surroundings and the people around you. Everyone that I have shared a day or more with I will never forget. I am sure of that. For one reason or another they have helped me along this journey I am on and for that I am grateful.

So, Marlene left about 2pm yesterday. We hugged, said our goodbyes and wished each other well. Not three hours later, the new girl moved in. It should be an interesting last 10 days. ;)