The Parents Visit
2006-10-12
The Parents Visit
My parents came in on Tusday and just left today (Thursday) a few hours ago. It was a little strange having them here, but it was a nice change and we all enjoyed my being able to show them around Florence.
I met them at the train station after class on Tuesday and I took them to their hotel by the train station. It ends up they had gotten in so late that their hotel room had been given away, so we had to lug their suitcases to a different hotel across the Piazza Independencia. My dad was not happy. By the time all that was through we were all starving and none of us had eaten since about 10. We went to a random restaurant near San Lorenzo with a fixed price menu and it ended up being really good.
That night we walked around a little and they gasped at my humble apartment and gas stove. My dad is as addicted to gelato (tiramisu especially) as I am so we got some of that too. My parents went to see my sister in New York a couple weeks ago and gave me news about her and then about all my siblings back home. It was a breath of fresh air hearing from back home and I realized how much I really missed them.
The next day after I went to class we all went to Pisa together. We saw the leaning tower and took pictures (not that impressive) and then went inside the main church. That was pretty much all there was to do in Pisa. The train ride is about an hour and a half one way so we got back in time to have dinner in Florence. We met my travel buddies outside my apartment and after walking around found a place near the Duomo with a fixed price menu (my dad insisted on that) and we had one of the best meals in Florence. It had three courses and the white wine was the best I have had yet. The place was huge and we sat on the second floor overlooking the street. Afterwards we got gelato and my parents were sweet and walked me all the way home...we would be up early in the morning.
The next day/yesterday we got up early and hit everything. We went to the Uffizi at 8:30, the Accademia at noon, ate a quick lunch and went to the Cupola of the Duomo. It was exhausting. I have never seen so much art in all my life. I have never seen so many altars and pictures of Jesus or the Virgin Mary in all my life. I will have to go back at some point to really take it all in. My mother is one of those people who takes forever just staring at each thing. Ohh my. After the Duomo we went to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens on the other side of the Arno. The view was gorgeous and I loved the artwork in the Pitti Palace. It wasnt as overwhelming as the Uffizi even though the walls were covered in art. The frescos told stories and were all over the ceilings. One of my favorite places to visit so far. Afterwards we had a nice "last supper" and they walked me home for the last time.
Today I got up early and went to my parents hotel (free food!) and we then went shopping at the open market at San Lorenzo. I got a really nice Medici leather bag, a belt and a scarf. My parents pretty much went crazy buying things, but it is cheaper there than in any store. I walked them to the train station and said goodbye as if in a dream. They were here so briefly that it now seems like their visit was just a dream. I really do miss them and I am glad they were able to come, even if it was just for 3 days. Now they are in Venice and will fly out of Rome in a couple days. Yes, I felt a little homesick as the train rolled away and tears welled up in my eyes for the next few minutes as I realized how blessed I was to be here and to have such loving people in my lives who can also let me go. As for now I think I will go to Standa and find something to make with my friends for dinner. My parents brought my laptop and some of my favorite movies...the best solution for homesickness is good food, friends, and American movies (not dubbed in Italian.)
The Parents Visit
My parents came in on Tusday and just left today (Thursday) a few hours ago. It was a little strange having them here, but it was a nice change and we all enjoyed my being able to show them around Florence.
I met them at the train station after class on Tuesday and I took them to their hotel by the train station. It ends up they had gotten in so late that their hotel room had been given away, so we had to lug their suitcases to a different hotel across the Piazza Independencia. My dad was not happy. By the time all that was through we were all starving and none of us had eaten since about 10. We went to a random restaurant near San Lorenzo with a fixed price menu and it ended up being really good.
That night we walked around a little and they gasped at my humble apartment and gas stove. My dad is as addicted to gelato (tiramisu especially) as I am so we got some of that too. My parents went to see my sister in New York a couple weeks ago and gave me news about her and then about all my siblings back home. It was a breath of fresh air hearing from back home and I realized how much I really missed them.
The next day after I went to class we all went to Pisa together. We saw the leaning tower and took pictures (not that impressive) and then went inside the main church. That was pretty much all there was to do in Pisa. The train ride is about an hour and a half one way so we got back in time to have dinner in Florence. We met my travel buddies outside my apartment and after walking around found a place near the Duomo with a fixed price menu (my dad insisted on that) and we had one of the best meals in Florence. It had three courses and the white wine was the best I have had yet. The place was huge and we sat on the second floor overlooking the street. Afterwards we got gelato and my parents were sweet and walked me all the way home...we would be up early in the morning.
The next day/yesterday we got up early and hit everything. We went to the Uffizi at 8:30, the Accademia at noon, ate a quick lunch and went to the Cupola of the Duomo. It was exhausting. I have never seen so much art in all my life. I have never seen so many altars and pictures of Jesus or the Virgin Mary in all my life. I will have to go back at some point to really take it all in. My mother is one of those people who takes forever just staring at each thing. Ohh my. After the Duomo we went to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens on the other side of the Arno. The view was gorgeous and I loved the artwork in the Pitti Palace. It wasnt as overwhelming as the Uffizi even though the walls were covered in art. The frescos told stories and were all over the ceilings. One of my favorite places to visit so far. Afterwards we had a nice "last supper" and they walked me home for the last time.
Today I got up early and went to my parents hotel (free food!) and we then went shopping at the open market at San Lorenzo. I got a really nice Medici leather bag, a belt and a scarf. My parents pretty much went crazy buying things, but it is cheaper there than in any store. I walked them to the train station and said goodbye as if in a dream. They were here so briefly that it now seems like their visit was just a dream. I really do miss them and I am glad they were able to come, even if it was just for 3 days. Now they are in Venice and will fly out of Rome in a couple days. Yes, I felt a little homesick as the train rolled away and tears welled up in my eyes for the next few minutes as I realized how blessed I was to be here and to have such loving people in my lives who can also let me go. As for now I think I will go to Standa and find something to make with my friends for dinner. My parents brought my laptop and some of my favorite movies...the best solution for homesickness is good food, friends, and American movies (not dubbed in Italian.)
posted by Alyssa at 11:25 PM
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