Il mio appartamento in Firenze

I live in a lovely, homey, spacious yet cozy apartment across the river from the Duomo, quite close to the Ponte Vecchio, so if we get the sudden urge to buy gold jewelry, we are steps away from countless jewelers. (I want to do some window shopping and perhaps pick out a little momento...) I live with four awesome girls--Caroline (my roommate), Christie and Amy, who live in the room next door, and Cate, our Italian roommate. We live on the primo piano (first floor), which is the equivalent to the American second floor. Here are a few photos taken very quickly as my camera was about to die...they can give you an idea, though.

A grand entrance to Borgo San Jacopo, 5

A spacious, practically fully-equipped kitchen provides the perfect atmosphere for delicious dinners (I cooked for four people on Tuesday! And they liked it! Thanks for the tips, Mom...!) and great, not-too-loud conversation. If great, loud conversation happens, a certain neighbor from upstairs might pound on our door and have a few Italian words to say to us...

A comfortable sitting room that doubles as a drying room and travel research room

Attractive yellow bedspreads provide Caroline and I a place to lay our heads and a super-sonic fan that keeps us cool in the night

Each and every day I am falling more and more in love with our neighborhood. With just a little exploring, we've discovered a cafe-bookshop study spot with an indoor-outdoor courtyard, an adorable little square around the corner with four delicious looking restaurants, including Cinque, a little place that emphasizes serving natural foods with a daily menu and specialties from the Ligurno region of Italy (where Cinque Terre is), a hand-made bead shop, a great shoe store, and an antique and food market. These places feel authentic and not touristy, which helps me feel more accomplished in my dreams of becoming a local in Florence.

Also, this place is just down the way from us. It's the best and worst thing that has ever happened to us! Come visit me, and I'll take you there! I'm telling you, it's hard to beat a marscapone-nutella cono piccolo.

Ciao ciao,
Grace