Memory Lane

A whopping two years ago, almost to the day, I was wrapping up my semester abroad in Florence, Italy. Grab your tissues because ending up back here for five whole days was an actual dream come true. Something romantic, exciting, or even sad, happened on what feels like every corner of this city. But alas, I’ll spare you the sappy bits and go straight to how I’m never actually leaving Florence. 

Nothing has changed. Same crazy city packed with history and tourists snapping pictures on the Ponte Vecchio, the old gypsy lady who’s voice sounds like she swallowed an entire pack of cigarettes, the smell of pastries and coffee coming for the same bakery, and the same very difficult walk from Lion’s all the way back to our side of the river. 

But some things are very different. Almost all of my friends that I had met have moved on. For Italians, Florence is a very transient city so my local friends have up and moved on to a new adventure. Some working in other countries, some just another town away, and others are in America. But you can always make more friends, right?

I have a lovely one-bedroom loft just off the Ponte Vecchio by my old apartment. It has a window ledge you can sit on and look out over the court yard and feel like you are in a scene from Eat Pray Love or something. I could make my own food but five days to hit all of your favorite restaurants is actually a challenge that I was willing to accept. 

I have managed to gain every pound I lost over the past few days and I have never been more proud of myself. Gusta Pizza, La Loggias, Mamma Gina’s, Trattoria Anita’s, Natolino’s, Enotecca di Natolino and don’t you dare forget Perche No? gelato. Everyone should be very impressed. 

I left my heart in Florence once and it will definitely happen again. There is just something about walking past the Duomo on your way to school that changes you just a little bit. So, I’ll grab my bottle of wine and head to the top of Piazza Michelangelo and watch the sun drop behind the Ponte Vecchio and the city light up at twilight and say goodbye to Florence for the second time, but it definitely won’t be the last.