Wednesday we attempted to find the free Ikea shuttle at the train station only to find out that it's currently not running. We got this information only after asking numerous people who all pointed us in different directions. We also learned that Ikea is pronounced Ee-kay-a here. we were met with extremely confused looks when pronouncing it eye-key-a. There would be a pause, quizzical look and then they'd say....."ee-kay-a?" In any case, by the time we found out about the shuttle we were exhausted and it was pouring rain so we came home for an afternoon of reading and studying the language.
Thursday was our successful Ikea day we rode bus 29 which took us directly to the store which... if you don't read the labels and prices on items... is exactly like the one in Salt Lake. We wandered the store and got some essentials: hangers, hot pads for the kitchen, some new silverware, blankets and sheets. interestingly enough, I've been looking for all these things since i've arrived and haven't been able to find them. it's amazing to me how few big corporations there are here. The streets are lined with specialty shops, cafes, and clothes and shoe stores. Gelato and pizza or panini can be found on almost every street, and I've found multiple shops that will restore antique furniture, but I had to take a bus across town to find hangers. There's a very real beauty to the variety found in the consumer world here. No Target, no Wal-mart... and while these stores can be quite convenient, I'm impressed by the way a community is so different with so many smaller shops. when business is slow, shop owners stand on the street, smoke, talk to friends... it's a completely different world. It's so beautiful.
I can be altruistic about small business all I want... but in the end, I still went to Ikea. Oh the terrible irony. In the end though this irony sparked another though. I stopped and got some snacks from the food center before I left the store because I happen to quite enjoy the hazelnut cookies and swedish milk chocolate and they are a grand Ikea tradition for me. I realized my comfort foods from home... were actually from Sweden. which got me thinking about how truly global retail and economic ventures are these days. This was even more solidified when I removed the tag from my blanket and saw: Designed by Ikea in Sweden. Made in India. on my receipt: Bought in Italy.... By an American. Consumer good sure do get around.
Thursday evening we walked up to the overlook above the city again... I forgot my camera, so no pictures, but it was phenomenal. the lights along the river were mirrored in the water and the buildings were illuminated and glowing. A man was playing guitar for tips and the air was cool enough to be pleasant, but not chilly. Tyler and I decided to get up the next morning and go running up to the same spot which was equally stunning in the sunrise and it was in the electric embers of the night.
I love running in the cool of the morning. watching the sky change colors, seeing the clouds reflected in the Arno river and seeing how empty the streets really can be if you're willing to wake up before the crowds. there's a calm in the air that has a motivating energy, and every time I push myself a bit faster I gasp and pull more of that motivation inside of me. I love it.
Running also means I'm settling in more. I know the streets now, I usually know roughly where I am in the city and I know how to get home. It feels good to settle in more and explore the city with more confidence.
Friday we finally decided to bite the bullet and waited an hour and a half in line to obtain our Friends of the Ufizzi pass. This pass, if you're under 26, means you pay 40 euro and have unlimited access to all the state run museums for a year. Not a bad deal considering it also allows you to skip lines and did I mention unlimited access... for the year? The even more impressive thing about them is you don't actually have to wait in line for an hour and a half to get one. I learned the hard way so hopefully you don't have to. You can walk right into a separate side of the ticket office (still Door #2, just the side without 200 people standing in line) and immediately sit on a nice little bench and fill out a form. We were told this once we reached the front of the line at the ticket office. bah. Once you complete the form and pay you can walk out with your pass that very same day. We decided to break the passes in right away and spent today wandering around Boboli Gardens and the Pitti Palace's 'Modern art' section... which is nothing like what you're thinking. Modern art at this museum are paintings and sculptures of Napoleon, marble sculptures of women and cherubs, still life, and enormous paintings of war scenes... among other things. It was really wonderful. The gardens were also amazing. Here are a few pictures:
Tomorrow we're planning to go to the Accademia to see Michelangelo's David, and next week I have dreams of visiting Cinque Terre and the Uffizi before I start work. I'll post more pictures soon.
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