Europe Day 14: Familiarity

I committed a cardinal sin for European travelers today.

I ate lunch at McDonalds.  I know, I know.  But we really wanted a hamburger, and I really enjoy french fries, and it is pretty inexpensive and we are poor college students.

To make up for it, Kayla, Josh, Ashley and I went to a very legitimate Italian pizzeria.  So legitimate, in fact, that it is several blocks away from the central tourist area.  See, the area around the hotel we are staying absolutely everyone who owns any sort of shop speaks English.  Kayla and I ducked into a few places, and she had to use her Spanish skills to communicate with the shop keeper. 

It was called Gusta Pizza, and ten minutes after it opened for the evening it was cram packed with people.  All the tables are big barrels with stools around, and we squeeze around one with two other people who could not find a table of their own.  Loads of students filled the place.  The atmosphere was remniscent of Beth's Cafe in Seattle, where college kids go for a late night omelet.  I feel obligated to tell you; most of the students were American, so they all were speaking English, but that did not change the 'local' feel of the place.  As a matter of fact, I felt even more like I belonged; a solid part of a community of Americans squeezed into that itty bitty place.  We chatted with a few; they were from Oregon, California, and even Gonzaga University over in Washington.  One had even been to my school a few times. 

The food was cheap and utterly delicious-definitely the best I have had in Florence so far.  It was a wonderful feeling of belonging, and I desperately wish we were going to be around for a while longer so we could go back a few more times; it was definitely worth the walk!

Tonight is our last night in Florence.  Tomorrow we go to Rome.  I am excited, but I am certain I will be incredibly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who will have made the pilgrimage for Easter Sunday.  I must simply adjust my perspective and keep in mind that everyone else has just as much right to be there as me.

Again, I do not know the wifi situation, but I'll do my best to continue to post on a regular basis.