I’m finally in Florence! But I had to go through many struggles to get here. My day was rough to say the least. Today was my first day of “winging it”. It all started in Heathrow airport. Let me just say I am not a fan of British Airways. They’re too strict and they almost made me pay extra for my luggage AND for my backpack. Not happening. Next time, I REALLY NEED TO PACK LIGHT. The actual flight was only 2 hours but I had to go pee in the middle and I was sitting in the window seat. That meant I had to make the 2 other people get up just so I can get out and get in again. Not happening. So I waited til we landed. Their restrooms, compared to London, were actually really nice and clean. Then I had to buy train tickets from Pisa to Firenze … in Italian. Fail. I mean, I got the tickets but I probs sounded supa retarded. Then I had to find the train station. Which was a mission for me because by this time it was already dark. I found the station, but there was no one there so I thought I was at the wrong place. Then I saw the train to Pisa Centrale so I knew I was doing something right. When I got to Pisa Centrale, the rough times began. The station had no elevators or escalators, which meant I had to lug my laptop backpack, 30-pound hand baggage, and my 50+ pound suitcase luggage (talk about packing light!) down 2 flights of stairs from one platform and back up 2 flights of stairs to get to the platform I needed to get to. I honestly don’t know how I was able to do that. It was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever done in my life. I felt like such a noob.  Once I was on the train, I was beat. I kept getting paranoid when the train made a stop cause I wasn’t sure if that was my stop or not. At this point I felt sooo lost. I really had no idea what the heck I was doing. Then I heard this Filipino lady talking on the phone and let me tell you I have never been so relieved to hear some familiar words and sentences in my life. hahah Thank you, random Filipino lady on the train for making me feel a little better about being in a foreign country. I arrived at the Firenze Santa Maria Novella station around 10:45pm.. or freakin’ 22:45. Ahh I’ve never gonna get used to this military time business. It’s too complicated. I went outside and got a taxi to take me to my hostel. I was so braindead and just exhausted at this point, I didn’t even try to communicate much with her. I just told her I only spoke a little Italian and just gave her my address. Done and done. Now I’m here. Yay! & alive! I was so relieved to walk into my hostel and be greeted in English by the guy at the counter. This hostel is pretty legit. They have wifi, ELEVATORS, a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, gym, sauna, turkish bath and laundry. Love me some Plus Hostels. When I got into my room, the other girls were already sleeping, which was good because I was not at all in the mood to socialize. So I got all settled in and went online to tell my mom I arrived here safely. Then randomly, these French people came into my hostel room for a bit. They were very friendly but they had to move rooms because my room was an all-girls room. I hope the room stays like this all night.

Ahh I’m so ready to be all settled in my Italian apartment already! I won’t have Wifi, but it’s all good. I’ll figure something out. And I really need to get an Italian cellphone soon because it’s hard not having one. YAY too excited for tomorrow! But first I need to sleep off all this stress from today. Lessons for the day: 1. There’s always an adventure in “winging it”. 2. PACK LIGHT!!!!!! Buona notte!