VIP nightlife

So after my first week of classes was finished, we decided that we wanted to have fun this weekend.

Caitlin and I worked it out so that we dont have classes on Thursday or Friday. So Thursday we slept in (which is actually what we do a lot of the days because we are still not on a good sleep schedule and have trouble falling asleep at night).

Sidenote: our neighbors are playing the song ku fu fighting right now, and must have it on repeat because this is about the 5th time I have heard the song in a row now.

Anyways..Caitlin and I walked around with three of my roomates around Florence in the shopping district. We wanted to check out all the local artists and the shopping that is around here. While we found some very expensive American like stores, we also found very cute local stores with less expensive items. I have not bought anything though because I am only going to buy something that I really love so I can save money for traveling. We then picked up some more of our school books, and walked to the art store. Laurie Ann is an artist, and an amazing one (check out her work at http://www.laurieannejohnson.com) . Jenna, you would have been in heaven at this cute little art store, it was so adorable that I even bought some of nice writing markers. Well she had to buy well over 300 American dollars for her art supplies and we helped her lug them back home. Boy, was it a lot. Who knew that large canvases could feel like you were carrying a small dinosaur?

So after that, the girls and I all got dressed up to go for a night out on the town. We decided to walk to a bar called the Noir that is very classy and located near the Ponte Vecchio. We went there for appretivo, which is where you order a drink and get free appetizers buffet style. It was very crowded when we got there, so since there were eight of us, they escorted us to their...now wait for it....VIP room. So we were lead through some massive doors to a black velvet carpeted room, that was super classy and ritzy. Needless to say, we felt pretty great. I ordered a drink that was much too strong for my taste and only had a little bit of it. They seem to forget to put the juice and flavors in the drinks here and pour a lot of alcohol in instead, which is too much for me. (Being as my favorite drink is sparkling grape juice! haha)

So afterwards we decided we wanted to dance. We went to this dance club/bar called Twice. It was amazing because there was no cover charge like most of the other dance clubs, and you did not have to buy a drink to stay there (which was great cause the cheapest drink was 12 american dollars and a water bottle cost us 5 dollars when we did buy it). We had so much fun!

Anyways, the next day, our friend Billy from St. norbert and two of his roommates came to visit us. They are studying abroad in Rome. We were going to show them around Florence, until our first thunderstorm in Italy occured. But boy was it nice to finally have the weather cool off. Since Friday, it has been raining all weekend and the weather is cooling off. So the boys wanted to go out dancing, and we took them along with us to twice. But first we wanted to check out this other place we heard of called the fish pub. It was noisy and crowded so we headed to twice and danced the night away to the techno music that was the theme for the night. We had a ton of fun, and stayed out very late. I was exhausted the next day though, seeing as I am not used to staying out so late, especially two nights in a row (the night life scene isnt as thriving in good old de pere as it is here).

On saturday we just lounged around with my roomates and our visiting friends, and then cooked a large, delicious dinner for all of them. They wanted to go out again, and we were all a little tired, but being the hosts, we went out with them. (this was over my limit of how much I can go out!!) So when a series of events led us back home in less than an hour, I was very happy to jump into my pj's and watch a movie with Caitlin.

Today I lounged again and did homework. Lots of reading to do. But the classes are interesting, which makes it better. I have been feeling a bit sick (kind of like my bronchitis was coming back...so I have been resting and popping vitamin C pills all day). Hopefully the fact that I have been taking all my extra daily vitamins since I have been here will kick that little bug that keeps infecting me in the behind.

Anyways, I am going to go make dinner. Hope everyone back home is enjoying the cold weather that I hear is overtaking wisconsin, and that everyone abroad is enjoying their experience.

Love to you all

Amy