Fiesole

I finally made it out to Fiesole.  As soon as I stepped off of the bus, I felt as if I had jumped into the scenery of a painting.  It was breathtaking.  The air was so crisp and fresh.  The trees danced subtly with the wind.  The streets were clean and waiting to be explored.  I must say that I am more in love with Fiesole than I am with Firenze.  Something about the serene atmosphere of the entire place had--in the best words possible to describe it--almost a spiritual epiphany-like quality.  Its a place where I just want to sit, breath in everything surrounding me, and just come to appreciate the beauty.  I feel so blessed to be living in Italia.  I'm living a life that many others can only dream about.

On another note, the trip to Fiesole was an interesting one to say the least.  I had originally planned to just go with a new friend I had made in class, a fellow "Hawaiian" named Mahea, but my roommates and I had all planned to go to Fiesole together eventually so I invited them along c:  After finally arriving at San Marco, we almost got ripped off trying to buy our bus tickets.  We only needed a ticket to and back from Fiesole but the old man at the bus stop kept trying to tell me that I needed four bus tickets to go to and back.  #touristproblems.  But all my bitterness towards the old man went away as soon as I stepped onto the bus.  I've never seen such a cute bus.  The colors were bright yellow and orange (the main reason why I liked it so much!) and you can't not be happy when you see such bright colors like those!

Fiesole!

To give a little background on the quaint town of Fiesole, it existed even before Firenze was built.  Firenze was all wet lands back when Fiesole was thriving!  You can still see some of the leftover Greco-Roman art here and there throughout the town!  Today, Fiesole is a tourist attraction for those visiting Firenze and want to take a break from all the artwork.  They can come to Fiesole   Mahea pointed this out today but I guess I never really realized it until she said it: Being in Italy is like living in my textbooks.  All those monuments and artworks that I've read so much about, written countless papers on, its all here right before my eyes.  I was a little disappointed because the amphitheater had an entrance fee that all of us were too broke to pay for.  Maybe next time!

Greco-Roman Art!

After exploring the town for a little bit longer, we found a mini park and decided to have our lunch, picnic style.  If it was just a little bit warmer, it would have been the best picnic ever!  We stopped by a pastry shop on our way back to the town center to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy a pastry!  Mmmm...Fiesole is definitely my kind of town.

Picnic time!

Yours truly enjoying her shot of espresso!