Day 5: Florence, Italy
FLORENTINE FASCINATION
Written by Tanner Tamaye, photos by Grace Klein
Rising before the sun, we groggily rubbed the sleep from our eyes. As in the fashion of the migrant lifestyle we have adopted the past 5 days, we packed up all our belongings and left the hotel room, hopeful nothing had been forgotten. Congregating in the lobby, we ate our breakfast and prepared for the day ahead. Boarding the bus, we geared ourselves for what we all knew would be a long ride.
What lay ahead of us was a 6 hour bus ride from Rome to Florence. As we hunkered down in our seats, we gazed out of our windows and were greeted by a sight that made the early morning worth it. Through the fog, the colors of the sunrise painted the sky over the Roman countryside a vibrant masterpiece. The clamorous chattering that filled the bus was soon replaced with silence slumbering as we all succumbed to our weariness. 3 hours later, we had arrived at our first stop—the Saturnian Hot Springs.
Stirred out of our respite by the sound of our tour guide’s voice or the nudging of friends, we awoke to see the natural beauty of the springs. Departing the bus for a short while, we steeped ourselves into the spring’s water, just as we have been immersing ourselves in the local culture. The warm waters remedied any cramps or tension in our bodies from the trip, renewing our spirits for the rest of the ride. After a quick stop at a small shop for lunch and 3 more hours on the bus, we had finally arrived in Florence.
Disembarking the bus, we headed straight for the Duomo, our first destination. Standing in line, we braced for the climb ahead of us. The obstacle standing between us and the top of the Duomo was one thing—463 steps. The climb to the top was filled with sporadic singing and laughter. A short 20 minutes later, and we had reached the top. Looking out over the city of Florence was truly breathtaking. After taking in the views and a few photos, we descended the Duomo.
We then broke off into groups to explore the street vendors, and a few tried their hand at bartering. With our wallets a few euros lighter, we headed towards the Uffizi gallery, home to some of the most famous works of art. While inside, we admired Botticelli’s depiction of Roman myths, intricate marble carvings, various illustrations of the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection of Christ and countless more pieces of art. After filling our hearts in the Uffizi, we sought a different kind of fulfillment - dinner. With full hearts, we enjoyed our meal and returned to the bus. As we traveled to our hotel, we inwardly reflected on the once-in-a-lifetime experiences of the day. Arriving at our hotel, we splintered off to our rooms. With full stomachs, overflowing hearts, weary legs, and heavy eyelids, we looked forward to the adventure to come and bid the day goodbye.