brrrr

Thursday we went to Florence for our first field trip. We ice skated to the train station on the freshly iced streets of castiglion fiorentino. I fell on my back within a minute of walking out the door, leaving me with a nicely bruised palm and body. We got on the train on time and it wasn't as rough of a ride as I had imagined. Overall, the weather was bitterly cold with Italy receiving rare "Russian Winds" that usually only the north of Italy receives. After 3.5 hours of standing outside and walking from site to site and  in unheated churches (while snowing), I was legitimately scared for the first time of my life about frostbitten toes (and I had two pairs of socks on). We've heard its a record breaking winter for Italy...greaaatt. After tours, we had lunch at a place called "the brush"  which was really good and warm + we got dessert (we only receive fruit for dessert at the study center so that was very exciting). I am always craving sweets now. After lunch, we were able to wander through Florence and go to the stores. We got home and made it back before dinner!

Santa Maria Novella

the duomo

the baptistry

we met Michelangelo (his real tomb at Santa Croce)

the antipasti at 'the brush'

main dish

dessert--ice cream with chocolate sauce, ice cream was slightly bitter but good