We departed on Friday afternoon from LAX. I was all prepared to it to be chaotic, especially since it was the Friday of the holiday weekend. We left our house at 3pm for a 7:30pm flight. First sign that things were out of the ordinary came when we hit almost zero traffic to the airport. Like when does that EVER happen? Then we get to the airport where we not only checked in with ease (and got those bags just under the max weight limit!) but breezed through security. We figured we'd wander throughout the terminal, get some food, etc. Wrong! Who knew that there are absolutely NO places to eat at the gates - all the dining establishments are found outside of security. So i ended up skipping back out to get us some food to bring back (a much better idea considering the ordeal it was to pull out all the toiletries and shoes and computer devices at security, scan the car seat and stroller, etc.....)
See what i'm talking about....empty!
So off we went on the first leg of our trip - 11 hours to Zurich. I was so impressed with Keegan - he did awsome. We had brought his car seat on board with us (which let me tell you, BARELY fit in the seat) and strapped him in. He slept a good portion of the flight and while he woke up disoriented a few times, he barely got fussy. I'm sure all the people sitting around me were very thankful for that!
We landed in Zurich after some sleep for Keegan and very little sleep for mom and I. But i've decided that this is my favorite airport of all time. They have this great family space where diapers can be changed, highchairs can be used and where there are tons of toys for the kids just to go nuts with. They even have a little room where baby and parents can take a nap! This place seriously rocks!
Of course, K was quick to find the trains to play with.
Eventually we had to leave this fun place (but hey, we have another layover on our way home, so we'll get to play there once again!) Then it was off to Florence. It was just a quick flight, only about an hour. But what a magical hour it was. The sights out the window of the plane was just awe-inspiring. Here's one that i snapped out of the plane window (leaning over K's seat)....
Seriously, this picture doesn't even begin to do it justice.
Here's Mr. K....just hanging out.
We arrived in Florence and took a taxi to our hotel where we would spend our first night. Driving in an Italian taxi is like having a conversation with God. Actually all of the drivers are crazy. They fit their cars down these tiny streets and they zip and zoom around people. I'm surprised more people don't die from car accidents in this town, because they are indeed crazy!
The next day we were moved into our apartment. The school is located near Santa Croce, so most of us are living in apartments in the historical center of the city, with a few students just across the Arno river. My apartment is just 2 blocks away from the Duomo - in fact, we can see the top of the cathedral from one of the bedroom windows. Our apartment is very nice and much bigger than i expected, so it is very comfy for us.
Here's the view from our living room:
We actually have three bedrooms and two bathrooms, which is very nice. But the showers in the bathroom are VERY tiny - it should be interesting when K and I try and shower in the am....
And a few pics of us..... Here's K and Grammy.....
And then one of my little man and me!
After my first day of school today (yes, much to my students dismay, we had class on Memorial Day, which i had to remind them is NOT a holiday in Italy - :) we decided to go for a walk in the city. Things go on much later here - to go out to dinner earlier than 7 or 8pm is out of the ordinary. We've already tried Italian pizza, pasta and of course, gelato (i'll let you guess which one is everyone's favorite!). Tonight we headed out to wander around the Duomo (where i saw Mike "The Situation" from the Jersey Shore filming a scene with his entourage. Of course my students are thrilled with the fact that they might "bump" into them (ok, the female students), but the locals are very OVER them being here and all their crazy partying obnoxious ways. I might have to pretend to be canadian. I tried to get a picture (only to prove to my students that i actually did see him), but the "entourage" wouldn't let me.
So you'll have to settle for a picture of the Duomo....which is a much more magnificent sight in my opinion.....
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