Two Davids

Even though we'd seen another very special secret chapel with a grand painting of the procession of the three muses, the real highlight of the day for me was seeing Michaelangelo's David--twice.

The first time I saw the original David in a museum called The Academia. While we were in line, two street sellers got into an argument about who could put their wares where. The underground economy in Italy is incredibly vibrant, and its well-developed system could be seen in these turf wars.

After a relaxing lunch and my immigration class, everybody headed off to spend money in return for fancy Italian leather bags. Shopping for leather bags was the last thing I wanted to do. I really wanted to go to the Palazzo Michaelangelo, a plaza about 40 minutes from the hotel with a gorgeous view of Florence. But it was late, and I didn't know how to get the bus ticket I needed for the next day. So I followed the leather bag group.

Halfway to the leather bags though, I had a change of heart. I realized this was the only chance I'd ever have to see all of Florence at sunset, so I went for it. I had to get bus tickets for Siena first, however. I tried the first bus stop, but they directed me elsewhere until I was totally lost. So I asked somebody from the area for directions, and within 10 minutes had gotten my tickets and was ready for the plaza.


I walked for about 40 minutes before I reached the plaza. On my way, I'd met a guy named Andrei, a social worker who works with unemployed people. I also met two girls, Laura and Anna, both of which were students from Austria. The more I stood at the plazza, the more happy I was that I didn't go leather bag shopping. Those people were down on the ground spending their hard earned money. And here I was, on top of the world.


I had done it myself. I'd walked alone, found a bus ticket, met new people, and broke away from the group to do what I wanted to do. I went to sleep very proud of myself.