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Beautiful, eh?
I’ll share photos that I will take when I come back next week.
[Source: google images]
Tags: Florence, Pisa, Italy, vacation, conference, Euro-Filipino network
POSTED IN: Personal Experiences
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Traveling the Green Way
October 28th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
…if you will go to Firenze the first thing u have to visit is the flea marker behind the Duom di Firenze. that is the place that looks like Baclaran and has all the italian leathers on sale and other things. majority of the vendors are from the middle east. at the Duomo across from it you will see the Baptistry. the door is 24 karat gold plate that is the reason when the night falls, there is a metal bars that goes up to barricade the door of the baptistry. the Duomo itself has the original floors and there is a stairs that goes all the way up to the tower and dome. there is fee of course. then from Duomo you can go to Piazza Strozzi and check the area in Via del Bianchi. there are also lots of store in there. be careful of the gypsy pickpocketers, they are all very sleak. it you are in a budget, infront of the Duomo are eateries and fast food. they are reasonably priced and if you want Gelato, there are lots of Gelateria in the area. at the train station, be careful of pickpocketers also. if you will board the train bound for Rome, buy your bottle water in one of the convenient store. it is more cheaper than buying at the train station. on Via Monalda, you can make a turn going thru the market place and then go to the bridge where all the Italian gold are being sold. i have never seen so much jewelry store located in one place and up on the bridge, lining both side of the Vecchio. remember, when you are at the flea market, huggle the prizes and they will give in to you. the vendors will even spray their leather jackets with lighter fluid and burn it infron of you. they are good leather. in the heart of the flea marker, walking away from the Duomo is a marker, like a Tiangge. downstairs are all italian chocolates and pasta and sausage store. the aroma is so good and on the 2nd floor are fruits and vegetable. if you are buying the freshfruit, you cannot pick what you want. the vendors are going to yell at you. they will pick the fruits for you, no tasting allowed until offered to you. buy you italian chocolates downstairs from this market their are cheap and good too. if you are intending to do some long driving, which i did, from Firenze(Florence) to Rome, be sure you have a good heart. the autostrata is one hell of a highway for those who are hell drivers. there are so much things to see and visit in Firenze. always say Grazie to all italians and they will love you for it. you will meet plenty of kababayans who will smile when you smile and greet them. they are also accomodating. if you go to Rome stay in Via Aurelia in Antica. this is 5mins bus ride to the VATICAN and the heart of Rome, plus it is not crowded and lots of seminaries, including the Collegio Filipino and the Collegio Suda America and the Collegio Sinenses (Chinese) make the most of your visit in Firenze and learn to explore. be careful if you explore the side street. see to it that there are lots of people and you have company. there are plenty of Carabinieris to help you. you will find lots of middle eastern vendors in every corner selling fake watches, DVD, sunglasses and other knicknacks. i have stayed in Firenze more than 3 weeks and i love everyminute of it.by the way, if you order bottled water, the waiter will ask you “SCOOZI SENORA…DO YOU LIKE YOUR BOTTLED WATER ..GAS OR NO GAS?” interpretation: DO YOU WANT YOUR BOTTLED WATER CARBONATED OR NON CARBONATED. because some Europeans prefer carbonated water. San Pellegrino water is prevalent in the place. CHOW BELLA. BUONA FORTUNA!
October 30th, 2006 at 9:34 pm
[…] You probably know that my co-blogger and lovely sister has gone off to Florence, leaving me to tend to things here at Filipina Soul. While I wish I were with her and her family, she did promise to send me some chocolate. So I’ll be good and continue to slave away while waiting for her to return. Keep me company, OK? […]