Who's that girl?

Somewhere in Tuscany

My 'Current' Top 5 (and I have them all!)

1. To live in Florence (with 15 degree highs in the winter!) ...

2. To eat good food everyday (Italians do it best!) ...

3. To live a spontaneous life (to do what I want, when I want) ...

4. To enjoy bike rides in the park (falling leaves and fresh air) ...

5. To have an 'attractive' running partner (see pic below!) ...

Una bella zona!

These pictures were taken yesterday... on Christmas! This is the neighbourhood I live in, located right next to the Arno. Note: not a single cloud in the sky and a high of 16 degrees C.

Today I took Lola on a run around Le Cascine, a quick 7k. She was so pooped out at the end that I was practically dragging her, but overall she makes for a great running partner. However, I think I will have to convince her to come with me tomorrow morning with a vanilla biscuit, her favourite treat.

Merry Christmas = Buon Natale = Auguri!

Saturday morning stroll (with Lola!)

I started the day with a peanut butter and jam sandwich, how Canadian is that?! Actually don't miss it all that much, but being in this house, which is half American, it fills all the cupboards.

Took Lola out for a long walk along the Arno, introduced to a few new dogs, sniffed and stared, the good life. It wasn't too bad for me either...the weather is perfect, doesn't feel like December, and the scenery is beautiful.

Plans for the day include grocery shopping, studying, aperitivo with a friend, possible bike ride later this evening. Tomorrow il Mercato delle Cascine is open, and it's just about 10 mins from my home, so I'm heading over there in the morning with a few girls from school.

kc

Me. My Bike. And Florence

ThankYou Postal Service!

cleaning out my stuff and found this today...

I am thinking it's a sign that the freckles

In our eyes are mirror images and when

We kiss they're perfectly aligned

And I have to speculate that God himself

Did make us into corresponding shapes like

Puzzle pieces from the clay

True, it may seem like a stretch, but

It's thoughts like this that catch my troubled

Head when you're away when I am missing you to death

Today I went to school

Fueled by a massive quantity of rice and lemon-lime gatorade, I mustered up the strength to walk the 7 minutes to school, and I got there in 13! I arrived only to find the classes nearly empty, as I had forgotten that a lot of friends had left for home this past weekend. At the risk of sounding trite, I blame my forgetfulness and lack of coherency on this damn influenza which has inflicted by body for the past 5 days. So, one of these evenings, the plan is to drag my poor, tortured frame out for some drinks with friends and attempt to stun it "mildly" with Cosmopolitans.

This afternoon, however, will be kept fairly low-key, catching up on missed homework and reading.

kc

Whoa is me!

2pm on a Monday afternoon and I am sick as a dog in bed...I think this is my seventh fever in two months and my second stomach virus. Yes I know, ouch! But, I will keep this light and say that I am now living in a large, bright apartment downtown, and I have wireless internet! So, being stuck in bed isn't nearly half as bad.

My Life...the Urban Fairytale

My first thought this morning was... "I am so lucky!!" Partly because I am in Florence, and to me, this city seems like a dream. Small cobbled streets, the Arno, markets, and the fact that I am back at school. But another reason is because I have met so many people, genuinely nice people whom I would like to have in my life for several years to come. Tonight I am meeting Amy and Teo, in fact, I should be heading over to their place shortly.

Being in Florence, I have so much time to do the things I want. I walk everywhere, take pictures, meet new people, and write write write! Every day there is a new collection of things to think about. No stress, just happiness. It's nice to keep in contact with everyone back in Canada, through this blog, in addition to email and messenger.

xt

Dove

And if she questions the sun
Why, why me
The sun doesn't answer
Oh God, can you help me
The answer is easy my love
You've built your own jail
You've always been part of the sky
So why'd you keep staying by his side
Away from me

Imagination

with every thought our journey begins again
and we will go on chasing the endless spots of creation
that hold me for hours
there's a rising sun along the dark horizon
as I'm driving through the flow of the rain

KLab, Conti

This gym is incredible, unlike any other gym I've been to. You enter and feel like you are in some kind of retreat. Cardio, aerobics, spinning, body sculpting, yoga, pilates, whirlpool, sauna, hammam.

Little Things

Bangs à la Gwen

I got a haircut today, blunt bangs, just like Gwen. Love it!

I found a gym, KLab, and have my first session tomorrow. It's a beautiful studio, new equipment, spa, sauna, steam room, turkish bath. The only thing is, I don't like the price... 440€ for 3 months! Ouch!! But, I've been told it's the best gym in the city and when you walk in, you definitely feel motivated to get your 'sweat on.' So tomorrow, I'm meeting Tania at 11am (she's already a member there) and we're going to work out together.

I was studying at the bookstore today and met a Sicilian girl named Anna Maria. She now lives in Rome and works for Alitalia, so she's travelled the world and speaks several languages. Her English was perfect, as she used to live in London. After a few hours, we exchanged telephone numbers and emails, and maybe in the spring I will visit her in Rome. It will be nice to return to that city.

More great news, I found a webcafe that has unlimited use and unlimited international telephone calls for 1€/day, so I no longer feel stressed spending 5-7€/day on internet with time limits. Made a quick call to mom to check out the line, and it worked! I am pleased.

Time to head home, cook up some pasta, and hit the books!

Weekend at Cinque Terre

Isn't this view incredible? Tomorrow I hop aboard a 7:30am train with a few friends from school, and two hours later, we land in this wonderful town named Cinque Terre. Bring on the comfortable shoes and recharged digital camera, it's going to be a fun day. It will be Chiho, Jiro, Paige and me, just the four of us. More details to follow...

Joining a gym today, close to my apartment, will have my first workout in Florence.

kc