Florence, Italy

Nicole is a wonderful host. My first morning in Italy, Nicole let me sleep in, making her late for work but she didn't seem to mind. She took me to her favorite coffee shop for a latte and brioche and that began a very full day. Here's the highlights:

9am: Lattes at Nicole's favorite cafe and errands. Great conversation on the way.
10am : Tour of Nicole's office.
10:30 : Wait in line at the Uffizi Museum and meet a nice Korean American family from NY. Decide to not wait and go to another museum. On the way, call in my reservation to the Uffizi for tomorrow morning, as Rick Steves advised. No waiting for me!
11 : Enjoy the wonderful Barghello Museum.
Noon : Meet Nicole for lunch. She takes me to a great sandwich stand and a fun walking tour.
1pm : Nicole puts me on the bus for a 30min ride out to the country of Tuscany to visit the Lillestrand family. Feel very blessed as Nicole tells the bus driver where to drop me off since the bus stop doesn't even have a name.
1:30 : See Charmaine for the first time in YEARS and get to hang out with her and the kids (Greg is golfing with his team that day). So fun seeing her beautiful home and the kids are so very cute, so is Franklin the dog.
4: Take a quick walk around the vineyards in the neighborhood before getting on the bus back to Florence.
4:30 Got to find the bus stop to get back to Nicole's so I can get my bags and take them over to Marti's for the night. (Nicole is going out of town tonight). Finally find the bus stop and am waiting when Marti and Kelly (I led both the girls' new staff trainings) literally walk up to the same bus stop. Haven't seen Kelly since NST, so fun. Marti makes the trip stressless by taking me to her place. I love divine intervention. :)
5pm Go get my stuff at Nicoles, come back to Marti's and have a very fun conversation with Marti about life in Italy. I never knew Marti was so funny!
8pm: Marti and I take the bus into town. I'm going to my first Couchsurfing event and Marti is having dinner with old friends.
8:30 finally found Rex Pub, after asking like 4 people. Had a WONDERFUL time meeting couchsurfers from all over the world. We all have a few things in common, we speak English, we love to travel, we are adventureous, and we like to meet new people. That makes for a fun party.
11pm Wait at the bus stop to go to Marti's place. But wait, who walks up to the bus stop, yes, it's Marti! Another fun conversation and then off to bed.

What a fun and action packed day it was on my very first day in Italy. Just wait until tomorrow!