Cinque terre was awesome and filled with a ton of hiking. My original plan was to head to Interlaken Switzerland after chinque terre but my legs were all ready a little sore from the last two days so I booked two nights in Florence Italy. I wanted to make sure I was in tip top shape for the swiss alpes. I also thought it would be a good idea to add a city in between two nature destinations. So I booked my very first youth hostel, hoped on the train, and was off to the lovely city of Florence.
The two train rides were only a few hours each. The first train had individual compartments filled with 6 seats each. Very similar to the trains in harry potter for those of you that know what I mean. So the train was getting pretty full and my seat reservation was in a cabin filled with 4 out of the 6 people including me. With the seat next to me being free. Well on the next stop another person got on and a mom with three little kids got on as well. I guess if the kids are below 2 years old or something they don't need a reservation. So here I am in this cabin with 9 people and 6 seats including all our luggage and a stroller. It was definitely an interesting train experience. It even included little kids climbing on me and the mom breast feeding her baby beside me.
By the end I was definitely looking forward to switching trains. The next train was seated like an airplane and I had the window seat with a free seat next to me so I could spread out. It was nice being able to rest my head against the window, listen to my iPod, and rest my eyes. About half way through the train ride a decently scruffy guy sat beside me and I was pretty sure he didn't even have a ticket. In addition he was glancing over at my iPod quite frequently out of the corner of his eye. Either he was trying to see what Milley Cyrus song I was listening to ( it was party in the U.S.A by the way haha) or he was looking to run off with my iPod. I am pretty sure it was the second option. So when the train would come to various stops I would just squeeze my iPod and backpack firmly as if it were Mr. Bear or like a little kid being dropped off at day care for the first time squeezing their parents.
I arrived in Florence with all my belongings and ready to head to the hostel. The bus stop was the very last stop and was pretty far from the downtown area which was kind of unfortunate. To get to the hostel it was like a quarter mile walk from the bus stop ina forest with trees towering over top. When I arrived at the youth hostel it looked just as cool as it did in the pictures. It was originally a family's huge mansion that got converted into a youth hostel. It had the fancy double staircases as you walked in, a little garden area, and even the classic large fountain with the circular driveway in front of the front door. But the looks were about the only good thing. I went up to reception to get my key and everything and it was more like I was in a poor hotel or almost like renting a car. In most hostels they tell me their name, give me a map of the city, show me where the grocery store and atm is, the top 5 things to see and do, personally walk me to my room and show me around, and various other things. This hostel just gave me the room and told me when checkout was and were the sheets were. I figured it was not a huge deal. I had been spoiled with so many hostels I can't always expect that. So I decided to stop by the bathroom before I went to my room. . . . it was far from a 5 star Marriott. It was about the same as Penn States freshman dorm bathrooms which is comparable to a train station bathroom in Croatia with showers. I'm a flexible person and not to picky so it wasn't a big deal. Just wanted to make sure i used my shower flip flops so I wouldn't have green feet by the end of the trip or an extra toe. So then off to my room. At this point I didn't know what to expect. So I put my key in the door and I heard a voice say one minute in broken up english. After about one minute a guy opens up the door and says allo . . . . . about 48 years old, no pants, white tiddys on at least, window open smoking a cigarette, lip was bleeding from shaving I guessed, and smelled like a strange after shave mixed with old furniture. I said a polite hello back. Set my luggage down. Grabbed my day pack and just walked out of the room. I didn't even know how to react to that.
I had a nice evening walk around the city stopping at different vendors, watching the sun set over the Domo, and admiring the architecture. I actually got pretty caught up in walking around and looking at stuff I missed the very last direct bus to the hostel so I had to take an alternative bus that was a little further of a walk but not a huge deal. I probably did more walking that evening then both days of cinque terre. Distance wise that is. Definitely not elevation.
My favorite part was getting one single apple at this local fruit shop for some reason. When walking around a city by myself I like to check out different vendors and grab some interesting foods here and there to eat as I walk. So I decided to check out this little fruit shop that sold nothing but about 6 different kinds of fruit and that was it. So I grabbed an apple and gave the money to the old Italian couple and said thanks. Before I was about to walk out he said something in Italian which I assumed was wait wait wait. And he brought me over to the sink and showed me how to wash it and pat it dry. It was just so funny how this guy took so much pride in his fruit. He was showing me how to pat it dry as if it was a little child. So I left and took a bite. Probably one of the best apples I have ever eaten. I don't know if it was because maybe I was a little hungry or what but it was amazing. I pretty much left 4 seeds and a stem by the time I was done.
By the time I got back back every one in my room was asleep and it was fairly aired out by then. Thank god.
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