Florence, Italy

One of the great perks of working at an international school that has a high tuition (but not a high salary) and a well-known headmaster in the international teaching circuit are free trips, such as the one that 90 of my coworkers and I took to Florence in early November.  We spent 5 days at the Mediterannean Association of International Schools conference... but only about 5 total hours at the conference itself. (sidenote-  I will say I was one of the only ones from my school that went to 3 presentations, most didn't go to any.  Patt on the back...) 

Pictures of this city just don't do it justice; everywhere you turn is another view of something wonderful.  Although many go to Florence to see the David (which I did go see), Uffizi, Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, what I was most looking forward to was the food and shopping (big surprise, huh?).  Oh, I could go on for days about the food.  Pizza, pasta, gelato, waffles, cheese, wine, chocolate, fruit, bread... I would love to live in Italy but I'm afraid I may gain a few hundred pounds in the process.  Florence lived up to all my expectations (and memories from 12 years ago) and more.  I'd love to return in the summer and see what things look like in the sunshine instead of rain and overcast. 

One part of the conference that everyone attended was the Gala, held out of town a bit on a hillside.  We were told the gala was being held in the city center but after one hour on a bus, many of us were beginning to get worried as to where we were going.  But all fears were put to rest when we were dropped off in front of an old palace, owned by a family who has kids that attend the Florence International School.  They now rent the house out to big parties and weddings and boy, was it beautiful.  Just touring the house was amazing, let along the food, drinks, and dancing.  ASM (as we normally do) took over the dance floor for a night to remember.  I'm now in the process of planning a solo trip to Rome in February to do it all over again (but this time, unfortunately, I'll have to pay for it!) 

Getting read to leave in the airport

Ponte Vecchio in the background

Modern art inside an old cathedral- love the contrast

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

Baptistry Doors, or "Gates of Paradise" as Michelangelo put it

Piazza della Republica

Fil and I out one night

Two of my middle school teaching partners, Eric and Steve, at the Gala

Good friend of mine, Susan

Just a smigin of the beautiful ladies at ASM

Dana, my next-door-neighbor and travel partner

Mmmm... dessert at the Gala

Delicious... every last morsel was eaten

Amazing pasta dish

And even more amazing dessert

Fruit, pasta, cheese and wine galore

Fake David (can't take pics with the real one, unfortunately)

Looks like a painting, doesn't it?

Arrivederci, Linds