Dear Florence,
It’s been five months since I last saw you. Which is more than the amount of time we were even together, but you still seem to occupy my mind most days. I miss the way your alleys were filled with the smell of fresh pastries in the early morning and echoed at night with beautiful music sung in an enchanting language I barely knew how to interpret. Conversations that I would try to comprehend, even though most of the time I failed, were the most alluring sounds I have ever heard. I miss the diversity of people who occupied your every corner. From fashionistas, to families,to locals who have lived there all their live lives, to artists, to chefs, to musicians. From Americans living out their dreams, to travelers, to tourists, and even study abroad students. That’s who I was when I met you. When I had no idea about how much you would change my life.
You gave me more than I could ever ask for. Our time together was the most exciting, enlightening, breathtaking, and best couple months of my life thus far. When I decided to study abroad I never knew how much I would learn about you and about myself. I will never be able to thank you enough for the people you lead me to, the places you showed me when I was lost, and the adventures you gave me everyday. You have a limitless amount of mysteries. Whenever I thought I knew you inside and out, you surprised me with even more. You showed me that I will never understand how large this world is. That there is always something new to see, to learn, to eat, to be, to try, and to experience. You showed me that there is nothing more exquisite than embracing a new culture for everything it is. You showed me how to accept that everything will be okay and to just let life happen. Before you, I lived in my own world. It wasn’t until we knew each other for a while that I realized how many lessons you were going to teach me.
Your sites are hypnotizing, your culture is embracing, and your beauty has left me smiling to myself just walking down the street. You hold so much history and art, but also a countless amount of my own memories. Thank you Florence for showing me how beautiful the world is and that I want to spend the rest of my life seeing it. Thank you for letting me be carefree, showing me how independent I am, teaching me lessons and helping me grow to become the person I want to be. Thanks for giving me another home and a million and one adventures. Thanks for letting me be a child and ride your carousel in the Piazza della Repubblica, but also for giving me the perfect place to sketch and eat gelato on the steps of Santa Croce. Your random food festivals always added excitement to my day; my favorite was the chocolate one, of course. From the bustling markets to the secret bakeries, you had it all; however, Mercato Centrale was always the best place to get the best Italian delicacies (sorry, Conad). Plus, don’t even get me started on the shopping. Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo got their start up with you. Window shopping was one of my favorite ways we would spend an afternoon together, but we know I spent all my money on the leather market. Spending so much time with you taught me all the tricks about bargaining, who to buy from, and how to make a good deal. You gave me so many tips that I use everyday in life. Also, I love how you have a wild side. From Lion’s Fountain, to Yab, to Red Garter, and every other amazing bar and club in between. There was never a night I couldn’t enjoy a few drinks and walk across the Ponte Vecchio under the night sky. You were always alive no matter what time of day it was.
Now I want to let you know about how unique you are. That your qualities and characteristics are some of the many reasons why I fell in love with you. From the first time I saw the sun set on top of Piazzale Michelangelo, I knew I was hooked. Florence, you will always have a place in my heart from your cobblestone streets, gorgeous churches, delicious paninos, and hidden secrets that fill the city. The amazingly cheap and delicious wine at every meal, your creation of Aperitivo (which is basically the best happy hour to ever exist), and your sensational pizza. Nothing like I have ever tasted before. I miss the millions of options you gave me for a morning pastry and cappuccino. And even more for the gelato. Although you always knew which one of yours I liked best (Gelateria dei Neri of course). Those are just small things though. What really made my love grow for you was your art. You hold one of the greatest pieces ever made, Michaelangelo’s David. And just in case you want to opt out of the line to see the real one, you have copies scattered around as well. You transformed me back into time. When we were together I got to see what the Renaissance was like and feel as how it must have been back then. Without you, I don’t think history would have ever seemed so real. Lastly, my favorite thing about you is your heart, The Duomo. Especially the way it stands out even on the gloomiest of the days, which we know you have a lot of.
To you, I may have been anonymous, another person who went in and out of your life, but to me you will always have a piece of my heart. I can’t wait until we meet again.
Sincerely,
A former study abroad student that misses you dearly
P.S. I find it really weird that not many people know your real name is Firenze. But then again, those are the people that haven’t had the chance to formally introduce themselves.
