Wednesday was the most amazing day I’ve had in Florence so far. Being in a different country for an extended period of time lends itself to new discoveries. For an assignment in my photography class, we had to take pictures that conveyed the different photographic elements: contrast, leading lines, etc. Having the opportunity to take pictures of a beautiful city is not a bad way to spend an hour. Usually when I walk through the streets of Florence, I go the same way each time. Through the same piazzas and streets to get where I need to be, but that day was different. On Wednesday, I decided to get lost and see what would happen. Lucky for me, Florence isn’t huge, so you usually end up back at the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio or Piazza della Repubblica no matter what.

I ventured through the winding streets and went off the main roads. Each street I crossed presented a decision, and I randomly strolled down various roads until I found something interesting. To my surprise, I found a place I’d heard of, but not yet seen: the Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, a local food market in Florence. A friend in my history of food and culture class told me that it’s a must for fresh fruits and vegetables.

I’d been wandering for a while when realized I was completely lost. Despite being alone, I wasn’t scared. I took the next left turn and walked down another street until I found a Piazza. One of the downsides of living in a foreign country is the lack of wifi. If you’re lost, you can’t just put the address into your Smartphone, but I figured that once I found out which Piazza it was, I could orient myself to the next major monument (Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Repubblica). It turned out to be Santa Croce, a famous church in Florence that I visited for my art history class. It also happened to be five minutes from my school, so I knew exactly where I was.

As my directionally challenged panic subsided, I continued my wandering. It led me to a souvenir store so that I could send my Penn State roommate a postcard. Being the only one in the store, the owner and I started chatting (in Italian!) Granted, it was broken on my part, but it was Italian nonetheless. I paid for my postcard and walked out feeling the most confident since I’ve been here! It may be difficult, but it is possible to get around in a foreign country. You learn as you go: the language, the customs, the culture, etc.

On Wednesday, I really got to know the city where I’m living. Although it was with purpose, the best thing you can do is wander.

wandering down a random street in Florence

statue outside of Santa Croce

Piazza Ghiberti, where the Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio is located