Things are looking up in Florence! It is beautiful outside, and just about time to retire jackets and bring out the tank tops. Tourist season has started which means I stop using my bike to pick up Dante from school because of the sea of people that don’t move for anything, especially not when I’m yelling “Brrrrrinnnnnggggg Brrrrrrrrringgggg!” because somebody has stolen my bike bell, my kickstand and my light (on different occasions). But I have moved into a bigger apartment back in the Oltrarno; my favorite side of the river filled with artisans, gardens and friends. The windows face the Boboli Gardens so that the bedroom is light and airy with the perfumes of so many flowers drifting in. This also means that Dante has more room to play and I can have dinner parties, or Brunchy-Lunchy which is my new weekend favorite thing.

Aside from location, there are new friends that are fantastic, new exercise routines like power yoga, and new daily routines like meeting for coffee and pastries. I love the kind of life that allows time to stop and chat with friends before and after work, go out for a stroll or play games. Coupled with a nice prosecco or a sun-tea and life is good. Florence can be really great once you get into the groove and just let go.