I am back in Firenze! After two weeks in California, filled with dinners and visiting the family and friends, I am back in Florence. I arrived last night at 8pm after two flights and two trains took me as far as they could. At the train station, a kindly gentleman offered to help me with my heavy duffel bag as I made my way from the platform to the main part of the station at Santa Maria Novella. He was able to stop halfway however, as Cazzatore made his way over to me with a little bouquet of mimosa flowers that are given for today’s holiday, Women’s Day. He grabbed my two bags and took them all the way to my home.

California was beautiful when I arrived. It appeared that Spring had taken over and was going to stay. (It ended up raining most of the two weeks.) I spent a lot of time with my dear friends, drinking wine and celebrating life. Of course, I also spent a lot of time getting together my paperwork to get a new visa at the Italian Consulate. Unfortunately, when I got there, I was told that I couldn’t get a new visa since I already had a functional one. The gentleman and I spoke entirely in Italian, and he was very nice, but told me that I need to request an extension at the Questura in Florence. I was dismayed to learn that I had traveled all the way back and spent my entire tax refund on the plane ticket, for nothing. And considering my last visit to the Questura (see permesso entry), I am very unhappy to discover that the possible answer to my pleas will be there. I tried to make the best of the situation, I changed my plane ticket almost immediately. The new date was Friday the 6th of March, a mere 10 days earlier. The price however, was worth it, as I missed my dear city immensely.

Friday came and as prearranged, C.R. and I met about 10 of my dear friends in San Francisco for lunch. We saw Michael Rapaport (actor) there as well, though none of us approached him ( I learned from the Dennis Quaid incident). After brunch, several of us made our way to Dolores Park to drink wine and beer and relax in the beautiful Frisco sunshine. At around 1:40pm, C.R. brought me to the airport to begin my journey back home. And Saturday evening, I finally arrived.

Since today was a holiday for me and my feminine companions, Cazz made me breakfast and we sat out on his sunny balcony to enjoy what has been a beautiful, warm and sunny day. Then we made our way into Central Florence to go for a walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo. We bought a little lunch to take with, and enjoyed an immense view, obscured only by the cigar smoke of the impolite lady in front of us.

It is almost 11 p.m. now and I am not a bit tired. But I will try to get to sleep anyways. I am pleased to note that a friend of mine has now moved into our apartment, so I have a trouble-buddy. Well, maybe not, but we’ll see. Tomorrow I go to the gym and then try to find a job! I hope it’s as lovely as it has been, but even if not, my spirits won’t be brought down because I’ve come home.