I MADE IT!

It was a long day and half or so of flying, (I can't quite remember how long it was with all those time changes) but I've arrived.  Flights were ok, but of course for my first flight half way around the world I end up with two kids in the row in front of me on a red eye. Somehow despite their sugar high and excitement, I managed to get a bit of sleep.  


I first landed in Frankfurt with a 5 hour lay over, which on lack of sleep seemed much longer. I knew I was in Germany the minute I walked into the Airport to the smell of sausages and saw every vendor with a long chalkboard list of unqiue beers ready to be poured.  It was definitely a warm WELCOME TO GERMANY!

Then it was back on the plane to head to Florence, where I met some great people on my flight.  One woman was from New York who was telling me about her whirlwind weekend with Hurricane Irene. Then she wrote down all of her suggestions of things to see in Siena, where she was staying and had lived years earlier... I can't wait to explore and work through her list of suggestions.

On arrival in Florence, I was picked up at the Airport, then it was an hour or so on the Autostrada (Freeway), then it was on to the windy little roads. It was just like the pictures, or in the movies, where there was houses up every hillside, with casacading greenery and trees all over the hills. Beautiful! Did I mention it was quite warm?  It was about 7pm and felt about as warm as 4-5pm back home. I got to the Apartment, to a note saying all of the other interns were at work. The apartment is nice, women have the upper apartment and Guys have the apartment downstairs.

Later that night I got to meet Sarah, Morgan and Gabe, my roommates, fellow interns and the people that I will share this amazing adventure with. They all seem great.   I'm super excited.  We have one more person coming next week from London to add to our group.   


I have one day off before I start at La Petraia, and today we are going to drive to the store in the next town.   I'll relax for the rest of the day, and get myself ready to start work tomorrow.  I can't wait!


I've attached a photo taken from my apartment window.  How lucky am I?
(click on the photo below to enlarge it)

Ciao!