So the end of visitation week ends :[
We had an absolutely wonderful week with everyone. Having you all here was such a refreshing thing. It was great fun showing them the city, being personal translators (atleast trying!), and trying our hardest to force down all of that delicio....er disgusting food all week! Glad we could help with that. But really, what an eventful week and a way to break up the months of homesickness. It really made Jess and I miss home even more in a way. I love it here and am having the time of my life, but it will still feel wonderful to get back home and see everyone again.
I want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes. Thanks to Dave for the mixer, which will get lots of use and love here - sorry we couldn't thank you in person. Just hearing the news from home and having the great company was such a wonderful way to spend my birthday.
So on Satuday, Jess had a whole wonderful day planned out. She took me out shopping all morning and we didn't have much luck, but we had alot of fun dressing me in Italian fashions. Unfortunately, Italian men apparently have stick figure chests, so the shirts fit me perfectly everywhere except right in the chest. Blahhhh. So Jess took me to lunch at a restaurant in the center of town that had really really good soup. So we got some delicious Zuppe Vedura, which is kind of a minestrone or vegetable soup. Afterwards, jess took out the money to pay the guy, and he gave her like 50 cents short and said 'the tip isn't included, so yeah' and leaves. We checked out the bill which clearly stated and charged us for a %15 tip. So not only did the waiter steal Jess' 50 cents but he also straight faced lied to us. But oh well, afterward we went back to a store on Via Caliziouli. We found a really nice pair of Italian leather shoes which Jess bought for me for my birthday present :] They are really really nice and make me feel like I'm a businessman or something, haha. After dinner with my parents and Claudio, Fabio and Fiamma we went out to Loch Ness with friends and had a great time. It was a really wonderful day, one of the best birthdays ever. :)
So yesterday, the last day here for my parents, was pretty eventful! We started the day off by meeting and going into St. Mark's. The museum part, which is an old monastery built by the Medicis and it is filled with Fra Angelicos and Bartolomeos. But it was a really refreshing museum as it wasn't just a sensory overload of art. The history of the place was thick and it was very peaceful and spiritual. Its actually a very moving place to visit. The best part (in my opinion) was the library. It was the first public library built in Europe. It had, in the 15th century, 700 books to its name donated by the Medici family! Considering that's pre-printing press that is an extraordinary number. They had some of the books on display in temperature and humidy controlled cases and they were really wonderful to see.
Well, after a quick lunch we decided to try and swing through a small museum about Roman Florence. However, halfway there mom tripped and got a nasty cut on her face. Even though this was a nasty experience and we could tell it needed stitches - it really turned out to be a positive experience in the end. A wonderful street artist, an Iraqi woman who had lived in Italy for 25+ years and spent some time as a nurse was very kind and helpful and helped translate to the ambulance for us. They took her over to the nearby hospital where she was all glued up and well taken care of. The Italian government picked up the tab, as healthcare in Italy is gratis. Universal Healthcare, woohoo! Unfortunately, her glasses were broken and scratched. We found a glasses shop that repaired them within five minutes and then surprised us by telling us it was on the house! The people of Florence a just genuinely very kind.
After this, Jess and I passed out on my parents' beds, which are actually very comfortable. We got some dinner and said our goodbye's :[ Our second in two days. Sad, but not so much considering what a wonderful week it was.
I should probably get back to studying. Oh well. Thank you guys for such a wonderful week!
Love always,
Bill
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Hello from America! We just got home from our first day back to work which was exhausting but exciting, too, as we shared all our wonderful stories with anyone who would listen, and gave out some souveniors our fellow nurses and teachers. Actually, Pat doesn't think our steak restaurant was the one he went to. Can you imagine there's another place that has steak just as good! Our trip back was much more comfortable as the plane was half empty and we were able to change seats. I actually had a three seat row to myself! We were 30 minutes ahead of schedule, David was waiting for us in the terminal, and the ride home wasn't too bad. Our first stop in East Haven was Tolli's for take out dinners. For sure not as good as Jess and Bill's restaurant or the great food we ate all week, but very comforting knowing we were back home. I can't even begin to express what the past ten days were like. It was undoubtedly the best vacation I've ever taken(I think Dad agrees).Being with you two in such a beautiful city was beyond belief. We are so proud of you and how much you've absorbed and taken in during just six weeks. Everything you've learned you shared with us! The whole experience of it all was so much better with you guys as our tour guides, chefs, companions, but mostly two wonderful children that your parents are so proud of. We are so blessed to have your two brothers who helped at home,so we could really relax and enjoy ourselves.And, FINALLY, Grandma is satisfied that we met up with Fiamma, Cladio, and Fabio.Of course, she will continue to ask if you're going to call them again!Well, it was all wonderful, even the side trip to the hospital as you said. We will treasure the memories forever and know that the next two months will contine to be more of the same for both of you. We love you!Diece Benedici!Love, Mom and Dad
Welcome home to the Farleys! Hope Mom Farley is feeling ok now after her eventful "trip" to the hospital.
I completely agree with Mom Farley...everything she said...well maybe not anything to do with Claudio, etc but everything else that we did.
Bill, I am gald you had a great birthday, shopping, eating, and drinking with friends to top it off...sounds like a perfect day.
Jo and John...your flight sounds a lot better than ours. Ours was packed as it was on the way and very noisy with someone behind me banging the back of my seat periodically throughout the trip. The good news was that we arrived 1/2 hour early as well. I don't know about you but I arrived at Rob's apartment by 6:30 and was asleep by 6:35.
Bill and Jess, i will send some pics for you to have or put up on the website if you so choose.
Love,
Mom Muirhead
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