Festival of Lanterns

Festival of Lanterns
Originally uploaded by catrberry

It's ten here, and I'm COMPLETELY exhausted.
I Skyped with my poor mother today and could barely maintain a conversation.
I think it's because I took Benadryl last night at like one. Because I'm itching everywhere. And I don't know why. My roomie has bedbugs, but I don't think that's what it is. I got some bug bites at the Boboli Gardens yesterday, but that's not the whole issue. Sighhhhhh.
At least the Boboli Gardens were beautiful. I couldn't sleep so I got up early and headed there right after it opened and before it was filled with tourists. I found a quaint little nook on the top of a hill where I could look out over the whole city and read some poetry by Lorenzo de' Medici. The man knows his junk, and the man loved Florence. It's amazing that such political force and the ability to express such a sensitive heart are found in the same man. Again, siggghhhhhhh.
Today was good; woke up and went to class at twelve. Today was Contemporary Italian Literature - it's going to be fascinating! It's in English (thank goodness!), and we're studying literature from Neorealismo after WWII until the present to get a look into what Italian culture REALLY is like. I can't wait to immerse myself in it, and hopefully I'll be able to get to know some Italian friends to talk about it with.
So far, because it's "Tourist Season," few Florentines are out in the daytime just enjoying Florence. Like swarms of gnats, tour groups follow their leader with their little headsets, and because their heads are always up, they never look where they are going...which is quite annoying when you're trying to cut through the Uffizi to get to your class. You hear so many different languages...Italian, French, German, Spanish, Chinese...it can be overwhelming. Thankfully, in about three weeks when the weather changes, the tourists will head back to their native countries so the Florentines (and temporary citizens, of course) can breathe easy.
Last night, we did catch a glimpse of the heart of Florentine culture. Leyla, Jess and I heard of an event called the "Festival of Lanterns," so after Leyla made us delicious chicken parmesan, we headed past the Duomo to Piazza Santissima Annunziata. It started at eight and we did not leave the apartment until about 9:30, so we weren't sure if the Festival was still going on. When we got there, the square was filled with all native Florentines families. What a sight! Here's a link of what the meaning of the Festival is if you want to look into it ...The short story: there are little kids with paper lanterns with a candle inside and the teenagers have spit wad wands to try to put out the flame of the candle. There's a whole historical myth behind it...such a fun thing to witness. I just wish there were cool traditions for families like that back in the States.
There was a concert in the center, and the band actually played good music! Sort of as a joke, sort of as a tribute to Americans, the band played "Rock Around The Clock" and "Tutti-Frutti" towards the end. I was cracking up -- these Italians know Little Richard, a Maconite! Hilarious. They also played the Samba, and Leyla, my Guatemalan roommate, and I danced a bit. We just had a great time watching how joyful and expressive these Italians were. They loved to dance; the floor in front of the stage was filled with line dancers (haha!) and even some professional looking dancers. An elderly couple sweetly danced cheek-to-cheek...I won't lie, I teared up a little. Last night was by far my favorite night in Florence. I'm falling even more in love with the Florentine culture. I may never leave...
Well, arrivederci for now!