I've made a list...I've checked it off twice.

"Buona Sera, signorina, buona sera!" Our apartment has been listening to Louis Prima. You know, the guy that sings "I want to be like you-ooh-ooh" from the Jungle Book. He and Dean Martin are my new guilty pleasures. They both sing with such magnetism. And they sing in Italian! I can actually understand a bit when I listen.
Be proud of me! I've checked TWO more things off of my Italian bucket list.

To remind you and me, here's the list:
1) Visit San Marco Convent.
2) Go to the Galileo Museum.
3) Santa Maria Novella Church.
4) Climb the Duomo.
5) Try out famous gelaterias: Vivoli, Perche No?
6) Orsanmichele.
7) Casa di Dante.
8) San Lorenzo Church.
9) Tempio Israelitico.
10) Palazzo Strozzi.
11) Hot Chocolate at either Gilli or Rivoire
12) Brancacci Chapel
13) Ribollita

Last night, Leyla, Jess and I decided to have a girls' night. We went to dinner at a place right down the street called "Grotto Guelfa" because it was cold and we couldn't drag our feet any longer. I was craving a pasta, but when I saw "Ribollita" on the menu, I couldn't resist! Ribollita is a traditional Tuscan soup that is made with leftover bread, and it is cooked down for about a day. It is delicious mush. Mmmmm! I'll definitely make it when I get back home. Check! One specialty down.
This morning, I woke up at six o'clock. Granted, I went to bed at 10. The earliest I have in probably a few years. So, I made breakfast, took a shower...and decided to cook. I made lentil soup. It simmered for about four hours. Ohhhh yeah. It was...decent. I added a little bit too much of too many spices instead of being an Italian and letting the flavors of the ingredients come out on their own. Lesson learned.
During this time, I checked off ANOTHER of my "to-do's" in Florence! I went to the Galileo Museum (also known as the Science Museum). It was SICK. I listened to MGMT and Ratatat while looking at all of the crazy inventions. It was epic. I saw Galileo's telescope. No big deal. I wasn't allowed to take pictures, but I snuck a few. As a student, I received a 3 euro discount, so that made the visit sweeter.
When I got home, Jess had picked up my and Leyla's mail. I received two letters from dear friends today, and they made my day! It makes me a bit sad that snail mail will be virtually non-existent when I'm back in the States. Oh well, I'll savor it now.
I only had my cooking class today, so I was thankful I had meager soup for lunch. We made pizza! Yes, I can make my own dough. Whoop whoop! It was delicious. I'll be making it on my own when I get home. The only really time-consuming part is letting it rise in a warm area. It takes an hour or two.
And now, I am back home and preparing to go out and meet Alece at the Ponte Vecchio. We're going to a Florentine venue called "Le Cite" to watch a jazz band at 10. Late, I know, but we've got to do what we can while we're still here!
Got to touch up the make up.
Buona sera, miei amici, buona sera!