Oh the wonders you can find on the street....

As crazy as the streets of Florence are, walking through them is my favorite part. I love turning a corner and finding something new. I love getting lost and finding your way back. I love that we can walk around just for the sake of exploring. I just love what you can find on the street...

Last night and earlier today Caty, Caitie, and I went out just to be out. We walked around, we ate, and we purchased items from street vendors. This is another one of my favorite things. I love looking at what the vendors have to sell. Now I am not talking about the typical things that are at every stand: the mass reproduced leather purses, wallets, and belts; the beautiful, but everywhere scarves; and the cheap, I am never going to actually wear this, T-shirts. I am talking about the real, hand-made, unique items that you are never going to find anywhere else. For instance today we randomly found this market that is only around for a few weekends out of the year. This market was amazing, they had such a variety of items, and each booth was different. There was everything from hand-made jewelry to wooden plaques and sculptures to terracotta figures. Each stand had unique artisan creations and this is where I bought the majority of my souvenirs for friends and family. I love seeing the unique eye of the different street artists and how they use their talents.

Moreover the music of the city is so beautiful. This is another aspect I love of walking through the streets. Each time we go out we get to hear a new musician out playing for the crowds. Traditionally we hear the typical Italian melodies, which are something you can get lost in listening to; but then every once and a while you hear something different. For instance, last night while Caty, Caitie, and I were out walking we heard Native American music, and I kid you not we stood there for 30 to 45 minutes just listening. Caty and Caitie ended up buying their CD, we all bought bracelets from them, and I also bought a dream catcher.

These experiences, more than anything else, make me appreciate the many cultures of the world. There are some many people out there, with so many different talents and skills that they can bring to the world. Getting to explore the streets of another culture and getting lost in that culture is one of the most rewarding experiences out there.