We started the day with an orientation to the language school by walking to the school, ABC Firenze. We walked past part of the route for the Florence marathon but I only saw one runner who moved too fast to photograph.

The school is on Via Bardi, near the entrance to the Giardini Bardini where I was sketching less than two weeks ago.

I found my class based on my level A2.2. The class I last took was B1.1 so I’ve been assessed one level down. One of the other women said she was assessed down from the level she had studied. “They’re tough”, she commented.

It looks like the others in my class are Swiss, Japanese, American and Australian.

We got more details about the program and some basics about living in Italy. One of the funniest was how many different coffees can be requested.

I also learned as students we get discounts from some places including some massage and pedicure places.

We then went for Sunday lunch which consisted of an antipasto of bruschetta, slices of salami, cheese and olives; then a half portion of lasagne (which was still quite large), green salad and panna cotta. Plus wine and water.

We got a break before going back for more orientation about daily life and getting around Florence.

We then went for aperitivo and bites of pizza, bread, chips, pita and different dips like hummus and guacamole (not very Italian) but I just ate veggies sticks, which included some crunchy fennel, because I was still too full from lunch—and had a Campari spritz. I had entertained thoughts of going for gelato but could not.

We have to pack up and check out tomorrow before going to school. After school they have vans which will move us to our various apartments. Mine will be in an area I am not familiar with. It will be an opportunity for exploration. It’s close to the school but up the hill. Getting to school with be easy; going back will be a workout.

The red dot for my appartamento is near where I took this photo.

One of the students commented that I probably looked too fit and they figured I could manage walking the hill every day. Time will tell.