Ava in Italia

The day Ashley and Adam got engaged, the rest of us were turned loose on the bustling streets of Florence like kids in a candy store. Freedom! No schedule, no group marches, just pure retail therapy and sightseeing. Our spirits were sky-high despite the early morning, fueled by our excitement for the happy couple. We reviewed our list of what we wanted to see and do, and then set out into the heart of the city. 

We kicked things off at Abacus, a stationery lover’s paradise filled with leather notebooks that made me giddy. I purchased two leather notebooks with gold designs on the front to satisfy my need for a souvenir from this quaint little shop. Unfortunately, our early morning caught up with us fast. Morale plummeted, irritability levels spiked, and the group splintered into survival pairs. Elle and I dashed from the store to wander a quieter part of Florence where we stumbled upon the gloriously named Wild Buns. 

Yes, Wild Buns. You may be thinking: What the heck is Wild Buns and why on earth did two Master’s students go inside? It was a Scandinavian bakery that had the most fluffy pastries and prettiest cappuccinos in existence. We had been trudging around like zombies in need of a resurrection, and Wild Buns delivered. It hit the spot and revived us when we needed it most. Elle and I split the most divine blueberry pastry (still dreaming about it) and sipped on our cappuccinos like it was water in the Sahara. 

The place felt weirdly like home with the green plants, sourdough toast vibes, modern decor, and the pop music that didn’t need translation. For the first time since leaving California, I didn’t feel like a tourist. I felt like I could relax and began to feel slightly less exhausted. Ten out of ten, would recommend for an emergency moral boost.

Revived and re-caffeinated, we powered through to our final stop before regrouping with the rest of TMUI for dinner: Giunti Odeon, the bookstore Elle had found on Instagram and declared non-negotiable and for good reason. This place was not just a bookstore, it was a full on experience. Not only was it colossal, but at the center of this beautiful book wonderland was a movie theater. While you browse, films play on the big screen throughout the day. There was an upper balcony level where you could sit at a table and have a perfect view of the screen, stage, and book shopping. Naturally, I couldn’t leave empty-handed. I walked out with my very own bilingual copy of Romeo and Juliet: the Italian version on the left, and the English version on the right. 

Also on this second floor was Caffe Odeon, where you could order a cappuccino or pastry of your liking. The magic of this bookstore didn’t end at its impressive architecture, every week the store picks a movie to screen at 9 pm. They show everything from Italian classics, timeless favorites, or new blockbusters. They dim the lights and the place becomes a cinematic book paradise. I was in heaven.

Elle and I claimed a table on the balcony, settled in with our journals, and spent the rest of the evening people-watching like it was the world’s best free entertainment. There’s something wonderfully peaceful about writing in a place where tourists bustle around hunting for books or dramatically draping themselves over chairs to watch the movie playing on the big screen below. 

This day had been a roller coaster. Starting off strong with the joy of Ashley and Adam’s engagement, dipping into midday exhaustion, and now finishing strong with our favorite experience in all of Florence. But it had been the perfect mix of chaos, carbs, and caffeine, the exact day that makes you fall a little harder for Italy. Until next time, Florence. You were unforgettable.