I hate to say it but Florence isn’t what it used to be. Not to say that it is still not great just different. I don’t know why I thought it would be untouched by the changing times, population shift and increased popularity. It is Tuesday and there are still more people around town than I remember being on town on a Saturday. Sunday was crazy and I had hopes that it would get better during the week and it haas but just not as much as I wished. I had a pass to skip the line at the Ufizzi and still had to wait about 30 minutes. The line for tickets went around the corner. At some places it feels more like Rome.

The stores also seem different. More like the open market everywhere. It is hard to tell what is really made in italy and what is just made to look like it. I have found some great places. The Italian Leather School is great. Think project runway for purses. You can watch them working through windows. Each person has a table and was working on a single design. Their purses run from about $150 for a smaller bag up to $20,000 for these beautiful ostrich bags. I have my eye on a multi-strap chocolate brown medium sized bag. I am waiting to purchase till I have seen more options.

I also found the store where I bought my purse last time. Theirs were also really nice but a bit more formal. They have a line that they also sell in the states now called “the Bridge” which had some really nice things but I hate to buy a purse in italy with an English name. It just seems wrong.

I haven’t made it across to shop in the Arno area. Supposedly there are good shops over there with the craftsmen right on site. I am hoping I’ll find some unique pieces over there. I plan to go tomorrow after class.

I am going to have to venture farther from the tourist areas to find the florence that I remember but I feel certain it is still out there.