today i went for a looong passeggiata around town, and finally found PAM, the enormous grocery store that was until now been eluding me. i found so many gluten free things; i am saved! i even got some gluten free pizza dough mix. i bought some polenta as well, so i'm going to try and make something with that tonight.

yesterday i went to florence! the train ride was lovely in itself. the train went through huge, beautiful hills (which seems to be the case no matter where you go in italy) and i saw a rainbow. when i got to florence i didn't hit every obvious tourist spot, because i plan to go back. the market was DEFINITELY my favorite part, i have never met so many friendly people in my life! it was an enormous self-esteem boost too haha. i spent a lot of time in a leather jacket store talking with the owners (and trying on jackets), and when mom and trish come to visit i'm taking them there for sure. i went to the duomo, which was huge and intricate and fantastic, but i didn't walk to the top. i went to what was allegedly dante's house, but it was so full of informational placards that i didn't find many traces of the way he may have actually lived. i saw the church he went to which was small and lovely. i saw the pontevecchio which was all patchworky and colorful, and i'm pretty sure if i were a bridge i'd look like the pontevecchio. i met some cool people and had lunch with them, and will probably go back to hang out with them in two weeks. i went into the uffizi but i was too exhausted and hungry to spend much time giving the art its proper attention, unfortunately. oh well, i'll be back.