Marquette University Athletics
Monica Frede's Diary in Italy, Day 3
5/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
May 18, 2003
FLORENCE, Italy -- Hello, everyone! Oh, what a wonderful day in Florence! For being in this quaint, quiet city for only one day, our group kept quite active. All I have to say is this -- 13 women, with cash, left alone for the entire day to SHOP! We were armed and dangerous, and we were ready to hit the markets. Currently, on our three hour bus trip from Florence to Venice, we are planning our fashion show we can put on in our hotel to model the leather coats we bought. Yes moms and dads, I did say leather coats your daughters bought. But it was all worth it because, as Terri says to any of us who look tired or resemble any kind of mopey face, "People! We're in Italy!"
A lot of us are getting better at bargainin for clothes and other gifts. But I am not unfortunately. Katie Alsdurf, Leslie and Katie O'Grady are all able to walk away from a vendor only to hear the vendor call them back for a much cheaper price. I on the other hand, walk away, look over my shoulder and see the vendor start bargaining with other shoppers. It's a very humiliating experience, let me tell you.
There was a group of us who went to a Catholic Mass service this morning at an incredibly beautiful church. It was interesting to see how the different cultures treat a church service, but it would have been much more enjoyable if the service was in English, rather than in Latin.
Our entire group met after mass to trek to the bus because the temperature was heating up pretty fast and we changed for an afternoon of walking and sopping. After most of us spent all the money we had, we took a few more pictures of the beautiful scenery. There is a river that lies on the edge of the city that creates a perfect photo opportunity. The streets are lined with carts of all the leather purses, clothes, bracelets and decorations that you could imagine.
And the vendors all love to come up and say things like, "Oh! You American! Do you play ball?" They could obviously tell that we have the height and muscular build. Many of the Italians couldn't help but point this out to us, but we didn't mind.
And that is all I will write today I will write more from Venice ... Ciao!
