Firenze: Arrival

Alright, so your lifeline in all of Italy (not just Florence) is the tobacco shops. They can provide you with all the essentials, international phone cards, international stamps, bus tickets, brochures and of course, tobacco (yuck). I thought it was interesting that you had to buy your bus tickets for the regular transit before you got on and then you stamped them on the bus. Maybe that's because in Minneapolis you pay when you get on and the rates change during the day. Anyway, if you want to take the public transit, you need to know where to buy bus tickets, and the tobacco shops is the answer. Also, international phone cards you can get from vendors on the street, but I always found that the cheap ones were in the tabaccherias, so I'd go there unless you really don't want to walk (not that you'd have to walk a lot because tabaccherias are EVERYWHERE). However, just keep in mind that some tabaccherias are more equipped than others. Some have just the basics, as listed above, some don't have phone cards, some have a whole lot more! It really depends on where you are, but even if you find yourself in a tabaccheria that doesn't sell bus tickets, likelihood is there is one down a block or two that does.

Central park was pretty sweet. It's an outdoor club and it has three separate floors. So if you're getting bored on one floor, or the type of music is not your kind of thing, you can switch it up and head on over to another one. They play live as well as mix music. It's also a great place to meet locals (in the non-"I'm trying to pick up an American girl" sense). The nice thing about clubbing outside is that while you're dancing and working up a sweat, the crisp night air helps keep you cool. Downside is sometimes it can get TOO cool, or even be too hot but worst is when it's raining and sometimes they don't even open then. But the weather in Florence is pretty nice, so it's usually not a problem. The club itself is on the outside of town, so if you're staying in the city center near the Duomo, you'll want to catch a cab.

Notice, the cost says very cheap, I wanted to say free...but it's only free if you're an American student, otherwise it's just cheap as a cover charge. The place was nice enough, but it was pretty empty and the only locals that were there were trying to get on cute American girls. Sooo....we didn't stay there long. The guy who runs the place is nice and the bartender was alright, didn't water down the drinks too much but it still wasn't the best. But it's really close to the Duomo, though it's down a pretty sketch street, and we almost didn't keep looking for it because we couldn't find it at first, but don't give up.

YAB is a really great disco. Some of the other clubs in town are very Americanized and YAB doesn't tailor itself too much. They play American music but there are a lot of local guys around(and a few local girls, which is saying something.) For the most part the guys aren't creepy, which is definately a plus. There can be a line outside, but I don't know how long of a wait it is because we got in VIP when I went. The digs inside are sweet. There isn't a 'cover charge' but you have to at least pay 8 Euro for one drink, which is a little steep. They give you a drink card they punch throughout the night and you pay before you leave, so keep your reciept to get out. Basically, you pay 8 Euro no matter what, so you might as well get your one drink. Also, the bartenders are really good with making strong drinks, no watering down here. It can be a little tricky to find, but it's right by the movie theatre and close to the Duomo. All in all, great music, drinks, dancing and dreat atmosphere!