9:22am -

Initial observations of Florence

Everything is smaller in Italy. Food portions, coffees, trash cans. They even treat garbage differently here. Us Americans consume so much.

Of the few things we do share with Italy, are the Mediterranean climate11. Dry summers and mild winters. Coming from sitting on a continent’s west side next to a cold ocean current and the corresponding drought-hardy evergreen scrub. Maybe the rainfall accounts for why it’s so much more of a rich, dark green here though. Fun new varieties of shapes and trees, especially the Italian cypresses and stone pines. The Tuscan landscape seems more cultivated compared to how untamed California is.

Also interesting to see what trends carry over from our culture (with the internet, social media): the orange-tinted glasses, American pop music on the radio.