The Uffitzi...or not.

On Wednesday, the class was set to go to the Uffitzi (means “office” in Italian). It is world renowned as one of the most amazing art galleries in Europe, filled with works by all of the great artists that lived in Florence during the golden years of the Renaissance. It is nearly impossible to get into without reservations made months in advance. In the afternoon, we begin walking over to where the Uffitzi is, only to find out on our walk that the museums in Florence were on strike that day. I was very disappointed that I was not able to go to the Uffitzi, but it is looking good for me to be back in Florence in a few years (hopefully as Professor Cooperman’s TA next summer). I still think that it is incredible how Italians can go on strike with little fanfare and can come back a day later like nothing happened. Essentially, they create a holiday and take the day off. It seems like it would get annoying to most Americans, but Italians take it in stride. I really am enjoying the organized chaos that Italians live in, and how laid back they are about it. However, I wish it did not happen on the day that we were goin to the Uffitzi because we lost our reservation. I’ll take the Italian approach and just say, “Eh, It happens.”