OFF GRID IN FLORENCE TRAVELTHE WRITING
by Sydney Pougue
Photos by the author
athletic courts, a playground, and stone pathways ornamented by the occasional park bench. I immediately wanted to collapse from a mix of gratitude and exhaustion, but then remembered that this was in fact not my final destination. Turning my attention to a gentleman sitting on a bench under a group of trees, I asked if he knew where Ostello Tasso was. Beneath the speckled patches of ancient
closest bridge (which conveniently
the midday sun cast by the canopy
streets of Florence, I couldn’t help
made for both a scenic crossing
above, his face lit up as he explained
but
Wandering
amongst
the
must
of the river and a nice picture).
to me that the hostel was incredibly
have been like to navigate this city
However, after stepping off and onto
close by, down the street in fact.
hundreds of years ago. contrastingly,
the other side of the city, I realized
I followed his directions, finding
however, I suddenly became aware of
that I was already lost. All around
myself wandering along the quiet,
how we, as a society, rely so heavily
me, tourists and Florentines alike,
picturesque
on technology and modern sources
bustled about inspecting the colorful
before finally arriving at the hostel.
of information for travel today—
scarves, paintings, and jewelry that
even when our desired destination is
adorned
merchant
The total time it took for me to find
just around the block. This made me
shops. Looking around, yet trying to
Ostello Tasso was one hour and two
wonder how we ever found where we
maintain my focus, I became aware of
minutes(compared to the twenty-
wanted to go before the existence of
the fact that Ostello Tasso could be
seven minutes it should have taken).
such aid?
any direction of where I was standing
But amongst the web of narrow alleys
in that very moment.
and winding cobblestone streets,
This
ruminate
on
observation
what
it
inspired
the
outdoor
I
the
road
discovered
of
various
Via
Villani,
Florentine
challenge I decided to embark upon.
With no idea how to proceed, I
treasures and practiced my Italian
I wanted to attempt to navigate the
went with the most creative option:
in the process. Inherently, I gained
city of Florence without any maps or
straight ahead.
a greater cultural appreciation for Florence as a whole. So whether you
navigational technology whatsoever. It would only be me, my senses, and
After a couple minutes of hesitantly
are a lover of modern technology or
the naive hope that I would eventually
plucking my way along the main road,
not, I suggest giving something like
find my ultimate destination; Ostello
Via de’ Guicciardini, I sidestepped
this a try because who knows what
Tasso— a relatively new hostel which
into a local dress store and asked (in
hidden treasures you may find?
I believed would make for interesting
very broken Italian) if anyone knew
content in a future article. With the
where Ostello Tasso was. At first,
destination set, I received the street
the woman stared at me blankly. But
address from my supervisor, along
before my heart could completely
with the sole hint that the hostel was
sink, another lady piped up from
on the other side of the Arno, and
behind the counter. She expressed
then I set off.
that she had heard of the place and it was near Piazza Torquato Tasso.
The
beginning
of
the
trek
was
After
some
more
time,
winding
relatively easy, considering I knew
through streets in the early summer
that I had to go towards L’Arno from
sun and asking countless locals now
my apartment, which was about a
about Piazza Torquato Tasso every
fifteen minute walk. When I reached
ten steps, I eventually reached the
the river, by chance of location, Ponte
square. It turned out to be quite a
Vecchio just so happened to be the
charming little park, consisting of
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