I've Arrived!

I'm just about to head to bed, but first I will relate the events of my arrival.
September 1st:
We went to the airport a good few hours before my flight just to be safe. The boarding went just fine and Grampa stayed with me until just before I had to get to my gate around 3:30. I admit I cried a little bit. Getting on the plane was exciting and a little nerve wracking, especially when we took off and I could see Toronto quickly disappear, getting tinnier and tinnier.
The first flight to Paris went by rather uneventfully. The food was surprisingly good. I had a bit of trouble falling asleep and the descent really hurt my ears even though I chewed gum, but those were my only complaints. I had a window seat and seeing the stars was incredible.
At some point during this flight, it officially became September 2nd:
The airport we landed in at Paris, (Charles de Gaulle? I can't remember how to spell it) was a lot more exciting than pearson but a great deal more confusing. It took me awhile to find gate 2G (I had to take a shuttle bus) but eventually I got there in lots enough time to catch my next flight.
By the way, why are the security bag checkers at airports always such jerks? All the other airport staff is so nice but both airports the security check people were very rude.
The flight from Paris to Florence was only two hours compared to eight. I had been largely unimpressed with the general lack of intrigue or romanticism at either of the airports despite their grand statures, but leaving the check point at the gate, walking a shorts ways down the air field and seeing the much smaller AVRO RJ-85 sitting there with the roll-up steps just like in the movies, I suddenly felt as if for the first time I had found this elusive cheesy airport film noir essence that I had been hoping for. Unfortunately I was so tired by this point I slept through most of the two hours, waking up just long enough to see a long stretch of mountains beneath us. It occurred to me that I've never seen mountains before. I'd always assumed I'd see the rockies before any other mountains but now I was seeing these. They were beautiful. I could see villages and cities nestled sporadically amongst them and pockets of cotton candy clouds pooling between peaks. Then I fell asleep again.
When we landed it, there was zero hassle. I found my baggage easily, they glanced at my passport and waved me through and I promptly found a taxi. Luckily he could speak a little English. It cost me almost 25 euros to get to the apartment.
This was were I had difficulty- no one was home! I hadn't got my key yet and my room mate was supposed to me there to meet me and let me in. I had too much luggage to carry and it was so bloody hot! I wandered around searching for a pay phone but everyone told me there were none. I went to the grocery store near by and bought some water and waited outside the apartment. I was very afraid they had gone out sight seeing and I would be stuck here all day in the sun with no idea where to go. Luckily I got in after an hour, hour and a half or so. That was a relief. Apparently see thought I had said I was coming on the 3rd.
Soon we went out to meet up with Sylvia our coordinator/professor and she showed us a few places and gave us some tips. It was really hot though and I hadn't eaten or slept in a really long time so Julia (one of my roommates) and I decided to walk home ahead of the others. Of course, we ended up getting lost. By the time we found our way home I was so exhausted I collapsed and slept for four or five hours. My first siesta. A very long siesta.
I was woken up when our landlord arrived to go over our contract, give me my set of keys and talk to us a bit. He was just leaving by the time I got dressed but he was very nice and hurrah! I now have keys.
As the afternoon began to fade to evening I found I had the apartment to my self for a couple hours since everyone was out. I bought some pasta and chicken from a place down the road and ate it on the balcony where I could watch the sun set. It was finally beginning to cool off to that wonderful pleasantly warm evening temperature. The food was wonderful and looking out over the earthy red and brown roof tops to mountains far in the distance was just amazing: it was the first time I had time to just soak it all in and realize where I was.
Turns out Erin, Allie, and Shane, (some other students) have their appartment right across the street from us so later they came over and we hung out a bit; talked about our plans for the next few days and how excited we were for the eight months ahead. We walked to the park, ate some pizza and then decided we'd all meet up in the morning. And now we're all caught up!
CIAO!
PS: the apartment is amazing, my room is beautiful!! I can't wait to get a camera so I can take pictures!