Nearing the end of my stay, I felt it incumbent upon me to draft a top ten list of things I wished I had known.
Here then are my Italian lessons:
10. Italians charge tourists at least twice the rate of locals for lodging. Rent Villas is a wonderful service for those who want to see their apartment and read reviews before they commit, in short great for the novice. However, there are local real estate agents who can assist you in securing a reduced rate. Check out the classifieds in www.theflorentine.net for agents and apartments.
9. You can’t hail a taxi in Florence. In order to get a taxi you must find a taxi stand, not so easy to do in the center of town. I ended up asking the concierge at a hotel nearby to call one for me when I needed a cab. Although I was not a guest, they always graciously assisted me.
8. Don’t miss your taxi or there will be charge. When a hotel or another establishment calls a taxi for you, the meter starts running. If, for some reason, you miss that taxi, they will be charged a fee of 7 Euros. Out of courtesy, don’t miss your taxi or you will just make it harder for the next tourist who comes to town.
7. Don’t bother with traveler’s checks. The exchange rate at the local cambio (exchange store fronts that can be found all over town) is significantly higher than the actual rate. In addition, they charge an 8 to 20 percent fee for the service of over charging you. Use your ATM card. You will face a nominal fee but you also get the market exchange rate.
6. Don’t be offended when you are nearly run over by the Florentines as they walk or bike. You simply do not exist for them, it is their only coping mechanism for having their city overrun with swarms of people usually following some tour guide holding a flag to keep her group from dispersing into the throng. “Excuse me” is not in their lexicon. You can still be polite. We are their guests you know.
