Florence - lots of questions!!

[windorabug]

Hi!
My dd (she will be 4 when we get there) & I will be in Florence for 3 months maybe a bit more not sure yet starting in January. We will have housing most likely near the Uffizi (I am interning there) Here are my many questions!

1. Should I bring a car seat or booster seat? - We will not have a car but plan to travel a bit on weekends - not sure how yet though most likely by train. Will I even need a booster/car seat??

2. Since we won't have a car I would like to acquire a bike. Do people rent them? Where is the best place to buy (used)? Where can I find a bike seat for my dd? Should I bring one with me?

3. Preschools?? Childcare??? Where do I even begin? Do they require vaccinations?

4. Travel & general safety tips for a single mom & a little girl??

5. I was very excited to find an English language kids library & some English language playgroups online - Any other things I should know to make my dd feel a bit more ok with being so far from home? (Her whole world is me & our friends right now so this is not a huge concern but it would be nice to have a few ideas tucked away!)

Thank you!!!

[Bellabaz]

First of all congrats! What a great experience it will be for both of you. I used to live in another part of Italy but here ar a couple things I can advise on.

First, trains in Italy are crazy cheap (espcially compared with other European countries) and you do not need a car seat for trains. So I would not personally bring one. Its really easy to travel by train and bus.

Second, most kids in Italy your dd's age go to asilo, which is basically preschool. Try a search for ones around your area or if you have a contact for your internship maybe they can give you some numbers to call.

I wouldn't be too worried about safety. I traveled all over italy by myself and I never had a problem. Its such a beautiful country.

Feel free to pm me if you need help tranlsating stuff.

Good luck!

[dirtyhipegirl]

I just moved from Italy. You will not need a booster seat for the train, and it would be a pain to have to drag it around. There are tons of used bike stores everywhere. However, even the used bikes are pretty expensive, but well worth it. Most bike shops I went in had child seats for the bikes. It's pretty common to see mothers with their small children riding with them. Your daughter would go to the Asilo. The public Asilos are free, my daughter was signed up to attend, though I later changed my mind, but they never mentioned vaccinations. Florence is beautiful, but stay clear of the tourist restaurants, they are way over priced. Most people in Florence speak English, but I would start practicing your Italian now. Have Fun!

[BirthIsAwesome]

I live in Caneva, Italy (less than an hour from Venice) and I concur that you should enroll your dd in Asilo. Side benefit---she will learn Italian, which will aid you in learning Italian. However, they are off on all the Italian holidays which are unpredictable, so you may need a childcare option for holidays, if you are not available.

Trains are cheap, buses are EXTREMELY cheap, but taxis are outrageous. Reserve them for when you absolutely can't find any other way of transportation---example, it cost me 26 euros to take a taxi 11 km. which is basically 33 bucks for 6.8 miles. That same distance cost me 1 euro, 20 cents to take the bus.

As far as safety in Italy, there is very little violent crime (murder, rape, or armed burglary). Thieves and pickpockets are rampant, so make sure you keep an eye on your belongings when traveling, use a zippered purse, and keep your purse close to your body. Make sure you always carry your passport on you and know where the local US embassy is, just in case something happens. I absolutely love it here and would not worry---just be cautious Also, just be forewarned that strangers will kiss your daughter randomly and people that work in pastry shops will offer her free treats when you go Children and pregnant women are very much beloved by Italians.

I hope you have a great visit! Enjoy beautiful Italy

[windorabug]

Thanks! I am super excited to go & all my application papers are in! We got our passports in the mail a few days ago too!

I have one other question - are there any other side trips you recommend (we will be there in the winter)?

oh & one more - should we stay for 10 weeks or 20??

[dirtyhipegirl]

Congratulations! I would go to as many places as you possibly can, take it all in. I'm a big St Francis fan, so I really liked Asissi. The Friuli was beautiful and I would go back in a second if I could. I would stay as long as you could. It will take you a little while to feel comfortable with speaking with Italian, and to feel like you belong there. Eat as much gelato as you can, and take tons of pictures. Good Luck, Ciao!!