Florence by Katerina
About Florence by Katerina
After
so many questions, emails, inquires from random people all over the
world, I decided to start a new travel consulting company,
Florence by Katerina, to all walks of life. Tourists, Students,
Solo Travelers, Couples, Families will experience a Florence adventure
through the eyes of someone who is connected to the authentic Florence. By the networking I have done through my many trips to Italy. An
almost Italian citizen, I have accumulated the knowledge of culture from
my ancestors whom I live my dream through.
My dream is to live in Florence, and here I am living the dream.
I started my journey to Italy in 2002, when I was a junior attending Saint Mary's University in Winona, MN. I had never thought of coming to Italy and studying even though there is Italian in my blood. Until I had the option, to stay or go, I chose to go. After 9/11 there was all this hype on how you shouldn't fly anywhere. I had an instinct and I went with it. I have never looked back.
Since 2002, I have been to Florence six separate times. All the time calling Florence my home base traveling among friends and families I nannied for. In February 2005, I was working for a corporate company outside of Chicago and decided if I should see if the Italy-bug was still nipping at my heals. Was there still a place for me in Florence? I traveled da sola(by myself) to bel paese visiting my 2002 home of Hotel Villa Bonelli in Fiesole for two weeks. It was clear I needed to go back for longer than two weeks. So I did.
I resigned, happily, from my cubicle job, and bought a round-trip ticket back to my city for the summer of 2005. I studied Italian this time and made connections with many Florentines and rekindled some old friendships left behind. Then in 2006, I thought to myself what else can bring me back to Florence? I will apply to be an au pair. I found a lovely family based in the center within a few weeks of applying. I sold my car and bought a ONE WAY ticket back to my second home. For 9 months I worked, played, and learned a lot more about myself, Florence, and the culture.
Eccomi adesso! Here I am now, it's 2008, living, writing about travel, and assisting fabulous travelers like you on how to enjoy Florence a way you have never known. Through the eyes of a well experienced, outgoing, and knowledgeable woman traveler. Please help me, help you enjoy the experience of a lifetime!!
My dream is to live in Florence, and here I am living the dream.
I started my journey to Italy in 2002, when I was a junior attending Saint Mary's University in Winona, MN. I had never thought of coming to Italy and studying even though there is Italian in my blood. Until I had the option, to stay or go, I chose to go. After 9/11 there was all this hype on how you shouldn't fly anywhere. I had an instinct and I went with it. I have never looked back.
Since 2002, I have been to Florence six separate times. All the time calling Florence my home base traveling among friends and families I nannied for. In February 2005, I was working for a corporate company outside of Chicago and decided if I should see if the Italy-bug was still nipping at my heals. Was there still a place for me in Florence? I traveled da sola(by myself) to bel paese visiting my 2002 home of Hotel Villa Bonelli in Fiesole for two weeks. It was clear I needed to go back for longer than two weeks. So I did.
I resigned, happily, from my cubicle job, and bought a round-trip ticket back to my city for the summer of 2005. I studied Italian this time and made connections with many Florentines and rekindled some old friendships left behind. Then in 2006, I thought to myself what else can bring me back to Florence? I will apply to be an au pair. I found a lovely family based in the center within a few weeks of applying. I sold my car and bought a ONE WAY ticket back to my second home. For 9 months I worked, played, and learned a lot more about myself, Florence, and the culture.
Eccomi adesso! Here I am now, it's 2008, living, writing about travel, and assisting fabulous travelers like you on how to enjoy Florence a way you have never known. Through the eyes of a well experienced, outgoing, and knowledgeable woman traveler. Please help me, help you enjoy the experience of a lifetime!!
Click on Contact Katerina for some added insight about your upcoming trip to Florence!
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Buon Viaggio!
