Since this would be my first time in another country, I decided to stay open minded and leave my American way of thinking back home. This turned out to be difficult since most thoughts and actions are ingrained into us, like not walking down the middle of a street or assuming I'm safe from motorized vehicles while on the sidewalk.

In Florence, however, these everyday factors are not the same. I was very surprised, and fearful at first, to see everyone walking down the middle of streets. Everyone. People strolled along passed coffee bars and gelato shops, right down the center of the road. And when you came to a cross street hardly anyone paused to check both ways before crossing. I did out of habit, but my friend whom I was visiting just kept on walking. She has adapted to the Florentine way.

There is a slow and almost musical give and take between cars and people in this Tuscan city. If you hear a motor you drift to the sides closer to the shops and buildings; if not, keep walking down the center. If you are standing in the Piazza della Signoria with crowds of people, don't assume you are safe from cars.

Perhaps even more shocking was the number of people who rode their Vespas on the narrow sidewalks. Numerous times I had to jump off into the street to let a scooter rider pass by. Italy is known for Vespas and scooters. Though environmentally scooters are better than cars because they use less fuel, playing chicken with one on the Italian sidewalk is another thing altogether.

So should you visit Florence keep your ears and eyes open--not just to take in the sights--you don't want to get plowed down by a Vespa.

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