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So here we are … in Florence

gloria139

Updated: Jun 21, 2022

This trip has been eight months in the planning:

We are here because Cyn’s brother, Robert, and his partner rented a villa in Tuscany and invited Cyn to stay for three days, and she asked me to come with.

Cyn and I travel a lot together because she is one of my very best friends, we are both single gals of a certain age (though, ok, she is a tad younger than me), she is smart and hilarious, she is adventurous and generally up for anything, and we have a lot of the same interests - live music, wine, great food, art, great food, and going places we have never been .... oh … and great food.

I am going to apologize in advance for the lack of pictures and details in this first post. I was exhausted through most of the first day of our excellent Italian adventure and did not haul out my camera often or make note of places we stopped.

Nor had I considered writing a blog as a way of keeping track of our travels until after the day had ended. But here is the rundown as memory serves. The plan is to drive from Florence to Cinque Terra to Verona to Venice to Bologna to Rimini to Robert’s villa. Cyn will be driving because I forgot my licence in Bala 🙄. We started with a flight from Ottawa to Montreal to Zurich to Florence and arrived here at about 10 am Saturday and then caught a cab from the airport in Florence where we will spend our first three days . Our driver was gregarious and engaging and explained that the AirBNB we rented is just off the Piazza della Passera, which, he said, means Plaza of the Pussies - then he started laughing. I was a bit confused, I mean, I like cats and would be happy to be staying near their piazza. But, um, no, it’s because this is the former red-light district. The brothels have now given way to a bunch of bistros and restaurants, most with outdoor terraces. So I am very happy in this part of town.

The AirBNB is quaint and lovely in an old walk-up down a narrow cobbled street. The owner met us when we arrived, and her husband helped us drag our luggage up the four flights of worn stone stairs (there are always many many stairs when we rent AirBNBs!).

Then we went for a walk around this part of town, which is on the other side of the River Arno from the main part of Florence - though it does have some attractions like the massive Pitti Palace, which was the 1500s residence of Cosmo do Medici.

Gotta say, I was exhausted after the flight and was dragging my butt so I convinced Cyn to sit at an outdoor bistro, across from the Pitti Palace, and have some wine (Chardonnay for me, Aperol spritz for Cyn) and steak tartare while we plotted our next moves. The tartare was ground, not chopped, but had a delicate tang and was served on a bed of arugula with olive oil and onions. And our waiter was a wonderful flirt.

We ended up sitting next to a friendly couple from central England and spent a half hour in pleasant banter. They suggested that we visit the Cappella Branacci to see the 15th Century frescos. We took their advice and are glad we did. The towering painted ceiling made me feel very small and, even though I am an atheist, it is hard not to feel a bit spiritual in a place of such beauty. And in 12th Century Chapel that is attached, my thoughts went to the thousands of pious Christians who have knelt at its alter over the centuries.

We also wandered through the Basilica di Santo Spirito which has a fabulous collection of Renaissance art. And we strolled through the crowds and the hucksters at the Ponte Vecchio where there are the types of jewellery stores you find in the bougie parts of most tourist cities.

Florence really is chocka with people. The narrow streets are crowded. And it is clear that most of the folks here are not Florentine residents.

There was also a fair bit of dodging of bicycles and scooters which was not such an easy task for someone who was as punch drunk with fatigue as I was.

The day ended at one of the bistros close to the AirBNB with another glass of wine (a dry and delicious Chianti for me, Pinot Gris for Cyn), a plate of pasta shaped like little purses filled with pears in a cream sauce with asparagus - and some tart lemon sorbet. Yum. Then home to collapse and refresh for tomorrow.



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