The Italian 6 are done. We all have a glazed look in our eyes, and a little panic sets in when anyone mentions yet another great museum, church, restaurant to see. nooooo not another site nooooo more beautiful things to look at!!! But it was wonderful, our cheer and grace at meals is "gratitudine", we are grateful.
ciao bellas, see you soon
Laurie
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Last day in Florence
This morning Ray and I went to the San Marco cloister, the little rooms with frescoes in that were painted by Frangelico. Then to the oldest botanica gardens in the world, established by Cosmo Medici.After a nap we are on our way to Michealangelo's house.We'll say hi to him for you.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Hot and tired
Hi everybody, from hot, hot Florence. Sorry to tell you that. I think it is 28 today.
I guess I kind of wore out yesterday. I am tired today. This morning, I went to a big market (both food and shopping, lots of leather and silk stuff). I met Brian after getting lost (again) and we went to the Medici Chapels. Again, another amazing place. It's the momument and tomb for many of the Medici family, and much of the work in the sacristy (where they are buried) was Michelangelo's. We were going to go in the church there too, but I am at the 'it's just another church' stage.
Brian went to go the Bargello Sculpture museum, and I went off shopping. We met back at the apartment after lunch. I had mostly a nice walk, not too much shopping, and I sat on the steps at the Piazza de le Signoria (sp?), and stared at the copy of David in the square, and listened to some fine acoustic guitar player, playing in the square. It was lovely.
After a nap, I went out of my own again, and once again, got lost. I was supposed to meet Brian but I was late again, because I turned the wrong way. We went to the Baptistery with the Ghiberti Doors and looked at all the Biblical stories they told.
Tomorrow, I am going to a fine palace that I have been at before (the Pitti Palace). It's full of art too, but it is also pretty much in it's original form, with furniture, etc. It has an attached costume gallery, silver museum, and beautiful gardens, so I will be there so quite a while I think. I am not sure if I will do anything else. I am getting pretty tired, and pretty saturated with art, and history. Brian and Ray are going to go by bus to a little town called Fiesole, they think, outside of Florence, and are thinking of walking back. Today, Mike and Laurie went to Cinque Terre (five towns) to hike them. It's supposed to be amazing. Ray and Judy wanted to go too, but it's going to be a long day. Mike and Laurie left at 7am, and won't be back until about 10pm.
We leave for Ostia (just outside of Rome, near the airport) travelling by the 'fast' train, on Wednesday morning. We'll stay overnight there and leave on Thursday morning. Our flight from Rome to Toronto is longer than coming here, something to do with the jet stream. It's about 10 1-2 hours, and then a couple hours wait before we come home.
Time to get back. All these moms (Laurie, Judy and I) miss our children and grandbabies. Even with all this art, history, and beauty, there is nothing like our families.
I guess I kind of wore out yesterday. I am tired today. This morning, I went to a big market (both food and shopping, lots of leather and silk stuff). I met Brian after getting lost (again) and we went to the Medici Chapels. Again, another amazing place. It's the momument and tomb for many of the Medici family, and much of the work in the sacristy (where they are buried) was Michelangelo's. We were going to go in the church there too, but I am at the 'it's just another church' stage.
Brian went to go the Bargello Sculpture museum, and I went off shopping. We met back at the apartment after lunch. I had mostly a nice walk, not too much shopping, and I sat on the steps at the Piazza de le Signoria (sp?), and stared at the copy of David in the square, and listened to some fine acoustic guitar player, playing in the square. It was lovely.
After a nap, I went out of my own again, and once again, got lost. I was supposed to meet Brian but I was late again, because I turned the wrong way. We went to the Baptistery with the Ghiberti Doors and looked at all the Biblical stories they told.
Tomorrow, I am going to a fine palace that I have been at before (the Pitti Palace). It's full of art too, but it is also pretty much in it's original form, with furniture, etc. It has an attached costume gallery, silver museum, and beautiful gardens, so I will be there so quite a while I think. I am not sure if I will do anything else. I am getting pretty tired, and pretty saturated with art, and history. Brian and Ray are going to go by bus to a little town called Fiesole, they think, outside of Florence, and are thinking of walking back. Today, Mike and Laurie went to Cinque Terre (five towns) to hike them. It's supposed to be amazing. Ray and Judy wanted to go too, but it's going to be a long day. Mike and Laurie left at 7am, and won't be back until about 10pm.
We leave for Ostia (just outside of Rome, near the airport) travelling by the 'fast' train, on Wednesday morning. We'll stay overnight there and leave on Thursday morning. Our flight from Rome to Toronto is longer than coming here, something to do with the jet stream. It's about 10 1-2 hours, and then a couple hours wait before we come home.
Time to get back. All these moms (Laurie, Judy and I) miss our children and grandbabies. Even with all this art, history, and beauty, there is nothing like our families.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
We're only human after all...
So Ray and I were trying to cram a last day trip in to Cinque Terre and another day to Assissi,but realised that we wouldn't see Florence the way we wanted to if we did that. The only solution is to plan a trip back to Italy to see those places. Florence has its own flavor(and smell-yikes!) The people who work here are a little crabbier than in Rome,generally it seems, or maybe Ray and I are bringing the worst out in them.We saw the Pitti Palace art today and the Acadamie with the famous David, which was worth the trip to Italy on its own, and before that we went to mass at the Duomo. A full day, but not over yet. Happy Mothers Day to all you Moms out there.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Firenza
What a change from the country to Florence.Busy,closed-in, and sensory overload. We got here this morning in our Ducat, dropped it off at the rental place and were in the process of putting our baggage in the cab when-BAM-the sky fell! The arm of the blocker-thing on the car park exit hit me on the head! Thankfully I am fine, except for my pride(could I have done anything more goofy?) and off we went. Ray and I stood in line for over an hour and saw the Uffizzi Gallery. Wow! But talk about sesory overload! The Birth of Venus was good to see, along with several hundred other things.We met some nice Australians in the line-up, which was fun. Tomorrow we go to the Galleria del'Accademia, to see David his own self in all his splendor.
We are in Florence!
One of our continuing issues-jokes is over the hours places keep. It's all completely random, and even though they say certain hours, it's hit and miss whether or not they actually keep them. Our internet place in Castelnuovo was closed yesterday, even though they said it was open. So that's why no one got emails yesterday.
Our apartment here in Florence is small, but it is so pretty. We are on the 4th floor of a 13th century building, but our apartment has been fixed up nicely. There are four sleeping spaces, but one is in the kitchen so we won't be using that one. Ray and Judy have the bedroom in one wing of the apartment, and Mike and Laurie let us have the nicest room with a bathroom. Pretty generous. they said it was because we did so much work to find the places, and Brian drove.
Yesterday, we took a trip in the morning to a beautiful town named Pienza, which Pope Pius II tried to make into a memorial for himself. He had a summer place there. The view was spectacular. After we got home, and had a nap, Brian and I took off for about an hour in the car, and then we all went out for supper. Our little town was really small, so the menu wasn't in English and Brian had to translate everything. We had some good laughs over the food, especially when they set a plate of very, very rare meat in front of Laurie. She doesn't eat meat and thought she was getting a pasta dish. We did some trading and everything turned out fine.
After we got a bit settled in our apartment today, we all went off in our separate directions. Brian and I booked tickets for the Accademia for 4pm today (that's where David is), and tomorrow at 11:00am I am going to the Uffizi ALONE. That's the best way to do art, I think.
I have just been wandering around, looking in shops. The shopping is unreal here, but way beyond my budget. The stores are all ones you would see advertised in Vogue. Dolce and Gabbana, etc. Really high end.
Now I have found the internet cafe, I'll be in touch more and I will see you all soon!
Our apartment here in Florence is small, but it is so pretty. We are on the 4th floor of a 13th century building, but our apartment has been fixed up nicely. There are four sleeping spaces, but one is in the kitchen so we won't be using that one. Ray and Judy have the bedroom in one wing of the apartment, and Mike and Laurie let us have the nicest room with a bathroom. Pretty generous. they said it was because we did so much work to find the places, and Brian drove.
Yesterday, we took a trip in the morning to a beautiful town named Pienza, which Pope Pius II tried to make into a memorial for himself. He had a summer place there. The view was spectacular. After we got home, and had a nap, Brian and I took off for about an hour in the car, and then we all went out for supper. Our little town was really small, so the menu wasn't in English and Brian had to translate everything. We had some good laughs over the food, especially when they set a plate of very, very rare meat in front of Laurie. She doesn't eat meat and thought she was getting a pasta dish. We did some trading and everything turned out fine.
After we got a bit settled in our apartment today, we all went off in our separate directions. Brian and I booked tickets for the Accademia for 4pm today (that's where David is), and tomorrow at 11:00am I am going to the Uffizi ALONE. That's the best way to do art, I think.
I have just been wandering around, looking in shops. The shopping is unreal here, but way beyond my budget. The stores are all ones you would see advertised in Vogue. Dolce and Gabbana, etc. Really high end.
Now I have found the internet cafe, I'll be in touch more and I will see you all soon!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Market day
It's market day in the little town next to ours. Ray and I walked here down a beautiful country road in the lovely sunshine,watching the farmers out with their little tractors tending to their grapes and olives. Lots of birds chirping,lots of wild flowers,wild roses,poppies,buttercups,etc. I bought 4 tablecloths at the market, with the tuscan colors and designs. Laurie bought leather boots for herself which we had to oooh and aaah over,over and over again(she's pretty pumped about her boots and after you say 'nice boots' 40 or 50 times, there's really nothing else to say) I,however, love tablecloths. And dishes, which is why I am so excited about the alabaster bowl I bought a few days ago, and these tablecloths. There's lots you could say about my tablecloths. And I expect lots of adjectives. They're so nice!! I am feeling better, cold-wise. It's nice not to have to go in a store and say"Halls!" while clutching at my throat and pretending to cough.
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