Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Only twenty-four hours later, I did almost the same run. I realized shortly after leaving our apartment that I’ll need to leave earlier in the morning to have the same experience as yesterday when the city felt almost all mine. There was enough traffic around me to make me change my route as well, which ended up being another pleasant reward.

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Monday, April 25, 2011

It’s Easter morning and the streets are fairly quiet: not many cars and even fewer motorini (scooters) are out. Instead of heading east away from the city on my morning run, I decided to head west. Not only was the scenery different, but my run had a different feel to it too. Time also went by quickly.

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Sunday, April 24, 2011

Living in Florence :: A crowded Easter Day in Florence

I waited all week to go out and take a few photos of my beloved city. The entire week has mostly been sunny, and I assumed that the good weather would continue. Unfortunately, yesterday was cloudy and grey, and this morning it was raining. This morning, I walked around town through the crowded piazze and strade (streets). I didn’t want to go to the Duomo for Florence’s famous scoppio del carro (explosion of the cart) because I’ve already seen it a few times, and I’m not fond of the crowds. I thought I could take some photos before the strade filled up, but unfortunately I didn’t get out of the house in time.

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Friday, April 22, 2011

My recent trips to Paris have enabled me to view my beloved city a little differently. The last time I went up to Piazzale Michelangiolo, I realized that I can hold the entire city in my view. It’s unlike Paris where it’s hard to get a complete view of the city since it’s so much larger. But, I realize that not only is the city easy to hold in my sight, but also in my heart as well. It's as if I can embrace it completely.

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Thursday, April 21, 2011

The reason I initially came to Florence in 1997 was to find my inspiration to write. At the time, I thought if I extracted myself from my “normal” life, gave up my day job, and moved to an enchanting city, I would certainly be inspired to write. Initially, it worked. The change of culture, language, lifestyle, and surroundings all inspired me. After living here for many years and still feeling the effect of my beloved city on me, I realize that my inspiration is more tied to something completely different: running.

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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

My grandmother used to often tell me, “The early bird gets the worm.” I always thought it was her way of getting me up early instead of sleeping in. But today, I realized how true that expression really is, and how the best moments occur when you wake up early for them. I was out the door by 7:45am to go for my morning run, which isn’t that early, but it was early enough to reap the benefits. I was startled by how cool the air was since the sun had been up before I was. I thought it had at least an hour or so to warm up the air a little, but that wasn’t the case.

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Thursday, April 14, 2011

With the tourist season coming into full swing, I have not been crossing the Ponte Vecchio. I can tell by the large groups of students and tourists drifting through the city streets that the season has just begun. Generally, Ponte Vecchio is my gauge to know how busy the city is. I looked at it a few times from along the lungarno and could see how crowded it was.

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Monday, April 11, 2011

This morning I couldn’t wait to go for a walk up to Piazzale Michelangiolo. After arriving last night, I was ready to get up to the piazzale to see my city in its entirety. Even though Saturday was warm and sunny, it was foggy and cool Sunday morning. I dashed out of our apartment and walked briskly across Ponte alle Grazie and along the Arno up to the Viale Michelangiolo.

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Saturday, April 9, 2011

Living in Florence :: Last afternoon in Paris

I couldn’t wait to enjoy my last few hours in Paris before heading back to Florence. It was a perfect spring day with the sun warming up the cool air. I walked down the rue de Grenelle, where I was staying, to the Invalides. Boys were playing soccer on the grass and tourists were navigating the streets with their maps opened as they walked along the large sidewalks of the esplanade. I cut through the soccer game along the stone walkway that cuts the grass diagonally to get to the métro station. Instead of taking a métro, I hopped on the RER to Saint Michel. I wanted to see the Notre Dame and the Seine before taking off. The first thing I saw in Paris when I arrived two weeks ago was the Notre Dame, and I thought it’d be good to end my trip with it as well.

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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Spring has finally arrived in Paris today. My marito (husband) told me that spring arrived last week in Florence. I was jealous when he said the sun was shining brightly because when I looked out the windows, the skies here in Paris were grey. The temperatures finally rose enough today to reach the mid 70’s (20’s in Celsius) that we opened the windows in our office for the first time.

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Sunday, April 3, 2011

For the last three months I have spent half my time in Paris and the other half at home in Florence. I am now back in Paris in the middle of my third two-week trip. At the beginning of the year, I would never have imagined that I’d be traveling back and forth to Paris for work. I always thought I would return to Paris some day until I moved to Florence. Even though my home is Florence, Paris holds a very special place in my heart. And, I feel fortunate to be able to come and spend so much time here.

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Monday, March 28, 2011

Before leaving for Paris yesterday, I felt a little anxious about my trip. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go to Paris, but I felt I hadn’t enjoyed my beloved city enough before taking off again. I had time to meet up with friends and catch quick glimpses of the city, but I wasn’t able to stroll the streets, take many photos, or enjoy the beginning of spring in Florence.

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Sunday, March 20, 2011

Living in Florence :: Reaching out

Earlier this week, a dear friend had suggested that we walk up to San Miniato on Saturday morning. After a few rainy and then sunny days, yesterday ended up being overcast. I was excited to visit San Miniato because I hadn’t gone there in at least a year. After enjoying a cappuccino and pasta (pastry), we walked under the large wooden doorway of the ancient mura (wall) and made our way to the stairs. We hiked up the wide stone steps, leading up the hill to Piazzale Michelangiolo.

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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Living in Florence :: Celebrating 150 years of unification

In less than two weeks, the Italians organized a festa (holiday) that they have never celebrated before today. On March 17, 1861, Italy was unified. Most countries would have celebrated that festa every year, but in Italy no one has ever declared it a national festa. And even though it is festa today. It will not be next year. Most Florentines I know aren’t enthusiastic about the unification of Italy or this festa. They, like most Italians, identify themselves first from the city where they come from and then the country. My friends are Florentines first and Italians second.

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

I returned to a rainy city after my two-week stay in Paris. I haven’t been out much to see the city, but I do watch the Arno with great joy. Its color is now a light brown and the level is getting higher by the hour. The one thing I have done since my return is meet up with my Florentine friends. After my nostalgic Sunday in Paris, I was happy that on Monday morning I could go to via dei Neri to say hello to all my negozianti (shopkeepers) with whom I have become friends with over the years.

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