Tuesday, June 29, 2010

On the mornings when I don’t go for a run along the Arno, I enjoy taking the time to take a long walk up to Piazzale Michelangiolo. When I woke up this morning, I couldn’t wait to go for a walk. The clear blue sky and cool air seemed to be calling to me. I headed out the door and crossed Ponte alle Grazie. I walked toward Piazza Ferrucci, taking a few backroads, and headed up viale Michelangiolo.

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Thursday, June 24, 2010

With Venus shimmering to the west and an almost full moon to the east, I stood on Ponte San Niccolò with my marito (husband) and our friends. We hadn’t planned to see the fuochi d'artificio (fireworks) in celebration of Florence’s patron saint, San Giovanni, because we were in the Maremma this morning walking along the spiaggia (beach).

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

For as long as I’ve been in Florence, I have never sat on the steps of the Duomo. The other evening while I was walking by the Duomo, I saw people sitting on the steps and wondered what it would be like to sit there. Before I left our apartment this morning, I told myself that on my way to run a few commissioni (errands), I’d stop and sit on the steps. At 11am with the sun finally shining overhead after many rainy and grey days, I sat down on the cold marble steps and watched people walk by while others stopped to take foto (photos).

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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

I wish I had more time in the day: I’d take more photos and write more about my beloved city. My other website, Florence from the Heart, dedicated to Florence is an outlet for me and other writers who live in Florence. We each select an aspect of the city and let the words flow from our hearts and out to the readers. I asked Andrea Ponsi, an Italian architect, writer, and artist, at his book presentation last week if he wanted to publish his article on via della Ninna because I enjoyed it.

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Monday, June 14, 2010

Living in Florence :: Tourists enjoying my beloved city

At this time of year, I feel so fortunate to have my morning runs when I get to go around the Arno when the streets are less crowded. It’s a joy not getting stuck in a sea of people in the streets and on the sidewalks. This afternoon, via dei Neri was so packed that I had to change plans completely. Two large, slow-moving crowds were going down the street and turning down a sidestreet. Instead of trying to get past them to take my shortcut, I had to continue down via dei Neri. It was a little longer, but definitely quicker.

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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Thanks to one of my blog buddies, I found out about a book presentation for Bella Lingua by Dianne Hales at the Società Dante Alighieri. I had invited a couple of friends to come along, but ended up going alone.

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010

It’s interesting how sometimes when I wake up and hear the quietness of the city, I become more reflective. Today is Festa della Republicca and at this time normally the motorini (scooters) and cars are circulating the streets below. I recently spoke to another woman about being an expat and a few ideas solidified in my mind. I love it when a chance encounter with someone proves to be insightful and meaningful for me.

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Monday, May 31, 2010

Living in Florence :: Another view of my piazza

I often walk through Piazza Mentana and always enjoy this view of the statue that stands in the middle of the piazza toward the Arno. In the almost three years we’ve been in this apartment, I’ve noticed this view and have admired it. Today as I was walking by it, I felt drawn to take a foto (picture). Sometimes I don’t have my macchina fotografica (camera) with me and other times I am carrying groceries home and can’t be bothered to take a foto

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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Each city has its own personality. Most places stir something in us: in some we may feel joy or serenity, while in others we may not be infused with such good feelings. I didn’t understand what Florence was all about when I first arrived. I had many signs, but I wasn’t able to interpret them. I not only had to have a good grasp of the language, but also I wanted to know a few Florentines very well.

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Monday, May 24, 2010

A few months ago, a professor from Asbury University in Kentucky emailed me to see if I’d be open to talking with his journalist students if they were to come to Florence. I was of course flattered, but I wondered what I could talk to them about. David, the professor, told me that I could talk about my blog, my “Expats in Florence” column in The Florentine and the expats that I’ve interviewed.

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Friday, May 21, 2010

After walking to San Niccolò to meet a friend for caffè, I stopped in the giardinetto (small garden) in Piazza Demidoff on my way back. Instead of rushing home, I sat down on one of the wooden benches along the sidewalk to take in the city. While the sun was behind me warming me up, the wind whisked by to cool me down.

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Monday, May 17, 2010

At 7:15am this morning I was outside, warming up for my run along the Arno. I hadn’t been out running in months and have been waiting to go out for some time now. I put on my music and away I went. At this early morning hour, there were fewer cars and even fewer people walking about. I love looking around especially at the river and up to San Miniato once I am sure that the cobblestone sidewalk below my feet is stable.

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Saturday, May 8, 2010

Living in Florence :: A visit to the Giardino dell’Iris

I had a couple of hours before lunch today and decided to take a walk up to Piazzale Michelangiolo so I could visit the Giardino dell’Iris. With dark clouds looming overhead, I packed an ombrello (umbrella) in my purse and flung my macchina fotografica (camera) around my neck before heading outside.

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Friday, May 7, 2010

This morning I wanted to go to pick up my new passport at the American Consulate and decided that no matter what, I’d walk along the Arno the entire way. I sometimes head down the narrow and less frequented streets in order to get to my destination quicker, but today I wanted to be near the water.

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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

I was invited to speak at a friend’s class of college students who have been here for a semester. At first, I was a little hesitant to go because the topic was globalizzazione (globalization). I wasn’t sure I had anything to add, but my friend told me I did. She wanted me to talk with her students about my living and working in different countries, especially Florence, as well as what I’ve learned from other expats I know and have interviewed.

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