Firenze {part 2}

"For us to go to Italy and to penetrate into Italy is like a most fascinating act of self-discovery,  back, back down the old ways of time. Strange and wonderful chords awake in us, and vibrate again after many hundreds of years of complete forgetfulness." --D.H. Lawrence 

"Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life." --Anna Akhmatova

"It is the city of mirrors, the city of mirages, at once solid and liquid, at once air and stone." --Erica Jong 

 

     "How was Italy!?" is a question people have asked me a numerous times these past few weeks.
     "AMAZING!" is how I usually respond.
     "What was your favorite part?"
     pause. what do I say?
      "Ummmm, well the pasta was fantastic! and so was the artwork......"

In my mind I'm searching for the best way to give them a taste of my Italy, but the words never come out right. What I really want to tell everybody, is how beautiful the roof tops were, how Florence was a palette of earthy tones; a blend of red and browns. I want to tell them about the breath-taking views of lush rolling hills dotted with small villages and castles.

Then there were the masses of people. Tourists, policemen, street vendors, and students all crowded the narrow stone streets of Florence. Chefs stood outside of their restaurants shouting for people to come in, gypsy women followed us around mumbling and rattling their cups, while musicians were at every corner with their battered accordions. I could have spent all day just people watching :)

But in all honesty, my favorite part of Florence was the churches. There was a church on every block; large stone monstrosities with spires and heavy wooden doors. Often times the main chapel was filled with frescoes by Giotto or Michelangelo or statues by Donatello. Always the churches were dark and empty; occasionally there was a tourist walking around, or a man kneeling in prayer, but mostly I had the entire place all to myself. I'd sit in a worn pew and absorb the peaceful silence.

There. That's really what I want to say to everyone, but this blog post will have to suffice.



Someday I will return to Europe. There is more exploring to be done!