This week I did go explore the countryside on foot, just once, and with a few regrets. Walking from Florence to Fiesole is a 90 minute undertaking, but in the heat of summer and getting a later start than planned (aka high noon) meant that by the time I go to Fiesole I was hyper-thermic.
The countryside was gorgeous but the roads I chose were narrow with lots of people on Saturday drives.
After this section, where I dipped down and back up through a valley, the number of cars thinned out.
Selfie against an old stone wall.
These hills have been a toney Florence neighborhood for some time now. Once in Fiesole proper there was nice breeze and it was several degrees cooler. Word has it that the Etruscans favored the Fiesole area as a place to set up a village. The Romans had other plans and thought Florence was a better settlement because of ample water access.
Smiling on the outside, cooking on the inside.
A combination of street art on access doors for gas lines.
Some other street art- any interpretations welcome.
While I was out sweating on the cobbles, Jon was too. Today Jon rode 100 miles and climbed 10,000 feet. He is truly an overachiever as we will see later in this post. As long as he keeps taking the steamy selfies, I say, keep it up!
Jon also takes pictures of the cats he sees. Here is a tabby specimen.
Another tabby allowed pettings.
Jon also went to see this Etruscan tomb after I had excitedly told him about these ancient people.
The remains of the tomb.
A re-creation of what this ancient crypt looked like originally.
Really, though, one needn't leave town here to see cool old stuff. Here is Donatello's ground-breaking David, as seen at the Bargello Museum.
I loved the Bargello; going by myself on a Tuesday was very relaxing. Not very many people and reservations were required.
The Bargello has so many rooms chock full of cool stuff, including a whole room with cases and cases of centuries-old jewelry. I took a picture of these earrings hoping I can find something like it in the Oltrarno shops. The Bargello also has incredible tapestries, a room of ceramics, and one of the best collections of sculpture in Europe.
Michelangelo's Brutus and I, checking out the sweet Bargello collection.
The biggest of the big museums in Florence, the "must-see", is the Uffizi. Here we were able to see five original pieces that I have copies of in my dining room. Axel took this photo of Jon and I with the Duke and Duchess by Piero della Francesca. At home we have them in separate frames, which I threaten to reverse if we are ever in an argument. I haven't done this. Yet.
The whole family was delighted to see the Birth of Venus. Later, Axel and I bought Botticelli's Primavera jigsaw puzzle from the gift shop and are working on it back at the apartment.
I found a copy of this Rembrandt self portrait at a thrift store several years ago. And here he is.
I have this Martin Luther at home as well. One of Jon's favorites.
Jon took a photo of this statue, "Boy With Thorn". Relatable.
I liked this gal.
Here is Socrates. I think he looks kind of like JK Simmons.
The west side of the Uffizi has a great view of the Arno River and here Jon took my picture.
On the way home Jon took this selfie in front of the Baptistery. The Baptistery/Duomo/Bell Tower area is always a zoo. We have not yet braved any of those attractions up close.
One thing I like, in any country, is cinema. I expect to find at least one more show here in Florence, but for this one I watched "Elvis" at the Odeon. The irony (spoiler alert) is that this film centered on how Elvis never got to go to Europe.
I got to the Odeon early to take in vibe and was able to take a picture of the interior.
Before I went to the show I stopped at Gilli for a Prosecco and this little brioche-ricotta small bite. It turns out my drink came with other small bites as well.
While I was going to see Elvis, Jon and Axel were riding scooters over to the local chess club. It meets at a bar. Jon and I traded the above two photos via text as we sipped our respective drinks. Jon was very pleased that his Negroni came in a branded Campari glass.
A car Axel took a picture of while scootering to chess.
Axel photographs Jon playing chess.
Axel ready to play.
This chess went on for as long as the Elvis movie, which is really saying something.
Jon wins the trophy! Photo reminiscent of all those haloed paintings we've been looking at.
Finally, this is Axel getting his hair trimmed. We speak no Italian and the barber spoke no English, but the language of "just a trim" is universal among humans. Disclosure: Axel did not approve of this photo, nor does he allow me to take his photo very often... teenagers!
Tomorrow Axel checks in to his Italian language summer camp and he will be staying with another family for two whole weeks. I am going to miss him but I am excited that he gets to experience Florence life with a real Florentine family.
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