In knitting, the moment you know the sock is nearly done is when you've turned the heel. (At least when you're knitting them toe-up, as I do.) So today, with just two days left in my Firenze experience, I feel I have reached that point of no return, when what's left is far overshadowed by what's done.
Best memories? Certainly the glorious must-do moments: the Uffizi, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo, Santa Croce and the rest. I've enjoyed sharing this amazing experience with dear friends and loved ones: my mother, first and foremost, but also my husband and son, and best girlfriends (save one who had to work! Silly her...) The food has been splendid, especially now that the tomatoes and strawberries are coming into season (somewhere in Italy, at least...I'm thinking Sicily...) and the shopping, well.
Perhaps best, though, have been the unexpected moments. The things you can neither plan for nor anticipate. A Punch and Judy show in the piazza. A parade of full dress medievalists with drums and horns marching in lock step through the city, a performance of La Boheme in an intimate and beautiful setting at the English Church of Saint Mark's, A busking gypsy violinist, or maybe most spectacular, the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Italian unification: a magnificent Notte TriColore on three piazzas including a performance of the national symphony, hundreds of craftspeople showcasing the talent of Firenze or a tethered hot air balloon a mere 100 meters (and eyelevel) from my balcony rising and landing to the syncopated rhythms of a perfectly terrific funk band.
Time to think, time to enjoy, time to be unstructured and spontaneous. I am ready to come home, however. I miss my family, I miss my business and, frankly, I miss the rhythm of normalcy. My halcyon weeks have been wonderful, but I am more convinced than ever of what a blessed
life I have back in Kansas, and how, now, upon reflection, I can say with conviction, no matter how glorious is Oz, there's no place like home.
How brilliant to stay in a place that offered a continual and varied panorama as well as proximity to all the must sees. Loved the Burlesquoni and the native's knowledge of innuendo-in-news-reports blog!!
Posted by: Lotte | 03/22/2011 at 02:11 PM