Nov 6, 2009 - Hello world!

Hello everybody! I am a Brazilian girl who lives near Florence and I simply love to travel around Tuscany and discover special places. I am creating this travel diary in order to organize a little bit of my pics and memories. Hope it could be useful for you too.

Oct 15, 2009 - Toscana & Firenze

Lidia's entry: Trish and Rick Peck have influenced our modus operandi. Before T&R, we hiked and cycled outdoors. Now, we walk to restaurants, food shops and wineries. I am thankful that they joined us in Italy. Every meal is an enjoyable adventure. Allen adds: We rented a car and drove thru the Tuscan countryside to Montalcino. There we visited two wineries. Fate & the 'small world' syndrome arises again. We had a couple hours to wait before we could begin tour we reserved, so we drove to the next nearest to use the available time. Turns...

Jul 11, 2009 - Tuscany - Day 5 - Florence and Milan

We had a quick stop in Florence to see David and do a little more leather shopping, with some extra pictures of the Duomo and its baptistry. After that we went to Milan and had a little jaunt of shoe shopping and one last dose of risotto before going home!

Jul 9, 2009 - Tuscany - Day 3 - Florence and San Gimignano

Today was our day in Florence. We started with the Uffizi. While waiting for our tickets, we saw the Ponte Vecchio, and some street performers taking a break. The Uffizi has some great art and is itself very beautiful. But its administration is terrible. First, you have to make a reservation to see it and pay 14 euros ($20) per ticket. Then you have to wait in line for half an hour anyway. The place has one tiny bathroom with three stalls and a half hour wait. All of the galleries are poorly lit. Many rooms are closed. You can't take...

May 29, 2009 - L'Accademia to Saint Mark`s: A Culmination of the Arts

I was at the Galleria dell'Accademia (1563; 1784))by 8:30 am to pick up my ticket and there was no wait time so was able to begin this final feast, so to speak. I went straight to David as I anticipated there would be masses to deal with as time went on. And I was right as already there were large numbers gathered in this unbelievably beautiful space for such a prominently perfect work of art. David is displayed with simple magnificence at the end of a long open corridor under a dome with natural lighing. This space was specifically...

May 28, 2009 - Firenze via Pisa

While travelling from La Spezia back to Firenze, I pondered whether to take time to stop one more time at Pisa to view the Galileo Galilei Exhibition, "The Telescope and the Paintbrush: New Science and New Art in the Age of Galileo" in celebration of the 400th anniversary of his first astronomical observations. Banners were all over the city advertising this event, and the exhibition had been closed (Monday) when I was previously in Pisa. I did-- and I am ever so grateful for this decision! Besides being exhibited in the newly renovated...

Apr 12, 2009 - Buon Pasqua Everyone!! Happy Easter!

We have had a slow, quiet day. Maria Teresa & Babbo have had 25 family visitors, 5 of their 6 grown children, and lots of grandchildren. We have stayed upstairs in our room... didn't want to intrude, although we went down for Breakfast, and a few came in and out of the kitchen as we sat there having our tea, pane with butter & jam, and Panforte Di Siena, a great Dulce --- sweet bread that is something like a really good tasting fruitcake. Noa is at my desk working on her Be Present Photo Proposal that is due in a few days. I was in bed...

Apr 11, 2009 - Back home to San Domenico April 11, 2009 Friday

Noa & I are back in Florence. Actually we are in San Domenico, the hills just above Florence. It rained last night, about 1 hour after we got back from the train. Very big lightening and LOUD thunder. Felt like we could almost see the Gods throwing lightening bolts and having fun startling us little Humans. Could Italy be closer to where the Gods live?? It sure sounded like it!! And after seeing Venice with the amazing buildings, churches and art all around ---- they MUST be closer to the Mountains where the Gods & Goddesses live. Crazy...

Mar 1, 2009 - Time is Getting Short Before We Leave

We have begun to sell raffle tickets for the Fund Raiser to be held on March 8th, 2009, here at our home. NeEdra made great flyers -- one announcing the Event, and one detailing things to be raffeled off and sold in the silent auction. Tonight Noa and I went to Richelle and Tina's dance performance and Tina's mother told us about a tour she went on in Florence that she really enjoyed. A small tour of 5 or 6 people. I got her card and will email her my email address for her to send me the name and contact info of the woman. Amazingly Uncle...

Aug 13, 2008 - Florence is crowded and humid, but beautiful

We went to Florence for the day to have dinner with Alex's cousin, Samantha. We took the express train from Rome to Firenze and that was only about an hour and forty minutes. It was a nice ride and the countryside is very green and beautiful. Plus it was air conditioned...hooray! Immediately, I saw a dachsund shaped handbag that I HAD to buy for Amanda. Once in Firenze, we found a restaurant and Alex had pizza with pepperoni and mushroom while I had carbonara. Finally, I had a carbonara that tasted as good as Alex's mom's. Then, we rented...

Aug 6, 2008 - Firenze

Today we went to Firenze. Wow! (again, I know I am saying that a lot). Mum and Rudi you are right it is a fantastic place. Carmine and I agree that next time we get back here we will stay for a few days. We left the Villa at 8:45am and did not return until 8pm. About an hour trip both ways. Easy driving. Fantastic. Again it is only VInce that has driven. I don't think that he trusts Carmine. We managed to park the van about a 10min walk away from central Firenze. Very lucky. YOu could see Ponte Vecchio from where we were parked. So very...

May 30, 2008 - Rome-Cassino-Firenze

After another reasonable night’s sleep, we were up, showered, dressed, breakfasted, packed and ready to go when the taxi arrived at 8:40am. The car was a Mercedes Benz Station Wagon and we were whisked off through the streets of Rome with one final drive around the Colosseum as we left. Once on the Autostrada back to the airport the driver was going a leisurely 160 kph! We were dropped off in once piece (thankfully) and met by the Eurolease man who went off and sorted out our car. Again, we were whisked off to the pick up point and after...