Santa Maria novella
Roma! What a city. I loved it! Ana and I packed into 4 days what two normal people could do in a weeks time. We literally ran from place to place. I was exhausted after our trip. It was a wonderful city that is full of life, history and a great deal to see. The weather was fabulous: I'm sure that it was in the 60s every day and I even got a little sunburn on my face- despite putting sunblock on in the morning. The Colosseo and the ruins just blew me away. It was quite an amazing thing to be faced with something that was so old and has so much history.
I am back in Florence for a few days. Of course the day that I arrive in Florence it rains- no pours! figures. But today has been beautiful.
I am staying a lovely hostel and have enjoyed a few days in Firenze by myself (at least in the morning while my friends are still in school). I walked along the Arno river this morning and then stepped into a few churches that I had not been in before. Then after lunch with my friends, I climbed the cupola, bought a new shirt, and headed to the last church on my list to see. Santa Maria Novella. While heading to the entrance I was stopped by a 75 year old Italian man (at first I was not surprised- I have often been stopped by Italian men) but this was going to be a different encounter, I could tell by the first words out of his mouth. He spoke to me about the church that I was about to enter and told me all of the artists that had paintins, frescoes, or sculptures within it. He asked if he could join me in the church and of course I could not turn him down. He told me to put on my jacket because it was going to be cold in the church. I, obeyed, paid for my ticket and in we went. He took me by the hand and spoke to me in clear, slow Italian and was my personal tour guide through this incredible church. He, Giulio, was quite a charming man. He told me that my smile lit up the church and that he was amazed at my knowledge of Italian (I didn't have the heart to tell him that I only understood about 1/2 to 3/4 of what he said... but I guess that doesn't matter). It was a wonderful afternoon.
Tomorrow I head to Venice with my friend Aine (from Ireland) for the weekend. I will return to Firenze for one last evening on Sunday and hopefully take a bike tour of Chianti on Monday before I head to Bologna on Tuesday.
All in all a glorious return to the non-student life. (although I miss working on my Italian everyday in school)
Ciao!
I am back in Florence for a few days. Of course the day that I arrive in Florence it rains- no pours! figures. But today has been beautiful.
I am staying a lovely hostel and have enjoyed a few days in Firenze by myself (at least in the morning while my friends are still in school). I walked along the Arno river this morning and then stepped into a few churches that I had not been in before. Then after lunch with my friends, I climbed the cupola, bought a new shirt, and headed to the last church on my list to see. Santa Maria Novella. While heading to the entrance I was stopped by a 75 year old Italian man (at first I was not surprised- I have often been stopped by Italian men) but this was going to be a different encounter, I could tell by the first words out of his mouth. He spoke to me about the church that I was about to enter and told me all of the artists that had paintins, frescoes, or sculptures within it. He asked if he could join me in the church and of course I could not turn him down. He told me to put on my jacket because it was going to be cold in the church. I, obeyed, paid for my ticket and in we went. He took me by the hand and spoke to me in clear, slow Italian and was my personal tour guide through this incredible church. He, Giulio, was quite a charming man. He told me that my smile lit up the church and that he was amazed at my knowledge of Italian (I didn't have the heart to tell him that I only understood about 1/2 to 3/4 of what he said... but I guess that doesn't matter). It was a wonderful afternoon.
Tomorrow I head to Venice with my friend Aine (from Ireland) for the weekend. I will return to Firenze for one last evening on Sunday and hopefully take a bike tour of Chianti on Monday before I head to Bologna on Tuesday.
All in all a glorious return to the non-student life. (although I miss working on my Italian everyday in school)
Ciao!
posted by Deanna at 9:26 AM
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