Florence in June

Posted on 2006/06/06 10:22:39 (June 2006).

[2nd - 4th June 2006]

The weather was crap, but me and Marta were quite resolute to travel around the center anyways. City is still quite marvellous, did a spot of shopping and nice eating around the center. In 3 days we never actually stopped at home to eat!

On Saturday we had a very nice birthday party for Gianfranco, now 32, at a quite unknown pizza place that was darn cheap and quite marvellous (they make Napolitan style pizza, they type that I love the most).
The evening saw an attempt to move to a crowded pub in the vicinity, but it was sooooo increadibly crowded that we opted for a quieter place next door called "THE COCKNEY".
This has to be the WORST pub I have ever been into, the crappy lighted room was painted with this puke-like colours, the fake "olde Blighty" furniture looked even more fake than a two dollars bill, and the beer was so shit that two of us had quite a lot of problems the morning after.
It was kind of (un)cool to enter the deserted pub, asking for a stout. The two owners replied almost together that they had none (despite having a gazzillion taps there), they told us that they had "blonde beer". One of us asked for a german malt beer (on the account of it beign "blonde"), but they owners wouldn't have none of it and told us that they HAD BLOND BEER only...(read blonde = larger)... Much choice there huh! Wonder why the pub was so crowded!

On Sunday the usual meeting with my parents to discuss about million things inheritance related, it's quite boring that every time I have to enter a lot of discussions and arguments about things that I have no power to control anyways. Oh well...
My father also decided to split up with his partner. This is a bit more serious and worrying in a way, because he will now need to find a house by himself and live there alone. Let's hope that things work out in a good way and he can get along with the rest of his life happy and tranquil, with women he hasn't been very lucky indeed...

Fantastic pictures Lox.

Particularly it was really great to see the photos of the family farm. It was about nine years ago when I visited I think, and I didn't really take any pictures on that first trip to Italy... so I remembered it only in an almost dream-like state. It was wonderful to see the dining room again, I remember that place particularly well.

The centre of Florence looks beautiful as ever of course as well. I think as a Florentine you take pictures of it differently than an outsider would, and so altough I recognise the landmarks immediately, it gives a different light to how I remember it, and even more different to how it is portrayed on the telly... Of course your portrayal is the best one!

I was reading Bill Bryson's book about travelling around Europe, and he was actually a little down on Florence. Clearly he had nothing but praise for the magnificent buildings etc, but said it was a bit spoiled by the fact there were just so many tourists. Funny, I don't really remember being that overwhelmed by the tourists - yea obviously they were there, but the fact that everything looks so jaw droppingly wonderful there meant I could actually quite easily forget the tourists (of which, of course, I was one). Oh and of course I probably benefitted somewhat from being with an excellent tour guide who was able to avoid the crowds whenever possible...

Posted by John at 2006/06/06 24:26:05.

I have just finished Bill Bryson "An History of Nearly Everything", a book that I would reccommend to anyone as it is really well written!

As for Florence it was really packed with tourists, but that's because now it's holiday season so we have a lot more presence of gaijin in the city. Normally we would go to the important places, maybe we always walked secondary streets to avoid the massive crowds, but that's an innate skill that comes with the florentine status.

Glad that you remember the contryside house, it would be great to have you there again with Chie before we sell it...

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/06 24:42:16.

Nice pics indeed. Paticularly you with your blue slippers. Very elegant. Very Italian. ;-)

Ps. My slippers are quite alike, except for the colour (light brown).

Posted by Sheri at 2006/06/06 13:37:58.

Ooooh God!! I just realised they are NOT slippers!
Could I have another shoot?

Posted by Cynical Sheri at 2006/06/06 13:40:00.

Shot, I mean...

Posted by Sheri at 2006/06/06 13:40:52.

Please.

Posted by Sheri at 2006/06/06 13:42:13.

Actually they are quite comfortable, Nike soft shoes, bought them darn cheap in Japan while here in Europe they were priced at least 30% higher... Ah the colour is something that I could not find here, but I liked it, it's great with white trousers and a matching t-shirt.

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/06 14:39:59.

Brilliant pictures Lox!! Your city is beautiful. And so is the country villa. The furnishings almost look medieval! Excellent. Is it still a working farm then?

Posted by Nigel at 2006/06/06 20:34:13.

Did you really go to the pub next to The Bounty? From your description I understand why it's always empty :-) I hope you liked the stuff I put in your HD. We'll all wait you in Florence for the Italy vs USA match

Posted by Federico at 2006/06/06 20:46:24.

I just had a look to your photos, they're very nice. BTW the unnamed statue it's the Perseus, don't you remeber Mythology? Or at least the song about Florence's flood, do I need to quote the verse about that statue?

Posted by Federico at 2006/06/06 20:55:39.

Ciao Fede! Actually I remembered the Perseus and the Marasco song very well, BUT for some strange reason Marta convinced me that he couldn't have been Perseus and I gave way... As for the match.... Well I don't want to say anything keep watching the Blog as there might be some GROUND-BREAKING news soon.

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/07 08:53:39.

Hi Lox. as for the statue: never trust women :-), as for the match: is the news related to your recent interview? I'm waiting expectantly :-)

Posted by Federico at 2006/06/07 10:01:48.

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