Sunday, August 9, 2009

Favorite Things, part 1

Firenze, Italia
view from Piazzale Michelangelo
This is my favorite place. Yeah, there's my yard (which, sadly, has suffered drought and scorch in the last month) and the Farm on Vashon, but this is Florence.
I wish I could explain my feelings for this place, but they are more complicated than I realized.
I've been to Firenze three times:
1. On the bike trip when I was 17--I remember the Mercato San Lorenzo and that's about it. We'd been biking through Germany and France and by Italy things were a blur...until we reached that ferry in Brindisi...but that's another story.
2. I actually majored in Italian. Really useful, I know. I spent most of my junior year of college in Florence. I was homesick. My favorite memories are of wandering everywhere around the center and on the other side of the Arno, people watching and just being an observer, eating almond cookies and the best food on earth.
3. And now 23 years later with a different perspective and my niece in tow--it felt familiar and welcoming, and I could actually speak functional Italian. And I wish I could have stayed.

6 comments:

A Mother Always said...

I'm visiting your blog for the first time, you've got some pretty stuff and also a some wacky ideas too. Enjoyed going through them.

Gillian said...

Thank you. I have to get back in the habit of blogging now that I'm back from my sojourn. I've missed it, and Radish.

Buskitten said...

Hey Gillian! We were in Italy at the same time, I'm just back! I love your sentiments about Florence, it's an amazing place isn't it? Full of mystery and magic!

Gillian said...

What a coincidence! Maybe we passed each other by. Yes. Amazing.

Anonymous said...

You are very lucky to get to travel to places many of us have never been. Thank you for sharing.

Gillian said...

Thank you, I am very appreciative of being able to travel. :) I'm saving for the next opportunity as I write!