The return trip to Torre Orsina for Virgilio’s birthday party went smoothly. The weather had cooled down just a little but enough that we weren’t drenched and exhausted after the 3 ½ hour train ride from Florence and the half hour bus ride that dropped us in the main piazza. So not to bore anyone with repeat events, see Vic’s blog entry titled “More Burrago and Biliardo” for details on Saturday’s activities.
Most of the sidewalks are narrow in Florence. There are many people going in all directions. Walking can be an exercise in dominance, who will give way when coming upon each other. In tourist areas it isn't too difficult, stay on your path and the tourist will move. But when in the local’s area it is different. Although Italy is a somewhat patriarchal society where you “think” men are chivalrous that doesn't mean they will give way to a woman. But I have found the secret watching other women. You look at the ground, not at the person approaching you, not just ahead of you but directly in front of you. You must do this early on, before you make eye contact with the impending encounter, then they will move out of the way for you. If you don’t you will always be moving to and fro dodging everyone else.
Florence makes paper. You NEED paper to do scrapbooking. I LOVE to scrap. I LOVE to make cards. I LOVE to think about making cards. I LOVE to think about making scrapbook pages. OK…I’m obsessed about paper and making things.
The Florentine gift wrap is scrap quality. I’ve seen at least 20 gift wrap papers I want to take home. Debbie, you would go crazy here, for $3 to $5 you can get a piece of beautiful gift wrap that’s about 3 feet by 4 feet. Maybe I can find a sturdy cardboard tube to bring my all the paper home that I plan to buy. Today is Friday and we’ve been in Florence since Monday afternoon. We are very pleased with our apartment. It is larger than I expected. We are on a limited traffic road but it is between the Duomo (the big Dome you always see in pictures of Florence) and the Galleria Dell’Accademia (the museum where the statue of “David” is located). Even though there is a steady stream of people down our street all day long it isn’t too distracting. Right now we’re only in the apartment at night after about 10pm and in the afternoon since it’s been so hot.
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