Florence and My Fucking Feet

June 17, 2014

You will walk a lot in Florence.

You will walk so much in Florence that your legs and butt will get as gorgeously toned as Michelangelo’s David.

Your feet won’t fare so well.

Florence should be the official homeland of tired, sweaty feet. We logged in a lot of miles on those streets–so much so that I woke up a few times every night with leg cramps. Yowza!

Florence is a great walking city–you can pretty much walk anywhere, and the streets are clearly marked (unlike a place that rhymes with “Menace”) so you don’t get lost too easily. You especially don’t get lost if you have a terrific navigator like my husband, who seriously earned an A++ in the navigating department. Thanks, honey, for all of that work!

One day was particularly athletic–we rose early and walked to the Uffizi Gallery, then spent several hours walking through the Uffizi Gallery, then walked to lunch, then walked through some shopping districts, and then later on, we walked to the most awesome wine bar ever and then up many, many steps to this church at the top of a hill to watch the sunset.

The view was definitely worth it.

There were lots of cute young people hanging out in packs and nibbling on picnics as the sun began to descend on the city. A group of boys from Yale were particularly dashing and boisterous. Lots of young couples in love, too, which was fun to watch. Ah, Italian romance!

 

I really was charmed by the wine bar (Fuori Porta)–it had a lovely little flowered patio and the most delicious salads and bruschetta. It was conveniently located a few blocks from the San Miniato Al Monte church. We definitely craved something a little lighter after our lunch of Florence’s famous Bistecca a’la Fiorentina.  It was one of the best steaks I’ve ever eaten, but the thing was monstrous in size! I think I was so overwhelmed by it that I forgot to take a picture. The crowd in the lunch trattoria (Trattoria Mario) was mostly made up of working locals in search of a quick plate of homemade pasta before heading back to the office, although there were several Asian couples partaking in the delicious steak–the look on their faces when that Flintstone-sized slab of meat came out was priceless! There was probably more meat on that plate than a Chinese person eats in a month!

After full days of sightseeing and pounding the pavement, we were definitely ready for a little rooftop bar action. The Westin in Florence has a great rooftop cafe and it was easy to while away a few hours up there.

 

I know some people don’t think Florence has any charm, but I disagree. Sure, it’s easy to focus on the art, museums and history of the place, but the people and the scenery have lots of good stuff to offer.  I loved it.

 

 

**Rome is next, but I wanted to give you all a quick update on our student visitor from Lyon, France. His name is Valentin and he’s a cutie!

 

He’s adjusting quickly to our silly, wacky, fast-paced family and teaching us a lot about soccer and the World Cup contenders. I have a lot to learn! Hosting him is a lot of fun and it’s definitely keeping us busy. Every spare moment, we’re hauling him to the mountains or to Boulder or for a swim or hike. I am missing my Internet time, but hey, we only have a month to show him the great things about our state. So I’m definitely scarce for a while, but I’ll be popping in every now and then. Hope you gorgeous readers are soaking up summer! xoxo

{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }

S in AK June 17, 2014 at 10:02 am

(Clearly, I’m very (aka: overly) connected to facebook–it’s brought me here first, three times in a row.) My mother took me to Europe when I was 15. Florence was one of the highlights of the trip. Aside from the beauty and history of the setting and the friendliness of the people, one of the things I remember was how besmitten with blonde-haired women the Italian men seemed to be. I’ll bet they would have thrown themselves at you if you hadn’t had such a virile, handsome escort. (Or maybe they simply couldn’t help themselves, despite your virile, handsome escort?) Thank you for sharing your memories and reinvigorating my own!

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Jamie June 17, 2014 at 11:07 am

Um, are the minxes just dying over Cute Frenchie or what?!

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Jennifer June 17, 2014 at 11:15 am

I love that photo of you. You look at peace.

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Kim Bongiorno Let Me Start By Saying June 17, 2014 at 4:36 pm

I loved loved loved Florence. It was soooo beautiful. We only went there for one very long day, but I drank it up. Mmm…delicious. It was so clean, beautiful, and charming.
It’s fun to see you traipsing around where I was just this past August. Looking forward to your Rome pictures!

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Alison June 17, 2014 at 6:52 pm

I want to go to Italy!

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The Curious Cat June 18, 2014 at 5:07 am

You look so relaxed and happy! Glad you enjoyed yourself. I’ve been to Florence twice and I love it. Sorry I have been away for a while…life gets away with you xxx

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Elaine A. June 18, 2014 at 8:06 am

I would love to visit any part of Italy so Florence sounds amazing to me. Gorgeous photos. Sunset light is amazing… :)

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Xan Fischer June 18, 2014 at 8:39 am

So glad you got Valentin! I met Sachin at my brother’s house (Timothy and Martha) this year and when I posted on FB about the 3 French kids needing a home, I was happy Sachin contacted me. Isn’t it fun? We’ve had 2 boys stay with us but that was 3 and 4 years ago when our twins were their age. He looks like he’s enjoying himself and is lucky to be a part of your familyl! Hope to meet you in person sometime. Let’s travel to Lyon together and visit all the French families we know. Moi, je parle français. pas italien! ;) -Xan

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Tinne from Tantrums and Tomatoes June 18, 2014 at 11:18 pm

I adored Florence! Can’t wait to see what you have been up to in Rome.
Valentin looks charming. Watch out for the minxes…

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the shitastrophy June 19, 2014 at 6:47 am

Ok add Florence to the bucket list! Always wanted to go to Italy and Irish (I am half and half).

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Biz June 19, 2014 at 1:51 pm

My FIL was born in Florence – he came here when he was 12. My husband spent summers there as a teenager, working at his Uncle’s “tratoria” not sure how to spell it, but it was like a convenience store/deli.

It was the first time my husband saw a woman’s unshaved legs sandwiched under nylons that perpetuated his hatred of body hair on a woman!

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Pamela June 19, 2014 at 7:05 pm

So glad you had a good trip. You look gorgeous! Enjoy your little visitor. What a cutie.

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Tiffany June 20, 2014 at 5:37 pm

Gorgeous pictures of you! It sounds wonderful!!

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