Tuscany by photocat: part 4 Florence (Firenze)
A new morning over the farm. Mist lingers, I am up and out while the rest of the world is still asleep.
A tuscan spider has woven a web, and in the misty sunlight of this new morning, it shows all its genie.
The farm has a special glow, it is as if the sky is bluer, the bricks more red, there is a crispness.
Spots the pony is ready for a new day also. He is looking out of his stable, resting his nose on a little ledge. Funny horse he is.
Father and daughter on a little early morning talk, about the road we need to take to the Station. We will go to Florence by train.
We do arrive at the station in time, and are waiting on the train, as we start studying our little italian phrase books, as we need to know how "ticket go and return" translates.
We need the help of a local, does not take long before we know how to say it in italian.
After an hour on the train, we arrive in Florence, crowded, super packed with morning rush.
The light when we come out of the underground is bright. Colors, sounds, all is filled packed with expectations of something marvellous to happen.
I was a single mom with 3 kids years ago, and now I am standing here with my super camera in Florence... Not knowing what the day will bring, but convinced that whatever it brings, it will be GREAT!!!
Florence is a student city, translation: bikes
Florence is also the city of the pinguins. I will probably offend some people by calling nuns pinguins, but that is how I see them. I was raised by pinguins, and still have the bruises on my soul.
But enough, pinguins I will call them, take it with a little salt...
Florence lives by tourism, guides have full time jobs here, you see the flag and the followers everywhere.
It is also the city for lovers...
The market place in front of the Duomo is the center off all attention.
Life starts and begins here. There are thousands of coffee houses, all crowded.
Centuries old palaces crown off the square, fitting counter images for the impressive Duomo.
The Duomo is a masterpiece, but the day is way too beautiful to loose time inside. I want to see the city, taste the city, go where no tourist goes. This is what I really want to see...
Rich and poor, people who have it all and more like me, and those who have nothing... My husband does not agree with me at this point. He claims that having nothing is choice. I don't think it is choice...
I realize that it is very hard to snap the Duomo, it has been shot from every angle, zillions and zillions of times, i can't add nothing new to a picture of the Duomo in Florence...
I think that a couple of details will tell the duomo story better...
I decide to have a coffee in an outrageous expensive coffee house just next to the duomo. Those places are always expensive because they can.
So I sit inside and look out, seeing life go on...
An italian man is making all the people inside laugh, that is, the ones who understand italian. He leaves, looks back and waves, gets out of my sight.
After I finish the most expensive coffee I ever had, I too leave.
And am totally shocked to see the man who entertained the cafe sitting on the pavement, his legs parked next to him.
He walks on protheses, and is begging now. What a contradiction. He has humour, he makes people laugh, he has a gift, why is he begging?
Is health insurance not good in Italy? Is this how handicapped people have to come by?
It breaks my heart but my husband says he could have a job. I think that if he could have a real job, that he would not be sitting there.
This man had touched me, I will always remember him. His humour most of all.
When I later pass the spot on the bus, he is still sitting there...
Seated on the sightseeing bus, I am taken along lots of houses, streets, life going on in a busy Italian city. Policeman doing their job, beauties watching them, it buzzes in Florence.
Here too the high houses, four stories high, narrow pedestrian zones...
It pays and is interesting to look up in Tuscany. Sights everywhere, eyelevel, up, sidewards...
The statue of an important man, but hey, the pigeon does not care. It only needs a resting spot.
The square marking of the back of the Station in Florence. I really should have written down all the things the voice tells me, but I can only do one thing at the time. Snapping and writing does not work. I wonder if I will ever find back the road the bus took so I can put names on the places.
Vespa paradise...
Signposts look exotic, in that colorful language...
the bus takes us away from the center, we escape the madness...
Another church, close to the Museum where the REAL David stands...
A little old priest has a mission
We pass the park close to the Jewish Synagoge. Don't ask me why I have a fascination for Jewish Synagoges. I do. I suppose that in my previous life I must have been a mexican jew, as I love mariachi music (not common for a belgian) and I am fascinated by all that is jewish history.
I will first do the whole tour, and chip on the points I want to get off on the second passing to go in closer.
A high wall, bikes, a door with a fresco painted above, this must be a school, or university department. I can read academia, but am not sure if that is a school.
We pass the National Library, and drive further along the Arno.
In old hidden corners, you suddenly find a symbol or shield that represents a link to the past. I wished I had a personal guide who could tell me all the stories that are not told in the official guide books.
We drive up on a hill, and end up on a platteau that offers us a beautiful overview over the city. David is on a pedestal. Minding his own naked business...
The Ponte Vechio(old bridge), seen from the bus. Another one of the touristy spots that I willing skip because I want to see untouristy things. Call me crazy...
Barocq and renaissance are not idle words in Florence.
The bus voice in my ear tells me that there is a famous photography museum/agency on the main street that we are driving in now, I decide that I will visit that on the next passage if there is still time.
The green coupola in copper from the Jewish Synagoge.
I finally discovered the jewish quarter, without thousand tourists, there is peace and quit here. A bit of normality in an otherwise crazy city.
House nr 21
My non existent italian tells me that this could be late Seignore Benedetto.
Una mamma...
Waiting on something...
I am seated on the steps of the church, and enjoying the atmosphere of the little square.
I jump back on the bus, and can take a better shot from the college.
Waling slowly back to the center...
Through sees always have a promise in them
A very lovely gallery with sunlight playing with the columns.
parked on the sunny side
I walk into a silent church, some women are praying in the front, I don't want to use my flash...
A very special coupola, two or 3 layers or stories, I don't know how you call those in coupola's. (I am dutch speaking).
I have a silent moment in there, and admire the soft light from the candles
It was the basilica of the Saint Annunziata. They still practice oral confession, I vividly remember my days of inventing sins so I could say something in the obliged confession every wednesday. I hated it all the way. I usually was one of the lucky ones who could do five rosemaries and a holy father.
Opposite the basilica is another gallery, with another homeless man sitting there, his sleeping dog next to him. I want to save them all, and spent fortunes on coins to give them, I usually add that they should look for work, but again, as my italian is non existent, I wonder if they understand...
People cueing for the David from Michaelangelo. Not me, I can do that whenever I return to Florence, I know I will come back.
An appartment bell box...
I have no clue what these balances are, and also forgot where I saw them, but they looked nice
Back on the central square
The coupola from the Duomo against a blue fluffed sky.
Reflection of the Duomo
Wanting to pet the horse, but just a little bit to scary...
The brother of the horse daring toddler
Need cards? And a general overview of the city?
Black and white
Two madonna's with child
I did sit down while waiting on the others, and kind of hid my camera, because I wanted to know what it felt like to sit there and having to look up to people... Most of the passing people looked straight through me. I felt like a nothing. Except I could stand up and walk away and be somebody again...
a little naughty...
Time to go home!
The train is waiting... (To Be continued: Sienna)
A tuscan spider has woven a web, and in the misty sunlight of this new morning, it shows all its genie.
The farm has a special glow, it is as if the sky is bluer, the bricks more red, there is a crispness.
Spots the pony is ready for a new day also. He is looking out of his stable, resting his nose on a little ledge. Funny horse he is.
Father and daughter on a little early morning talk, about the road we need to take to the Station. We will go to Florence by train.
We do arrive at the station in time, and are waiting on the train, as we start studying our little italian phrase books, as we need to know how "ticket go and return" translates.
We need the help of a local, does not take long before we know how to say it in italian.
After an hour on the train, we arrive in Florence, crowded, super packed with morning rush.
The light when we come out of the underground is bright. Colors, sounds, all is filled packed with expectations of something marvellous to happen.
I was a single mom with 3 kids years ago, and now I am standing here with my super camera in Florence... Not knowing what the day will bring, but convinced that whatever it brings, it will be GREAT!!!
Florence is a student city, translation: bikes
Florence is also the city of the pinguins. I will probably offend some people by calling nuns pinguins, but that is how I see them. I was raised by pinguins, and still have the bruises on my soul.
But enough, pinguins I will call them, take it with a little salt...
Florence lives by tourism, guides have full time jobs here, you see the flag and the followers everywhere.
It is also the city for lovers...
The market place in front of the Duomo is the center off all attention.
Life starts and begins here. There are thousands of coffee houses, all crowded.
Centuries old palaces crown off the square, fitting counter images for the impressive Duomo.
The Duomo is a masterpiece, but the day is way too beautiful to loose time inside. I want to see the city, taste the city, go where no tourist goes. This is what I really want to see...
Rich and poor, people who have it all and more like me, and those who have nothing... My husband does not agree with me at this point. He claims that having nothing is choice. I don't think it is choice...
I realize that it is very hard to snap the Duomo, it has been shot from every angle, zillions and zillions of times, i can't add nothing new to a picture of the Duomo in Florence...
I think that a couple of details will tell the duomo story better...
I decide to have a coffee in an outrageous expensive coffee house just next to the duomo. Those places are always expensive because they can.
So I sit inside and look out, seeing life go on...
An italian man is making all the people inside laugh, that is, the ones who understand italian. He leaves, looks back and waves, gets out of my sight.
After I finish the most expensive coffee I ever had, I too leave.
And am totally shocked to see the man who entertained the cafe sitting on the pavement, his legs parked next to him.
He walks on protheses, and is begging now. What a contradiction. He has humour, he makes people laugh, he has a gift, why is he begging?
Is health insurance not good in Italy? Is this how handicapped people have to come by?
It breaks my heart but my husband says he could have a job. I think that if he could have a real job, that he would not be sitting there.
This man had touched me, I will always remember him. His humour most of all.
When I later pass the spot on the bus, he is still sitting there...
Seated on the sightseeing bus, I am taken along lots of houses, streets, life going on in a busy Italian city. Policeman doing their job, beauties watching them, it buzzes in Florence.
Here too the high houses, four stories high, narrow pedestrian zones...
It pays and is interesting to look up in Tuscany. Sights everywhere, eyelevel, up, sidewards...
The statue of an important man, but hey, the pigeon does not care. It only needs a resting spot.
The square marking of the back of the Station in Florence. I really should have written down all the things the voice tells me, but I can only do one thing at the time. Snapping and writing does not work. I wonder if I will ever find back the road the bus took so I can put names on the places.
Vespa paradise...
Signposts look exotic, in that colorful language...
the bus takes us away from the center, we escape the madness...
Another church, close to the Museum where the REAL David stands...
A little old priest has a mission
We pass the park close to the Jewish Synagoge. Don't ask me why I have a fascination for Jewish Synagoges. I do. I suppose that in my previous life I must have been a mexican jew, as I love mariachi music (not common for a belgian) and I am fascinated by all that is jewish history.
I will first do the whole tour, and chip on the points I want to get off on the second passing to go in closer.
A high wall, bikes, a door with a fresco painted above, this must be a school, or university department. I can read academia, but am not sure if that is a school.
We pass the National Library, and drive further along the Arno.
In old hidden corners, you suddenly find a symbol or shield that represents a link to the past. I wished I had a personal guide who could tell me all the stories that are not told in the official guide books.
We drive up on a hill, and end up on a platteau that offers us a beautiful overview over the city. David is on a pedestal. Minding his own naked business...
The Ponte Vechio(old bridge), seen from the bus. Another one of the touristy spots that I willing skip because I want to see untouristy things. Call me crazy...
Barocq and renaissance are not idle words in Florence.
The bus voice in my ear tells me that there is a famous photography museum/agency on the main street that we are driving in now, I decide that I will visit that on the next passage if there is still time.
The green coupola in copper from the Jewish Synagoge.
I finally discovered the jewish quarter, without thousand tourists, there is peace and quit here. A bit of normality in an otherwise crazy city.
House nr 21
My non existent italian tells me that this could be late Seignore Benedetto.
Una mamma...
Waiting on something...
I am seated on the steps of the church, and enjoying the atmosphere of the little square.
I jump back on the bus, and can take a better shot from the college.
Waling slowly back to the center...
Through sees always have a promise in them
A very lovely gallery with sunlight playing with the columns.
parked on the sunny side
I walk into a silent church, some women are praying in the front, I don't want to use my flash...
A very special coupola, two or 3 layers or stories, I don't know how you call those in coupola's. (I am dutch speaking).
I have a silent moment in there, and admire the soft light from the candles
It was the basilica of the Saint Annunziata. They still practice oral confession, I vividly remember my days of inventing sins so I could say something in the obliged confession every wednesday. I hated it all the way. I usually was one of the lucky ones who could do five rosemaries and a holy father.
Opposite the basilica is another gallery, with another homeless man sitting there, his sleeping dog next to him. I want to save them all, and spent fortunes on coins to give them, I usually add that they should look for work, but again, as my italian is non existent, I wonder if they understand...
People cueing for the David from Michaelangelo. Not me, I can do that whenever I return to Florence, I know I will come back.
An appartment bell box...
I have no clue what these balances are, and also forgot where I saw them, but they looked nice
Back on the central square
The coupola from the Duomo against a blue fluffed sky.
Reflection of the Duomo
Wanting to pet the horse, but just a little bit to scary...
The brother of the horse daring toddler
Need cards? And a general overview of the city?
Black and white
Two madonna's with child
I did sit down while waiting on the others, and kind of hid my camera, because I wanted to know what it felt like to sit there and having to look up to people... Most of the passing people looked straight through me. I felt like a nothing. Except I could stand up and walk away and be somebody again...
a little naughty...
Time to go home!
The train is waiting... (To Be continued: Sienna)
0
Comments
Loved the journey thru Florence ...but my favs on this day are your first shot of the misty landscape, the spider web and Spots....now that was a great portrait......
Of Florence......I prefer your non touristy areas...these portray what I want to see when I travel.......of the beauties and Police....I believe that Policia (sp?) on the left could be a beauty herself, but the unifrom leaves a bit to be desired
First time seeing a white pinguin....I was used to the black ones and they seemed to have lost their habits when Iwas fairly young here....
If you ahve any of the front of duomo that area bit more straight on that would look crazy as an extremly high contrast pic......but as it is W0OW
That Door Knocker is fantastic also.......
Again another fantastic day of sight seeing.....
Thank you and hope there is more to come....
Thanks for having the courage to bare with me...
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Seeing the trip through your eyes has been fascinating!
http://www.twitter.com/deegolden
Thanks Dee, I want to go back so bad. I never understood why people fancied Tuscany so much. Now I do! It is pure magic
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Lee
www.lumens.smugmug.com