Let's start with vacuuming because we all relate to that! Imagine vacuuming Persian carpets and marble floors of an 1000 sq. ft. apartment with only the skinny-edge-vacuum attachment. That is how they do it! No lie! OK so how I did it, and how I saw another guy doing it today! I have no broom head or power head - just the little 3 inch skinny head opening. You know the one that you use, albeit rarely, in the sides of the couch. The dust bunnies are huge here in just a week. If I left them longer they would be Duomo- size! We have got to let them know who is the boss! Me !?!?
Ignoring the bunnies, yesterday we got on a public bus and took a 20 minute ride to the outskirts of Florence to have a commanding view of the valley and all Florence. It is such a weird thought that this small town was a power house before the time of Christ... in the Etruscan period..I just have no measurement for these kinds of thoughts. You and we don't even rate on the time scale.... hmmm... a small glimpse into God's timeline of humanity... again!
As for the lecture, well all I will say is, any cliche thought you have about " British" we experienced it last night! Overstocked library- floor to ceiling of old books,with papers and books piled wherever they could find an inch; heavily gilded, red velvet chairs; the "proper" accent flooding the stale air with posits and theories of retirees and you were with us in the library, listening to the lecture of a fresco cycle of paintings that are uncommon to the common tourist.
Curious how we ended up there? Thanks for asking. Randy the Walking Wiki, and human GPS is also a contemporary Sherlock and found a Florentine Newspaper for the English speaking!
Now San Gimignano, although it is touristy was a breath of fresh air. It is a hilltop town with 14 towers that is still very well preserved from the medieval times. Hannah and I climbed to the tallest tower and saw for the first time the beautiful patchwork of the Tuscan countryside. Labourers are busy prepping the straight lined vineyards, pruning the olive orchards and the almond flowers are struggling to break bud. It was also a special day in SG- the Santa Fina Day- she is their patron saint. It was market day with extras! In the SG Duomo the light flooded from the clerestory windows casting distinct rays of heaven inside! There is a mystery to God and His beauty and we were privileged to get a glimpse.
Thanks for being a part of our brief but bright lives! We love hearing from YOU!
Love the updates. Reading the most recent one as I stare out the window at the last melting pile of snow. (subject to new snowfalls) It loks like you are really making the most of your time there. Well done.
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