Strangers in Time. Great book about the War effect on London.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. My oh my! I absolutely adored this book. I could not stop reading it. Highly, highly recommend!

I love children’s literature and don’t know how I could never have known of the Noel Streatfeild books, all titled around shoes! But, they were referred to in the movie You’ve Got Mail which I recently rewatched. I looked them up, and I’ve fallen in love. I’ll be back again with more of his titles, I can promise you!

What are you waiting for?! Read! Read! Read!

My almost daily percorso takes me by the water polo club in Florence called the Rari Nantes Florentia. From the 2011-2012 season the men’s team plays in the Serie A1, the top division of the Italian league.

The sport activities of Rari Nantes Florentia began in 1904. From 1904 to 2009, the swimmers of the club have amassed eighty victories in the national championships. In water polo, introduced by the Genoese Pine Valley, the club has never relegated from the first division from 1929 to today and has won 9 championships, especially during the years 1930 and 1940. In 2000 and 2001, the men’s team was ranked second behind the Posillipo. This position allows him to participate and win the LEN Cup Winners’ Cup in 2001.

In Florence, you never know what history you might be strolling by at any moment. I try to keep my eyes peeled and my mind open. Alla prossima!

You are so beautiful to me! I never tire of locating slightly different views of your fabulous medieval monuments!

Always different according to time of year, time of day.

Or even my mood can change the views I choose.

The sky, the sunlight: endless variations.

Bella Firenze!

Not me! Drug me and I’ll dance!

Oh, if only I could enter the Matisse painting and be a part of that dancing group!

Masaccio, one of the most important Renaissance painters, lived on a street in the center of Florence that I am lucky enough to often walk by. I took photos this day when I noticed the sign that announced the location of Masaccio’s house, calling the artist “the poet of perspective.”

Inspired anew for his art, soon after this day I high-tailed it over to the basilica of Santa Maria Novella to feast my eyes on Masaccio’s early masterpiece, the Trinity, only to find–as is so often the case here in Italy–that the large fresco is under scaffolding and covering while it undergoes restoration. If I had a nickel….

But, I’ll add a photo of the fresco here for you:

The city of Florence is extending the tram system in my neighborhood and in the diggings they recently accidentally discovered the skeleton of a young girl that is said to be more than 2000 years old!

Here’s the article in English.

And for some confirmation of the findings in natural English:

Marriage advice for young ladies from 1918 Suffragettes!

As often as I like I can take a walk planned for me in the 1860s here in Florence

After my enjoyable visit toSan Miniato al Monte recently (and despite the scaffolding inside and out), I took one of the best walks in the city. Starting at the top of the hill with the church, I wandered down to Piazzale Michelangelo and then down the monumental pathway, complete with grottos and fountains on several levels, all designed more than 100 years ago by Giuseppe Poggi.

But first, let’s look at what’s visible from way up here:

Before I start walking down the hill, I took a long look at one of my very favorite views in all of Italy, maybe in all of the world! In the distance you see a long tall brown stone wall: this is one of the few remaining sections of the Medieval wall that once surrounded the entire city.

I like to look at this wall and imagine Florence completely enclosed within it.

Now I begin my pretty descent, serenaded by the churring of cicadas. It’s heavenly.

Below some shots

My friend’s 3 year old daughter was captivated by a Picasso painting recently in Rome! She shared this great photo with me!

A picture is worth at least 1000 words!