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

After my enjoyable visit to San 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 almost 200 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!

Oh! The sunshine!

Spring is trying so hard to break out in Florence. In between days and days of rain.

Mimosa shrub, a clear sign of spring coming!

I joyfully scroll Facebook everyday. It does nourish my mind and mood often. Happily. And sometimes the images/sayings I see make me laugh. And feel better about American politics, which are in a sorry state.

And here is my handsome young friend who goes to art school in Singapore , teaching me something new: the Korean gesture for love. See the emoji below! Thanks Rudy! You keep me updated!🫰🫶🫰

I’ve known this Robert Barrett Browning quote for decades and I have always kept it in my own heart. It is as true for me today as the day I first heard and loved it.

As he wrote: “Open my heart and you will see, Graved inside of it, ‘Italy’.”

First: have you ever had a Negroni? If not, you should. It is a life experience not to be missed. But, fair warning. A friend of mine calls it a truth serum and not without cause. You might find yourself spilling your life story like we do.

At one of my favorite places in Florence, the historic Caffè Rivoire, I had a Negroni related moment recently.

On my last visit there, waiting for my luscious cappuccino to be made to order, I noticed this sign below, claiming that the Negroni cocktail was invented here.

Below is the rough translation.

Now I had always thought, if and when I even thought about it, that the Negroni was invented in Venice, but maybe that was the Bellini. Probably was.

So after reading the sign in the Rivoire, I looked up the history of the Negroni and found this:

Citrus season is in full swing and these tissue paper-wrapped Sicilian specimens take the first prize. I have never had oranges like those that are readily available any day of the winter here! Delizioso!

They are sweet and sometimes tart, often combining both flavors in the same segment. It tastes like magic! The skin that surrounds each segment has a special light consistency that I have never experience in an orange in the USA. What accounts for these differences, I ask myself all the time.

I will also note that these fabulous Italian oranges can go from perfect to covered with mold in 24 hours. Not often, but sometimes. I’ve never seen an American orange go bad so quickly. Who cares?! Not I!

Fruit passion indeed!

Have you ever seen pink leaf lettuce like this?!

Look at how somebody on Instagram made a floral design using pink leaf lettuce!

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. What an amazing book! Highly highly highly recommend.

Fredrik Backman,Anxious People. A startling, fresh take on an old well-known form of the novella. I liked a LOT! A LOT! I read it twice!

I didn’t do so well with this next title.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January, by Alix E. Harrow. A very good book, chockfull of wisdom. The plot becomes a bit too sci/fi for my taste and I admit I lost the plot and didn’t finish the book. But I can still recommend it.

And despite the fact that I didn’t finish a book I have the nerve to recommend to you, I hope you will overlook my slacker attitude and agree with the following:

Has her finger on the latch.