Florence snow video
We are not having snow here today (in fact it is really warm, I have roses blooming on my piazza), but I am still hopeful that it will snow this winter. I love snow!
But here’s what it looks like around here when it does occasionally snow. It was noted in the records, btw, that Michelangelo created a snowman for the Medici household. Those were the days!
“L’amore e una cosa semplice” Love is a simple thing
Buon natale ai miei amori!
The gifts are wrapped and the stockings are hung. Are we there yet?!
I’m ready for Christmas to come and go already,
and I’m also crazy for the works by this street artist. Here’s an example I saw last week as well as a write-up from The Florentine on who this artist(s) is and what she/he (they) are up to around the city.
Art takes a dip
Quirky street art in Florence
by Mary Gray
Observant Florence wanderers might have recently noticed a new street art series around town. The project? ‘L’arte Sa Nuotare,’ or ‘Art Knows how to Swim.’ The artist? A mysterious figure known only as ‘Blub,’ who has yet to publicly reveal his or her identity. Blub recreates iconic images from such renowned works as Piero della Francesca’s The Duke of Urbino and Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, dressing them in scuba and swim gear. But contemporary famous faces aren’t immune: the artist also reproduced the cover of TIME magazine’s recent ‘Person of the Year’ issue, which featured none other than Pope Francis himself – in Blub’s rendering, however, he dons a diving mask with his ecclesiastical garb.
Keep your eyes peeled for the funny figures all over town. TF staff has spotted at least two in the Oltrarno. Check out Blub’s work on Instagram @lartesanuotare and see how many of his or her scuba divers you can find on the streets of Florence.
http://www.theflorentine.net/articles/article-view.asp?issuetocId=9101
I’ll keep you posted when I see more of these great and intriguing pieces around town. Ciao for now!
Last minute shopping? I’m here to help!
Florence is filled with all manner of earthly delights!
Let’s take a quick buzz around town and find a few last gifts! Va bene?
Something needed for little ones? Try this store.
Something beautiful per le donne? How about one of these fine leather products. I’d love all of them! I’ve actually got my eye on something on the bottom shelf. Che bella and also practical. How can something that checks both of those boxes be wrong? Right?
Need something per il uomo in la tua vita? I am certain you can find something here.
And, how about a matching little something something for yourself?
Does your mind run to confections? These prettily wrapped pandoro are nice at Eataly.
Or, something from the south of Italy? Marzipan candies made to look like frutta? Perche no?
Do you still have some baking and then some decorating to do? How about of these little confections? Marron glace? Sugared roses, violets, or mint leaves? Very pretty!
Marron glace. A steal at 60 Euro ($73) per kilogram.
Sugared rose petals: 120 Euro ($146) per kilogram.
Sugared violets, same price as rose petals.
Mint leaves, same price.
Allora, that was a kiss and a promise of shopping. You’ll have to wrap your gifts yourself. Io ho stanco (I’m tired). Buona fortuna!
Florence streets on the night before the night before: 23 December 2014
So many Medieval streets decorated with delicate white lights. A theme that runs through the city.
Each street prettier than the last. The evening is warm, don’t even need gloves.
All streets in Florence eventually lead to il Duomo.
But let’s take a detour and stop in the Piazza della Republica to see the lights at the Rinascente department store because they are fabulous!
On to il Duomo.
Hello Giotto’s campanile! Do you remember that time when my son was 10 and we climbed to your top with his teddy bear? I do! The desk clerk said he had to buy a ticket for his bear. Remember that? It was so cute!
Oh, and p.s., my son is now 21.5 years old. Bet that makes you feel old, right? Ha ha. You were old before I even met you when I was 28. Now that was a really long time ago.
Il Duomo ed il campanile, you are both looking bellisima for the holidays! I wish you a hearty buon natale! We are celebrating your entire raison d’etre this week, no? The story about where it all started.
Well, enjoy yourselves then and please join me in wishing una Buone feste a tutti the world!
Welcome to the world bambina (baby girl)!
How a middle class Florentine family announces the birth of a daughter. Dolce. Sweet indeed!
10 Italian Christmas traditions
Here’s a fun sampler of what the season is like over here.
http://www.thelocal.it/galleries/culture/ten-traditions-that-make-an-italian-christmas/5
Merry Christmas, tutti! Put the baby in the manger tomorrow night! Ciao!
Downton Abbey redux
Just when I was about to apologize to all my friends back in America that I have already seen the new season of Downton Abbey on BBC here in Italy (please don’t hate me because I saw it! let me just say, you won’t be disappointed come January through March!) out comes this hilarity.
Merry Christmas!
Nothing says Christmas like a wedding dress! Non sequitor alert!
I’m just messing with you! I know people don’t shop for wedding dresses at Christmastime.
Oh, they do?
While rambling down the mean streets of Florence (lots of traffic on foot, bike, Vespa, and cars and dog poop to avoid) I happened upon this pretty shop. I love the grand, rustic nature of the stone building contrasting with the delicate lace and white tulle of the wedding dresses. Sonata in red, white, and stone.
Che bella!
Italians go all out for weddings, just as people do the world over. See my posts from India. Now that’s a party.
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