RIP. You are missed; life is a little less shiny without you in it. The world stopped turning for a second, that’s for sure.

I just made an unexpected trip back to the US from Italy and was quite surprised by the significant changes in security systems in American airports.

I flew from Florence to Paris and Paris to Denver, Colorado. The security systems in place in Florence were the usual. Electronics taken out of bags, shoes off, the usual. Then I flew back to Europe this way: Denver to Detroit, Detroit to Paris, Paris to Florence.

Passing through immigration on my way to Denver at Charles de Gaulle was quick and efficient, allowing me the chance to catch my flight to Denver on time.

Arriving in Denver, I noticed a change in customs there. It is much more personal; no booths but rather a podium behind which the agent stands and asks a few questions (did I bring plants, food or medicines into the country?).

But leaving Denver was when I saw the big changes in the security system. Now you encounter an agent immediately who takes a photo of you while you stand there and it is automatically referenced against your passport. You don’t stand in a long snaking line for 30 minutes +. You then proceed to an area where you load all your carry ons into bins and they are passed through a machine on a conveyor belt to see what’s inside. No need to remove any electronics from bags.

It was fast and easy.

Arrival in Detroit was fairly easy, fast, and efficient. I found my gate to Paris by tram inside the airport. Detroit’s airport is modern and efficient.

Arriving in Paris, I went through the security checks at Charles de Gaulle again and was very impressed by the high level of organization. Customs was quick and efficient.

Arriving finally in Florence, you travel back in time. Florence is a small airport with short runways. Then you get off the plane and climb on a bus that takes you to the terminal. There is never a customs check and it always takes an age for the bags to be delivered to the carousels. But both my suitcases showed up and I was delighted to be home!

It’s autumn in Tuscany and the porcini mushrooms and persimmons abound!

Look at the colors of these cherry tomatoes! Like precious stones!

Figs are still around.

Zucchini blossoms ready for frying filled with mozzarella!

Pears, pears, pears! I love the red wax seals on the top of the stems on the Decana pears.

The Sant’Ambrogio mercato never, never disappoints!

And not a moment too soon! My tank is empty.

It’s so much easier and much more civilized. No taking off of shoes or t as king out your electronics. Wow! I like!

My favorite language school has resumed classes this week and I’m very happy to be back.

You may have seen my earlier post about the palazzo in which my school is housed, in the Renaissance Palazzo Galli Tassi. On June 27 I first posted about it.

I learned 2 new verbs today,

and they are new additions to the Italian language as well. One is postare, which means “to post” and the other is zoomare, which I’m guessing you can deduce the meaning of! How funny they are.

Below, the marble statue group in the gorgeous old courtyard always catches my eye and my camera.

Back down in the courtyard, the 14th century capitals on the grand columns also caught my eye. The pins over them are pigeon deterrents.

Enjoying a moment of American car and fast food culture. It definitely has its place!

Over the well in the center of the 15th century Renaissance courtyard of the Palazzo Galli Tassi you will often see a beautiful seasonal flower arrangement. When my language classes resumed in this building this past week, this was the loveliness that awaited.

On the block of stone that serves as the table top, you can see fossils embedded in the stone. It is quite something.

You come across something that astonishes you completely. It’s so rare, which makes it all the more meaningful.

That’s exactly what happened when I finished watching the exquisite tv series Somebody Somewhere. I came to it late and completely by accident, but I am a better person for having found it. It moved me in its stunning truths.

Run, don’t walk, to watch this miracle.

There’s a beautiful walkway that runs around the south end of Florence that I love to walk. I hadn’t been there is a while and somehow I saw something I don’t recall ever noticing before. It was this small, simple structure. An example of vernacular architecture.

It’s odd, because the majority of the buildings that line this roadway are nothing short of historic Florentine mansions and yet here was this simple little…shed?

As you can see, I’m walking along the beautiful Viale Niccolo Machiavelli, as the plaque on the facade of the shack reveals.

But what caught my attention, and charmed me, was that someone had taken the trouble to faux paint a design on the simple door.

I love the simplicity of the small building and have no idea why it is there or what it was used for. I am beguiled by the fact that the owner (or someone in charge) went to the trouble of faux painting the cute little doorway.