2.20.2010

Day 40 Florence

A beautiful day in Florence

 Buongiorno Everyone (I apologize I have been spelling it wrong, got it now:)
     This has been my first day since I have been away that I have felt lonely. I don't know why but I will shake it. It probably didn't help that I saw about 5 brides and too many love birds to count and it appeared everyone today had a plus one:) Italy just seems to be a very romantic country, which I actually knew but never experienced before. Well actually when I went to Lake Coma a few years back was my first insight to the romance of Italy.
   As I was walking to the Galleria degli Uffizi , Botticelli's Birth of Venus is in this museum among famous works from Di Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and Caravaggio just to name a few. I was thinking as I normally do while I am walking and what came to my mind was this: The glass is broken at a Jewish wedding to symbolize that even when something as joyous as a wedding, we break the glass to remind us that there is still pain and suffering going on in the world. A wake up call if you will. (This is my interpretation of the broken glass.) Then I thought of my experience on this trip, it has been amazing and such a blessing to get to experience all of this and the broken glass is that while I have been here a lot of sadness has occurred to people that I am close with; the following is a list of people who have passed away in the last few weeks and I just want to send my love and prayers to the families, to my readers please do the same. Steve, (as you know), Helen, my friend Kathy's mom and Wayne's mother in law, the father of my friend Mohammed who I met in Milan and the brother of my Doctor who delivered Lauren and Whitney. I am so sorry for your losses....
   Having faith is such an important thing in life and I'm not talking about anyone's religious beliefs, I just feel that faith encompasses everything "Our God" however we wish to believe. Having faith to believe that things are how they are meant to be and that we don't have the answers, we just have to trust. Things come to me and  for some reason and I feel like I need to share them with you.
On to lighter topics.
 As I was waiting for my time to go into the museum I thought I would grab a bite to eat, I went in this little place and ordered an artichoke, prosciutto, mushroom and mozzarella pizza and fries (I just needed the fries OK?) As I was about halfway through my pizza I noticed everyone was eating their pizzas with a knife and fork. Hmmm, actually looking like a struggle to me, I thought about it and picked up my pizza and finished it off:) Is that the way you are suppose to eat pizza in Italy? I really don't know.
   So I was also thinking that Florence might be a good place to have a guy with you, (not that I am any big thing) but... I have been stopped so many times, do you want to go have a drink? Do you want a free private tour? (free I don't think so, I think payment might be something else:) to: lets have dinner, then they stand there with their phones to take down your number. I think I am going to buy a little gold band and say I'm married, I can always take it off if Mr. Wonderful happens to walk up!:) right?  And I think I have the California stamp on my forehead...Who knew? I think I should color my hair black so I can blend in. What do you think Whit?
    The picture is from inside of the Galleria degli Uffizi, it is shaped like a U so both sides are the museum. The views from inside were really beautiful as well as the outstanding art inside, quite incredible actually. I was there for about 4 hours as I got the audio guide and listened to all the information as it was so interesting. I was tired after all the mental stimulation so I thought one museum a day is probably a good idea.
  I walked around the city for another few hours trying to find things, some luck, some not:) So I thought I needed a treat. OK! so I'm addicted. There are worse things you know!!!! It is just so good I can't believe it.
      I was walking back to the hotel and came upon a little street market, I love when that happens. I bought some chocolate and these little wafer things called Brigidino di Lamporecchio they are delicious. I snack a lot here:)
     I got back to my room and decided I should have a little photo shoot because the view from my balcony was so pretty. The good news is I got a really great picture, the really really bad news is my camera took a drop (on the carpet) but now the lens won't open and it looks like all the stores are closed until Monday at 3:30pm. I am so sad, I am just hoping I can find something tomorrow. So you may be seeing a few old pics for the next couple days. I have thousands you know. I was really upset and then I thought "Don't let it get to you, it happened, it is what it is", so I will figure it out when a store opens:) Cie le Vie I guess.
    Still feeling a little blah I forced myself to go downstairs to the lounge to have some hot tea and a salad. I brought my tour book that the guy gave me from Venice (I have referenced this book quite a bit:) I was reading and planning and this man starts talking to me and his friend who is also in the lounge is from Newport Beach and lives here in Italy. He introduced us and we talked for about an hour. Her name was Evi Winters and she is 81, what a nice lady and she had an amazing life story. Funny he must have sensed I was kind of lonely. So my night ended very well and I am cozy in my bed writing my blog.
   Wish me luck tomorrow finding a camera store that is open.
    Happiness to all, I miss you and looking forward to seeing you!!!!
                                                                                 Love, Laura


                                                   
 View from my balcony aka camera crash

              Thought for the day:
             Your heart doesn't lie
                       listen to it
                        follow it
                       nurture it


4 comments:

  1. be careful when camera shopping! i broke a camera in italy too and found that all of the ones i tried to buy were set up in italian and not in english. i ended up ordering one on amazon and just getting it shipped over.

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  2. Thanks Jenna, Ya I made sure about that. It is kind of nice because it came with the European charger and a US charger. Great for travel.
    I love how much you know:)

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  3. Im so sorry to hear about your camera :(
    That is so funny about Italian men... I mean you always hear stuff like that but you are experiencing it first hand and I guess its true what they say,...
    You are so funny with your gelattos!!! haha- you know that there is this place on 2nd street that sells them (obviously wouldn't compare to the real things you are getting daily but if you need a fix maybe you will want to try it out!)
    Im sorry you are feeling lonely lit... it will go away though probably tomorrow... we feel like that here too with you gone. Even though there are so many people around and even friends and family, its lonely sometimes without you. Before you know it, you'll be back and surrounded by so many of us daily that you'll probably want to be alone again! haah- just kidding.

    Night lit!

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  4. OH, and I agree... I think that faith is beyond important and is really something that can make your life so different just by having it... By having a complete trust and belief in something that you cannot see, cannot prove, and cannot even explain at times.

    Love you!!!

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