After a sorrowful good-bye with Venice, Hans and I took off for my most adored region of Italy: Tuscany. Florence to be exact.
Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.
This was one of the more understatedly mesmerizing cities in Italy. The leaping vineyards, galloping hills, and baked tile roofs grasped my heartstrings and have yet to let go.
It was beyond beautiful.
When we first arrived, it was the night of the Euro Cup game Holland vs. Russia. We hurried to our hostel, which was located on the grounds of a church! We register (a very difficult task since the owner spoke VERY little English and we spoke no Italian, though Hans did try Spanish, and well, we did get checked in) and asked for the TV room so we can watch the game. We walk into the cafeteria. Roughly ten round, balding, sweaty Italian men dot the room. We promptly plopped ourselves down and glue our eyes to the screen.
Quick background: Holland beat Italy just a few nights beforehand. Thus, the Italians were cheering on the Russians.
Holland goalie makes an epic save. Hans and I jump up, high fives and whoops.
*crickets*
Turn around slowly. Glance at angry, old Italian men in too tight, yellow-pit stained shirts. Sit down very slowly.
When one checks into a hostel, one usually has to provide one’s passport. Our hostel owner saw that Hans was Dutch and that I was born in Ukraine. The entire game, this jolly, short, red man would bounce in and point at Hans and yell “Olanda!” Turn to the side, point at me and “Ruuuuuuussiya!” Which would inevitably would elicit “Russiya!” yelps from the old men near us. I would shake my head and say “No. Olanda! Olanda!” The owner would look at me, laugh and bounce away…only to come back five minutes later and repeat the ritual. The game was a good fight, but we will not speak of its conclusion. Tear.
Florence was great fun…and HOT!!!
The famous doors "Gate of Paradise" of the Baptistery near the Duomo. These doors are replicas, because the real doors were where? Seattle, of course. I left my home city in order to go halfway across the earth so that I could see magnificent art...and it was back home.
David! This is a creation by Michelangelo. Other "Davids" dot the city all over town! This is suppose to be the "perfect" man...and brought Michelangelo great fame. Further, some claim Michelangelo murdered men in order to cut them up and better understand the human form. Apparently that is NOT true. He had an in with a local priest who often provided him corpses free of charge. No need for murder.
The city from a hill we chose to climb at the hottest time of day. Real smart. At least the view was worth it.
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