Tag: Florence

• Initially quaint but after a while the police and ambulance sirens become really annoying
• The hotel room may be soundproof but you can still hear, through the ceiling, wheelie luggage going back and forth at midnight
• Not all Murano glass is genuine. The clue is in the name – Maranoh, Muranoe, Meranoe (seen ‘em all).
• “Made in Venise” is either fake or the manufacturer can’t spell
• If you don’t know what the gelato flavour is and there is no English translation, get lemon. There’s not much they can do to a lemon gelato.
• I am astonished at the rudeness of some people.
• In what rule book does it say “it is perfectly acceptable to suddenly stop in the middle of a narrow footpath, take a call on your mobile, speak loudly so EVERYONE can hear how popular and amusing you are and wave your arms around so no one can get past you”.
• Levels of annoying-ness:
  • 1. Americans – they’re everywhere, very loud, pushy, opinionated (“why can’t they speak American?”) and they complain about things where there is no solution (“you booked the Rustic Suite, sir, with original fittings, for the Authentic Experience. There’s not much I can do about the low ceilings and a jacuzzi is out of the question.”)
  • 2. Germans: not many of them here but those who are can be very annoying with their stupid sense of humour (will point and laugh convulsively at plaster models of David’s bum or willy, especially if it’s been painted fluro) and their enormous feet which seem always to be splayed outwards causing a tripping hazard.
  • 3. English: complain about everything from food (I don’t like pizza) to crowds (why are there so many people) to drivers (I wish they’d learn to drive on the correct side of the road) to gelato (is there a Mr Whippy around here)
  • Aussies: includes me. Take photos of everything (I do), says g’day to everyone (me not so), wears shorts, singlets and thongs all the time (me no), sees the All You Can Eat sign at the pasta restaurant as a competition sport (me definitely no)
• General annoying-ness
  • Anyone who wants their photo taken in front of classic art
  • Anyone who has their photo taken in front of a statue where they hold the same pose as the statue
  • Anyone (especially you, irritating Vietnamese man) who stands in front of David effectively blocking the view for everyone else so they can have a lengthy FaceTime call with friends back home.
  • Tour Guides (see previous post about THAT woman)
  • Children (ok not really. I just put that in.)

…will be added to

In no particular order

• I’m not a fashion conscious person but today I saw a 20something girl wearing a bright yellow silk evening gown and knee height motorbike boots. Even I know that’s not done
• Don’t fall for old ladies begging on the streets. Today I walked past one (she’d been there for a while) and she was rattling her cup and sign (I live on the streets and I have nothing). Her sign was angled so you couldn’t see her iPhone 16.
• A lot if men living in or visiting Florence have the WORST dye jobs
• Orange suede shoes, no socks and ankle grazing pants don’t really look that great
• Packing tape is not the best way to repair a push bike
• A man bun is for the young and fit. It is not designed to be put on top of your head (old dude seen today) to cover your bald area.
• A violin, a guitar and a base playing “O sole mio” is not an invitation to perform your personal ballet, tall thin American woman wearing shortie shorts, camisole top, straw hat and HUGE sunglasses. If it were I would have demonstrated my kata. And, I would have done it better…without a warm up.
• Florence has the happiest dogs

Pitti Palace or Pitti about the ceilings

I shouldn’t be so rude. The ceilings were amazing, each one more amazing than the last however I’m not really a fancy ceiling person. Yes, there is a pattern here – plain and possibly dull but never boring.

Perhaps the ceilings were the precursor to the mirrored ceilings of the 1970s (not that I’ve ever HAD a mirrored ceiling, you understand). Anyway, they are ornate and ostentatious and fresco painters from 3 centuries contributed to the decor of the public rooms and living quarters.

Despite not really liking them I kept taking photos of them and really appreciated the skill and workmanship that went into their creation.

I could go on but I won’t. Best to leave the table wanting more, as Dad used to say.

Speaking of Dad, here he is or a very good likeness. It’s a bit blurry because the painting was difficult to get to.

We first went into the rooms containing Modern Art and, I have to admit, I was expecting an Italian version of Campbell’s soup tins or maybe a banana on the wall but I was pleasantly surprised to see art from the 19th century and early 20th century. Not a soup tin in sight.

Even a favourite artist of mine, John Singer Sergeant, featured although not prominently. This painting (“Reconnoitring”) was tucked into a corner and easy to miss which is surprising as he was born in Florence in 1856 and produced many watercolours of the Boboli Gardens which are adjacent to the palace. None of these watercolours were on display….sigh…..

Next was the Museum of Costume and Fashion. Somehow we ended up in a small room with low lighting which, to me, was possibly the most fascinating of all. The photo above is the burial outfit belonging to Garzia de Medici, 7th son of Cosimo de Medici and Eleanor di Toledo who were the Duke and Duchess of Florence at that time. Garzia contracted malaria and died in 1562 or did he… some stories claim he accidentally stabbed his brother and Cosimo then killed him. His body was buried beneath the Basilica de San Lorenzo and was exhumed, along with his brother (the stabbing victim🤷🏻‍♀️) and his parents, in 1948. Isn’t it amazing that his clothing survived and in such fantastic condition, as can be seen by the above photo. His parent’s burial clothes were not so lucky. Apparently the people who exhumed the bodies in 1948 were not that interested in the garments, possibly the only remaining royal outfits from the 16th century. I tried to find out where they were stored but all I could find out was that the Costume and Fashion Gallery received them as a bundle of rags in 1983. They are the finest remaining examples of Italian royal 16th century dress, all thanks to the many years of tireless work by the textile conservators.

This next bit is about the costumes and fashion from the 18th century to today so if you don’t like looking at dresses, scroll down.

By now we were fairly tired but we really wanted to see the Royal Apartments so we went to the lift to get to the upper floor. An “incident” occurred and I was not in any way responsible.

A tour guide (hereafter referred to as THAT woman) pushed in front of Glenys and threw her arm out, barring our way, saying “scusi, scusi….Italian words, Italian words…” then something about one of her party was late and so we couldn’t get on the lift as it only held 6 people and we would have made it 7.

“I’m disabled” cried Glenys, waving her stick around.

“Tough shit “ I said, “we were here first”.

Plenty of walking stick waving, harsh glares and stupid twat statements erupted in the lift foyer.

Security man arrived and realised it was THAT woman (I could tell he’d dealt with her before). He wedged himself between the old lady waving stick + annoyed lady with the Go Ahead And Make Me face and THAT woman to ensure no blood was spilled.

THAT woman and her group got on the lift before us (power of numbers won).

Glenys said “you could get on that lift and I’ll get the next one”

At this stage I still thought they were Italian and I proclaimed, loudly, in English, “I’m not getting on the lift with THAT woman!”

They all laughed.

It was an American tour group with an Italian guide.

We arrived at the Royal Apartments and were taken through by a lovely member of staff. Unfortunately THAT woman didn’t go through at the same time. I say unfortunately as I was planning multiple photo bombing situations.

We probably should have viewed the Royal Apartments on another day as the excessive lavishness and all over GOLD look was doing my head in.

However, it was an interesting day. We were happy to get back to the hotel for an early night.

Tomorrow is rest day.

C

Saturday 24th May

Today we went to the Uffizi Gallery. I was so awestruck that I forgot to take many pictures.

Artwork I’d studied in school was there “in person” and it was amazing to see.

I didn’t realise the gallery was so huge!

I’m not a big fan of religious art but I’m happy I’ve been able to see it.

Nothing untoward happened so I’ll just post some photos here so you get a feel for it, assuming you’ve never been.

Just about every room had ornate, over the top decorated ceilings and I did find that, after a while, they were a distraction.

The first ceiling we saw was this one and I was “wow!”

By the 10th ornate ceiling I was a bit “oh, another ornate ceiling”. Don’t get me wrong, I think they are amazing and a credit to those who designed them and created them however, the opulence was too much especially when you’re used to pale grey walls and Tasmanian oak furniture. Some may call this bland but I like it.

As much as I liked the art I was a tad overwhelmed but I was fascinated by the journey along Vasario’s Corridor which joins the Uffizi with the Pitti Palace.

Giorgio Vasari, a celebrated architect, built the corridor in 1564 for the Grand Duke Francesco I de Medici to allow him to journey from the Pitti Palace, where he lived, to his offices in the Uffizi. Nice.

The Medici family initially made their money from banking. They were widely respected for supporting the arts but their popularity was a mixed bag. Their increased power, wealth and ambition led to resentment and exile, on more than one occasion. The construction of the Vasario Corridor was not just for ease of travel to and from work but it also offered protection from unruly crowds who probably liked to voice their displeasure.

In about 2016 the corridor was renovated to upgrade things to modern standards and at this time all the paintings were removed and relocated to the Uffizi Gallery. Visitors still get to see the paintings, just not where they were. Apparently they were removed because the authorities feared losing them due to fire.

Our Uffizi day began at 9.30am and we staggered back to the hotel at 5pm.

We spent an hour wandering the streets looking for a mini mart so we could stock up on water (you get charged 5 euro per small bottle in the hotel), regular milk (so over UHT) and tissues. Off again tonight in the opposite direction as Glenys feels there is a mini mart “over that way”. I trust her direction nose, it’s been right every time so far.

We stopped for a pizza (13 euro for pizza and a drink) which was ok but the oldie who was looking after the cash register charged me a service fee. Her son argued with her (an argument is the same in any language) but she wasn’t going to be swayed so I paid the service fee. It wasn’t much but the sign read “13euro pizza + drink, no service fee”.

An early night for me but Glenys watched a Miss Marple episode, dubbed in Italian.

Tomorrow we go to the Pitti Palace.

See you!

C

Friday 23rd May

Naturally there was a nation wide train strike on Friday so we had to change our train and hope to make it to Florence in time for our Golf Cart tour.

It is amazing how many people won’t help others however, I managed to get the luggage onto the train and we set off for Florence.

It was an uneventful journey and we arrived only a few minutes late.

We joined the many other travellers in the Taxi line and I was in a little world of my own when Glenys called out “This one’s ours”. It was a Mickey and Mini Mouse taxi driven by a very strange lady.

We got in and I sat on a rubber chicken.

Turns out Caterina, the driver, donates most of her takings to children’s cancer research. She was dressed like an I don’t really know how to describe it. Anyway, she claimed she had just been to the hospital to visit some sick children and that’s why she was wearing her “outfit” but I think she normally dresses like this.

We settled in and she threw a ukulele over the seat and said “here, play the ukulele…”

I’ll just stick to the farting rubber chicken, thanks, and we drove off to the very loud sounds of Andrea Bocelli.

Our first adventure was a Eco Golf Cart tour of the city. Below is a picture of what we thought we were getting.

Didn’t get a picture of the actual vehicle but it had engine trouble and was looking a little worse for wear. Our driver was the highly entertaining Mr Francisco (complete with long flowing locks and a terrific sense of humour).

We drove around for 90 mins and had a fabulous time. Every time the cart did a bit of engine grinding Mr F talked louder to try and drown out the “I’m about to break down” sounds.

Made it back ok and had a little wander around before returning to our hotel.

Found a laundrette which was just as well because we were running out of clean clothes and the hotel were going to charge 3 euro per sock for washing. Ok, I exaggerate, it was 3 euro for a pair of socks but ONE sock sounded so much more dramatic.

Tomorrow we go to the Uffizi Gallery.

C