Tag: Culture

It’s my buddy’s birthday so we are eating and photographing Venice!

My upgraded suite is rather decadent 🙂

Stefan and I met for a beer and wandered the streets here in Venice last night before buying a bottle of wine and catching up. His hotel is around the corner so we will meet soon and start our day. He has a walking tour all mapped out!

I woke up early this morning before Aqua alta to take some photos. Here are a few and some shots of my suite 🙂

The train ride was quite nice from Florence. We came into S.Maria station and I quickly disembarked and waded into the teeming sea of tourists. I made my way to my hotel and was disappointed that the room that I requested was unavailable due to some recent construction. The upside was that they upgraded me to a double executive suite. And boy is it suite! I will take some photos later but suffice to say that it is mahogany floor to ceiling with a marble bathroom. Quite decadent!

My friend Stefan came to meet me at St. Marks and we went for a pizza and a beer. It’s his birthday tomorrow so we are going to hang out and eat a good meal. We chatted for a while and then took a walk. The Aqua Alta was already beginning and, with a full moon and the rain, the prediction is for a few feet of water over night!

Wow! This segment of the trip was really nice! It is raining and grey in northern Italy and all of the small mountains in this region are shrouded in fog. I dozed for a bit and awoke to fellow passengers speaking Japanese. For a split second I was transported back to my younger days, traveling to the small town of Ushimado on the Seto inland sea.

Next stop, Osaka.. Er… Venice Mestre then onto Venice itself!

So I went back to the Scuolo del Cuoio and bought another bag today. The craftsmanship is very impressive. Here is Francesco embossing my bag with my initials. The craft work is impressive!

I woke up this morning after a rather lousy sleep. More than likely due to the 1 kilo plus steak I ate last night. Always a trooper, got my gear and headed out into a rainy Florence. Even rainy Florence is beautiful!

I went to the Accademia for 8:15. By 8:14 it was me and another guy, who is a librarian in Bologna and incredibly knowledgeable about art and art history. I got a short course on the entire collection! I was really happy. We parted ways inside but I did bump into him at the statue of David. I asked him to take a photo of me but, evidently, he had never taken a photo before. I don’t think I was even in the frame 🙂

I then went to San Marco Church where I fell in love with Fra Angelico’s Annunciation. What a great spot, wonderful art and very peaceful.

After that it was noon so I went for a fantastic lunch at San Lorenzo Market (best location for the freshest everything) where I met and chatted with Kellie (sp?) from Chicago who, among other things, was taking a cooking class at San Lorenzo Cooking School. She has been here in Florence for several months and, like me, loves the food and everything else about this city. I was totally jealous! And FYI, the second level of the Market was transformed several years ago with only high end take away eateries and a cooking school. I had a really good soup with a amazing Sienese Ham sandwich… And a great conversation! When in Florence, this is a great place to shop and eat.

After all that and with the rain falling and the thunder still rolling in the sky, I went to the Medici Chapel to see the Michelangelo.sculptures. Wow!!!

Here are a few from my day;

And my lunch:

I’m sitting here in my room uploading photos and I turned on the TV to find episode 1 of Masterchef Italy 🙂

Wow! 2.5 hours of the best art I have seen in a long time!

I was first in line this morning for the Uffizi this morning and it was worth it hanging out for about 30 minutes or so. By the time it opened at 8:15 the line stretched for quite some time. I put my ear plugs in and absorbed the art for several hours.

I then climbed the Duomo, taking lots of photos of the interior construction of the done by Brunalesschi. I braved my fear of heights with the help of three Americans from California who were in Florence for just a few days. A great bunch, we chatted about the history of the done including the work by Vasari on the interior of the dome.

I then went to the Baptistry that is under construction outside but wow! What an interior!!!

I also found the spot, market with a circular piece of marble, where the huge ball from the top of the Duomo landed in January, 1600 after being hit in an electrical storm. People looked at me really weird as I smiled and took pictures of, to them, just the pavement!

After an amazing Steak Florentine, I found some great street art as I ambled my way back to the Hotel Duomo! I will sleep well tonight! Great resto: Trattoria Antico Fattore –

http://www.anticofattore.it/antico_fattore/public/index.php