Saturday, October 11, 2008

FLORENTINE DREAMING

View from the hotel roof

I write this from Florence. Stuffed as I am after downing a plate of gnocci (potato pasta) washed down by a glass of the region's finest Chianti, I sit overlooking one of my favorite cities as a light breeze cools off the roof tops. It's been a hard day at work, walking hours and hours searching for just the right trattoria's for my Knitaly group's dining pleasure. Big sigh. Woe is me. Yes, no sympathy from anyone out there, I know. Luckily I was not required to devour all those plates of pasta myself and even managed to drop into the Duomo on my way home.

The Duomo to which I refer is the most notable landmark in Florence, perhaps one of the most famous in the world, and yet I haven't made a visit until today due to the length of lines waiting to get in in during previous travels. I went in at last. Below, my day's crop of photos...

The eye at the top of the world inside the Duomo

Kings and statesmen beware: time could reduce you to a pigeon holder!

The Arno Swimming in Light

An iconic roofline...

A scrap of ancient mosaic floor

From the entry 'Wild, Mysterious Australia'. Jane, it's lovely to hear my everyday world described through the eyes of a newcomer....it makes me look at things afresh. Looking forward to meeting you in Sydney shortly.

By Christine Jones on 2008 12 28