Orchestra Da Camera a Fiorentina in Museo di Orsanmichele

One thing I really wanted to do while here in Italy was listen to some live music.  While in Milan last Monday, I wanted to go to see La Scala, the famous opera house, and they had a concert going on: Herbie Hancock was playing Gershwin.  I racked my brain trying to figure how I could go but had better sense and went back to Como De Lago instead.  So when I found a concert in Florence, I purchased the ticket enthusiastically.  I have been carrying a dress and heels to wear to such an event since I arrived, but because I changed from the stuffy monastery to the hip hostel, I missed my opportunity to dress up.  Instead, I was traversing Florence with my luggage.  Luckily I was wearing a skirt and nice shirt because the event was beautiful  The performers were Flawless.  Perfecto.  I purchased their cd.  The setting was gorgeous: high ribbed vaulted ceilings made of brick with buttresses, arches and gothic windows.  The arts are deeply appreciated and thrive and Florence!  The orchestra played Mozart and Dvorak.  Spectacular!  "La Dolce Vita!" as Adie says.  It was a beautiful night.

For Richard

There is nothing left to say about that :)

Firenze Again!

But that is an enthusiastic "Again" Florence is beautiful and the people are wonderful.  Despite the fact that I dislike where I am staying... A Monastario Delle Benedettine Di Santa Marta run by nuns, which I am embarrassed to say, kind of creeps me out.  I feel like I am in Catholic school and have to watch my Ps and Qs.  The nuns seem stern in their habits, and the fact that they bark at me telling me "Venga,  VEN, VEN!"  I follow promptly wanting to please.  I just brings back all these old memories of being in Catholic School where I was afraid to get my knuckles rapped witha ruler, although I have never been in catholic school so don't know where those feelings are coming from.  My feelings are a dichotomy actually, a cross between feeling like I am in the abbey in Sound of Music and they are just about to sing "How do we solve a problem like Maria" and those catholic school memories that are coming from who knows where.  I would like to change my room/stay for a few reasons...first.  the bed is like a sponge and feels like it is as old as the building which dates back to 1342--that in itself is reason enough to want to stay--pretty cool I say, but what building in Florence isn't dated back that far.  Another disapproval that I have is that they advertised internet and when I got there--Nope, no wifi--Sorry.  Well sorry would be okay if I didn't have to get my reservation # for my Uffizi tickets.  So I have spent an hour roaming Florence looking for an internet spot.  Luckily I found one next to that great little sandwich shop we ate w/ Freya.  The food is good and I can sit for a bit before I go to the Uffizi.   so while sitting here and eating my brushetta and drinking a coke, with ICE!  he actually served it with ice, he knows hot to cater to americans, and listening to a man play the accordian, I say hello to you.  There are free concerts here in Florence and I saw there is one tonight in a museum.  This would make my trip complete:  a classical concert set in a museo.

Ciao

5/27 Hiking Cinque Terre

Today it was supposed to rain so after wandering the city of Porto Venere and seeing the beauty here, I decided to get my laundry done.  I dressed up (because dressy clothes were the only ones that didn't need a good cleaning) and headed to the lavenderia or Laundry.  It took me to a little town called La Grazie.  La Grazie is on the water and is full of sail boats.  After the sun was breaking through so I decided not to delay my hike and I left around 1 pm to La Spezia to get the train to Cornilia.  I had already walked the last two towns on the Cinque Terre chain and wanted to hike the last three which are much more challenging.  Michael, Robby and Dan took the hike when they were here last week and told me that it would be okay for my knee so off I went.  It was beautiful.  Rain was always a threat so I hustled through it because I didn't want to be on those rocky paths on the cliffs while it was raining.  Lucky for me I made it but for a few sprinkles here and there.  These photos were taken with my cell phone.  I forgot the cords to my camera so I will post others later.  For now this will do.

 my view when I woke up this morning.  The Beautiful city Porto Venere

 La Grazia while I was doing my laundry

 Corniglia of the Cinque Terre.  The people terrace the hills and utilize them for farming.  The path I took is traversed often by the farmers here.

 Example of the rocky path

 look carefully and you can see Corniglia to the right of my hat.  forgive the photos there were taking with cell phone

 One of the many beautiful views while walking the hike.

 Mormon Tea on the trail here in Italy.  

 Coming over the hill to Monterroso

 Path to Monterroso

 Path continues through a grove of Olive trees

 Garden along the path

 Monterroso in the distance

 Arrival on the beach

 Pleased!

All cleaned up and ready to go out for a well deserved meal.  I had a room to myself in this hostel with my own bathroom.  Nice,  Bought the scarf in Lake Como from a local scarf company.  It was made locally like many italian products.  Wish that was happening in our country-- for sure.

Working Backwards from today 5/28

After spending two hours on the bus attempting to get to an outdoor market in Sarzana that was really last Thursday, I spent the day in Monterosso swimming and reading a book by the Ligurian Sea.  Did I say I spent two hours on the bus?  Did I say that there was no open market in Sarzana.  There were very nice people however.  I have met some interesting people on the bus but I will share that story another time.  I was feeling rather confident about getting around so I thought I would venture off the beaten path today and check out what I hoped would be a flea market with goods made by the people here.  Unfortunately that did not occur, however I was pleased with my ability to go somewhere without panic in my heart about communicating and getting lost.  I have always found people to be very pleasing and wanting to help the best they can. Enjoy the pics

Florence 5/17

To view the most beautiful picture by a professional photographer please view my neices blog.  Her photos are beautiful.  She is an artist. See http://www.mikecandi.blogspot.com/  for an artistic view of what we did on our trip.  I can barely keep up with such little internet access.  Missing home but enjoying all that there is to offer me, especially the gelato.