So Pretty it Hurts
So as it turns out, my headcold, or whatever it is I've come down with, has been more tenacious than originally believed. It's been somewhat of a rollercoaster, actually. Most mornings, I feel pretty crappy and it tends to get better throughout the day. It really isn't a potent cold, but not feeling 100% while you're on vacation can make it a somewhat uphill battle to enjoy what it is you're doing. It has gotten better from one day to the next, but slowly... with any luck, I'll be back into tip-top shape before the second week kicks in and Michael arrives.
I'm currently broadcasting to you from - up until today - beautiful Florence, Italy. I'm sitting in the back room of a wonderful, albeit slightly sketchy, "internet point" that is full of deck furnature (inside), eight international phone cubicles from which one can hear people shouting in several unidentifiable languages, about ten computers, and a confused Californian looking for a bathroom to compliment his phone calling adventure. This internet place is only the tip of the iceberg, though. It's part of what I like to call "Internet Alley," which has at least 6 "internet points" on it (I've counted). Why did I chose this one? Don't know.
Tommy and I arrived in Florence on Sunday and commenced to visit the town and take several lovely pictures of the buildings along the river during sunset. I have come to the conclusion that the sun loves Italy (most days; it's raining right now). I have taken several satisfyingly awesome photos of both rome and Florence during the sunset... it's something about the architecture; it just looks damn good in evening light.
Apart from heart-crushingly beautiful sunsets, Florence is also home to the Cathedral of St. Maria del Fiore, a GIGANTIC cathedral more or less in the center of town. It's absolutely covered in the most appealing marble artwork I have ever seen (easily my favorite cathedral to date with the possible exception of St. Peter's). It combines white, red, and green marble really well and the sculptures are endlessly complex, though they fit into a great design scheme that is really simple... in other words, awesome. And there's just something about the way the church sits that just makes it look massive. Another neat feature is that the two ends of the transept of this particular cathedral are topped with domes, just like the giant dome covering the center of the nave. It just looks really cool. And the patterns on the floors on the inside... and the way you feel like an ant inside... and... and... okay enough. I love St. Maria del Fiore. There, I said it. Sorry, Megan, I'm leaving you for a cathedral.
And on the second day we journeyed to Pisa by train (only €5, for the win!) to visit good ol' leaning tower and wander around the town. We tried to take the typical photo of me pushing the tower from the lawn, but the freighteningly silly-looking Italian police in little white helms blew whistles at us and threatened to lob both spaghetti and gnocci at us if we didn't stop enjoying ourselves on their lawn. Then Tommy and I ate a Doener because it's been almost 4 days since we've been in a German speaking country, and we really missed the Turkish food. That was followed by wandering, picture taking, another cheap train ride back to Florence, and an opportunity to climb the tower of St. Maria del Fiore (all 414 steps) is two minutes flat in order to enjoy the last few minutes of sunset and take a few gob-smackingly, tear-wrenchingly beautiful pictures of the whole darn city.
Today... ( only about 5 mintues left before I get kicked off) ...not so much fun. We looked for the David, but he was no where to be found. Then we waited in an hour long line for the Ufizi Gallery, which is supposed to contain the Birth of Venus, but in which we were dismayed to discover a distinct lack of any birthing of any goddess of any kind whatsoever. Feeling sick, confused, tired, and well, just plain ridiculous, Tommy and I retreated to this here "internet point" for a little contact with home (also we got delicious ice cream, so all was not for naught). And that's how I came to be here. Hope you enjoyed this installment of Rob's Rambling Run through Rome and other Italian Cities. Tune in next time, when I'll hopefully have my sanity firmly back in place.
I'm currently broadcasting to you from - up until today - beautiful Florence, Italy. I'm sitting in the back room of a wonderful, albeit slightly sketchy, "internet point" that is full of deck furnature (inside), eight international phone cubicles from which one can hear people shouting in several unidentifiable languages, about ten computers, and a confused Californian looking for a bathroom to compliment his phone calling adventure. This internet place is only the tip of the iceberg, though. It's part of what I like to call "Internet Alley," which has at least 6 "internet points" on it (I've counted). Why did I chose this one? Don't know.
Tommy and I arrived in Florence on Sunday and commenced to visit the town and take several lovely pictures of the buildings along the river during sunset. I have come to the conclusion that the sun loves Italy (most days; it's raining right now). I have taken several satisfyingly awesome photos of both rome and Florence during the sunset... it's something about the architecture; it just looks damn good in evening light.
Apart from heart-crushingly beautiful sunsets, Florence is also home to the Cathedral of St. Maria del Fiore, a GIGANTIC cathedral more or less in the center of town. It's absolutely covered in the most appealing marble artwork I have ever seen (easily my favorite cathedral to date with the possible exception of St. Peter's). It combines white, red, and green marble really well and the sculptures are endlessly complex, though they fit into a great design scheme that is really simple... in other words, awesome. And there's just something about the way the church sits that just makes it look massive. Another neat feature is that the two ends of the transept of this particular cathedral are topped with domes, just like the giant dome covering the center of the nave. It just looks really cool. And the patterns on the floors on the inside... and the way you feel like an ant inside... and... and... okay enough. I love St. Maria del Fiore. There, I said it. Sorry, Megan, I'm leaving you for a cathedral.
And on the second day we journeyed to Pisa by train (only €5, for the win!) to visit good ol' leaning tower and wander around the town. We tried to take the typical photo of me pushing the tower from the lawn, but the freighteningly silly-looking Italian police in little white helms blew whistles at us and threatened to lob both spaghetti and gnocci at us if we didn't stop enjoying ourselves on their lawn. Then Tommy and I ate a Doener because it's been almost 4 days since we've been in a German speaking country, and we really missed the Turkish food. That was followed by wandering, picture taking, another cheap train ride back to Florence, and an opportunity to climb the tower of St. Maria del Fiore (all 414 steps) is two minutes flat in order to enjoy the last few minutes of sunset and take a few gob-smackingly, tear-wrenchingly beautiful pictures of the whole darn city.
Today... ( only about 5 mintues left before I get kicked off) ...not so much fun. We looked for the David, but he was no where to be found. Then we waited in an hour long line for the Ufizi Gallery, which is supposed to contain the Birth of Venus, but in which we were dismayed to discover a distinct lack of any birthing of any goddess of any kind whatsoever. Feeling sick, confused, tired, and well, just plain ridiculous, Tommy and I retreated to this here "internet point" for a little contact with home (also we got delicious ice cream, so all was not for naught). And that's how I came to be here. Hope you enjoyed this installment of Rob's Rambling Run through Rome and other Italian Cities. Tune in next time, when I'll hopefully have my sanity firmly back in place.
posted by Rob at 6:54 PM
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