Piazzela Michelangelo- The look out!

My hotel is pissing me off.
There I said it.
It's under renovations which means hammering at 7:30 am (Sunday or Tuesday what's the diff??) Clearly they forgot to mention THAT at the time of booking. So for my convenience, they offer me a room with filth, some bed bugs (as my body has these unusual welts), the cold water is removed to create an even better steam effect than the warmth outside, and the waitresses at the breakfast seem annoyed that I would need a fork...after all, one has fingers, right?
So, this morning, I ran out of there...after I blasted them of course.
I am happy to report, my room has been upgraded...we shall see about the cutlery situation tomorrow morning.

Which now brings me to Piazzela Michelangelo.
I hopped on the city bus that rode up a hill for close to 15 mins, to arrive to a green, wooded area that reminded me a lot of Mount-Royal in Montreal.
The bus stops at the tip of the hill and you are welcomed by a breath taking view of Florence and my special non-circumcised friend David.

From this angle, you realise that Florence is nestled in a valley. The Duomo never looked this good, as you are now able to appreciate the beauty of the famous dome. The Duomo's roof was built 20 years after the church was built. They couldn't quite figure out how to seal the deal.

Unlike Mount-Royal or the Summit look out, this piazzela has quaint terraces, coffee shops and bars. A must see if you visit Florence!!

Trust and honesty first while boarding public transport???

Using the public transportation system is the best way to get to know a city. In Florence, they have trams, buses, electric buses that cover the city quite well.
You can buy your ticket at the Tabacco shops for 1,20 Euro per way. The ticket is valid up to ninety minutes. You can also purchase your ticket on the bus for 2 Euros.
Once you climb into a bus, it's up to you to validate your ticket. The driver is not responsible to check if you have paid your fare. The transport industry in Florence is based on trust. In fact, I would say, in most of Europe, if not all, it's based on trust and honesty. Should you be caught without a valid ticket, the fine is $40 Euros in Florence.

Now let's look at reality in the last four days.
As a diligent tourist, I have been paying the fares.
I have also witnessed people who get on and off without validating their tickets.
I have seen families get on, ask the driver for tickets, he has none left and yet they stay on to enjoy the ride.
I have yet to see a patrol officer checking for valid tickets.
So how is the public transport system sustaining itself financially? Was this just a sample size, I happen to look at, with the 90 mins grace period? Or is the tourism industry paying for the free transport to the 350,000 Fiorentines in Florence?

Which now brings me to the Montreal public transport...
We have hikes in fares every January, there are more attendants in our metro system to watch like a hawk, our turn stlyes are yet another means of patroling the situation. Yet the STCUM seems to run out of funds and needs to raise fees.
Why have we not put in more electric buses on our roads, like they have here in Florence?

A lot of questions....would be nice to have SOME answers.

Shopping in Florence!!!

Some of you may have noticed I was a wee bit quiet the first few days in Firenze. I felt a little out of sorts, when I took a bus ride to the town center, where The Duomo stands somewhat at the center and various piazzas surround it.
At first site, you are bombarded with labels like Prada, Gucci, Miu Miu juxtaposed with renaissance architecture. Something was not sitting well with me. I am used to seeing those labels with modern shops like in LA, New York. Here I flew all this way to be drowning in a sea of labels and feeling out of sorts.

I began meandering daily along the narrow side streets and walked through piazza after piazza, and I soon discovered they have tons of outdoor markets. Unlike our markets, these stalls or stands would be selling what I consider to be high end...purses made in lamb skin with beautiful buckles at 100 euro or more.
As I approached each vendor, I realised one common thing between them....they were all from the Middle East, more specifically the leather vendors were from Iran.
This amused me.

Being a desert dweller, I hate paying full price. I love bargaining, striking a deal, the whole dance between the buyer and seller....until both parties reach that zone to make the sale. And so I began dancing...
Let's just say, I am coming home with one too many leather purses, one too many silk scarves, one too many wallets...and proud that I didn't pay those crazy prices in the boutiques and most of all...all products are made in Bella Italia, not China!!!

Their leather feels sooooooooo soft!!!
So, if you are ever in Florence, don't pay their asking price...drop the asking price by 40%!

Chianti Region in Tuscany

I had the pleasure of joining a multi-cultural group today to head toward the hills in Tuscany in the Chianti region where we road a bus along winding roads with breath taking views of vineyards, olive groves, monasteries, fortresses and castellos.

We had a wonderful guide from Florence named Sabra, with no roots or ties to Israel, other than the fact that her parents were travelling along the mediterranean Sea and met a woman named Sabra. They were smitten with the name and the rest is history.

While travelling on the bus, she exlained about the Chianti wines. For one, Chianti wines have an old tradition, dating back to 1404. The Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo III de Medici, protected the Chianti label and vineyards by establishing borders. Toscany is not known for the production of white wines. Their Chianti Classico red wines are a blend of three types of grapes, the main one (90% worth) being Sangiovese grapes.

We visited the Castello Il Palagio which dates back to 1252. As of the 15th Century, the castle became the ownership of the Republica Fiorentina who transformed it into a fortress. The castle does not have an authentic medieval feel, as sections have been rebuilt in the 1900s. It has a small chapel, a tower, a dungeon which now holds oak barrels of Chianti classico. This cellar is one of the main attractions of Il Palagio. They have also included modern steel containers which allow the wine to age accordingly.

We had an opportunity to sample three of their wines and a sweet desert wine, along with delicious tapas ( Pecorino cheese with a spicy jelly, garlic bread al olio, cured meats, and biscotti to dip in the sweet desert wine).
I sat at a table with two charming, American women who were travelling around Europe for five weeks, as well as this Dutch family from Holland who were on their own driving through Toscana. A delightful way to spend the afternoon, chatting, sipping, laughing, tasting....being!

Can we talk circumcision here?

David
1504
Marble, height 434 cm
Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence

Michelangelo was the creator behind this masterpiece. For close to 400 years, it was seen at the entrance of Palazzo Vecchio, also known as the city hall. It's at that point in time, the locals noticed David's shoulders eroding, and so they moved the statue to the Accademia Gallery.

To the Fiorentini, The David was a symbol of liberty, somewhat like the Statue of Liberty for the Americans.

Now let's get down to business.
Reiner, the guide at the museum, explained the story behind David.
This was taken from the Biblical intertpretation of David and Goliath.
So, was David not a JEW? Was he not from the Old Testament?
If so, at birth, was he not circumcised?

I have always been biblically challenged about my roots. That being said, having raised two Jewish boys and been married to a Jewish man, I could argue I have some semblance of expertise in that realm. Here's my conundrum...Was David not a Jewish man? If so, his penis sure wasn't pointing in that direction.

Perhaps Michelangelo found sculpting veins and musculature to be an easier task than shaving off a foreskin.
And to think, tourists were complaining about one hand being larger than the next...please!!!

Murano, Burano and Torcello....

Murano, Burano and Torcello...a mini cruise!

Heat stroke and all, I went aboard this mini cruise line that took visitors to the island of Murano, known for its glass blowing technique. We were invited into a glass blowing factory where we see an artist at play, in agonizing heat from fire pits (never mind the actual overwhelming heat outside). He grabs a ball of glass and begins twisting and rolling, pulling and snapping it into shapes we are all too familiar. Horses, vases, bowls, in gorgeous colours adorn this factory.

The cruise then heads over to Burano, a fishing village with a distinct architecture all on its own. Clear lines, use of bright colours on the outside and white roof tops, clothing lines with a multitude of colourful garments decorate this island. The ladies in the village are known for their needle work. If you are looking for lace tablecloths, runners and napkins, this is the place to be. An old woman sits by the door, as you enter the shop and shows her tedious craft. A time consuming work of art!

Our last stop, was Torcello. Once off the boat ride, it was a ten minute walk to a wooded area with the canal running through. Tourism has minimally hit this part of the island. As expected, there is the local bell tower, the clock tower, the church and nearby shops. You are drawn to the ever present sound of crickets nearby. A serene location in which to have a nice cool meal, assuming the weather was less hot and humid.

The ride back to Venice was peaceful and breezy. I sat back and watched the folks nearby. It dawned on me what an interesting sample of tourists were sailing on the Mar Adriatico along with me. We had Sicilians on board, making fun of the Venetian tour guide. We had an American family travelling with grandparents too. It was nice to see the grandchildren dote over their grandparents, who were clearly having issues with the heat. We had an Australian Edward Cullen who clearly had vampish tendencies...his bold and beautiful girlfriend had plenty bites on display! We had the middle aged European woman, who in this dreadful heat, insisted on spraying herself with a dreadful cologne, yet most likely could have stopped torturing the rest of the crew ten sprays ago. My all time favourite group to observe and this tends to be more visible within European families....the grandparents and their grandchild on a journey together. What fascinates me most is how well behaved these children are!

Tonight is my last night in Venezia...one last walk into the labyrinth where, whether I like it or not, I will have to ask numerous directions to get back to my hotel. Once I am near The Cartier store, it’s a left then head straight to The Timberland shop and then Splendid, my hotel! No...this isn’t just a woman using landmarks to find her way, but rather this is the only way to make sense of these winding paths.

Arrivederci!

Finally afforded a Gondola ride....Bellissima!

Yesterday afternoon, around 3:45, I chatted with a man from Ocho Rios. Of course, true to form, I asked him if he was lost. Jamaica is that way, I pointed in some strange direction. He laughed.

He now works in Venice and lives on the Main land to reduce cost of living. He works in the tourism industry and like everyone else on this planet he has his story. It starts with "I fell in love with an Italian woman" and continues with "we had a son, whom I love dearly" and ends with "we are no longer together". To remain close to his son, he flew to Itlay, Venice namely, and began learning street Venetian and hustled for work....and now it works for a Gondola touring company.

I think he liked me green eyes....for I ONLY PAID 29 Euros to set sail on this Gondola. Four other people joined me and we had the cock-eyed Gondolier sail us away through the maze of canals. What a treat!!!
Indeed, it is a ride to remember. Most Gondoliers LOVE to flirt with the tourists. Most of them are in amazing shape. You do have a series of them who are Richard Simmons doubles, with pink bandanas and matching pink sneekers...they amuse me most, as they are the ones to sing the loudest to attract better tips.

Some interesting facts now. Gondoliers go to Gondola School...for two years!!
Gondoliers are unionised!!!
Some Gondoliers leave their true profession (doctors, lawyers...OY it's a Jewish Mother's nightmare) to earn more money. How much you ask? They earn 100 euros an hour.

It will be a ride to remember...along with my heat stroke kicking in a notch!!!!
Arrivederci for now!