Blogs from Italy, Europe - page 1587

What a difference a few (million?) cars make! Florence: a dramatic Vespa-infested change from the pedestrian city of Venice. Florence just reverberates with cars and Vespas zipping by, but the energy is invigorating even if stepping off the curb to cross the street can be a bit intimidating. After finding our hotel, the Residenze Anitca Dimora Firenze, which turned out to be a fantastic place to stay - oh so quiet and within easy walking distance of most of the sites - we headed out to find the Duomo which was easy to do as the dome is easily glimpsed from most of the streets in the downtown area. The Duomo, a Gothic cathedral covered in pink, green and white Tuscan marble looks much like an over-the-top wedding cake. My eyes couldn’t get enough. The Santa ... read more

today's adventure. haven't left my city for a while. time to step out. Take a train to Siena, city on hill, characterized by steep streets and known for Piazza del Campo, originally used to race horses. This piazza, almost oval, is lined by restaurants and outdoor cafes, and absolutely crowded with gelato-licking tourists. Siena feels like a smaller Florence in architecture and energy. I walk randomly through the streets, through smaller walkways, under many arches, streets rising and falling. I come to the piazza al duomo, which feels oddly empty and void of energy (whereas that of the Firenze is always popular with tourists and horse carriages, small markets and portrait painters. The façade of the Siena Duomo is beautifully carved, every corner of white marble horses, kings and angels. Because the Pope is deathly ill, ... read more

Venice: a feast for our sleep-deprived senses. Pigeons, gulls, the clickity-clack of suitcase wheels on cobblestone. Brightly painted gondola poles. Salt air. Church bells ringing. Stepping out of the train station we felt, for the first time since leaving home, that we’d entered another time and place. Sunset cast a beautiful glow over the well-worn, but still elegant buildings along the Grand Canal. Even the air we breathed reeked of history. Dragging our suitcases behind us, we made our way across the Scalzi Bridge to our nearby hotel, Hotel Carlton, checked in and learned that Pope John Paul II was near death. We planned to be in Rome on the 6th and 7th so we were quite curious. After watching the news for a bit we set off to explore the quiet streets around our hotel ... read more

it's already been 7 days on this trip. too fast! felt like i left singapore only a couple of days ago. italy's cities/towns all have their own individual characteristic and personality, which is good, 'cos it doesn't bore me out! have so far made our way up north from Rome to Venice, then westwards from Venice to Florence, which is where i am now. Florence is beautiful to say the least i tell u. it's a good blend of old architecture and modern boutiques and cafes. medieval yet modern. think abt it. too bad i can't post pictures now. i will soon though. in the next 1-2 days. oh just a side note. it's been only 7 days and i've taken close to 300 photos alr. that's an avg of 40 photos a day. ha! ok. ... read more

Thunder today. I sit outside, listening, while my spaghetti cooks. Waiting for the rain. The riotous birds are silenced at each outburst of the clouds, then start up again in full concert. I go back to cooking, catch a few flashes out of the corner of my eye, then come outside again. A woman across the courtard and a floor up pokes an inquisitive nose out, assesses the sky, and yanks a sweater from her line. The cover of her balcony twitches shut behind her, a gesture of annoyance. As for me, I couldn't be happier when the rain comes drumming in. I hang over the edge, turn my face up. I'm sure its full of poison but I can pretend its pure. Its a real downpour, the first one I've seen for a while, even ... read more