Siena, Italy

Heather and I ventured to Sienna for a day trip.  We tried to ignore the pouring rain and temps hovering on freezing to hear about Florence's great rival.  The city divides into separate neighborhoods each named for a different animal.  The town square below hosts the Palio, a  traditional medieval horse race, twice a year.  Each neighborhood or "Contrade" is represented by a horse and jockey, and the winning Contrade boasts through the next year.

We stopped in Catherine of Sienna's church.  She actually worshipped and had her visions in this Basilica.  We viewed her skull and her finger through the glass.  Yes, they have her finger preserved.

We walked through back streets and alleyways learning about how people lived in this small city.

We tried Sienna's famous cakes, and walked through Sienna Cathedral, the most amazing one I have seen thus far.

On our last day in Florence, we meandered through the market buying oils and olive wood rolling pins.

I cannot wait to return.

Last Trip to Florence - for Awhile

My friend Heather and I met in Florence for one final art, food, and more art (and more food) filled weekend.  We arrived Thursday and visited our favorite clothes and shoe stores.  As we wandered the cobblestone streets, I appreciated the intimate familiarity of visiting the same space multiple times.  An Entoncea near Ponte Vecchio pulled us in with its tiny tables and sandwiches to match.

We planned a private Medici Tour with our favorite guide, Siro, months ago.  He provided us books to read and a detailed plan to cover the major sites of this influential family.  Several days before we departed, Siro checked into the hospital with a heart virus.  He arranged for his wife Val, another certified guide, to give the tour.  She added an interesting twist by overlaying the role of women in the Medici family and in the Renaissance.

She laid the proverbial foundation in San Marco, the home of the Dominican monks.  We saw Fra Lippi paintings in several austere rooms and learned how this banking family financed aspects of the Church and how the famous monk Savonarola spewed fire to bring them down.

We finished the day at a three star Michelin restaurant where we savoured an 18 course meal.  Of course, I forgot my camera….

Last Christmas in Germany

The kids and I spent Christmas Eve morning downtown buying cheeses and creams and sipping hot chocolate in our favorite bookstore.  Well, Emily and I tried to enjoy our hot chocolate. Owen started talking loudly about "funny" accents despite my quiet protests, "Owen we do not act like this in coffee stores.  Owen we need to lower our voices.  Owen, all of the quiet, composed, judging Germans are wondering why I brought you into this establishment and more importantly when am I taking you out."  Finally, I touched his arm and said we had to go.  He shrieked hysterically "YOU SQUEEZED MY ARM.  I AM TELLING DADDY ON YOU. YOU HURT ME."  I slowly wrapped my scarf around my neck, helped Emily put on her coat, and walked out.  I almost took a bow as I exited.

We hosted several neighbors for Christmas Eve dinner after a two-hour English Mass.  Instead of taking pictures, I served French cheeses, hot bread, and slow-cooked chicken with carrots puree and a red-wine reduction.  I made three types of cookies and Rudesheimer coffee.  Yes, I love food.  After dinner, the kids placed reindeer nibs outside our windows and left letters and cookies for Santa.

Christmas morning, the kids ran into see if Santa visited.  I have plenty of blurry under-exposed pictures showing their surprised faces - and one clear picture of Emily with her new Monopoly game.

We spent the day riding our bikes downtown, eating Dunkin Donuts (yes, they were open on Christmas Day), watching "It's a Wonderful Life" and enjoying each other's company.