HomeFlorence first impressions
19. Mar, 2010 
2 Comments
There’s only so much you can do with an IPhone camera, but the light was too good, and I was too enthralled not to take a few photos when I finally logged off the computer and took a walk outside last night. As I strolled the streets of Florence near dusk, I was reminded that cities have languages every bit as distinct as peoples, and after just a few minutes, I knew I wanted to be fluent in Florence. It’s more than knowing your way around without getting lost. It’s the beat: knowing when the streets are busy and why they aren’t, understanding when it’s safe to cross the street and when it’s not (irrespective of what the traffic light says). It’s the sound of the horns, and the tone of the graffiti and the gorgeous wood beamed ceilings and brightly colored shutters – so ubiquitous the residents must pay them no heed at all. (Why aren’t they more common in the States)? While I’m not fluent in the language of Florence yet, I’m looking forward to exploring the city over the next few days, and I don’t think it’ll be too difficult to pick up at least a working understanding. As I learned earlier today, the church bells say buon giorno in the morning. That’s a pretty good start.
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Aha! I’m your first commenter again!
I dearly hope that when I get to Florence, my first impressions are as stunningly gorgeous as yours. Dig the windows on each storey of that building in your first photo. Each is a different shape depending on the level of the building. This probably helped people who could not count well find out which floor their pals lived on: “Hey, Giuseppe, she’s on the floor with the arched window tops!”
What do the bells of Florence say in the evening, “Buone notte,” I trust!
Thanks so much for your commentary on your trip. I am enjoying it immensely.
Thanks for pointing that out, Carol. That window factoid missed my attention, but I’ll always notice it now.