Week 8

 

Week 8 is another week of living on the hill overlooking Florence.

Sunday, Oct. 17

Walk down to Porta Romana for groceries...

Walking by Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
(I call it the Galileo Institute)

Villa Capponi
known for it's terraced
gardens and view

We discover Piazza Santo Spirito

A Sunday Mercado...
we buy bread, cookies and empandadas

  

    Then to Carrefour for essentials;
Now, home to finish the blog and do laundry.

Monday, Oct. 18

Laundry at the Laundromat...
We discover Tuscan Taste.  A little food/wine store next to the Laundromat. Cooking classes, sauces, wine, artisan beer as well as sandwiches.  A lovely way to do your laundry - eat lunch and have great conversation with the owners.

After laundry, groceries...

then we to the park in front of 

the Liceo Artistico Statale di Porta Romana e Sesto F.no

to wait for the bus home.

Wednesday, Oct. 20

We go to the train station...again - I got the wrong dates for the return tickets from Venice.

Chiesa Santa Maria Novella is just down the street
(I guess that's why the train station is called Santa Maria Novella?!)

Chiesa Santa Maria Novella

We have been watching lectures by William J. Neidinger on Romanesque Architecture to understand what we are looking at when we look at all these fabulous buildings here in Florence. Santa Maria Novella as well as the Duomo are referenced often.

We then go towards the Duomo
to buy leather gifts for Xmas

On to the Duomo - Santa Maria del Fiore 

we show our vacination cards and we go in

We walk toward the River and Ponte Vecchio and stop by the leather shop with Susan where I bought my pink coin purse (my first purchase in Florence.) She shows us leather duffle bags for John and a light weight travel purse for me. We tell her we have to think about it and will be back.

Thursday, Oct. 21

We decide we need to buy John a travel bag and me a travel purse in leather.  We catch the 9:55 bus to Porta Romana, have lattés and croissants at Angolo's, then the #11 to Pitti Palace and walk to Susan's store to buy from her. 

We are happy
and will travel in
STYLE!

We have to be home before 3, so we can clean up and be able to show the condo to some prospective renters for Silvia. 

While waiting for the bus, we meet some neighbors - the 12:25 bus is late/canceled/or something, but a schedule bus will come at 13:15.  We get to know the neighbors during the hour delay.  So now we "have" neighbors. We see them often, now. 

I order from Omero tonight - fried chicken, potatoes and mixed vegetables.  7:30 pick up - 31 Euros

Friday, Oct. 22

Laundry day - sheets...
    Start laundry, have lunch at Tuscan Taste
    Put sheets in dryer, then take a walk to Santo Spirito

Things you find 
on the street corner

Have to see what family
this is...

Then home for leftovers from last night.  We ride home with our neighbor-friends.

Saturday, Oct. 23

We take time to have a date (suggested by Anita, our travel agent) at...

The Westin Excelsior Hotel Bar, SE STO.

 

Westin Excelsior Hotel

The views from the SE STO Rooftop Bar

The Tower of
Chiesa di Salvatore in
Ognissanti

Walking back to Porta Romana

The Arno River Wedge

 

Chiesa San Frediano

It's supposed to be beautiful inside - it was closed for the day when we passed.

So ends the 8th Week of our European Adventure 2021. We now have about 6 weeks to go.

• We now feel like we have a comfortable routine of maintenance and exploration. 
• We've gotten to know the city pretty well and can find our way around (as long as we are not on an errant bus). 
• We've met and can chat with some neighbors.
• We know how to order take away from Omero and Sefano and Hercules know our favorites on their menu.
• We are comfortable with the bus schedule to get around.
• We know how to take the train to places we want to go.

After a month and a half, we feel at home in this lovely apartment/condo at Via del Pian de Giullari, 65.

Our first day -
waiting to go in