Ispirazione a Firenze

LANDMARKS

My first day in Florence was entirely focused on becoming acquainted with the neighborhood and getting around. I rented an apartment that is a 15 minute tram ride away from the city center and across the Arno River. I realized that this arched doorway and other beautiful landmarks were becoming a welcome reminder for me to “turn here” to get back to my apartment.

I stopped into this yoga studio, just a few steps away from my apartment in Florence, with the intention of taking a class. The instructor I talked to, (or rather gestered with) didn’t speak English, but he said I should come for the Hatha class for 5.5 Euros. As my yoga instructor Bonnie says, yoga is fairly universal so I figured I could manage it … But, on Friday it was closed, as shown here with its doors pulled down, soooo, I missed that experience. Darn.

CHURCHES

A morning group tour of the Florence city center was a valuable art history adventure. It was interesting to notice the transition from medieval to renaissance styles… less deities and more humanistic…. Striking accomplishments in architecture and wonderful opportunities for photographs.

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By the end of my second day I have the Tram route down and I can “pretend” to be more like a local. Unlike in the center, most people do not speak English in the neighborhood, and gestures and smiles are the best way to communicate if I need to buy groceries!