sean brendan

Ritorno a Firenze

Posted by Sean
December 20, 2005

Florence. Photo by Sean O'Connor

Firenze, ahhh Firenze… I lived in Florence for 8 months during 2000 and 2001, and have always wondered when I would be able to get back and visit. Here are my impressions after four and a half years away from this wonderful place.

At first it was weird, more like a dream to be walking through the train station, and then through the underground passage, and then through Piazza Santa Maria Novella…I kept looking around, hoping to see things as I remembered them. Most everything was the same, its seems that scaffolding just switches buildings and monuments.

Walking around town, I’d hear American students, and hope to see familiar faces, but none were familiar.

La Spada still serves up the same great affordable Italian food. I had to double down my first time back - 1 bruno special, and 1 tortellini alla medici.

Late November is rainy and cold… I didn’t remember it being that cold

The Euro hasn’t raised the price of goods very much, but the exchange rate is still rough, despite recent gains.

The Italians have passed a non-smoking law, similiar to Washington’s - va bene!

The new Gonzaga school is amazing, they really did things right

Palazzo Antinori looks beautiful

The scaffolding on the Duomo is kind of a bummer, but it is still the most impressive exterior of a building I have ever seen.

Hotel Giacobazi is not Hotel Giacobazi anymore, its covered in scaffoliding as well

The American ambulance sirens are far superior to the Italians

Rivoire really does have the World’s best hot chocolate - Proffesor Carrara was not kidding

Prof. Carrara is still teaching Art History, and leading tours through the Uffizi through with the same exuberance as she did when I was there.

Il Latini is still the best meal I have ever had… wow! Roast pork, roast chicken, roast rabbit, roast lamb, and roast beef! dessert anyone?

Baldovino’s has taken it to another level. Their pizza is still some of the best I’ve ever had.

The wine is still dark red, and really good

It’s a different place without Father Bruno, and a bunch of crazy friends

Public House, Fiddlers Elbow, and Checkers Pub are all exactly as I remember them…Looney’s is still there, just nobody goes there, and they don’t have the double down special anymore.

Fiorentina (their soccer team) is good again

Florence is timeless, only the inhabitants and visitors change.

Ritorno a Firenze

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