Part IV Continued
Riding a Horse Drawn Carriage Through the Heart of Florence!
During my previous visits to Florence I felt a bit envious of the couples and families smiling as they rode horse drawn carriages through the streets of one of my favorite cities! A few of my Florentine friends had told me it was just a cheeky tourist attraction and not worth the 50 euros. Thus, foolishly, for the last five years, I talked myself out of my yearning to experience this excursion. This year I was determined to ignore the negativity stuck in my head! So, on a warm, slightly cloudy day, I walked to the Duomo/Giotto’s Tower area, part of the main amazing historical attraction that marks the center of this city, and stared momentarily at a group of horses taking a break near their carriages. I took a deep breath, cleared my mind, and walked over to one of the drivers or fiaccherai (singular is fiacchero) as they are called in Florence, to request a ride.
I decided to choose a driver who was sitting comfortably in a carriage while his horse was eating. Other drivers were conversing happily with each other. As I spoke in my labored Italian (with an obvious American accent) to this happy fellow, a broad grin broke out on on his face. He introduced himself as Cristiano and assisted me onto a comfortable leather seat in his carriage. While he expertly maneuvered the carriage through the crowds, Cristiano proudly told me about his job and family. I even learned that his horse, “Giotto,” was named after the famous Giotto’s Bell Tower located near the Duomo. To me it was worth the 50 euros to ride like a princess and enjoy this lovely city in a more relaxed manner instead of a sitting on a crowded tour bus. I didn’t feel the least bit nervous or uncomfortable to be riding alone. Cristiano gave me his own tour through many side streets in the city and along the Arno River. I remember wishing for the ride to be longer than a half hour!
ValVentures 