The Moody Traveler Meets More Friends in Florence, Italy 2021

Part 2 Colours & Beauty and Accessorize

Marta – Full of joy and lively conversation!

One of my guilty pleasures in Florence happens to be shopping, especially for discounted jewelry! It’s light enough to carry back in my suitcase for souvenirs and in this delightful area there is quite a bit of variety to choose from. This year, as I strolled along the surrounding streets near the main Duomo it was fun to once again see and hear all the different types of people bustling about. The pandemic seemed to never have existed! I never grow tired of browsing in different stores, but I always return to my favorites from previous years. It makes me happy to visit old friends and I am just as happy to meet new friends!

One of my new found friends is Marta, who worked at Colours & Beauty. This brightly lit store filled with my favorite types of necklaces, earrings, etc., had been in the same location for quite a few years. As I walked into the store I saw this attractive young lady with such a friendly smile that I couldn’t resist greeting her in Italian! Marta and I had such a nice conversation (in both Italian and English) that I almost forgot to shop! Marta said she loves Americans, which I thought was so sweet. As I left, we agreed to keep in touch with each other on Instagram. Unfortunately, Marta informed me recently that Colours and Beauty is no longer in business. It is one of the many stores that were negatively affected by the dreadful pandemic. Marta had transitioned to working for an American oil field company and they downsized as well. At this time Marta remains optimistic hoping to find an even better job. I know she will! Her intelligence and willingness to learn will guide her. For now, Marta says is doing well. Her English language skills have improved beautifully! I hope to see her this year when I return to Florence!

Marta & I doing the Selfie thing!

Accessorize is another fun store of jewelry, purses, and even baby clothes! I go there every year to purchase items for my daughter and it is still in business. The employees always remember me and this time they enjoyed posing for me in a few photos! I was hoping they would remove their masks but the store policy did not permit it. However, for a quick moment I was able to convince one pretty woman to become “maskless” for a photo of her artistically designed arm!

Accessorize is located within only a few minutes walk from the Baptistery in Florence. Here is a link to the website—> https://www.accessorize.it/

Accessorize Sales Crew
Art work that cannot be bought in a store!
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Author: vmcarson

Traveling has always been in my blood since I was very young. My family moved frequently to different locations throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the United States due to my mother's teaching jobs. As a young girl, I would accompany my mother on bus trips to visit her relatives in different parts of the United States. Throughout my younger years, I could only dream of traveling to Italy and being fluent in the language. My father was Sicilian but rarely spoke in Italian. In 2013, my mother took me on my first international trip to Italy. I felt so fortunate to see Rome, Venice, Florence, and other regions of Tuscany. At that time, I became determined to return to Italy. I was obsessed with discovering the most economical way to solo travel. Eventually, I took a chance and learned along the way to solo travel. I was able to return to one of my favorite cities in Italy, Florence. In this area, I have enjoyed studying the Italian language and familiarizing myself with the art and culture. Furthermore, I have gained a new inner strength and the ability to expand my life. Every year, I try to explore and write about my travel experiences. I have made many wonderful friends and found endless new places to explore. It is my pleasure to inspire other travelers to unhook the inner fears of trying something that seems impossible. The results are incredible! You may contact me at vmcarson@aol.com with any solo traveling questions!

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