Florence Italy – ValVentures

Summer 2022 Trip to Florence & Milan, Italy

Meeting Michel & Roberto in Milan for Their Pre Wedding Dinner

**Such fun visiting Michel & Roberto in Milan!**

On a beautiful, sunny day in June, it was a pleasure to take a nice train ride from Santa Maria Novella station in Florence back to Milan. After checking in to a local hotel I met with Michel, my dear friend and Italian language tutor. Prior to my trip, Michel invited me to a special pre wedding dinner referred to as a “bachelor party,” minus the traditional American all male festivities. I was fortunate enough to be part of a formal dinner consisting of a small group of cherished friends to celebrate the upcoming wedding of Michel and Roberto!

Prior to the special dinner, Michel proceeded to give me a “mini” tour of the local area of Milan. We walked and walked through the streets, eventually arriving at the lovely apartment of Michel and Roberto.

Duomo of Milan

All I can say is “Wow!” Michel and Roberto’s apartment was artful in itself! Michel showed me how he had been responsible for designing all the foliage that aligned the stairwell and pretty little white roses closest to the lower level.

The inside of the apartment did not disappoint as it was displayed beautifully with white furniture and other special designer décor. I especially marveled over one of Roberto’s personally designed light fixtures! After our jovial conversation, we discussed the best way for me to travel from the hotel to the restaurant in the evening since the taxis were on strike.

The next series of events seemed to be a large test of my ability to handle a bit of stress. It began with getting on the wrong underground subway to get to my hotel! Luckily, a nice young man assisted with directing me immediately off the subway and led me to the correct ride back. This cut into my time to prepare for the dinner, which is always manic when a woman is trying to look their best! However, imagine something worse than that….. As I happily made it to the front hotel entrance, my mind was working quickly and I decided to call an Uber. (I thought it would be better than walking in a long dress with heels for a half hour to the restaurant!) I felt relieved for a moment. But, as the Uber pick up time quickly approached (8:30 p.m. and the dinner was at 9:00 p.m.), I realized that I had left my special gift up in the hotel room. It was a painting of the happy couple created by my daughter.

The reservationist was kind enough to promise holding the Uber driver if they arrived. After I rushed back down in the elevator, a message appeared on my phone, saying the Uber had cancelled…at 8:31 p.m. Ahhhh! I immediately called Michel. Thankfully and incredibly he calmed me down and picked me up in his mother’s car!

Do I look stressed in that photo or what?

I must say, whatever unnerving transportation events occurred that day, they certainly left my mind quickly when I arrived at the gorgeous Brera restaurant in St. Mark’s Square. A small group of Michel and Roberto’s friends were waiting outside the restaurant and greeted me as if we were long time acquaintances. Inside, the atmosphere was beautifully tranquil with plants and lights through out the restaurant – an ambience of perfection. The dinner was an experience I’ll never forget. Thank you Michel and Roberto for being who you are and welcoming me into your lives with friends that I will always cherish.

“Friending” in Florence: Special People in a Special Place

Part IV

Shopping in Florence can be quite overwhelming at times! Where to go..how much time there is……to look for jewelry, clothes, souvenirs, etc., etc. especially when you are not sure where to go. If you are not on a tour and being rushed around like a herd of cattle, it is relaxing to take a day to browse around the Ponte Vecchio and the center of Florence near the Duomo and Giatto’s tower. My addiction to costume jewelry led me to a discovery of the Colours & Beauty store located along one of the main streets coming from the center of the city. Not only does the store jump out at you with bright “colours” and a tempting glittery array of pretty jewelry, but the smiles radiate from the store employees.

Laurie and her coworker were very patient and accommodating as I took my time to choose from what seemed to be an endless selection of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and so much more, packed into this quaint store. (Here is a link to the website for you to window shop from the comfort of your home! https://www.coloursandbeauty.it/) The next time you are able to shop in Florence, put the name of this store in your Google search and follow the walking map. You won’t be disappointed! Laurie loves interacting with customers and speaks English very well.

More shopping friends!

Friendly and a bit shy, Raffaela tried to hide from my cell phone camera in the “Accessorize” store, which I have visited for the past 4 years. This store is easy to find and always has a lot of good sales on jewelry and other fashionable items for your wardrobe! During this visit, I was searching for a small leather backpack to bring home to my daughter. I found the perfect size in black just at a reasonable cost. For the past two years I had recognized two employees but did not see them this year. I introduced myself to a shy young woman stationed behind the register counter. She listened attentively as I explained in Italian who I was looking for, one of which had a beautiful detailed tattoo of a rose on her arm. I showed Raffaela photos on my phone and she told me the two employees were off that day. At first, she tried to duck behind the counter to avoid having her photo taken. But, after my insistence and words of encouragement, she kindly obliged. Thank you Raffaela!

Towels? Who buys them while on vacation? Me, of course! In my apartment everything was wonderful, however, I only wanted a softer towel. Therefore, during one of my leisurely strolls, on a nice warm sunny day in Florence, I decided to try a quaint store with towels and many other types of linens. I introduced myself in Italian to an amicable trio of grinning sales associates and asked them to pose for a photo. The men struck a pose right away. However, the woman tried to escape and hide in another aisle! My coaxing words (Tu sei bella! Ma dai! – You are beautiful! Come on!) led her back to join the others in a lovely photo.

After a friendly conversation with these fun folks, I found a set pretty pink set of soft bath towels. The store owner was so kind to cut the price for me to 20 euros! (I didn’t ask him to!) Memories of people like this in Florence make me even more sad that I cannot board a plane yet to revisit what felt like my second home!

Uddin Md Nazim happily selling his abundance of colorful scarves & shawls!

This vendor seemed to really enjoy what he was doing! A great big smile for all who passed in one of many crowded areas of central Florence. Uddin was very patient and kind while I chose a beautiful orange scarf to give to my daughter! (I enjoy spoiling my family!) I hope one day soon to see these vendors again. I loved seeing all the varieties of souvenirs and talking with the sellers. Many came from Morocco and Bangladesh and would tell me stories of their family backgrounds. Other vendors were natives of Florence and quite proud to have been doing their jobs for a long time. Now, during this difficult world pandemic, the streets are more subdued without the presence of vendors and tourists. I hope my vendor friends are safe and have found another way to financially support their families.

The Moody Traveler Becomes Daring in Florence 2019

Part IV

Going Solo to a Nightclub and Riding a Horse Drawn Carriage!

My first look at La Loggia restaurant in Florence as I walked from the taxi!

For several years, I was curious about nightclubs in Florence. I read about them in travel books and wondered if they were any different from american nightclubs. Last year, I ate dinner frequently at a quaint, new restaurant, Borgo La Croce, which had been open for only six months. One night, during one of my dinner conversations with Francesca, a very friendly waitress, I was told to try a local nightclub called Flo. It happened to be located on the other side of Florence. Since one of my favorite social activities has always been to dance with friends, I was very tempted to go. Unfortunately, I had to travel home the next day and the thought of possibly not getting enough sleep from a dancing excursion ruled out the experience.

This year, I was determined to finally see a nightclub especially since some of my Florentine friends insisted that Flo was very safe. I decided that life was too short to not try something I always wanted to do! First, I invited a friend who retired several years ago in Florence, but she said her plans were already made for the evening. I told myself to stop being a wimp, pulled myself together into a bright multi-colored orange and green summer dress, and called a taxi.

As I got out of the taxi, I saw a restaurant with large street lights located practically across the street from the night club. Since I hadn’t eaten dinner yet I walked up to what appeared to be a well lit outdoor dining area in front of a building resembling a museum. La Loggia del Piazzale Michelangelo is an upscale restaurant well known to the locals and it sits directly across from the Piazzale Michelangelo square with a spectacular view of Florence. This posh restaurant has been at it’s current location for many years. Many people come here for dinner or just to have an apertivo (Italian name for a before dinner drink) with tasty appetizers. For more information on this lovely restaurant and a colorful photographic video, follow this link: https://loggiapiazzalemichelangelo.com/

My view across the street from the Piazzale Michelangelo

On this particular August evening, the weather was slightly warm and people were seated at tables draped with pretty white linen. I was glad that it wasn’t crowded. A kind waiter hurried over and offered me at a table not far from a jovial entertainer singing Italian and American songs while playing a piano organ. Pretty colorful lights swirled above his head under what appeared to be a large white umbrella. The waiter brought a small tray of snacks to accompany my glass of wine. I wasn’t really sure what type of fish dinner I ordered but it was the cheapest on the menu. This was one of the few times that I paid more than I wanted to for dinner! The prices were a bit extravagant but, thankfully, the food was tasty.

After dinner, I returned downhill on the path by La Loggia to make my way across the street to the nightclub. I was relieved to see four men in security shirts standing by the club entrance. They informed me that there was no cover charge that evening. As I entered through the doorway the interior was similar to other nightclubs I had been to in the United States. It was large and decorated with just enough light for ambiance and plenty of small tables and large areas for sitting. The DJ was playing recognizable american dance music blended with other types of music. The sound was fantastic! Of course, there were the usual swirling lights on a sizable floor with plenty of room for dancing. I walked through the nightclub to get my bearings and try to figure out the best place to sit.

Then I thought, why not get a glass of wine first? Well, I was completely caught off guard when the bar tender told me I had to pay and get a ticket for my wine from a separate booth first. I returned with the ticket and watched the bartender poor shaved ice into a pretty glass decorated with a frosted white pattern. He proceeded to shake out the ice and then filled the glass with wine!

After asking the bartender to smile for a photo (He was one of the few people I encountered who was not very sociable.) I chose to sit across from the DJ on a white bench in what appeared to be a special seating area. There were so many security men around that I never felt concerned for my safety. The rules in Flo are very strict regarding anyone who has ideas about drinking too much. I enjoyed the music and watching groups of people in nice dressy outfits dance the night away.

I didn’t have the courage to dance alone so around midnight, I headed out the door, and called a taxi! By that time the crowd had grown and people kept pouring in. I was surprised at how quickly the taxi came for me! The only issue I experienced was that my taxi driver became lost and appeared to not know how to get to my address. When I asked in Italian if he was going to charge me more since he was taking a longer drive, he quickly decreased the price on the meter. Ah ha! Taxi tip: Don’t be surprised if a taxi driver tries to take you on a longer ride to make more money!

The Moody Traveler Returns to Florence 2019

Part I

Share my latest visits to San Miniato al Monte, Santa Maria Novella Parfumeria, & and a special opera in San Casciano, Pisa!

The Apartment

“How many times you coming in Florence now?,” a friendly Italian clothing store owner asked me. I responded to him with a confident, “This is my fifth time!” To which he exclaimed, “Meraviglioso! I am happy that you love our country so much!”

My return to Florence, Italy in the beginning of August 2019 was a wondrous maze of experiences intertwined with new adventures and a few unexpected situations. (When traveling, I always know there will be little surprises of possible interruptions to my comfort zone!) My first stop after a nice fight on Swiss airlines to Zurich and then to Petrola airport in Florence was my apartment on Via La Luna (La Luna Street). I always enjoy trying out my Italian language skills even though I am a little hesitant starting out. Taxi drivers are always kind and willing to engage in conversation when I explain how long I have been learning Italian! As the taxi approached my street I texted one of the owners, Matteo, about my arrival. As the taxi pulled directly up to the street in front of a walkway leading directly to the apartment there was Matteo waiting for me.

I was so surprised because this never happened to me before. Usually, I have to struggle with my luggage going up at least one flight of stairs. However, this time, Matteo was there promptly to greet me and assisted with taking my belongings to the ground level apartment. He was very kind and immediately spoke in Italian to me because he knew I was trying to learn. He was very courteous and encouraging as I did my best to converse in his language! Matteo took his time explaining about the apartment and local stores, tours, etc. I was happy to listen to him talk about his personal experience of living in the United States for several years as a musician. There was even a lovely bottle of wine on the table in the kitchen. This is why I love Airbnb .com for finding places to stay when traveling! They always seem to be true to their ratings and Matteo and Monica were rated highly on the website!

This apartment was a gem! Everything was clean and there was a full kitchen/living room complete with two coffee makers (one american and the other an Italian percolator that Matteo taught me how to use on the stove top.). There were plenty of various spices and pasta on the shelves, in case I wanted to cook and even a bottle of Lemoncello in the refrigerator. The bedroom was a nice large size complete with a spacious mirrored closet. There were even 2 air conditioners, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. Two bathrooms were available as well! One had a toilet and the other had a shower…both had sinks! I was happy there was a washer and a portable fold-up wire stand that was a perfect size to dry my clothes. The cost for my two week stay was very affordable!

The walk to the apartment was nice in this quiet area.
A solid door with a solid glass screen door inside. Very secure!
These lovely flowered vines belonged to the La Luna restaurant which I passed every day on my way to the apartment.
This cat loved to lie among the aloe plants near the apartment and gradually became my little friend.
Nice efficient kitchen – just the right size for me!
The bedroom was perfect!
I loved the closet space and took full advantage of the hanging post for my long sun dresses!
Some days I didn’t mind grabbing a sandwich from the local supermarket for a quick lunch.
I sat at this table daily to relax and watch a nice TV. I left those bottles of wine for Matteo and Monica as a gift on my last day.

La Luna

Matteo told me there was a convenient place to eat, which was just a few steps away from the apartment. Of course, this restaurant was named after the street of La Luna. I enjoyed some delicious meals there and even a take away pizza one night. The wait staff was delighted to make my acquaintance and would give me two menus every time I visited – one in English and the other in Italian! I enjoyed talking to the waitresses and they were delighted to pose in photos for me. In the photo below, the manager was making Corina, Kejsi, Jessica and I laugh. Everyone laughed even harder when I said, “Che cosa fai?!” (What are you doing?)

San Miniato al Monte

San Miniato Al Monte basilica, was my first researched tour and is located very close to the famous Piazzale Michelangelo. This year the church turned a thousand years old! It is located atop one of the highest points in Florence with a reputation as being one of the most scenic views in Italy. The day before I planned to see this church, I was told by several of my Florentine friends to take a bus or taxi because walking would be difficult due to the distance from my apartment. Additionally, there are many steps to climb leading up to this attraction. However, I challenged myself into braving the walk from my apartment since Google maps showed the walking distance to be a half hour. Even though it was a very hot day, walking turned out to be a good choice for me and as I approached my destination, I noticed quite a few helpful street signs pointing out the direction of both San Minato and Piazzale Michelangelo. When I finally reached the cascade of wide steps and ascended to the top, I exclaimed to an artist seated on the steps with his paintings for sale, “Ho fatto!” (I did it He responded by lightly slapping my hand with a high five and cheery “Fantastico!”

Piazzale Michelangelo was my first reward at the top of the steps with a magnificent view of the city and a replica statue of Michelangelo’s David. Seeing the great icons of Florence from this height, such as the Duomo and Giatto’s tower, was breathtaking.

After taking endless photos with my camera and cell phone, I followed Google maps to San Miniato al Monte. More steps were there for me to climb and the second reward appeared at the top as I witnessed another gorgeous view of the city.