a bit of fabulous writing...

for my italian grand tour literature class we were asked to find a place in florence to sit and soak in the sights, sounds and people around us. sitting here doing the writing, i was finding myself distracted thinking about how my dad complained that i havent blogged in a while. well, hello people! im living in florence, im a busy florentine! so here is a teaser for the blog entries that are a long time coming. dont criticize my writing, im no shakespeare. but maybe it would be nice for you guys to close your eyes and pretend youre here too?

An Afternoon in Piazza Annunziata

Sitting here, on marble that is warmed by the sun, I glance down the street ahead of me at the Duomo in the distance. No matter how close or far you are, its beauty strikes you. On either side of the piazza, cascades of arches hug me give me the feeling of safety. I close my eyes and bask in the feeling of the sun and the sounds of the environs around me. The tik tik tik of bicycles pass me and the occasional vespa vroooom. I hear a giggle to the right of me and open my eyes to glance in the direction of the happiness. An observation I have made since living here is the immense amount of public affection. The idea of kissing your beau in front of whoever is watching because you cannot possibly wait another minute to touch them is an idea that warms me just as sufficiently as the sun. The couple next to me is young, maybe in their early twenties. As they gaze into each others eyes, I feel like I am eavesdropping on a secret. Just beyond Romeo and Juliet a familiar face stands in the distance. Everyday on my way to school I pass this elderly women in her huge wool coat (no matter what the weather), chin high, walking proudly and with purpose. On her arm is the leash that holds back one heck of a killer: a chihuahua. This dog is just a bit too chubby, gray and ailing. I have to admit that the woman resembles her dog quite a bit but I find that because of her air of confidence, her appearance seems unimportant. Now this, I am learning, is a trick of italian women. Confidence. Still thinking of Signora Wool Coat, I focus on the columns and shutters that decorate the architecture around me. The amount of history that shines from their cracks is blinding. The two frescos that decorate the area above the doors on the piece of history to my right (quite actually a piece of history - this building is on of the first Renaissance masterpieces by Brunelleschi) seem beautiful enough to be seen in the Uffitzi. The structures around me are dignified, just like their inhabitance, I would guess. I could go on forever in these observations but the sun is going down and duty calls. Tonight, I am making lasagne for my friends. If only i could make a quick trip to Ferrara to learn THEIR italian lasange secrets...

so there it is. thatll have to do until i can sit down and update yall about the goings on in florence. and no, i did not misspell lasagna. apparently, we've been saying it wrong. wacky americans.