|
Post by bixaorellana on May 11, 2019 22:09:10 GMT
I don't know about the pollution, since all the rain kept the air clean while I was there, but I could see that Florence frequently has clogged traffic. Let's finish getting me down that mountain so I can round out that particular day in Florence. I still have a daunting number of pictures of that fair city I haven't even looked at, not to mention the zillions I've already taken in only two days in Genoa. I don't know if I mentioned earlier, but I passed a rose garden on the way up. I had no problem passing it by with irises beckoning further up. But coming back down in the slanting rays of the waning afternoon, I thought I'd stop in. Not England of course, but pretty ~ Mick the Cactus was there! Or, as he's sometimes known, Michael the Succulent ~ There is also a Japanese garden, which is obviously not being tended by a company of dedicated Zen monks ~ Walls have been good to me this day. Out past these maidenhair fern and on toward the Ponte Vecchio
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on May 11, 2019 22:26:15 GMT
Strolling toward the old bridge ~ More good wall stuff on the way there ~ And there it is, the Ponte Vecchio, crossing the Arno at its narrowest point. There has been a bridge on this spot since Roman times. This one dates from 1345. more information ~ The shops lining both sides of the bridge offer fine jewelry, heavy on the gold and pearls, ever since Ferdinand I decreed in 1593 that it should be thus ~ Tthe shops have been fitted with heavy glass and modern security systems, but they're still closed up in this quaint way every evening ~ You've heard people go on about the special quality of light in this part of Italy, right? Yeah, well ~ And a nod to the Pitti Palace as I wend my way back to my delightful Florentine digs ~
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on May 12, 2019 5:17:07 GMT
The Ponte Vecchio is always stunning, but I was amused to see the plaque for Generali (as it is called now). I have a friend who works there in Saint Denis and every one of their buildings there (they have quite a few) is adorned with the same winged lion. Okay, it's been simplified a bit. isarta.fr/images-offres/2018/316/6146/6146_image1.gif
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on May 12, 2019 11:25:49 GMT
The winged lion is the symbol of St Marc and Venice; perhaps it is a company of Venetian origin. Florence has a fleur-de-lys (as does Québec).
Even ordinary shops tend to be shuttered in Italy, but with metal tapparelle, not those august wooden shutters.
|
|
|
Post by mossie on May 12, 2019 15:30:03 GMT
Is Mick watering the garden???
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on May 13, 2019 16:45:26 GMT
Wow...gosh. Stupendous photographs, the light is exquisite. Gush gush gush seriously fab photos Bixa dear. That bridge is astonishing...and the golden tones in the stone of the buildings simply gorgeous. Did you buy anything nice? Incidentally...I used to have a bf who called me 'succulent'
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on May 13, 2019 17:52:16 GMT
I was wondering whether Ponte Vecchio jewellery was a ripoff or competitive with other shops... When I was there I was a grad student and the only bijoux I bought were cute painted wooden earrings at street markets.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on May 13, 2019 17:59:42 GMT
You seem to have been lucky with your pictures, Bixa. I have seen pictures of the Ponte Vecchio absolutely thronged with people. Even many years ago, the first time I went to Florence, I had the impression that only tourists bought anything there.
Those Indian women look as though they are waiting for a cue to break out into a Bollywood dance.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jun 2, 2019 20:29:28 GMT
Now that it's been pointed out to me, I seem to zero in on it everywhere I go. Incidentally...I used to have a bf who called me 'succulent' I don't doubt it, you little cutie! I was wondering whether Ponte Vecchio jewellery was a ripoff or competitive with other shops It was overwhelmingly very upscale jewelry shops, and apparently has been for centuries. I did see the pearl necklace of my dreams in a window, but doubt very much I could/would pay what it must cost. You seem to have been lucky with your pictures, Bixa. I have seen pictures of the Ponte Vecchio absolutely thronged with people. Even many years ago, the first time I went to Florence, I had the impression that only tourists bought anything there. Nothing to do with luck, Bjd! Look closely & you'll see a few heads that I didn't manage to cut out of the picture. It was only camera angles & waiting for a good opening that makes it seem there were few tourists. See my reply to LaGatta re: tourist purchases. I had forgotten that I never finished this thread, which I will now remedy with some views of a couple of walks. This group is from one evening when I walked from my apartment to the Porta Romana. Evening shadows ~ a St. Anthony for my mother ~ The Porta Romana. You only get to see one side -- the traffic was too horrible for me to get to the other side for a picture ~ Looking back the way I came ~ Looking through to the traffic side ~ Frustrating not to see the other side of whatever the heck this is ~ Another afternoon and a walk to the other side of the river to check out the old market. Here is the back side of the Duomo, which I passed on my way toward the market ~ Kind of refreshing in Florence to be in just a plain old neighborhood. I had the famous Florentine tripe and some other kind of offal from a street stand nearby, but was pretty underwhelmed with it. Street art ~ And that, my patient friends, concludes my visit to Florence.
|
|
|
Post by fumobici on Jun 3, 2019 14:46:52 GMT
Isn't Florence wonderful? I'll be there Friday.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Jun 3, 2019 15:34:12 GMT
My daughter will be there Sunday. You may well meet..,
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Jun 3, 2019 18:50:41 GMT
Weird, I'm going to be in Italy on Thursday.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Jun 16, 2019 11:54:36 GMT
Wonderful report. Your photos as ever are fabulous. Its a city I would love to visit one day. I don't want to lower the tone again but it wasn't the gaudy statuettes that caught my eye in the Pic above Reply 13.... that fridge magnet !!! I love to collect them - the tackier the better but .....
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jun 16, 2019 14:42:05 GMT
Had I but known, lugg! That image is also available on aprons, printed in the anatomically appropriate spot.
|
|