Today was our 9:30 tour of the Uffizi and I was there a bit before, but Rebecca and family weren’t there even at 9:30 and I watched a tour group leaving around 9:20. They eventually showed up after a terrible night in their place. The A/C wasn’t working properly, everyone was up for many hours and were not rested – what a bummer. Bill got our tickets (the guide had them at the Uffizi and came back to hand them over), and the gang decided breakfast was needed, so we went into Eataly across from the tour office near the Duomo. After that we walked over to the museum, got in even though our tickets had a much earlier entry time, wandered for a bit, then headed out.
While walking through Piazza della Signoria on our way to the Uffizi, we came upon a ceremony in front of Palazzo Vecchio which was four days after the Feast of San Giovanni who is the patron saint of Firenze. A tradition forgotten for more than a century and first revived last year; a gold crown is placed on the stature of the lion (Marzocco) in front of the palazzo. Benedetto Varchi (the name of the street N&M live on) wrote half a millennium ago, “they had garlanded the Marzocco, put the golden crown on his head”. The crown will remain on the lion’s head – a symbol of popular power and therefore of the Republic – for the entire week of St. John (San Giovanni). There were men in Renaissance costume (similar to those worn for the Easter celebration) and drums.
After the Uffizi we walked across the Ponte Vecchio to the paper shop where the saleswoman had told us she would show the kids how they marbleize the paper – very cool process. The next stop was at the Lego store where James got a new set for a Vespa scooter, and then on to lunch.
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hHCqogGuGnBJpf249
Lunch was at Acqua al 2 that Rebecca had researched online, billed as a bit funky, with some new takes on old dishes. We ordered samplers for primi piatti pasta, secondi piatti bistecca and also for dolci (dessert). One of the bistecca portions had blueberry sauce, the other a balsamic sauce. The place had plates mounted on the walls with signature of famous visitors, there were two owner / managers and one lived in London and has a British accent. The boys were fading, so Bill went back with them to the apartment and Rebecca and I finished dessert and we each walked back to our places.
Tonight I’m treating the whole Pelatti, Pollack, Kee clan to dinner at Serre Torrigiani which is a huge private garden near Porta Romana, Palazzo Pitti and Boboli. The Kees and I each took cabs to get there, and I had a funny and delightful driver that spoke English well, was in San Francisco before the pandemic, and had gone to Viareggio (near Tonfano) earlier in the day just to be at the beach.
When we stayed at AdAstra years ago, owned by Francesco and Lynda, our accommodation was two cabins that were located in the Serre Torrigiani gardens. The venue for dinner was great, outdoors under many trees, and the food was good. The kids were playing together as Ben brought his small soccer ball, and Yousef (Bogey) and Giulia got into it. Afterwards I caught a ride back home from Nan & Mauro. It was a wonderful evening with the whole extended family - a very special time.
While walking through Piazza della Signoria on our way to the Uffizi, we came upon a ceremony in front of Palazzo Vecchio which was four days after the Feast of San Giovanni who is the patron saint of Firenze. A tradition forgotten for more than a century and first revived last year; a gold crown is placed on the stature of the lion (Marzocco) in front of the palazzo. Benedetto Varchi (the name of the street N&M live on) wrote half a millennium ago, “they had garlanded the Marzocco, put the golden crown on his head”. The crown will remain on the lion’s head – a symbol of popular power and therefore of the Republic – for the entire week of St. John (San Giovanni). There were men in Renaissance costume (similar to those worn for the Easter celebration) and drums.
After the Uffizi we walked across the Ponte Vecchio to the paper shop where the saleswoman had told us she would show the kids how they marbleize the paper – very cool process. The next stop was at the Lego store where James got a new set for a Vespa scooter, and then on to lunch.
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hHCqogGuGnBJpf249
Lunch was at Acqua al 2 that Rebecca had researched online, billed as a bit funky, with some new takes on old dishes. We ordered samplers for primi piatti pasta, secondi piatti bistecca and also for dolci (dessert). One of the bistecca portions had blueberry sauce, the other a balsamic sauce. The place had plates mounted on the walls with signature of famous visitors, there were two owner / managers and one lived in London and has a British accent. The boys were fading, so Bill went back with them to the apartment and Rebecca and I finished dessert and we each walked back to our places.
Tonight I’m treating the whole Pelatti, Pollack, Kee clan to dinner at Serre Torrigiani which is a huge private garden near Porta Romana, Palazzo Pitti and Boboli. The Kees and I each took cabs to get there, and I had a funny and delightful driver that spoke English well, was in San Francisco before the pandemic, and had gone to Viareggio (near Tonfano) earlier in the day just to be at the beach.
When we stayed at AdAstra years ago, owned by Francesco and Lynda, our accommodation was two cabins that were located in the Serre Torrigiani gardens. The venue for dinner was great, outdoors under many trees, and the food was good. The kids were playing together as Ben brought his small soccer ball, and Yousef (Bogey) and Giulia got into it. Afterwards I caught a ride back home from Nan & Mauro. It was a wonderful evening with the whole extended family - a very special time.