Seeking Scarves to Serve as Sensational Souvenirs
It felt wonderful to be able to sleep in until 8AM and then wake up with a warm shower followed by an unhurried breakfast. I met Joe and Julie and Little Ricky for our shopping date in Florence!
Julie had been talking to Richard (ever the ultimate metro male), about her fascination with scarves, and her inability to make them feel "just right". He had confessed to us that he had over forty scarves that he rocked on a regular basis. That's when we recruited him! Julie wanted some Italian scarves to wear. I wanted to buy some scarves for my daughter to give to her bridesmaids as gifts. I also planned to buy Italian leather wallets for the groomsmen and my hubby. Joe on the other hand, wanted a jaunty hat as a souvenir.
Julie had been talking to Richard (ever the ultimate metro male), about her fascination with scarves, and her inability to make them feel "just right". He had confessed to us that he had over forty scarves that he rocked on a regular basis. That's when we recruited him! Julie wanted some Italian scarves to wear. I wanted to buy some scarves for my daughter to give to her bridesmaids as gifts. I also planned to buy Italian leather wallets for the groomsmen and my hubby. Joe on the other hand, wanted a jaunty hat as a souvenir.
Little Ricky knew right where to take us. Julie and I had to laugh as we walked and as he pointed things out to us, and then got distracted by shoes, both for himself, AND his lovely girlfriend. He refocused quickly and took us into the heart of the market. He was a great resource, telling us which places he'd had good luck with and which places to avoid. He then introduced us to his friend, who ran one of the shops. He explained Julie's wishes and then let the man take over.
The shop owner was great. He was more than happy to show us a wide variety of scarves in all kinds of styles and price ranges. Then came the best part, the demonstrations and the fashion. Julie was an attentive and adorable scarf model. She and I both joyously walked away with several scarves.
The shop owner was great. He was more than happy to show us a wide variety of scarves in all kinds of styles and price ranges. Then came the best part, the demonstrations and the fashion. Julie was an attentive and adorable scarf model. She and I both joyously walked away with several scarves.
With bags of scarves in hand, we moved on to find Joe a hat. I decided I might look for a hat as well to shield my pale face from the sun. I'd bought a fun denim and sequined cap in Germany, but just like my pride, the cap left me somewhere at Neuschwanstein Castle.
It didn't take Joe too long to find a dapper capper topper. He tried to negotiate the shopkeeper down in price, but the man held firm, seemingly offended that Joe wasn't willing to pay for his high quality hats! Joe held more firm. We walked away. For only a while. We looked at some other stalls and checked prices. Then we went back and Joe paid for his cap and both he and the shopkeeper were happy. Now, I don't know what I was thinking, but somehow, Joe and his cap escaped my camera lens. But if you keep your eyes peeled, you'll see Joe's stylish piece in other pictures. I found a hat I really liked as well. Then Little Ricky and the shopkeeper both told me, "No, no!" LR picked out a big brimmed hat and told me to try that on. He and the shopkeeper said that THAT was the hat for me! Joe and Julie readily agreed. Richard went on to say that of course, if I wanted the other hat, it was up to me, after all I was the one who would be wearing it, but he thought the big brimmed hat was the most attractive. Who was I to go against the advice of the man of fashion himself? Especially when everybody else was agreeing with him? I bought the floppy hat.
Happy with his special purchase, Joe left us to go back to the hotel. Little Ricky took us to a leather store and introduced us the person there before also leaving us. It didn't take me long to pick out some nice wallets for my Tom and my daughter's groomsmen. I believe Julie also bought a leather pocketbook. We felt very accomplished!
It didn't take Joe too long to find a dapper capper topper. He tried to negotiate the shopkeeper down in price, but the man held firm, seemingly offended that Joe wasn't willing to pay for his high quality hats! Joe held more firm. We walked away. For only a while. We looked at some other stalls and checked prices. Then we went back and Joe paid for his cap and both he and the shopkeeper were happy. Now, I don't know what I was thinking, but somehow, Joe and his cap escaped my camera lens. But if you keep your eyes peeled, you'll see Joe's stylish piece in other pictures. I found a hat I really liked as well. Then Little Ricky and the shopkeeper both told me, "No, no!" LR picked out a big brimmed hat and told me to try that on. He and the shopkeeper said that THAT was the hat for me! Joe and Julie readily agreed. Richard went on to say that of course, if I wanted the other hat, it was up to me, after all I was the one who would be wearing it, but he thought the big brimmed hat was the most attractive. Who was I to go against the advice of the man of fashion himself? Especially when everybody else was agreeing with him? I bought the floppy hat.
Happy with his special purchase, Joe left us to go back to the hotel. Little Ricky took us to a leather store and introduced us the person there before also leaving us. It didn't take me long to pick out some nice wallets for my Tom and my daughter's groomsmen. I believe Julie also bought a leather pocketbook. We felt very accomplished!
After some down time at the hotel- which might have included a nap for me (after all, I was on vacation!), it was time to meet Dimitri and the rest of the gang. The night before he had informed us that we were to meet him at the Loggia dei Lanzi at 3PM. It was a test! I made sure to leave the hotel by 2, giving myself plenty of time to get lost. And then found.
At the Uffizi Gallery, we were introduced to our jolly and knowledgeable guide. He told us about the many wonderful works of art within the gallery, and the stories behind them. It was a great tour.
Dimitri Spit On Me!
After our time at the Uffizi, we were on our own. Dimitri had planned a little "pot luck" dinner at the hotel for those who wanted to participate. He would bring meats, cheeses and wine, and we were to each bring something to share. Lannie and I decided to go shopping together. We found some Limoncello (Imagine that!) and some biscotti cookies.
At 6PM we met in the little dining room, which Dimitri had all set up for us. There was a lovely spread of goodies. Lannie and I added our treats to the smorgasbord. I grabbed a glass and filled it with white wine, filled my plate and joined Lannie and Tom at a table. I downed my wine pretty quickly, refilled with more wine and downed that too.
Dimitri wandered over to our table and sat down. He looked at me and said, "Ummmm, this cheese is great with white wine!" I held up my empty glass and wiggled it. "Too late!" Dimitri instantly choked and then spit his mouthful of wine all over me! He was mortified and once he caught his breath was laughing and apologizing at the same time, while handing me napkins. "Liiiii-SA!" He shook a finger at me. "You made me laugh."
I can't help it. It's my jam.
A glass (or two) of limoncello might have helped me forget about my wet clothes.
At 6PM we met in the little dining room, which Dimitri had all set up for us. There was a lovely spread of goodies. Lannie and I added our treats to the smorgasbord. I grabbed a glass and filled it with white wine, filled my plate and joined Lannie and Tom at a table. I downed my wine pretty quickly, refilled with more wine and downed that too.
Dimitri wandered over to our table and sat down. He looked at me and said, "Ummmm, this cheese is great with white wine!" I held up my empty glass and wiggled it. "Too late!" Dimitri instantly choked and then spit his mouthful of wine all over me! He was mortified and once he caught his breath was laughing and apologizing at the same time, while handing me napkins. "Liiiii-SA!" He shook a finger at me. "You made me laugh."
I can't help it. It's my jam.
A glass (or two) of limoncello might have helped me forget about my wet clothes.
After dinner everybody wandered off in different directions for the evening. Needing to walk off my limoncello, I asked Dimitri how to get to the Ponte Vecchio.
It was a lovely evening for a walk. I really enjoyed being able to take my time and just absorb the many sights along the way. As I walked, I caught up with Tom and Ila, also enjoying the evening. I asked them if they wanted to join me and they did.
Ponte Vecchio translates to "Old Bridge". It's a stone structure with three big arches over the Arno River. In the old days many little merchant shops occupied the bridge space. Today, it's full of high end shops. A note of interest: During WW2, on Hitler's orders, the Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Florence not bombed and destroyed, though the Nazis blocked access to it.
We got to the bridge next to it, right before sunset. What a beautiful and peaceful time to be on the river in Florence! It was lovely to just people watch and enjoy the colors of light on the water.
We debated walking to the Ponte Vecchio, but it was so nice and serene, just having it as a backdrop to the sleepy sun, that we stayed where we were and just enjoyed being in the moment.
It was a lovely evening for a walk. I really enjoyed being able to take my time and just absorb the many sights along the way. As I walked, I caught up with Tom and Ila, also enjoying the evening. I asked them if they wanted to join me and they did.
Ponte Vecchio translates to "Old Bridge". It's a stone structure with three big arches over the Arno River. In the old days many little merchant shops occupied the bridge space. Today, it's full of high end shops. A note of interest: During WW2, on Hitler's orders, the Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Florence not bombed and destroyed, though the Nazis blocked access to it.
We got to the bridge next to it, right before sunset. What a beautiful and peaceful time to be on the river in Florence! It was lovely to just people watch and enjoy the colors of light on the water.
We debated walking to the Ponte Vecchio, but it was so nice and serene, just having it as a backdrop to the sleepy sun, that we stayed where we were and just enjoyed being in the moment.
Curious Capture
Not what you expect to see in Florence, Italy!
Memorable Moment
As we made our way back to the hotel, we excitedly discussed some great gossip! It turned out that Ron Howard and Tom Hanks were in the city, filming the next movie in the Dan Brown/Robert Langdon series, "The Inferno". Apparently, a few people in our group stumbled onto one of the movie sets, though it wasn't in action at the time. Nobody saw anybody famous (bummer), but once I heard that news, my eyes became very attentive of everybody we passed!
The best way to end such a lovely evening? With good friends and gelato, of course!