Blinks: Florence – The Birthplace of Rebirth

A couple of weeks ago I was having a discussion with my coworker about living in a different time. We both agreed that we’d rather not live during any other time than now, when plumbing has been mastered and taking a bath is not a rarity nor a luxury (well, for the most part). However, I must say, I wouldn’t mind visiting to different eras.

Oh how I wish to have witnessed the Renaissance! I’d like to immerse in this burst of cultural energy that forever changed the history of the arts, sciences, politics and religion. And, seeing Florence, the land of the Medicis, I get a chicken and the egg curiosity of what came first, the explosion of inspiration that brought about the Renaissance or the immaculate beauty of the city, especially if you’ve got the Medicis’ thirst for beauty to commission anything that would bring such?

Nonetheless, in present time, it would be impossible to not be inspired in Florence with such picturesque views of old buildings and rolling hills. That was the main difference that I noticed from Rome. Florence had hills that were green, not all buildings upon buildings upon buildings. We spent the first day of 2011 in Florence and I am so glad Chef and I took this impromptu day trip. For the life of me, I do not know why I didn’t include this in the itinerary in the first place. Perhaps because I knew we wanted to do a Northern Italy trip sometime anyway, and Rome took precedence because I wanted to visit a place that my late maternal grandfather knew I wanted to visit.

This view was a gorgeous accidental find. We got off the red bus during one of its stops at the Michelangelo Park, at top of the hill, and walked down. Ponte Vecchio is charming from this vista, but more so when you’re crossing it, gelato at hand.

photo by: Ms B

taken: Florence, Italy, January 2011

post-processing: iPhoto