Mabel Does Spring in Florence, Italy

In the spirit of spring, we tend to spring clean, shedding that which we no longer need in an attempt to make ourselves lighter.

Mabel's hair is not only on the floor but everywhere

Mabel goes to the parrucchiere (beauty shop) this morning.  I pay and leave a tip.  She, instead, leaves behind one heck of a mantello d'inverno (winter coat).

Springtime in Florence, Italy

How do we know it is springtime in Florence, Italy?

The weekend of the spring equinox all the cafes and restaurants are busy re-assembling their terrazzas for dining alfresco.

Put away those heavy winter coats.  We won't be needing those again for many months to come.

The streets and piazzas are full again with tourists.

The lines at the gelaterie are out the door.

We spring forward (daylight savings time) and have plenty more sunlight and heat.

The gypsy music is once again a daily occurrence.

The zanzari (mosquitos) are born again and coming out in full force.

That is how we know it is springtime in Florence.  And this is just a preview of what summer will bring.

Outlet Mall Shopping in Tuscany, Italy

My friend Anne and I made a field trip to the outlet mall last Friday.  


Though I have lots of experience shopping outlet malls in California and Nevada, this was my first time on such an adventure in Italy.  Whenever I return to California, a trip to the outlet mall is part of the package.  I used to joke that my car should have a bumper sticker that reads:  "My car stops at all Banana Republic Outlets."

Even coupon books are available at the office

Outside of Florence are two outlet malls:  The Mall and Barberino.  The Mall has few stores, and they are all high end; Barberino is a good choice with many "normal" stores, meaning for common folk like myself.  However, on my recent road trip to the south of Italy, I saw Valdichiana from the autostrada, the largest of the three outlet malls but also the farthest from Florence.  Located just outside Arezzo, a car is necessary to get to Valdichiana; whereas, the other two malls offer a bus shuttle service from Florence at 15 euros.  Unfortunately, I have yet to confirm whether that price is each way or round trip.

Traveling Italian autostrada A1 with expired VA plates

My friend has a comfortable car with expired Virginia license plates, which makes our outing to the outlet mall in Valdichiana feel even more like an American adventure but on Italian soil.  As we approach, still on the freeway, we each are excited to see Gap.  In Italy?  The Gap is one of the stores I frequent in the States for T-shirts and other basic items at a good price.  Since September 2011 we now have Gap in Italy.  It looks just like our Gap but is considerably smaller in size and choice.  I make friends (amicizia) with the Gap salesgirl Renata, who is sweet, helpful, and a lot of fun.

 Renata and me at Gap in Italy

"Do you have a few curves from the waist to the hips?"

We spent a long, exhausting but fun day doing our research when shopping at the outlet mall.  Good and bad for me.  The bad:  I had hopes to find some new spring and summer items to replace my old worn and tattered clothes. I didn't.  Even at the outlet mall, I continue to struggle to find clothes in Italy to fit my longer-and-larger-than-typical-in-Italy body.  Good for my finances, though, with only one purchase of a summer-weight coat.  

You can tell it was a long day since it was already getting dark outside when we left

At the outlet malls in the States, it is fun to hear so many diverse accents.  Our experience at Valdichiana was that there were few tourists, and we did not overhear any other native English speakers.  (Maybe I should spend even more time at the outlet mall improving my Italian.) Everyone was very friendly, even the man who reprimanded us for taking photographs. 


It was a fun day and a wonderful field trip, one I look forward to repeating.

Amici degli Uffizi / Friends of the Uffizi Firenze, Italia / Florence, Italy

Amici degli Uffizi is a membership to the state museums of Florence.  The money raised for the membership is used to restore and maintain the artwork.  For a single person, the membership cost is 60 euro; for a family of up to four, the cost is 100 euro; and for a student under the age of 26, the cost is 40 euro for a calendar year membership. At an average museum entrance fee of 10 to 15 euros, it takes only a handful of visits to the museum before your Friends of the Uffizi membership pays for itself. If you live in Florence or nearby, you will definitely get your money's worth.  If you plan to be on vacation for longer than even a few days in Florence -- well, you do the math. 

Your membership buys you unlimited entrance to the state museums in Florence:

• Uffizi Gallery
• Accademia Gallery
• The Pitti Palace (several different museums within the Pitti with individual admissions)
• Bargello Museum (one of my favorite museums)
• Museum of  the Medici Chapels
• Museum of Palazzo Davanzati
• Museum of San Marco
• Garden of the Medici Villa of Costello
• Medici Villa of Petraia
• Medici Villa of Poggio a Caiano
• Medici Villa of Cerreto Guidi & Historical Hunting and Territorial Museum
• Cenacoli of Ognisanti, Andrea del Sarto, Fuligno, and Sant'Apollonia
• Cloister of the Scalzo
• Church and museum of Orsanmichele
• Boboli Gardens
• Bardini Gardens

Only at two museums in Florence does everyone who knows advise paying the additional 4,50 euro reservation fee for a designated entrance time, which saves you from waiting in line a few hours. With your membership, you walk to the appropriate door and get your ticket and enter when you want, no reservation necessary.  

Go to the Friends of the Uffizi office at the Uffizi Museum or go to the website to buy your membership.

Two wonderful gardens in Florence are included in the membership:  Boboli and Bardini.  Both are literally in my backyard, only a few steps from my home.  Oh, and up that steep hill behind my house. I can enter either of the two gardens.  Great news for me, as I spend too many hours in front of my computer, and yet I crave sunlight, greenery, and the outdoors.

I share with you the info, but please don't take my bench.

My seat to enjoy the surrounding beauty, especially as the days get warmer and longer.

The Grotto, Boboli Gardens

No surprise, perhaps, that I bought for myself an amazing gift at the turn of the new year.  Now, with membership card in hand, I can pop into a museum to see a particular painting, room, or exhibit as I fancy.  Or visit the two gardens.  I can return again and again to my heart's content.  And I will.  Look for me sitting on the bench pictured above.

How Even an Ordinary Day in Florence, Italy, Can Be a Special Day

Today has been one of those totally spontaneous days.  I finished all my deposition-related work at 1:30 a.m. last night. Then early today, Mabel and I went out for our usual morning walk.  We returned home at 4 p.m.  The sun is out. Temperatures are now in the low 50s; cold, but the recent bitter cold has passed.  Another day or two purportedly will begin the rainy season.  When we left the house for our walk, I had no intention to be gone all day.  


The warmth of the sun, the physical and mental exhaustion from a recent heavy workload now complete, the freedom of not having to be anywhere at any particular time, the movement of the body, the feeling of almost spring in the air, Mabel and I just kept going where our feet led us Forrest Gump-style. On our way, we bumped into one person after another -- some friends and acquaintances and others complete strangers -- and engaged in conversations and laughs with all we encountered.  We enjoyed lunch, Lebanese food, with one of my friends.


Late afternoon we returned home, and I had a wonderful feeling of satisfaction, joy, and peace.  Mabel too.  She looks so content on her bed right now.  After a short time to recover from the bliss, I headed out with another friend to participate in an evening of Bhajan and Kirtan, a kind of devotional music, chanting and mantra in Sanskrit, and meditation.  Mabel stayed behind, content and sleepy.


Such simple pleasures.  Really, just an ordinary day.  I had no expectations, no demands, no worries, and therefore, I was able to just absorb and appreciate how lovely and special something so simple can be.  My brother believes "simple" also can mean "elegant."  Now I understand what he means.


I have no pictures to share of this glorious day because I was so unencumbered that I did not carry my camera, not even my purse.  Good thing my friend bought lunch!

Love is in the Air (Chocolate Festival, Florence, Italy, 2012) ...

... that is, if you love chocolate and/or you have a Valentine. 

It is that time of year again, when the wonderful chocolate festival returns to Florence, Italy, in time for Santo Valentino.  I don't have my own Valentine, but, please, do not allow that to stop you from showering me with delicious chocolate from all the regions of Italy.

Please note, however, that beginning tomorrow (Friday, 10 February 2012 through Sunday, 19 February 2012), you can get your chocolate fix at Piazza Repubblica instead of Santa Croce.

Brrrr... A Deep Freeze Bites into Europe

By now you have heard the news that extreme winter weather has hit Europe especially hard the past few days.  I want to show you just how cold it is, but just how best to do that?  You likely have already seen the many pictures in your morning newspaper or television, but they keep showing the same thing, snow.  Snow conveys only the half of it.


Mabel had on a coat over her natural fur coat, and I was bundled up pretty well myself. Armed with my trusty camera, we braved the bitter cold, taking our final evening stroll on our way home from dinner with a friend.  It was that happy but freezing cold moment that we reached Piazza Santo Spirito and I saw its fountain. 

Imagine how cold it must be to flash freeze moving water! The photo puts into perspective just how cold it is here in Florence, Italy.


Of course, the north is used to extreme weather incidents. But the Mediterranean countries, aren't they accustomed to basking in sunshine year round?  For a Southern California girl, a high of 0 and a windchill factor of minus 15 (below 0) makes one want to run for cover, a big cup of hot chocolate in hand, and some serious cuddling!

Dual Citizenship for Mabel

Yesterday was a day of special significance for Mabel and me:  Our 12th anniversary of the day Mabel adopted me as her mommy and Mabel became an Italian citizen.  Remember that Mabel is an American doggy from Los Angeles who now lives in Florence, Italy.  

Mabelina...

We went this morning to the animal ASL (L'Azienda Sanitaria Locale, part of the Italian health care system), where Mabel received her Italian (EU) passport.

...and her EU passport

Mabel is plenty proud today knowing she now has dual citizenship and is welcomed again on trains and planes.  
Like her mommy, she loves going places!