We lingered and we walked

January 4, 2010 by Lavanya

Visiting Florence was a little strange. I think it always is strange visiting the place that you’ve been most excited to visit. You expect to be overwhelmed by certain things and when you are not, you are left with an annoying nagging sensation accusing you of not trying hard enough. Until you finally do reach a place or experience, that makes being overwhelmed as easy as slipping on a slide in a park. Zwiippp and you are back to feeling […]

Categories: Travel, writing • Tags: Florence, Italy, Rome, walking

My Florence Pages: Across the Arno River

December 20, 2009 by Lavanya

I loved the Florence that lives across the Arno River. Quainter and quieter than the historic center, it is the Florence I’d imagined. My favorite spot was a spot opposite this statue. He’s telling you where to look. Look A View of the Ponte Vecchio And behind him This A Bridge on the River Arno

Categories: Picture Memories, Travel • Tags: Arno, Florence, My Florence pages

My Florence Pages: Food and food like things

December 15, 2009 by Lavanya

Day 1: We reach Florence around 9:30 on the morning of November 27th. We are famished. After dropping off our luggage at Hotel Maxim, near the Duomo, we head out in search of food. The sandwich shop that I had planned on eating at, a hole-in the wall called I Fratellini, is closed for repairs. We need to find alternatives. We decide to drop into Procacci – a gourmet sandwich shop, to taste their famous finger sandwiches. We try the […]

Categories: Food/Drink, Picture Memories, Travel • Tags: Florence, Food, restaurant reviews

My Florence Pages: A Thought in Marble and Film

December 12, 2009 by Lavanya

I am not sure if I have learned this from my husband or because of him, but I have learned this: Art transcends medium. I’ve always thought that books and music were the mediums whose appreciation comes most naturally to me. That I will always be more moved by great literature or great music, than anything great that other mediums have to offer. I have realized that I am  wrong. Art moves through many mediums and I now realize that […]

Categories: Art, Film, Picture Memories, Travel, writing • Tags: Bunuel, Donatello, Film, Florence, Michelangelo

My Florence Pages: Michelangelo’s Pieta

December 11, 2009 by Lavanya

Michelangelo’s Pieta at the Duomo Museum in Florence was probably my favorite sculpture and I am not really sure why. It was not his most perfect work.( He reportedly tried to destroy it- so imperfect did he think it was). Yet, it was the only sculpture that made me cry. There is something about Nicodemus wearing Michelangelo’s face that gives me goose pimples. It could be his expression as he carries Christ’s limp body or the gentle arc his body […]

Categories: Art, Travel, writing • Tags: Duomo Museum, Florence, Michelangelo, Pieta