FEELING FLORENCE

we leave our quiet Tuscan country retreat

& arrive in Florence,

where we are met with a barrage

of crowds, noise & selfie sticks. 

we sort of knew what to expect,

but it still hit us hard...

so we sought solace.

let's grab a gelato

& mosey on... 

while the queues to the Uffizi wind away in a never-ending formation,

the Bargello Palace Museum welcomes in

with its hushed, expansive courtyard

& lofty rooms...

 then it's back through the crowds

& a dive through velvet curtains

into a church thick in silence, 

the scent of incense,

& a quiet shuffle

of people kneeling to pray

or lighting a candle for loved ones.

then to a temple of another kind

~ Santa Maria Novella. 

the rooms dazzle,

as we pick out a few souvenirs to take home

& stop for refreshments 

at the Herbal Tea Room.

not sure if it's the heat or what,

but i seem to be drawn to all things rose ~

rose tonic water to splash on flushed cheeks,

a pink bottle of exquisite pink elixir concealed in that packaging

& the taste of rose champagne on my tongue.

(Byredo's La Tulipe crept into the photo for some reason

just to confuse things :)) 

x