Florence Dream
Strange day of August today. We’re only at the beginning and temperatures have gone down as if Summer would have suddenly come to the end for this year.
It caused even snow on the Alps. Unbelievable. At my mother’s time this would have found no way to ever happen. She used to say the phrase “when it will snow in August” to mean something absolutely impossible.
Let’s now leave these thoughts behind. I am on one of the bridges on river Arno.
How to begin? Much I have pondered it. I may be almost at the end of my stay in Florence. Or maybe not… or not yet?
Has it been a happy stay? No, not really…
I met a few people of the type that you want never to lose, and learnt about incredible art that continues to influence the world.
Guess that even at the time of Dante people knew of far away cultures! I mean: in 1300 they didn’t travel by high speed trains… 🤔
Sadly Florence is always a fortress inside, making it very hard for strangers to settle into a community.
It was 2018 when I was ready to move, ready to start a new chapter.
But looking at the sky over the Duomo and catching a rare crossing of two planes forming a sword 😯 made me realize I would have to struggle.
Why then choosing Florence Dream as title?
Though it was never really a dream for me, I realize it might be so for you. And I very much respect it.
Over the latest months, I met several interesting visitors at St. Mark’s English Church, who have helped me understand how splendid is this city despite over-touristed.
And moreover, how friendlier Italians are compared to their peoples.
Many study Italian not only because it is the local language, but because they LIKE IT! it’s an honour to hear such good impressions 😘 to the point that if I’ll ever decide to expatriate in the future, well… it would be prudent to meditate it thoroughly.
Life in Italy is NOT at all easy, as well as in any other Western European country. But the true side of the medal is that not many countries seem to value human relationships. Italy remains among these.
Would I get better work opportunities abroad? Probably. But would I be happy the same? Mmmm… probably not.
The risk would be missing my very way to be as I am, the very axis my life rotates on.
It would be senseless to idealize this place, but you can still love it.
I am an Italian traveller, who honestly prefers other places.
To come to Italy you have chosen this very place, that is no fantasy world, but a real story.
I bet this is a good rock to build CONVERSATION on: who we are, what it means to travel in our own lives... Maybe also in italiano? 😍 Uh, uh, uh, mi piacerebbe molto!!
I live close to an English couple who have remained impressed by the medieval-looking streets of Florence. All true; art is not only in museum, but in lifestyle.
I recently met an American couple who told me (to my surprise) how Florence is their #1 compared to Venice…
Venice is more picturesque, that’s true. But also too many selfie-hunters!
Florence does have too many quick tourists, but also has a life of its own. W😮W…
I guess it is a matter of image. In Venice there are institutions and locals too, but its image is evidently too much linked with people coming from outside…
Do you agree?
