Attraversiamo

Primavera

Something is happening in Florence.

The trees are fuller with fresh green leaves, flowers are blooming leaving clean and bright fragrances around every corner, and the sun is shinning so cheerfully, you can’t help but smile as soon as you step outside.  Spring is officially here. 

I like this stage of my Firenze.  It’s like the city is waking up energized and ready to play after a bitter and cold winter.  Little trattorias restaurants and cafés are spilling out onto the streets with their tables and chairs, inviting every passing explorer to sit down and relax.  I want to eat at every bistro I come across just so I can lounge outside under red umbrellas and blue skies while I soak in my surroundings.  The sun goes to bed later at night, which leaves us plenty of time to walk through our favorite streets before stopping for a glass of prosecco in Piazza Signoria or Piazza Santa Croce.  We sit outside now- under the pink and orange glow of sunset light as we sip on our drinks and watch people wander through the open squares taking embarrassing photos in front of the massive Italian basilicas. 

But spring also means that the tourists have descended.  They are everywhere.  They remind me of little ants, invading and raiding a perfectly peaceful and serene picnic.  Except these ants are dressed in neon t-shirts, baseball caps, and the oh-so-terrible fanny pack.  I go through stages of enjoying the energy of tourists and disliking the chaos they inevitably bring upon the city.  Nevertheless, they are undeniably entertaining.  I love seeing the looks of astonishment and wonder when visitors see the Duomo for the first time.  No picture can prepare you for this famous Florentine structure.  The rooftop tile is redder, the wooden doors wider, the statues taller, and the marble shinier than one could possibly imagine.  Day after day, the Duomo continues to stand proudly erect in the center of Florence, bringing joy and admiration from both tourists and locals.  And I love hearing the shouts of delight and ecstasy as Florence vacationers take their first bite of a true Italian pizza.  I honestly believe that you cannot possibly understand what a pizza is until you have had the privilege of eating an entire thin crust margarita pizza from a little back alley pizzeria in Italy.  And I love seeing the overwhelmed expressions of traveling families as they excitably pick out their afternoon gelato flavor.  It’s a bigger decision than most would think- pick the wrong flavor, and each lick of the cone you’ll be wishing you had just picked the classic ‘nutella’ or ‘chocolate’ rather than being bold and trying ‘goat’s cheese’ gelato.  Tourists will never cease to amuse me.  Perhaps it’s not such a bad trade off if I have to move a little slower across the Ponte Vecchio if that means I get to see citizens from around the world stop to soak in the beauty of city lights sparkling and glittering on the Arno River. 

I love that people love my city.