Another Day, Another Duomo!

In the same area as the tower you will find this huge Catholic church, or Duomo, and the round building to the left of the church is the Baptistry.

This is the front of the church--massive and gorgeous!

The Baptistry...it doesn't look big here but it is quite LARGE.

Side view of Duomo---to the right would be the tower.

Day Trip to Pisa!!!

Well, here we are in the small but charming little city of Pisa and...there IT IS!!!!! The leaning tower!!!!!!!!

We had a perfect day to go--bright and sunny! Didn't climb to the top but a colleague of mine did and he was a bit whoosy!

The other pics are shots I took on our way to the tower--the river Arno runs through Pisa too!

The Best Gelato Ever

Here are yet more pics..and...drum roll please....the place where they have THE best gelato in Florence. It's called La Carraia! I call it Caraaaaayayayayaa because I can't pronounce it without giggling. But it's really great gelato!!!!!

Church of Oggisanti---very beautiful inside! Another view near the Pontevecchio and another beautiful sky pic! I swear it's like the sky is painted somedays!

The Theater

And here I am again with my trusty Fox costume:) Last night was our final dress...all is going pretty well. Ticket sales are low because the economy in Italy isn't so hot, and as a result, the arts are suffering. It's very sad to have to see this kind of thing not only in my own country, but in others! Opera needs to continue and thrive...the stories, music and the voices need to be heard. Espeically here in Europe! Where it all began!

More Pics

On right is some sort of government building. Other images were taken inside the Duomo---very pretty inside, but a tad dark, so it was difficult to get all the shots I wanted!

Pillars are in the market place where the sell all the LEATHER!

More yummy food! Some of it is too pretty to eat!

Why I am Here

The reason I am here is to sing!!! Here is a pic of the inside of the Teatro Communale where the opera "The Cunning Little Vixen" will be performed! The theater itself is a bit plain on the inside, but it is still a great place to be!

...and here is the man of the hour, our Maestro Seiji Ozawa!! I took this pic while watching him conduct a concert at the Duomo on a big television screen outside the church--there were so many people we couldn't get in!

He is a wonderful man and an amazingly gifted musician. I feel very lucky to have the chance to work with him for a second time!

A Night on the Ponte Vecchio

Well, it's a very full moon here in Firenze, and my colleague and I decided to venture down the Ponte Vecchio! The bridge seems like any other street when you enter onto it, but then there is a brake in the stores along the way and you see the beautiful Arno River!!! Here are some of the jewelry windows I saw along the way--LOTS of gold everywhere!!! A jewelry lover's PARADISE!

Here a a couple shots of the stores --they all have family names it seems, so I am assuming these are all family owned jewelry businesses. So quaint and charming!



Like I said, a full moon over Firenze!!!!!

We Interrupt This Trip....

Yeah, so I caught the plague apparently and have been a bit side-tracked...sorry folks! However, new pics will appear tomorrow!!!!

This is how I feel at the moment:)

Here's Why Italy Rocks!

Besides the gorgeous architecture in the city, Florence is also famous for its beautiful tapestries and leather goods in the market places! To get a good price on the leather you need to haggle with the salesperson---I am NO good at that. But I darn well tried. No dice:) ...lol

Yummy pasta and wonderful, relaxing outdoor seating!

Palazzo Vecchio - Palazzo Della Signoria

This is the very famous Palazzo (plaza) Vecchio. Here is a copy of the David above--the authentic David is at a different location. For instance, you may have your own David at home on the fridge, and you are able to dress him up in khakis or a striped top and jeans.

I believe this is a God of some sort--have to check on that. Zeus?

There are many interesting and beautiful statues in this plaza---I will include more pics in a later post!

And here is the best part of all...............the Ponte Vecchio. The shining star of that famous aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi by Puccini, "O Mio Babbino Caro". In the aria, the character Lauretta sings about the Ponte Vecchio. She also speaks of the Porta Rossa, where she will buy a ring (nello). The Porta Rossa was the street I took to bring me to the plaza and bridge!

There are many jewelry stores on the famous bridge. There are also apartments where people live today! The bridge hangs over the River Arno, also mentioned in that aria.

Beautiful, eh?

Il Duomo

This is one of the most visually stunning sites in Florence (I think, anyway...:)! This is a church called the Duomo. Amazing. You are walking down a busy, noisy street, and suddenly you turn the corner and BAM. It's huge! It's magnificent! And on a day like today...breathtaking:) Maestro Seiji Ozawa will be conducting a concert at this church tomorrow, and I do hope to be able to go and see it if I don't have to rehearse.

I wish I could show you the marvelous different colors of the building up close! so much detail.

Beautiful Day

Today was one of those days that just smacks you right in the head--an absolutely beautiful, perfect day, and you suddenly realize just how darn lucky you are. I took this shot on my way home today and just had to stand there and gawk at the sky! Sitting in a small, cozy lunch bar with a coffee and just the sounds of everyday business in the amazing city of Florence.

Day 1

Okay, so here are a few pics to get things rolling! I adventured down the street (after locating toliet paper....:) and ran into a plaza. There are many of these in Italian cities. And what did I find? This beautiful carousel with lots of children!

This yellow colored building is our apartment house--we are on the fourth floor. It's very nice, and VERY Italianate! Weather is a bit gray and rainy, and it is kind of cold. Very different from the other trips to Italy I have made--was always very hot and humid, usually in the spring or summer:) Glad I brought sweaters! Anyway, there are tons of stores, restaurants, and things to see! Don't forget to look at my older posts from April on this blog---that's when I was in Venice! More soon! Ciao!