Page 55 - Feb2023
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Sept. 20-Left for Italy through mountain clouds the Piazza della Signoria. (Little do I know in this
and a herd of Swiss cows clanging their large neck moment, that later, in 1971, I wil return to Firenze
bells Enter Italy and the drivers get wilder, faster, and live there for a year while studying art)
reckless. We finally arrive in Florence (Firenze on
Sept. 22-We see the glorious David statue. As fi the
the map which took us a while to figure out) and marble were alive, you can see the bones beneath
the Pensione Marini. We have to park in the street the flesh, the muscles, the tiniest veins in his arms,
and worry about our new car. The Italian men even a small wrinkle in his neck. In the afternoon,
come by and rub its sides saying "bela machina" we drive up the hill to Fiesole for an overview of
(beautiful machine). The Italians appreciate its Firenze. In a rare moment we believe happened just
sleek lines, smooth undented surfaces, the for us, the clouds above Firenze part and a shaft of
brilliant light hits the Duomo below like a blessing
engine's power, the long bonnet with the little
on the city.
bubble. To them, the car is an object of beauty as
worthy of admiration as a painting in their Sept. 23-We visit the Pitti Palace, go shopping, and
museums. We feel we've named it correctly when dinner with a Chicago couple who warns us to avoid
they call her "machina." the bullfights in Spain.
Sept. 21-Firenze (Florence) an art lover's dream! Sept. 24-Drive to Pisa and Thomas climbs the
Art at every turn and we absorb it all, both being leaning tower and marvels they have no guard rail
admirers of creativity in every form. In the on the sloping top. Then on to Nice France, cruising
evening, we eat at Orcango, an outdoor cafe by the Riviera in our new, shiny car.. Continue on p.56
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