Por Favore - Caffe Latte?

I can't believe I am back in Cow Country.  After roughly 2 weeks in Firenze and its surrounds, this place seems rather surreal. -

Don't get me wrong, it is nice to be home, especially with both boys here for the week.

But somehow,  every moment in Italy just seemed to be so alive and here - well - sometimes it just seems rather numb and distant.

There is nothing quite so bracing as a brisk walk on a crisp fall day along the river, looking out to see the Ponte Vecchio in front of you and the parking bridge (not sure what it is really called - but it seems that everyone parks along it) just behind you.  A quick stop for caffe latte and one of the wonderfully sinful pastries that you know you will walk off over the course of the day, and then you are back in the thick of it.  Every step taking you to another place full of sights, sounds, scents and textures.  It is a world for the senses. 

We travel from place to place here, zipping along in our cars and if we are lucky we catch a glipse of a great sunrise or sunset - perhaps a particularly graceful moon.  There are a few settings in the scenery that catch the eye.  But nothing that compares to the constant dazzle of turning each corner to find another fresco, sculpture or wonder of architecture suddenly appearing before you.

I don't even know that you need to purchase the tickets to see the great masters in the museums that abound (though I am glad that we did).  You can travel about on foot and get your fill of music and art.  And of course there is the food - lovely, delicious and if you are careful - not too expensive. 

We stumbled on a great market - and the best chocolate ever.  We spent the rest of the days hoping to find the shop that originated the little culinary works of art so we could get just a few (a couple of pounds perhaps?) more of the luscious bites.  Pair these with the wine - life is sweet.

And so here I am looking through the office window again, and yearning for a slightly grander view. 

While I praise the place, I think perhaps it was the company that made it shine so brightly.  Always go to the best places with people who are close to your heart.  They make even the rough moments seem to glitter like diamonds. 

Well, here's to the next adventure - I am not sure what we settled on - but I think perhaps we will try something exotic - Bali? (If we can survive the plane time.) Or maybe we can try Paris - it might be nice to like Paris.  Everyone else seems to, perhaps M and I can make that city shine too.

Here's to my Mom - Thanks for being the best travel companion ever -

Love you - To Infinity and Beyond

Always -

Domani.....................and Ciao