A day in Florence

Suddenly, our nation feels like a newborn...or at most, perhaps, a two month old infant.  Here in Florence, we're seeing all kinds of churches and buildings erected in the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries.  Just yesterday when we learned of statues carved or slight changes made to the famous Duomo in the 1800's, it felt like current news.  Amazing how your perspective on age and history changes in light of such remarkably old beauty all around you.  

After a day-long walking tour of the city, my head is spinning with historical dates all the way back to Roman times and lovely-sounding Italian names I cannot pronounce and certainly could never spell.  All I can say is "Wow!"  

In one corner below, there was a building from the 12th century, one from the 13th, and another from the 14th, and a column from yet another...all within feet of  one another, happily coexisting.  All magnificent and strong.  

       You can't help but ponder what their lives, their families, their day to day existence must have been like.  Wonder if they ever in their wildest dreams imagined that centuries and centuries later, we would be staring in amazement at the places they lived and loved, worked and worried, laughed and cried?  After all, they were regular old folks like us in so many ways--with their own dreams and hopes, fears and foibles. They were just living their lives one day at a time, walking these very streets we now walk.  What a reminder--life is brief, eternity long, people and the Lord are what matter.  
        Everyday, we pretty much hit the ground running: touring, walking, and, of course, eating, from dawn to dusk.  Look up the definition of "a hole-in-the-wall" and you will find there our favorite panini place...located on a tiny side street in Florence.  It's the size of a closet, and you walk in, order your panini and watch them slice the meat and tomatoes right there, put them on the panini they baked that morning, slather on some goat cheese, and toast them in their ancient-looking oven.  Then voila, your sandwich is ready to go.  (And that's a good thing since not one table or chair could fit in this teeny, charming place.)  
        Forget the fancy-smancy meals...give me this panini every time!        

         And believe me, we needed the hearty nourishment, as our "One Glorious Day in Florence" walking tour was fabulous but EXHAUSTING!
        Geez, why is it so hard to stand for hours?  It's not like we were hiking multiple miles.  Nope, not at all.  There was actually very little walking involved.  We were seeing magnificent pieces of art and learning all about the amazing history of Florence (and loving every minute of it!), but we all thought our backs would fall off.  I took to leaning over and touching my toes behind the guide in the middle of the Uffizi gallery...all the while thinking what I really needed to do was lie down and take a teeny tiny little nap in the corner.
        I'm gonna shut up now, but just a little taste from this magnificent gallery--full of works by the likes of Michelangelo, Donatello, Giotto, and Raphael.  Truly takes your breath away (my, I'm mighty full of cliches today).

        Here are some masterpieces of a different kind in the Uffizi--

        They are laughing, because yours truly just looked out a window and banged my head on the glass.  Not that I was humiliated it or anything when the guide looked over at me, had a good laugh, and said loudly over his little microphone for the entire group to hear: "Whoa!  Are you alright?  How did you do that?"  Imagine the sound of widespread laughter.  Sigh.  So glad I could entertain everyone for a few moments and help them forget about their aching backs and swollen feet.

        I can't even remember what this was--Janie told me about 25 times, but what can I say?  Maybe it was the head smash on the window.  But the point is: it was really old, really magnificent, and even had the correct time
        Can you tell it's late at night?  Clearly, I need to call it a day.  Tomorrow, there are still miles to be walked, sculptures to be appreciated, paintings to be enjoyed, pasta to be devoured, gelato to be savored...and moments to be treasured.  Every single one of them.  Oh how thankful I am.  Thank You, Father.
        To God be the glory.