Last night with friends and today quiet places

It was so good to catch up with Cristina … she prepared one of her delicious dinners of pasta and then some tasty savoury tarts with asparagus and a soft chocolate pudding. We had a convivial evening. It was good to be back in her delightful apartment though it was challenging to drag up my poor Italian for the evening… but, surprisingly, it came back! She has a Swiss student staying with her at the moment.

Today I awoke to that particular Tuscan light on a sunny and warm morning … a change from yesterday’s rain. After a pleasant breakfast I decided to visit some old haunts; the street market at Santo Spirito and the piazza at Il Conventino. The latter is so charming and a quiet space away from the bustle of tourists in the city centre which was bursting with people this morning. It’s a place locals come to read the papers and enjoy the calm. To sit in the warm sun with a coffee and listen to the church bells of Florence this Sunday is a form of bliss and sitting here I appreciate the privilege of travel and its unintentional joys. Today I’ll try to avoid the centre of the city.