Due to the the slings and arrows of some outrageous good fortune I was able to escape these rain sodden shores for the first time in over a decade. The reason I know it was over a decade is because I had to get my passport renewed as the picture contained within the old green pages was that off a school attending boy. Now, I was a poor man and destined for adventure in Tuscany.
The gang (Ailenn, Andrew and Myself) departed sometime after St. Patricks day and flew directly to Milan. I got the window seat and waited for a glimpse of the San Siro football stadium as we approaced the city. I never saw it but the sight of the peaks of the Alps prior to our approach to Milan was more spectacular.
WE then got a bus to the Central Train station in Milan which was huge and impressive. The only piece of school history I remember about Mussolini was that he got the trains to run on time and in the guide it said he had something to do with this station.m i.e. he forced thousands to build it.
We eventually arrived in Florence at around 12.00pm and Francessca and Maurizzio were waiting for us. We walked though the nightime streets of Florence and each turn you made along a narrow street brought with it more beauty. As we neared the street where Francessca lived the narrow street led onto the Piazza san Annuzzio. It was breathtaking , a huge beautiful square surrounded by old buildings and with statues of evil little monkees. The Piazzia was like a Fellini set and I was amazed to find myself standing in Italy in a beautiful piazzia.
The next day we all awoke early eager to explore Florence. The day was beautiful with the sun glaring down from a completely clear blue sky. We walked down towards the Duomo (the Cathederal) which dominates the entire Skyline of the city. The tourists were swarming around it. The building was completed by the rock & roll archetect of the day who refused to use exterior scaffolding. Bad news for the construction workers. We were able to go to the top of the building for 8,000 Lire and it proved worth it. From the top of the dome you can survey the entire valley in which Florence nestles. It was one of the most spectaular sights I have ever seen and turned out to be a wonderful way to begin our week in Firenza.
That evening we were taken out to dine at another friends apartment, Constanza's. The food was beautiful and the wine flowed freely along with the beer.
The next day we explored the city in more detail visiting Piazza Della Singnoria, P della Repubblica and the Pote Vecchio. Florence was a city founded on the extreme wealth of the Meddicci family who sponsorered artists such as Michael Angelo or Mick of the Angels asI call him. The Arno river flows though the city and is crossed by many bridges but the most beautiful of which is the Ponte Vecchio which has Jewllery shops on it. In their day the Meddici were able to walk from one half of the city across to the other without ever having to walk on the street level. (Porbably scared of being mugged by a prole).
We visited the supermarkets. Berlossconi owns one chain of stoes but we also visited the Co-op. The food and the wine are famous all over the world but it is a great pleasure to be able to go down to the supermarket and pick up good beer for 40p and great blood red oranges for a few pence and Chianti for £2.00. The whole effect of being in Italy was only enhanced by the trips to the supermarket. With great food and beer inside you in the afternoon you were free to walkd the streets in a blissed out soak -it-all- up mood.
On Thursday (I think ) we visited an outlying village called Fiesole in the mountians to the North of Florence. This was a quaint place which had a great view of the city. The view also reminded you of how polluted the air was as it seemed the city was covered in a constant shoud of smoke.
That evening we were invited to another friends house in the South of the City. Vanina and Constanza prepared more excellent food. We all sat around a chatted about our impressions of the city and then I was forutnate enough to get driven our to an Italian Club/Disco. This was in an outlying town called Scandicci (I think ?). There were masses of young teenagers totally pissed and falling over each other to the sounds of deep rock music. Another Fibber McGees in another part of the World. Look s like Brian Adams was right everywhere you go the kids wanna rock or more like everywhere you go the kids wanna get shitfaced.
On Firday we skipped a huge queue to get into the Uffitzi (the museum) which is world famous for having work by Botocelli, Carravagio, and Da Vinci. The queue was massive full of horrendously dressed yankees and Japanese tourists weraing smog masks. I just walked up to the top as if I was going to Dj in the place and we were in. The Uffitzi has an astounding wealth of art in an auspicious setting. Bottocelli's venus is a highlight (that's the famous picture of the long haired babe standing nacked in the sea shell ) but there is too musch to see and I just wanted to get out and have a cappuchino in the streets and pose (Which is what I like doing best no matter where I am but even more so when the sun shines).
Friday evening was another good meal in the MAF centre and some swapping of information with people who also wish to change the World for the better. The vino flowed freely and the talk raged on into the small hours. On the way home the cops stopped to check our Papers - and I bored them into disinterest by chatting about football :- poor Francessca looked on in aprehension thinking 'this pisshead will get us all arrested'. The cop was a Juventus supporter.
Saturday we visited the south side of the city and hung around in a cool Jazzy bar in the afternoon. Then we went on the wirlwind tour of 4 social centres whih had us zipping all over the city in a Renault 4 car. A social centre is like a squat which is occupied by various political factions. We saw the beginning of a concert in one - the end of a concert in another and the aftermath of another gig in the last one. In the last one we sat down listened to some loud Rawck music (very popular in Italy) and drank cheap wine. Finally it was time to to home and we drove back. The prostitures were out inforce as we drove home and they continued to try and draw custom from the small renault car which was packed with 5 of us. Ruggerio ( a really sound guy from Carrarra ) the driver of the car turned and asked where they expected us to put them if we stopped, on the roof maybe?
Every thing ended too soon. We had to pack and leave on a long train journey to Milan and then onto the flight home. We flew over Killiney hill and across the Dublin City and although you could tell the weather was crap and the city could never compare to Florence, it was a warm feeling to know that down there was home, and the dole waiting to be picked up.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to all in Firenza for a great time.
Francessca, Maurizzio, Constanza, Vanina & her friends, Rugerio, and all those at MAF. Florence is beautiful but the people we met made it more so for me and it will always have a special place in my memory banks and in my heart. Ciao.
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