Buongiorno K!
For some reason, I always want to type hola instead. Italian just doesn’t come naturally for me like the other languages do. Anyway, yesterday was my last full day in Florence.
I did a short tour of the Uffizi in the morning. It was 2 hours and we skipped a ton! My god, I don’t know how people do the whole thing. I bet you do, though. Who was your favorite of the Renaissance painters? I’m sure you told me but I don’t remember. I want to say Caravaggio. Is that right?
I know he hated painting but I think Michelangelo is my favorite Renaissance artist (and possibly Ninja Turtle too). I keep hearing stories of how people pissed him off and he found ways to send little (and sometimes big) fuck yous their way. I admire that spirit.
The rest of the day was unstructured so I did some wandering and shopping but I spent most of the time battling anxiety. I’m not sure where it’s coming from. I had a terrible stress dream about work the night before and then when I did my daily check of the indoor security camera of my house, I convinced myself I heard rushing water. I’m sure it was just the usual white noise but my brain took this water idea and ran with it.
I wonder if my anxiety is just misplaced emotion – wishing you were here, wishing I could tell Mom and Dad about it. Even as I type this, I’m starting to cry so that must be it. I spent a whole day drinking red wine and I couldn’t tell Mom about it! She would’ve been so proud. My therapist used to say I should try not to hold back when I feel like crying. Maybe that’s what I’ve been doing and it’s coming out as stress instead. Maybe I’ll spend the rest of this train ride letting it out and freaking out the people around me. If any of them were planning to rob me, they might think twice now.
Anyway, I spent the rest of my time in Florence eating gelato and buying myself a fantastic souvenir – a small leather purse. Check out the photo! It was pricey but I made myself leave the store and go for a walk to see if I still wanted it or if it was shopping adrenaline. I still wanted it! So now it’s mine. 🙂 Is it me or is it very Jackie or Audrey? Two not-at-all Italian women but good fashion role models nonetheless.
At night, I went to the roof deck of a nearby department store that Laurie told me about and had some drinks and snacks as the sun set. It was beautiful and peaceful. Then one more walk and one more gelato and my time in Florence was done.
Today, I head to Pompeii and then Sorrento where I’ll stay for 3 days. None of my time here is planned but I do think I’ll head to Capri. Did you ever stay down here? I know you did Pompeii but I couldn’t find any photos or scrapbooks about the rest. Well, if you didn’t, don’t worry. I plan to tell you all about it.
Ciao!
-B
Postcards to My Sister 