Deciding to buy a van was not a last-minute, ill-conceived notion. In fact, after Hurricane Michael literally split our Winnebago in half, I’d been hoping to replace her. I bought Winnie for my birthday in September 2007 and loved her like the devil. Seeing her split in two whole pieces broke my heart — but …
☄️Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! I hope yours is filled with happiness and joy. x Sandy ☄️.
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Pink sunrises are my favorite. x Sandy.
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🔥 Notes from the road, Firenze, 9 Nov 23, 11:18 a.m.
🔥 Giggling as we zip through another — what do you call those kinds of short, walled underpasses where there’s only room for one car to get through at a time? — at a relatively high rate of speed, I can’t help but wonder if my taxi driver is trying to kill me.
🔥 If so, it’s not working. Do better, Lorenzo! Do 👏🏻 better 👏🏻
🔥 Lorenzo did, however, manage to murder my case. Lorenzo was in a hurry. And, while taking one of the hairpin turns from the A11, I heard my case slam from one side of the boot to the other. A few more turns into the ride, I continued to hear a loud-ish rattle but couldn’t quite place it. I didn’t have anything breakable in my bag. So, I refocused my attention on the faces of the people who watched us pass through the streets of Firenze. Dante’s Divine Comedy indeed. Maybe this is the Fifth Circle?
🔥 Soon enough, my death-defying ride came to an end. Lorenzo ripped my case from his boot, set it along his shoulder, carried it across the street and set it inside the foyer of my hotel. I thanked him, exchanged goodbyes and watched him slip into his car and disappear. Feeling bougie AF, I walked toward my bag — and that’s when I noticed it: One of the four wheels on the bottom of my case had been entirely, completely, wholly ripped away.
🔥 Whatever. I arrived alive in Florence! Conveniently, the House of Dante is just around the corner. I’ll pay it a visit after brunch. Blood orange mimosas are my favorite. x Sandy
“Follow your path and let the people talk.” - Dante.
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🛵 Notes from the road, Florence, Italy, 8 Nov 23, 4:01 p.m.
🛵 Santa Maria del Fiore — the Duomo of Florence — is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. When I’m in Florence, I take every opportunity to walk past her because I simply cannot believe how lucky I am to see something so spectacular. In all the years I’ve been coming to Florence, she’s never looked prettier than she does today. She takes my breath away.
🛵 Especially from Piazza Michelangelo! Beautifully positioned on a hill along the south bank of the Arno River, Piazza Michelangelo offers stunning views of the city. If you’re staying in the city center, it can be reached by bus, car or on foot. If the weather is decent, I highly recommend walking. If the weather isn’t cooperating or you simply choose not to walk, you can easily hire a taxi or take the bus. If you choose to drive, there is a small, affordable parking lot which accommodates around 70 cars. (Please, for the love of God, do not drive in Florence, unless you’re a local. In that case, by all means, carry on.)
🛵 However you choose to arrive and no matter the time you arrive, Florence seen from above is spectacular. You’re looking at the city that gave birth to powerhouse artists, philosophers and scientists! In the space of a couple of generations, Florence gave us Brunelleschi’s dome, Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David. This is the birthplace of the Renaissance! Let that sink in for a minute.
🛵 Yes, everything about Florence seems to be wrapped in sugar and stardust. And, in the coming days, we’ll explore her on foot (and Vespa) together. Benvenuti a Firenze, y’all!.
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