Under the Tuscan Spell

It was our last day in Florence, a sad day, so Linda and I tried to cram in as much as we could.

Right after breakfast in our Strozzi Palace Hotel, I rushed to the Duomo to beat the crowd. Six Euro and 414 steps later, I reached the top of the Campenile, the bell tower overlooking all of the Arno River Valley. Down at street level, Linda looked like a miniature munchkin sitting in the outdoor cafe licking her gelato.

The glistening terra cotta rooftops stretched to the foot of the mountains in three directions. To the west, following the flow of the Arno, I could almost see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, our next destination.

Would you buy a CD by the Shoemaker Singers? (l–r) Jim Jeffers, Warner Montgomery, Halina Moretti– Pananti, Brooks Metts, Alan Shoemaker, and Jack Boggs. Upon my descent, my wonderful wife and I took a quick walking tour of a few of Florence’s major sites:

• The Republican Plaza, where Linda rode the carousel.

• The Central Market, where Linda rubbed the nose of the Porcellino (wild boar) to assure her return to Florence.

In a restaurant high above Florence, who should appear but honeymonners Bill Barkowski and Blake Daniels of Columbia. • The Santa Maria Plaza, where Linda enjoyed a delicious hot calzone.

• The Pitti Palace, one of the three great galleries in Florence.

Just before sunset, we took a 30–minute taxi to Fiesole, a village on a hilltop overlooking Florence. The cobblestone road took us to the Ristorante La Reggia degli Etruschi (The Best Food of Tuscany Restaurant). We ordered Bistecca Fiorentina (Steak Florentine), a bottle of Chianti Classico Reserve, and tiramisu.

At the Central Market, Linda bought a Tuscany tea towel. As the waiter was uncorking our wine, someone said, “Warner Montgomery, is that you?”

Lo and behold, it was Blake Daniels and Bill Barkowski from Columbia. They were on their honeymoon and had just driven in from Venice. Small world.

Back in town, we hooked up with Alan Shoemaker and the tour for last night festivities. At the British Institute we were surprised with a personal concert by an Italian pianist, Bernardo Olivotto, and Australian soprano, Halina Moretti– Pananti. What a pure delight!

As an encore, she invited the men to join her in singing Funiculi Funicula . Needless to say, we slaughtered it, but the fun is in the doing, I always say.

The evening closed on Michelangelo’s Hill where, with the lights of Florence reflecting on the river beneath the Ponte Vecchio, Linda and I kissed. She whispered in my ear, “Thank you, my darling. This is the best trip we’ve ever been on.”

(Next week:

The walled city of Lucca)