“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”
Mary Oliver, American poet
1935 –
One must stroke the pig’s nose to ensure one will return to Florence
This morning I had no internet access, nor could I send or receive text messages. I felt totally alone in a foreign environment and thought about how we have all come to rely on technology to make our days run smoothly. The internet is pretty patchy here and seems to work well for several hours and then like today it will go off. So patience is called for. But I am so glad when I am traveling alone that I have access to this technology.
Now this stay in Florence is being cut short and this is the last day, as tomorrow I shall catch a plane to London and my family there.
I have enjoyed finding my way around this most beautiful city, learning a few words of the language and mostly managing to make myself understood. But I shall miss jumping on the buses to get around. The public transport system is amazing; I have never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus. Taxis are a little different. One cannot just hail a cab here as one does at home. They have to be picked up at the taxi stands which are few and far between or alternatively ordered by phone.
So today was a day for packing and tidying up and getting ready to leave.
Courtyard
My friendly and kindly next door neighbours have ordered a cab to take me to the aeroporto domani. I resorted to writing out my request for them. I knew I could never make myself understood if I tried to say the words.
An interesting interlude followed as Guiliano told me that I wouldn’t need to order the cab until tomorrow. I want it at 10.30 am so he said to come tomorrow to his house (next door) at 9 am to make the booking. Then some time later he rang the doorbell and told me he had booked the cab in his name for tomorrow. So I think, he is going to knock on my door when it gets here. I do so love these interactions where neither party speaks the others language. Somehow we manage to communicate.
I went out for macchiato and brioche as usual. I told the folk in the pasticceria that I was leaving tomorrow – they seemed to understand as we smiled and wished each other arrivederci. I did buy an apricot turnover and a brioche to take away with me. They were to be part of lunch or dinner.
Lunch today was a scratch meal using up what was left in the apartment. Quite satisfying but not as good as some of the lunches I have eaten since I arrived here. Oh well …
“I had surprised myself this year by
jumping in to reshape my life before life
stepped in to reshape it for me.” Alice Steinbach
I choose how I will spend the rest of my life 