Camera col Vista

Come along for a magical mystery tour, to Bella Firenze .....
We were driven north on the Autostrada del Sole, through Umbria and on into Tuscany -- in warm, pastel late-summer weather, on Saturday morning. Pulling into the Piazza San Marco -- our intrepid driver Max (Massimo of course, and very handsome with a wonderful Roman Nose) stayed with the Alfa while we walked around to our too too posh little hotel (google it -- La Loggiata dei Serviti, Florence) and checked in. Shades of Leenie's film, friends: I threw open the wooden shutters in our room and there before my eyes appeared the roof of the Duomo and to its right the dome of Santa Croce; and to its left, the gleaming marble of the Baptistery and Bell Tower-- our own Room With AView! Immediately the Girls went off to shop; and John and I walked, through the balmy and beautiful streets of Firenze, over to the market square and down and up and around until we were tired; and then sank into a cafe on a big square and had lunch -- a cool glass of liquid, a big salad, good bread.
The rest of the afternoon saw more walking, a cono di gelato of course, --and lots of people-watching.
At 5 PM, Leenie and Lil dashed into the hotel where we awaited them -- they threw on some spectacular outfits --and we all ran out to catch a taxi to Piazza della Republica, where Lil and we had another cool drink in one of the more posh cafes in the city while Leenie ran over to the cinema to set up for the evening.
And what an evening. The very beautiful and elegant little art house was filled with the cogniscenti di Leenie; our girl gave a beautiful opening talk in Italian and English to introduce the film (and of course, her Genitori, us!) and then the lights dimmed and the real magic began. What a beautiful cinematic triumph our girl has concocted -- we laughed, we smiled, we gasped at the luscious shots of Florence and Fiesole and -- to the strains of the Vivaldi 'Gloria' -- locations in Bella Roma; and we all shed tears as the credits rolled, including 'to the memory of a true Uomo Buono, Fernando Ghia' --- as we applauded and applauded.
You all will get the treat yourselves when the film is shown on PBS early next year.
The magic continued as we sipped Prosecco with those cogniscenti in the lobby while Leenie accepted plaudits right and left; and then it went right on out with us into the moonlit streets as we walked to the magnificent Gilda's ristorante -- walked across the Piazza del Duomo, with the Brunelleschi monument and the Baptistery and Bell Tower crowned by a full moon floating in the skies.
Leenie's friends were crowded into the ristorante when we arrived, scoffing down beakers of vino and loading up plates piled with antipasti from a three-table buffet; but we of the inner circle were ushered past all the hoi-polloi, and down to a private banquet table in the lower Cantina. There then ensued about a 15-course menu of one glorious platter after another, carried down narrow winding stairs by various functionaries -- as different luminaries and friends drifted down to share a bite or a sip of wine with us -- the director, the casting director, etc. etc.
As midnight came around, we shared sips of Vin Santo and munched homemade biscotti -- and then down came Gilda with a covey of dolci that could not be beat.
Oy veh.
A big yellow taxi came and took us back to the hotel, where we sank into a splendid big bed and slept the sleep of the sated.
Waking to the sound of Sunday morning bells, we grabbed a bite of breakfast and walked over to the San Marco museum to stand in awe before Fra Angelico's announcing angel -- John went round the various cells to see Savonarola's artifacts and such, and I just stayed with Mary and her angel, watching the play of light over Gabriel's wings and looking at the background of the San Marco convent and cell in which Angelico placed the duo.
We drove back to Giove -- stopping in Orvieto for another meal that could not be beat and a look at the golden facade of that cathedral; and on the way home, up the hill, we stopped off at Manlio and Claudia's villa for a tea and a look at the location of the August wedding.
Then, home to sleep.
For more practical details of what's happening this week, etc., tune in to the next blog.
This is not about practical details, this is about a dream weekend.