Florence, rain and shine
When I first visited Paris as a sophomore in college, I realized what "old" really felt like. The uneven surfaces, the decay, the soot blackening walls, the smell of the concrete after a rain, the cold dampness inside churches, the courtyards opening up to vines and wooden-framed windows. I felt like I was walking on hundreds of years of footsteps before me, like I was passing under archways that witnessed wars and monarchs. That feeling of being another traveler on a path worn by so many years somehow felt comforting, connecting me to something bigger and deeper. It's possible to have the same feeling in certain parts of the United States, but there's no question that you're more likely to find history all around you on an everyday walk in Europe.
Right now our family is on vacation in Florence, Italy, and I feel completely in my element. It helps that we're visiting a family who we've been friends with since living in Milwaukee. They moved here nearly three years ago, love it, and will likely never leave. So we have great guides and are thankful to be able to stay in their beautiful home. This morning I went out alone to do a yoga class, and it was cold and rainy. It turned out to be a great way to explore the tiny streets and get lost for a little while (I also couldn't find a taxi, which forced me, not against my will, to just keep walking).
