Oct 26.2009 - Livorno/Florence, Italy

DKP : We have arrived in Livorno, a small port city, they call it "The Gateway to Tuscany." In 2005, we used this port to travel to the Medieval walled city of Lucca instead of traveling to Florence or Pisa. We were able to view the leaning tower from the AutoStrade on the way and pretty much get the point on that location.

Tuscany is a very popular region in Italy for very good reason. Travelers come for the plethora of extrodinary paintings and sculputures, frescoes and architectural masterpieces not to mention the highest quality food and wines. The landscape is very much like that of Central and Southern California, it is very familiar to us. Maybe this is the reason that Sandy felt brave enough to suggest we rent our own car for the day to drive ourselves to Florence and Pisa - YOW!

This morning I found my brain a bit half baked so the idea of renting a car and driving ourselves around the Autostrade felt daunting at best, but I let Sandy lead on this one, not easy being the Leo that I am. However, being the Aquarian that she is, I trust her vision for what's around the corner. So we set out, highlighted maps in hand and traversed our way in the little Euro mobile through one of the most confusing and convaluted ports I have ever experiences - returning would NOT be easy.

Despite this fact, the visceral excitement of our first European driving experience took prescendence. I navigated while Sandy drove with and expert level of speed and aggression. We made to the Centro Stazione (central bus station) where we parked and found an entire underground shopping mall. Apparentely, this is where they place their shopping malls... small boutique stores on the streets, soul less concrets shopping malls underground - appropriate I think. That way, you have the convenience of the corporate shopping experience if you want it but we ALL don't have to look at it :-)

Meanwhile, Sandy and I opted for strolling through street lined market places, stocked with beautiful Italian leather goods, as well as roasted chestnuts and fresh flowers and vegetables. With each turn along the cobblestone walkways, a new piazza opened up to a new cathedral or museo. The architecture was mind blowing and inspiring. There is so much conveyed from one soul to another when you stumble upon a work of art your eyes have never seen before. For those of us who create, we know inherently what patience, planning and determination, not to mention INSPIRATION, it takes to build something so grand and magnificent.

I dare say that architecture of this magnitude that exists in Europe, could never have been built with such attention to detail if it were not for the inspiration of it's builders or designers. Some structures are built entirely out of hubris, to impress opposing rulers or nobility, but some structures are built out of love for the ability to create it seems. Florence exudes the latter, you can feel it as you see it, the beauty goes so deep, the detail so far... where the could have gotten away with so much less, they took it many steps farther. I am referring to all of the buildings, not just the cathedrals. This is what is so rare in our new country... it is rarely "cost-effective" to push design to the level of the divine - where the viewer then becomes inspired then passes that feeling on.

Another long entry for sure, thanks for reading my thoughts on all of this that I am experiencing in our travels. I am grateful for the adventure and more grateful for these modern ways of sharing it with people equally beautiful and inspirational parts of this world.