Arriving in Florence on midsummer's eve

Yesterday was a travel day. First the plane to Pisa, then negotiating the train to Florence. Despite some uncertainty about which platform, I still managed to end up on the right train and get off at the right station. Florence was busy at 3 in the afternoon, and since I was in dire need of a good leg stretching, I walked to the apartment. Rosella, the proprietress, was as charming as her correspondence. After settling in, I went in search of food and wine, finding both at a somewhat touristy restaurant with a none the less glorious view of the Palazzo Vecchio from my shady outdoor table. Dinner revived me enough for a stroll along the Arno river, a beautiful, lazy river that bisects the city and is crossed by numerous graceful old arched stone bridges, one of which is the famous Ponte Veccio. Since it was midsummer's eve, and the feast day of St. John as well (the city's patron saint) the town had planned a huge celebration, concluding with a wonderful firework's display from the fort atop the hill overlooking the city. Along with hundreds of others, I watched the fireworks reflected in the Arno river and then headed back to my delightful apartment and a much needed night of sleep.