We arrived by train from Naples late in the afternoon and walked a short few blocks to our centrally located hotel. Our plan in Florence is to have a few days of ‘interacting’ by experiencing some planned hands-on experiences for Oz and us. Museums — not so much. Churches — not many. But, we had a great time learning some elements of photography, learning how Leonardo da Vinci imagined future devices, making some lovely art, and learning the Italian methods for making smooth and creamy gelato and traditional Italian pizza. In these days, we ended up walking miles in the central part of Florence which is beautiful and historic and which is almost all car-free.
After a bit of a timing mishap, we met a local photographer, Francesco Spighi, and took a walking tour of central Florence. He taught us to look and think carefully before taking a picture. Gaining such a new perspective was essential as he provided each of us with an antique (1980’s era) Polaroid camera complete with only 8 shots of film. This is not like pointing your cell phone camera and shooting everything, everywhere!
Here is Oz’s view of the streets of Florence: (Yes, there are 9 photos, so one of Leslie’s photos ended up with Oz’s….)
We next traveled to a Tuscan farm a few kilometers outside Florence. Here, with a group of tourist families, we had fun learning how Italians make their famous gelato and pizza. Our teachers were definitely performers, being mostly educational and entertaining, but hilarious at times.
Here is Max, showing off very nicely!
While our 12 different kinds of gelato cooled and froze, we tackled pizza making Italian style. We threw dough around, and chopped lots of topping ingredients to make the traditional red tomato sauce. Oz volunteered and was quite surprised to be asked to squish the canned tomatoes. Take a look at his expression!
Dough balls had been prepared for us and we slapped them around and threw them in the air. Then came Oz’s tomato sauce and whatever of the many chopped toppings that had been prepared by the group. Arla, in pink, and Tiziano were excellent teachers and performers.
Oz continued to enjoy a sampling of delicious regional pastas and pastries.
The next day we had a very unique morning with a local graphic artist, Francesca Vannini, who has many talents. Leslie has always marveled at marbled paper, so why not take a workshop where we can all learn how to make this traditional and beautiful Italian paper? We learned that it is made by creating unique patterns by placing various colors of oil paints into a tray of water. One then uses special tools such as a small rake or brush or pointer to create swirls or patterns. A piece of paper is then carefully placed on the surface of the water where it absorbs the paint. We then carefully pulled the paper through the oil paints and discovered either marbled or abstract patterns. This process was fun, messy and creative!
Inside the Interactive Leonardo di Vinci Museum
The Leonardo Interactive Museum showing of the works of the talented polymath, Leonardo da Vinci, was a great hit. We looked and pulled and pushed and imagined what it might have been to see notebooks with all these ideas of many more than 500 years ago.
As the Arno River flows out of Florence, we end our visit to the city where the Renaissance was born. Now, on to Venice and rowing boats and more!
