Florence

An early start, a day in Florence. The covered food market, meats, fresh pasta, cheeses, fruit, vegetables. Abstract patterns from salami. The cathedral square, queues of tourists, the awe-inspiring building itself towering above us, pink and white stones masking the sun. Not braving the queues for the galleries, preferring to walk around instead, visit a replica of David's magnificent physique. Blackberry sorbet, and fruits of the forest. Crossing the green river, climbing countless steps once at the other side, not looking round. Breathless with exertion in the heat at the top, breathless too with wonder as we looked down at the city, the cathedral rising majestically above the red roofs. Happier to be away from the jostling crowds. Light and shade in the Boboloi gardens, stray cats sunning themselves on gravel, winged horses rising into the blue sky. Still, green pools, long walks of cedar. Retreating from the late afternoon heat for a glass of chilled wine and a plate of regional cheeses, utterly content.