In contrast to the sunny Tuscan landscape that I had been daydreaming of for years, the Tuscany that welcomed us was wet and dreary. I was with my team, filming a documentary in Rome. But a couple of days before our shoot wrapped up, we had an opportunity to make a side trip to Florence, the romantic capital of the Tuscan region. We only had 12 hours to spare. At 6am in Rome, we boarded the speediest train I had ever sat on. And by 7:30am, we were strolling the streets of Firenze, birthplace of Michelangelo, Boticelli and the Renaissance.
The rain, although light, was relentless. But the locals didn’t seem to mind. They went about their business unmindful of the cold. It’s just another day. Tomorrow, when they wake up, Firenze and all its treasures will still be here.
It would have been nice to walk around with a cone of gelato…
We walked from the train station down to Piazza del Doumo, the Ponte Vecchio, all the way up to the Piazzale Michelangelo which is perched on a hill at the edge of town. It was raining the whole time. I had no umbrella so my only protection was my Vietnamese cap. I would have wanted to see the postcard version of Florence with its rooftops bathed in golden sunlight. But it was not meant to be. As we arrived at its highest point, I had a chance to take in the view of this beautiful city. Rain or shine, it is still one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. I hope to return soon. And hopefully, the sun will be out by then.