A Father's First Spring

The Avett Brothers - A Father's First Spring

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Siena City Center

I spent a good share of a day in Siena's Piazza del Campo, a public square in the center of the city. I had a blast people watching and the sky put on its own show with storms moving in and out all afternoon. I probably could have taken in a few more museums in Siena, but the square felt less like a tourist trap and more like people who lived there just out relaxing and I was drawn to that energy.

"Sometimes I can't keep it together, but I never give up."

Ryan Bingham - Keep it Together

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Siena Duomo

This morning, I'm pulling out my suitcase and packing it again. This time for a shortish trip first to Switzerland and then on to Turkey. While I figure out how make this two week work trip with just a carry on, I thought I'd do a bit of a photo dump from my day in Siena. I spent the early part of the day at the Duomo and the surrounding museums.

My favorite part was climbing a suspended walkway near the church with an amazing view of the entire area.

I did very little planning for my day in Siena - so I really arrived not knowing what to expect. I knew it would be smaller than Florence, but I didn't quite expect that it would feel a bit like a fortress in the center of the city - where I was staying and spent most of my time. The city center was on the top of the hill - and I wasn't there long enough to venture down and into the valley - but I hope to make another trip to Tuscany someday - what little I saw was stunningly beautiful.

"May good hope walk with you through everything."

Glen Hansard - Song of Good Hope

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City of Blinding Light

U2 - City of Blinding Light Pin It

Florence - Odds and Ends

I keep trying to find the words to describe my time in Florence, but keep coming up blank. I guess this is another reason to carry a camera and let the photos do the talking for me. It really was an amazingly beautiful city.

While I was in Florence, I caught up with an American who had moved there from Southern California. She'd been there a few years and it was great to hear about the city from someone who lived there rather than was there on holiday. Mostly it confirmed my opinion that it would be a great place visit, one that I'd like to go back to again someday, and that it would be a cool place to call home.

"A million miles of freedon, a million miles of road, but I still don't know where to start."

The Killers - The Heart of a Girl

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Florence Wandering

Florence was my favorite stop in Italy - I think perhaps because it was compact enough that getting around was easy - but it was also completely full of things I wanted to experience and see. Even with four full days there there as still things I didn't fit in and will have to save for the next trip, and I always want to have a reason to go back to a city I love.

The city was full of amazing architecture, there was something amazing to see at every corner. I think I could have wandered for another week and still found new to see each day. Of course it helped my wanderings to know that I could stop for amazing gelato at every corner, which I did more often than I want to admit.

It rained nearly every day I was there, which made for cold wanderings. I didn't enjoy juggling a camera, my bag and an umbrella every day, but being outside and experiencing this amazing city was completely worth it.

I packed expecting better weather, but also tossed in a few warmer items just in case, which was very lucky because I ended up wearing those same things almost the entire trip - making me doubly glad I was staying in flats with washing machines instead of hotels.

"It's just these simple things keep me holding on."

Amos Lee - Simple Things

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Almost Home

Mary Chapin Carpenter - Almost Home Pin It

Florentine Gardens

I skipped some of the museums in Florence in favor of the lovely parks and gardens - after months of seeing nothing but the inside of an office, I was craving a little nature.

I was there a bit early for the spring flowers to be out in full bloom, but the fresh air and vitamin D more than made up for the lack of flowers.

The easter holiday meant that Florence was bursting with the seams full of tourists, but I'm guessing because it was chilly, the gardens were much less crowded.

"I'll always remember you wild as they do come."

The Gaslight Anthem - National Anthem

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Churches of Florence

Not surprisingly Florence is full of amazing churches, this was my first stop in Italy so I hadn't hit "church overload" yet, which means I took way too many photos.

While there is no doubt the Duomo is stunning and enormous, but my favorite was the last church I visited, the Bascilica de San Miniato al Monte (the last three photos above.) It is an old church on a hill with amazing views of the city. It was dark and cool inside (a gift after a long hike up the hill to reach the church.) Better yet there was someone at the organ when I visited, nothing adds to the ambiance like music.

"You never cease to amaze my soul"

Kat Maslich-Bode - March

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Ruby Tuesday

Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday Pin It