Me, My Heart, and I

by Melinda Gallo

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

I arrived back in Florence last Saturday. I welcomed the warm blast of air that hit me as I walked down the stairs of the airplane. After taking in one deep breath and turning around to see the sun coloring the sky, my entire body relaxed. The words “I am home” floated in my head. It’s odd for me because I feel at home in Paris especially with my beau, but Florence is my true home where I feel more relaxed, nurtured, and loved.

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Saturday, September 7, 2013

After spending almost two weeks in Florence, it wasn’t easy for me to leave my beloved city behind. Even though many of my friends were away and many of the negozi (shops) I go to were closed, I enjoyed spending time in my beloved city. It seems that no matter where I am, I miss something or someone. When I’m in Florence, I miss my beau and when I am in France, I miss my beloved city. The transition back to France is not easy even though I navigate between the two cities all the time. I go from stone to cement, and then back to stone.

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Friday, August 23, 2013

When I told many of my friends and acquaintances that I was going to stay in Florence an extra week to search for my apartment, “they” said that it wasn’t worth it. Their excuses were that agencies are closed and owners are still away on vacation. Before taking off for Florence, I emailed about 10 agencies to visit apartments that I saw on-line. I immediately received two responses, which were not positive. Right before arriving in Florence, one agency told me that I could visit an apartment, which was the one I saw on Tuesday. On Thursday afternoon, after not hearing anything for a few days, another man called me on the phone to visit an apartment that I had enquired about. I went to visit it on this morning with my girlfriend.

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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

I had initially planned on returning to Paris with my beau on Monday, but instead I decided to stay an extra week in Florence. My main motivation is because I’m looking for an apartment to buy so I can finally set down my roots. For the past few weeks, I’ve been searching on the Internet. I sent out a few requests, but so far (mostly because many are still on vacation) I haven’t received many responses.

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Monday, August 19, 2013
Me, My Heart, and I :: Rekindling my love for Florence

If the romance disappears, love can certainly fade. At least that’s what I believe. Florence may be my home, but I can’t let the romance or love fade by not showing my beloved city some love. After visiting Tuscany on Thursday and Friday with my beau, I wanted to spend the rest of our time together enjoying Florence. These last three days, I took my beau around town to visit my favorite chiese (churches), musei (museums), trattorie/ristoranti (restaurants), and bars (cafés). When I get the chance to visit my beloved city as a tourist, I definitely feel myself open up and appreciate her even more.

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Friday, August 16, 2013
Me, My Heart, and I :: Enjoying Tuscany to its fullest

When we got on the two-wagon train this morning, I didn’t think the day would go well. The platform was packed with people going to Siena and the train was so small people were standing in the aisles. I was one of the lucky ones seated with my beau at my feet. We got off a couple of stops before Siena at Poggibonsi to catch a bus to San Gimigniano. I hadn’t been back to visit this Tuscan hillside town in years and was eager to take my beau there.

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Thursday, August 15, 2013

The Tuscan countryside is a blur from the window of the train. I try to focus on the rustic buildings in the distance, but am easily distracted by the large fields of girasoli (sunflowers). Its burst of yellow always puts a smile on my face. My beau and I planned on going to trip at the last minute and hopped on a train this morning. I can’t even remember the last time I went to visit Pisa, maybe about 8 years ago.

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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

It’s been a month since I’ve last come home to Florence. I visited a couple of beautiful places, but nothing ever compares to my beloved city. When my plane touched down, I couldn’t wait until I could walk down the airplane steps to finally breathe in my beloved city’s air.

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Friday, August 9, 2013

When I started my new blog a year ago, I pictured my new life a little differently. I thought that I would live in Paris and not in the banlieu (suburbs) and I thought that I’d spend two weeks in Florence and two weeks in Paris. Instead I only spend about one week in Florence per month and the rest of my time in a Parisian banlieu with my beau. It has taken me at least a year to adjust to the choices I’ve made. I am happy and grateful, but there are a few adjustments I’d still like to make.

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