Firenze Frenzy

Buono Sera blogistas - and a warm greetings from one of the world's great cities - Firenze (or as we choose to "dumb down" its name in English, Florence). Patty and I have been here for a few days and are finding that a city that initially appeared to be muggy and crowded has easily set its hooks into us in no time at all. If one is a true art lover (which I must confess I am not), I can well imagine intending to stay here for a few days and then extending for a month.

Firenze, at the height of the Renaissance in the 15th century found itself in one of these rare times and places in history where a convergence of human energy and spirit unleashed an unparralled explosion of art and culture. Some of the true giants of Western civilization were at work here in this city over at the same time - including Michelangelo, da Vinci, Galileo, Machiavelli and Bottecelli. As you walk around these streets with art on virtually every corner, one wonders what must have flowed in the air and water of this place to give birth to the intellectual floweriung that Firenze cultivated during the Rennaisance. One can imagine the jousting of these major players, bouncing ideas off of each other and rising to the challenges of their competitors' work to bash boundaries and push fornteirs. It helped, for sure, that there were major benefactors in place, such as the Medicis, as well as lesser lights who sought to define their status in society by commissioning a pianting here, a sculpture there or a chapel in their church. I often wonder if the people who lived here at the time knew they were in the middle of one of these rare global epicentres. Have we seen the likes of 15th century Firenze since? Paris in the Enlightenment of the 18th century perhaps. And one wonders if we will we see its likes again in our contemporary XBox culture?

That's enough for all of these weighty questions. As the "If not now, when?" tour de monde enters its last few weeks overseas, Patty has re-christened it the "It is only money" tour. We are doing a commendable job burning Euros in Firenze's lether and clothing markets while drowning our cah flow sorrows with some fine Chianti. We have also added a new twist to the Tuscan cultural tour and have decided to rent a car and chase all and sundry pop and jazz acts as they converge on Tuscany's delightful festivals in various piazzas and Roman ampitheatres over the month of July. It is time for some true confessions here - one of my favourite acts of the "new wave" era was the Talking Heads. Last night, in a 2500 seat, 2000 year old Roman ampithetre in Fiesole "uphill" from Firenze, we saw a fantastic concert by Talking heads-lead David Byrne accompanied by some very talented musicians and dancers. On Wednesday, we are heading to Arrezo to see Tracy Chapman in conecert (for all of 15 Euros a ticket). Four days later, in Lucca's main square, we hope to see John Fogerty, leader of what Rolling Stone magazine called the "greatest garage band in the world" - Creedence Clearwater Revival. And this is just a selection of what is on offer in these parts over the next month with acts including Stevie Winwood, James Taylor, Chick Corea, Keith Jarret and Joe Jackson - all of whom are playing at ticket prices considerably below North American concert fees. I am sure we will enjoy these shows - again, with great apologies to our children who might have been expecting some sort of inheritance.

Ciao Bella