Swap meet poster
Ferrari 355
All sorts of scooters
In one of the classic car magazines that Dom buys over here he saw a notice for a Scambio auto - moto e ricambi d’epoca (classic car/motorcycle/parts swap meet) in Florence this weekend. The event was held under part of the grandstand at the main soccer stadium. We left the house early, stopped for cappucini and pastry at the bar here in Partigliano and made it there by about 9:30. It was another beautiful day and we really enjoyed the drive along the autostrada through the countryside, especially the area around Pistoia and Prato where there are miles of plant nurseries. One in particular, Rose Barni (Barni Roses), was spectacular—acres of flowering plants in a rainbow of colors.
The swap meet was a much smaller version of the ginormous show we saw last fall in Padova. Nonetheless there were some interesting vehicles. Dom was particularly taken with a Ferrari 355. There was also a variety of motorcycles, scooters, and cars in various stages of repair and disrepair. Lots of parts, tools, magazines, clothes and other motor head paraphernalia were also offered for sale. We saw serious buyers who had small carts to haul off their finds as well as other looky-lous like us. Although I think Dom would have really liked to take the Ferrari home.
The swap meet was a much smaller version of the ginormous show we saw last fall in Padova. Nonetheless there were some interesting vehicles. Dom was particularly taken with a Ferrari 355. There was also a variety of motorcycles, scooters, and cars in various stages of repair and disrepair. Lots of parts, tools, magazines, clothes and other motor head paraphernalia were also offered for sale. We saw serious buyers who had small carts to haul off their finds as well as other looky-lous like us. Although I think Dom would have really liked to take the Ferrari home.
A mob of tourists at Fiesole
Roman amphitheater
Arches from Roman bathes framing Fiesole church tower
It was such a small show that we had seen it all by 10:30 am. We decided to drive up to the town of Fiesole in the hills to the north of Florence. It had been about seventeen years since we had been there and the last time the weather was not good. We zoomed up the hill to the small town and found parking near the archeological park and museum. So that seemed like the thing to do. We spent about an hour there looking at the museum exhibits—Etruscan, Roman and Longobard artifacts—and then walked around the park that includes the remains of a Roman amphitheater, baths and temples. It was warm and sunny with a slight breeze. As we strolled we could smell the scent of early flowering jasmine. It was darn near idyllic except for the tourists (we have met the enemy and he is us!). There was about sixty Americans (mostly teens, either high school or college) touring the sight with a guide. Most of them were more interested in taking pictures of each other in front of every piece of stone in the park. They were quite amusing to watch. Dom got a kick out of the fact that one of them said, “Buongiorno” to us as we walked through the group. Did they think we were Italian!?!?
After we finished at the park we walked up the hill in Fiesole looking in the shop windows and searching for a place for lunch. In the end we went back to the main piazza and sat outdoors at Bar Blu. It has a fabulous view of the city of Florence. Spread below us we could see the Duomo and the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio. We had a light lunch before heading back to the car and making our way back home.
After our busy morning we returned to the house and just vegged. Late in the afternoon I sat on the patio reading in the sunshine. It is about 7 pm before the sun drops below the hills so it stays quite pleasant outside well into the evening. Nonetheless, the inside of the house is still quite cold. I can hardly wait until the walls warm up and the house is as pleasant inside as outside.
It was such a small show that we had seen it all by 10:30 am. We decided to drive up to the town of Fiesole in the hills to the north of Florence. It had been about seventeen years since we had been there and the last time the weather was not good. We zoomed up the hill to the small town and found parking near the archeological park and museum. So that seemed like the thing to do. We spent about an hour there looking at the museum exhibits—Etruscan, Roman and Longobard artifacts—and then walked around the park that includes the remains of a Roman amphitheater, baths and temples. It was warm and sunny with a slight breeze. As we strolled we could smell the scent of early flowering jasmine. It was darn near idyllic except for the tourists (we have met the enemy and he is us!). There was about sixty Americans (mostly teens, either high school or college) touring the sight with a guide. Most of them were more interested in taking pictures of each other in front of every piece of stone in the park. They were quite amusing to watch. Dom got a kick out of the fact that one of them said, “Buongiorno” to us as we walked through the group. Did they think we were Italian!?!?
After we finished at the park we walked up the hill in Fiesole looking in the shop windows and searching for a place for lunch. In the end we went back to the main piazza and sat outdoors at Bar Blu. It has a fabulous view of the city of Florence. Spread below us we could see the Duomo and the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio. We had a light lunch before heading back to the car and making our way back home.
After our busy morning we returned to the house and just vegged. Late in the afternoon I sat on the patio reading in the sunshine. It is about 7 pm before the sun drops below the hills so it stays quite pleasant outside well into the evening. Nonetheless, the inside of the house is still quite cold. I can hardly wait until the walls warm up and the house is as pleasant inside as outside.
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