Sitting at the table, beside the open window in the B&B, the street sounds of Florence drift up. A very good street musician, playing the Clarinet for coins, is serenading the passersby (and me) with "Tea for Two", "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", "Song from Moulin Rouge", and others. As he finishes, I applaud and the lady hanging out the window across the street also applauds, smiles at me and speaks to me in Italian - I understand that she's saying he's "very good".
The shopkeeper in the small shop beneath the B&B has placed a kitchen step stool in the street in front of his store - either to save his parking spot or to deter others from parking.
A guided walking tour passes on the street - and the tour guide is speaking in Italian. To ensure that the group keeps up with her, she holds a folded red umbrella high in the air above her head.
The small sidewalk cafe in the alley directly in front of my window is entertaining two families with young children. A female on a motorbike travelling too fast for the alley, almost hits one of the children - and an argument begins with the mother and the rider yelling back at forth at each other.
A beggar lady, shaking her cup, walks among the tourists - eyes dart the other way as if they don't see her. Bicycles are parked along the street, beside a trash bin, and chained. An older man walks up to one of the bikes, quickly glances around, cuts the chain and throws it into the trash bin - jumps on the bike and speeds away.
The streets are narrow and the buildings are ancient, but the sounds remain the same .....people laughing and talking, horns blowing, sirens blaring .....people enjoying the day.
Ciao!!
Sarah
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