Sunday, 8 September 2019 – Florence: Saints, Scholars and Serious Shopping

Florence greeted us with sunshine and familiar beauty—but also with a moment of sadness. This morning, we received the news that Ros’s Uncle Doug had passed away. It was a quiet pause in our travels, a reminder of the connections that stretch across continents, and the people we carry with us, no matter where we are.

We decided to keep moving gently through the day, walking the historic streets and letting the city offer its comfort. Our first stop was the Basilica di Santa Croce, where great minds like Michelangelo and Galileo are laid to rest. There’s a quiet reverence in that place—ornate, yet peaceful—and somehow fitting as we reflected on family and memory.

Inside, we also visited the Scuola del Cuoio (Leather School), marvelling at the craftsmanship and resisting (not very successfully) the urge to buy half the stock. Afterwards, we wandered back through the nearby leather market, an endless maze of handbags, belts, and street vendors calling out deals we didn’t quite believe.

It was a day that mixed emotion with beauty. A bit of heartache wrapped in history, wrapped in the warm glow of Florence. And through it all, we held Uncle Doug close in our thoughts.