Being driven to Florence from our studios in France through the rolling volcanic Route de Fromage of the Auvergne, spiralling skywards into the French Apennines through driving rain and a foggy snow blizzard worthy of Turner's masterpiece on the subject and then carefully unwinding ourselves down through the foothills of the Apennines and so on to the bright Titian blue skies of Florence was just the perfect 50th Birthday present from one Artiste Peintre to another Artiste Peintre and a celebration of everything that makes our shared world pulsate.
We arrived in Florence late afternoon Saturday 15th October 2016 by car at the Horologie Hotel in commemoration of my maternal grandfather Lenard Bott who started out as a watchmaker and jeweller. I remember well his special tin of watch mechanisms and articulated silvery and golden watch bracelets.
We ran around the Duomo on the square and then suppered at La Menagere, a vaulted jazz café- resto- winebar with a live music jazz basement, upstairs flower seller and Italian fine patisseries vendor and the seeming epicentre of Florentine 21st century bright young things. Recommended!
And so to bed ...good night ladies and gentlemen ...good night !
