Italian Videos now ready

Below are some of the videos I created.

Florence



Below is the beauty of Florence at night:




Here is the small villa we stayed at, Ciliegio



This is Ludmilla's place:

High Praise from Italians

I recently received some praise from two Italians, and coming from Italians, I'll take it. :)

First was from Ed'Veeje's friend, Giovanni, whom she had sent a link to regarding my blog. Here is her email to me about it, what Giovanni thought:

I sent your website and blog and my recent poem about Italia to my dear friend Giovanni who lives just south of Naples and he loved it. He said it makes him love Italia more than he knew he did. That says something - especially when said by a southern Italian man!

'Veeje

Second, was from Rebecca from the Brunello Wine Tour I took. She made a link to it from her website: http://tuscan-wine-tours.blogspot.com/
scroll down to: Saturday, January 12, 2008 Happy 2008

Hi Michael, I finally got high speed internet and have just watched your video - loved it!!! What programme do you use to edit with? I hope you are well and writing lots on your book!

My best,

Rebecca


Thanks for the compliments Rebecca and Giovanni.
Here is the video link on my blog: http://michaeldpalmer.blogspot.com/2007/10/wednesday-october-10-2007.html

For Your Information

Since returning from Italy, I have been re-editing my blog while in Italy, correcting errors in spelling, words left out. I wrote it fairly quickly upon my return. I have been going back over it and adding additional information the last sixty days and have started adding video recently.

The videos are played just like those on YouTube. You shouldn't need anything additional to watch them. Just click and it will play. If it doesn't play, there is something wrong on your end.

I hope anyone who takes time to read or watch my trip about Italy will enjoy. May it bring back your own memories from when you were there, or inspire you to plan your own trip someday.

~ Michael

Sunday, my last day, Ooct 14th, 2007

I got up early and walked Florence one last time. I wanted to take pictures of where Melinda took me and some other places, so I could always remember.

I then walked to the Duomo where it was completely deserted, unlike yesterday. I took some great photos and video. Florence in the morning is just like William Wordsworth's poem, "Composed on Westminster Bridge" described. Again, I felt a peace and calm. I felt attached to Florence. Sometimes, the soul recognizes certain people and certain places. This was one such place, as was Italy, but Florence had it its own special power.

I had a wonderful breakfast again at the Guelfa. I took off for the airport around 10:30am. Made the flight at 1:00 and I was on my way. Flying into Paris, I was able to see the Eiffel Tower and the surrounding structures. Perhaps that will be another adventure I told myself. I only hope it is with someone special who I may shower kisses upon.

While my trip to Italy could be called a trip of a Life time (and it was), I hate that term. It applies you only go once, and I intend to visit Florence many more times. I bid Italy and Florence "arrivederci per adesso" (goodbye for now).

Saturday Afternoon - Oct 13th, 2007

After I left Melinda, I went back to San Lorenzo market where I bought a couple of souvenirs. One for Bob and a couple of things for Sam'e. Bob's gift was easy. He just wanted a coffee cup. I found one with a picture of Florence on it. Sam'e wanted a plate or something similar. I found a hand-painted saucer and cup with the artist's name painted on the bottom. It is very beautiful. I then went to find some very special stationary for myself. I wanted to write and thank Ed'Veeje and Raquel for inviting me, and I wanted it to come from Italy.

I found a beautiful design in one of the stores along the Arno River. There was no stationary with Florence on it - I couldn't believe it. I asked the shop owner, and she had to go into the back store room, where she found exactly what I was looking for. It was cream color. At the top of paper was a hand-painted picture of Florence, with the Duomo, and some other recognizable buildings. The small little two and half picture is framed by gold Greek-looking border. The top and bottom of the frame have blue line running across it. It was perfect.

I spent the afternoon again walking around in Florence, still allowing this beautiful lover to soak into my soul. I cannot describe how complete I felt with Florence. I barely knew her, and yet she had made me another one of her many lovers. If I never return, I have no regrets. I wished I could've done more, but had I tried to run here or there and do everything, I would've missed Florence, the gentle lover all together. Some of you may laugh using the term lover, but until you are there and allow yourself to let the beauty of the City wash over you in "slow" moments of being, you will never understand. The picture above is one I took late at night when all the vendors were gone, on the west side of the Piazza della Republicca, under the porticoes.

I ended up having dinner alone (purposely) early at Piazza della Signoria at one of the squares tourist restaurants. It was not that good, but sitting there and watching the sun go down in the square watching people walk by was peaceful. Families, tourist, Italians, lovers, kids, it was all so beautiful to me. I was part of Florence. I returned to my hotel room and wrote two letters with my new stationary. One to Ed'Veeje and one my friend, Kathy.

Here is a little video I put together with poem and music. This is just like viewing YouTube videos. If it doesn't start in 30 seconds, there is something wrong on your end.

Saturday, October 13th, 2007

I woke early Saturday morning. It would be my last full day in Firenze. I was to meet Melinda Gallo, who lives in Florence. She is a blogger describing her daily life while living in Florence. She does an excellent job of describing the daily lives of Italians and what it is like to live in Italy, specifically, Florence.

Saturday was a clear and was going to be a beautiful day.

I met Melinda at 9:00 am as agreed in her Piazza. She pointed to her apartment on the top floor, with a terrace above it. We then walked along the Arno on our way to one of her favorite coffee shops, Caffè Giacosa. We talked and got to know each other. I had my first espresso then a cappuccino and pastry. We had a great conversation. Melinda wouldn't allow me to pay for it, which was difficult for me being a Texas gentleman.

I then took Melinda over to my hotel to show her the roof terrace view. She thought it was breath-taking too. She said she never tired of looking at Florence. I agreed. I could've sat there forever looking out over the city. There is poem by William Wordsworth which reminds of Florence:

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theaters, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendor valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will.
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

Melinda and I then parted company. She had some shopping to do as I did. She asked if I'd like to go to lunch, so we met back up at 1:00pm. She took me over to Oltrano district and we ate near the church Santa Spirito. The Osteria Santo Spirito had great food and we had a very good meal and great conversation. We then took coffee across from the Pitti Palace at Gola E Cantina and Wine Bar I believe, a few blocks away. The great thing about Florence is walking every where. I enjoyed that so much. We departed finally and I felt like I had another friend. She was a remarkable woman. She shared with me her and her boyfriend, Alessandro were getting married later this month. I was so happy for her. It was a great treat for me meeting her. I wish her and Alessandro all the best. I still read her blog about living in Florence, being married, and living a dream.

Friday Night, Oct 12th, 2007

I met a very fun, interesting, cute couple from Ft Worth , Texas of all places. We hit it off and they invited me to dinner with them. I hesitated, but then decided to accept the invitation. I just didn't want to be alone tonight. We ended up at a little Trattoria about two blocks from the hotel. We had to wait until 8:30 before we got some seats. It is very popular. The food was okay. The couple didn't drink, but I ordered some wine anyway.

After dinner, I departed the couple and walked the very quiet streets of Florence. I loved walking with no crowds and feeling Florence in a different way. I walked along the gentle flowing Arno river, passed by lovers kissing on a moonless night. I stopped back on via maria street and got myself a gelato. I leaned up against a building and ate my ice cream, watching the people and night go by.