Monday Moods: I feel... reminded.




In college,
I was fortunate to study in Florence
and was somehow cognizant enough to know at the time
that I was really living.

Upon returning home to Dallas,
I couldn't shut up about my time there
for years a long time after.

I would long to return to the summers spent in Florence.
I ached when I saw a scene on TV from Italy.
I would flip through my pictures again & again
in hopes of reliving those wonderful months.

After I started working
and traveled through more of the world,
my passion for Italy subsided a bit.

I began to give my heart out to new places.


While I would come back to visit every so often,
it was typically with people seeing it the country for the first time.
My limited vacation time was spent running the loop between 
the big sites of Rome, Florence, & Venice.

But a sleepy week in the country
has started to awake my younger-self,
and slowly I'm becoming romanced 
back into my young love for Italy.

Suddenly, I remember just how perfect the weather is here,
how serene the sunsets are,
how divine the daily simpleness is,
what tomatoes taste like with a little olive oil and salt,
and the forgotten bliss of walking 
through quiet neighborhoods at night.

It really is perfect here, I think.





We had lunch at the Antinori Vineyards, and people were getting their wine-tasting on.

We had an olive oil tasting. I'd never heard of doing that- but it's amazing the difference in each type of oil.


This weather is dreamy.

Dinner on the terrace.

Un caffe freddo at my favorite scenic view in Florence: the cafe on the top of La Rinascente. Best kept secret!



*all images original to Aspiring Kennedy

15 comments:

  1. Sigh....really wishing summer wasn't coming to an end. These are just heavenly pics. And good lesson learned to enjoy the present!

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  2. i can't wait to go back. the countdown is on. you're welcome at my house anytime, we have those olive grove/ocean/stone housed views in abundance. :)

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  3. I spent a couple elementary years in Milan. So italy has always held this special place in my heart. And after all the travels - I still love italy the most. it's so dreamy.

    thanks for these great pictures (:

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  4. I think we established the whole we are both texas girls going to italy, totally understand the heartache. There is absolutely NO comparison between texas and florence!
    xo emily

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  5. I am so glad your dream came true! I love how you not only have these experiences but you make the most out of them.

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  6. i love this. i've always wanted to travel to italy. thanks for keeping my dream alive. ;) amazing photos!

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  7. I feel the same way about my first trip to Florence...its such a beautiful place! Enjoy.

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  8. I feel the same way about Switzerland where I lived during the summers in college!! Florence and Tuscany are of course wonderful!! Your photos are sublime!! And love Antinori - what we served at our wedding!,

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  9. Simply gorgeous! I had friends who studied in Italy, based in Venice. But they all said that by far, Florence was their favorite. :)

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  10. The best vacations are the ones where you get to sit and just enjoy the culture, not necessarily jumping from each tourist sight. Glad you re-fell in love with Italy- your photos are gorgeous!

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  11. Looks like a ball! My sis and I did an olive oil tasting in Sonoma- not as fun as vino, but still a fun experience!

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  12. Was the anitori vineyard in Florence? Would love any other day trip suggestions for a 5 day vaca in Florence. Also looking for a country town to spend a night or two in.

    Thanks!!

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  13. I'm studying abroad in Florence right now and agree with all these things! (Except maybe the weather, but I'm sure I'll be proven wrong once spring rolls around...) Definitely plan on checking out la Rinascente soon! Thanks for the recommendation :)

    eatwelltraveloftenblog.blogspot.com

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