Wednesday, March 10, 2010

MY CRIME IN FLORENCE

I committed a crime in Florence.  That isn't usually something I would purposely do......I'm usually about following the law to the letter.  (Ask my husband)  But something came over me in Florence and I had to do it!  Most of the places we visited allowed photography.  Some places stated no flash, but you could usually take pictures everywhere.  After all, this was a once in a life time trip, the one and only time you'd be viewing this painting or sculpture, and you wanted to capture the scene forever.  However, (you know what's coming, don't you!) at one of the world's greatest treasures was a sign NO PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED, and I ignored the sign.  I broke the rule.  I committed a crime.  I turned off the flash.  I held the camera at my hip and just happened to press the button, and I took a picture of David.   

It was one of the most impressive sights I've ever seen.  David is huge!  Much bigger than life.  And I needed a picture of him.  And I didn't get caught.  I know that doesn't make it right, but.............Well, it's done and over and I did it.  
Michelangelo's Pieta is breathtaking.  He has put himself in the sculpture, holding up Mary who is holding up Jesus. His most famous Pieta is in the Vatican, but I loved this one too.

This is Donatello's Mary Magdalen.  She looks so incredibly sad.

Graffiti......this is an iron gate on the Ponte Vecchio.  Those are locks that lovers have written their names on........you know ML + EL or Kari loves Mike or some such thing, and they attach the lock to the bar and throw away the key.  When the gate gets too heavily covered with locks, the authorities come along and spend the day cutting the locks off!  At least it doesn't permanently damage some of these treasures that are hundreds of years old.

Below is the famous view from Michelangelo Plaza showing the Baptistry, Bell Tower and Duomo. 
This is the famous Ponte Vicchio.  Along the bridge are shops, mostly expensive jewelry shops.

Next on the trip is Assisi, one of my favorite places.

6 comments:

Linda said...

I bet your purse accidently bumped the camera and a picture was taken! I'm impressed at how nice it turned out! A trip of a lifetime.

Cyndi said...

I am going to show this blog enter of yours to Rene` when she gets home for spring break this weekend. She went there while she was in the navy and she sure would like to go back some day.

Lisa said...

Well they say confession is good for the soul, so you should be feeling much much better!!! The pictures are awesome and I feel you really had a trip of a lifetime! Can't wait to see more!

Joni said...

Florence is absolutely beautiful and I am so jealous...I was reading...admiring...feeling so left out when I realized this trip was some time back. I'm so behind on my favorite blogs, but my busy schedule will come to a screeching halt at the end of May. Meanwhile, I'll keep checking in to see all the beautiful scenery...*sigh.

Miss you ~

AprilinRI said...

Thanks for sharing these photos! I think you have a wonderful eye for photography.

Russell said...

Good for you! Heh! And you know what?? You are NOT alone! I am sure what the authorities do not want is to have the beautiful feeling and atmosphere disrupted by lots of flashing bulbs and people crowding around to have their picture taken in front of the sculpture.

You did not violate the INTENT of the rule, believe me! And I guarantee you thousands and thousands of people took that same picture with their cell phones.

When I visited the Iowa Supreme Court chamber in Des Moines I was told by a guard not to take any pictures.

I did. Yes, I still took pictures in that chamber.

Every other other place in the building allowed photographs so I figured I would take a few in the Iowa Supreme Court chamber, too.

I even waved at the little camera that the guards were watching me on! Heh!!

Good for you! Have a GREAT trip!