Gucci Museum

One of the unanticipated aesthetic highlights of our time in Florence was the Gucci Museum. Perhaps it shouldn't have been a surprise, given the meaning of the Gucci brand, but their museum certainly supports their reputation for elegant and imaginative design.

Florence Synagogue

Florence has a large and ornate synagogue, perhaps more in Florentine than in usual Jewish style. Security is high, and we couldn't bring in cameras, but cell phones were allowed. Much to my surprise, my cell phone yielded quite beautiful pictures.

Wandering in Florence

After the Uffizi, and lunch, we wandered around Florence shops, looking for leather goods and absorbing the atmosphere.

Demonstration at the Leather Factory

Adjusting the garlic

Love locks on the Ponte Vecchio

First Day in Florence: Uffizi Gallery

Back to Italy. After Venice and Milan we took the train to Florence. After checking into our hotel and buying FirenzeCards to jump the lines at the museums, we made the obligatory first stop at the Uffizi Gallery. Lots of masterpieces, lots of crowds, lots of bizarre juxtapositions.

Along the Willamette River

One more post from Portland before returning to Italy. After a rainy spell we had another bright, sunny day and strolled along the Willamette River as it runs through NW Portland. A pleasant relief to have blue skies and puffy white clouds!

Burnside Bridge

Steel Bridge

Steel Bridge with grain-loading terminal across the river

Grain-loading terminal

Detail of riverfront townhouse in Bauhaus style

Sidewalk running along former pier converted to parking lot for townhouses

Mount Hood

Mount Hood and a few of downtown Portland's tallest buildings viewed on this bright, clear day from the Japanese Garden.

Vivid Greens

One becomes aware in the Japanese Garden of how many shades of green Nature presents to us.