Le Journal de +Louise

Trip Report – {Florence 8 Nov 2008}

A trip to Florence is not complete if you do not visit its famous designer outlets. So we dedicated day 2 for some retail therapy.

Took a bus tour to Space Outlet in Montervarchi, after a journey of approximately 1-1.5 hours, the bus arrived at a very unassumingly large black building. This houses all the glittery Pradas at (somewhat) amazingly discounted prices. The security procedure was extremely vigilant, therefore no photos within the building.

We found this outlet a tad too overwhelming (probably because the tour only allocated 1.5 hours of shopping time at Space) God knows I don’t shop well under pressure!

Prada score: 1 bag, 1 coin purse and a pair of tooled leather shoes for Leo.

Next stop: The Mall

The Mall is about 1/2 hour’s drive from Space and consists of outlet stores such as Alexander McQueen (sigh), La Perla, Marni, Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent. Here we spent the allocated 2 hours and 45 minutes leisurely strolling the stores and trying to avoid the complete hysteria that is in the Gucci outlet.

Score: A demure set of La Perla, a trio of Marni brooches.

We went back to Alloro, freshened up and went out for a quick bite.

Florence, with its cobble stoned streets and beautiful Renaissance architecture, all bathed in warm yellow light is indeed a sight to behold.

We wandered around the streets before heading back. A big day ahead tomorrow, my birthday! =)

While the northern hemisphere is mostly waist deep in snow, Melbourne scorched today.

The mercury shot up to 43C; total fire ban, people urged to stay indoors and city workers are advised to head home early.

Another sleepless night ahead =(

Trip Report – {Florence 7 Nov 2008}

We arrived into Florence’s Santa Maria Novella Station via Eurostar. The train ride was smooth, the cabins were comfortable and the best bit was the power outlets located at every seat’s table. It made the 4.5 hour train ride slightly more bearable.

Our itinerary was to leave our luggage at our BnB and then rush to the train station again, board the next train out to Pisa.

Prior to our trip, I have read all about the infamous Italian train strikes and have been crossing my fingers that we would not encounter one. But, of course, as luck would have it, half way to Pisa, our train came to a complete halt in the middle of nowhere.

The PA announcements were all in Italian, and when I asked around, nobody seemed to be able to speak English, until a kind American advised me that students were protesting on the tracks and trains are not expected to head into Pisa for another 5 hours! With that, we decided to cross the platform and catch the returning train back to Florence.

Alloro Bed and Breakfast

Alloro Bed and Breakfast is tucked away in a quiet street off the main pulse of Florence. Christian, the owner’s son, who is the most accommodating, honoured our request for the ‘red’ room. And the reviews on Tripadvisor were spot on, and the room definitely did not disappoint!

San Lorenzo Market

Florence, known for its Renaissance splendour, precious carved cameos, and of course, leatherwork.
Unfazed by the sudden change of plan, we decided to hit San Lorenzo market right away. The smell of leather was intoxicating…

I bought one and wore it straightaway!

Leo haggling away for his lined lambskin gloves… They’re divine!

We were ravenous after our leather shopping spree and decided to stop by a quaint little restaurant (which name I have regrettably forgotten to note down)

I discovered my liking for pollo e funghi pizzas; and Leo learnt the difference between bellisimo and bollisimo (in the most embarrassing way)!

Accademia

The Florentine gallery houses the infamous David statue by Michelangelo. David’s statue was moved from outdoors and into the gallery for conservation purposes.

Photography was strictly prohibited within the premises, however, I managed to curl up in an unassuming corner and tried my hardest to quietly snap away, before 2 burly female guards came running towards me and blurting out incomprehensible (in what I can only assume to be) polite italian.

Duomo/Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

The marble panels are in different shades of green and pink, bordered by white and is part of an elaborate 19th century gothic revival facade. The basilica remains as one of Italy’s largest churches and its dome is the largest brick dome in the world.

We booked tickets for a tour out to the designer outlets bright and early the next morning, so we decided to turn in around 10pm.

Trip Report – {Rome 6 Nov 2008}

Today marked the our final day in Rome. We woke up at the crack of dawn, revisited the Trevi, threw coins over our shoulders, and hoped for the possibility of returning to the Eternal City one day.

Next stop: Florence =)

Nope. Still here. Time to dust off these cobwebs (haven’t we all heard that before!).

In laws were here for Christmas and ushering in of the New Year. Had way too much food, spent way too much and took way too few pictures.

So here’s to a brand new 12 months, may they be filled with lots of love, merriment, light and endless possibilities! =)

I initially created this blog to record my progress in yoga, in travels, in love and in life. And in yoga, in particular.

I set myself up for a mini challenge, I went to classes diligently at least 5 times a week. My body was limber, toned, and my mind crystal clear.

I blitzed towards the end of my challenge, and worked my way vigilantly to ensure that all the classes I took were peppered with kudos.

My favourite teacher is quite generous with his kudos, and of course, likewise with his hawk eye criticism. I used to starve and feed on these kudos; Because in the hot room it is just you against yourself in the mirror. Because in the hot room the temperature creeps all the way up to 42C and the heat singes your skin. Because in the hot room you feed on whatever support you can get, just to will your mind and keep on moving.

However, post 2 indulgent trips and a feverish week threw everything up in the air. My yoga sessions have dwindled down to 2 classes per week (if I could be bothered), have befriended the new starters and retreated all the way towards the second last row. And the kudos became far and in between, and as of a couple of weeks ago, they have completely dropped out of my vocabulary and I let my stripes stripped right off my Lululemon tops.

Last night, I decided that enough is enough. I put my blue mat down, in the skin singeing heat, amidst the other 35+ students.

I was focused. My muscles quivered and my mind screamed out at me in beads of sweat, “Take a break!”, “Kneel down and catch your breath!”. But I persisted. My eyes never strayed from the mirror.

And then it happened, the kudos rolled in. I rocked Standing Bow, Head to Knee, Floor Bow and Rabbit. And I felt GREAT.

I drove home with the biggest smile.

I am now determined to acquire my much loved stripes, one at a time, even if it kills me.

Photo credits: Jon Buch

No wise man ever wished to be younger.

Jonathan Swift

This year’s birthday was a quiet, subdued one. The day was spent at home from work, nursing a jet lag and trying desperately to escape from the heat that is (still) scorching the state.

Text messages from friends and family, some laced with well wishes, and some, would not stop reminding me that I am, indeed, one year older. I have never understood the sentiment of  “The older you get, the more comfortable you are in your own skin”, until, now.

This year, there was no need for special revelations, no sticky party streamers, no detestably sweet birthday cakes and no staring at mirrors, wondering where the heck did the years go. A surprise over indulgent present from Leo and a quiet dinner for two were enough to make me feel special.

If this is what getting old is all about, then here’s to another year!

Much love and light…

In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.

Mark Twain

The annual Tesselaar Tulip Festival is here again in Melbourne and after many, many wet weekends, we jumped at the chance when the sun decided to sneak out of its hiatus and took a pleasant drive to Silvan.

And we arrived upon fields of blooming tulips…

Tulip Festivals are being celebrated throughout many cities in the world as tulips are considered a welcome herald of Spring.

Time to don those wooden clogs as the entire tulip farm was transformed into a mini Holland.

Fabio, the garden gnome catching a breather amongst the colourful flower beds.

And a visit to the festival would not be complete without a jolt of sugar hit at the end of a beautiful day, Dutch pancakes, of course =)