Florence/Tuscany 2023

Hello to one and all! Another year and I would normally say another hike, but this year my trip, fortunately, is a little different. Given that this year’s destination is the place of the birth of the Renaissance, Florence, Italy, rather than making a through hike from point to point as is usually the case, it is my intent to do a series of events/hikes in and near the city while trying to take in the sites of Florence. Taking in the “sites of Florence” I am afraid is going to be similar to trying to get a drink of water from a fire hose, but since when has that ever stopped me from trying 😊.

I say “fortunately” that this year is not a through hike in that I have been dealing with a bad case of planar fasciitis since April culminating in the second steroid shot in my heel today due to the fact that, when it is really acting up, every step I take feels like I have just stepped on a sharp rock and I’m not talking pea gravel but #4 or #5 stone (driveway gravel in layman’s terms 🙂 ). Thus, my training has been extremely limited to no more than fifteen miles, on a good week and many weeks no hiking at all as I tried to get the tendon to cool down. So, the longest day hike that I am contemplating this year is 11 miles from Pontassieve back into Florence that I can bail out after six miles and take the train back into Florence if need be.

Despite the challenge of a bad left wheel, I do plan on having fun such as going on a truffle hunt the first full day I am in Florence at a nearby farm with a truffle hunter and her trusty dog (in Italy they use dogs, in France it’s pigs). In the southern USA, the phrase “A blind hog snuffs up an acorn every once in a while” is a play off of truffle hunting with the saying, for those lacking a working knowledge of southern United States colloquialisms, being similar to “Even a broken clock is right twice a day”. 😂

If everything works right beyond the truffle hunt and hike back into the city, I plan to hike up to Piazzale Michelangelo across the Arno River from Florence which is supposed to provide some panoramic views of the city. Finally, I have a day in Rome before my return and, since it is a Wednesday, myself and I assume several thousand other better Catholics than I may get a chance to have an audience with Pope Francis (Papa Francesco in Italian). Ecco, guarda questo spazia più a venire! (So, watch this space, more to come)