Hi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alexandral]

We are back from Florence. I must re-write my list of 5 favourite cities because Florence will be right there at the top. We had wonderful holidays and Mr. Alexander made some gorgeous pictures. In short:

- I have seen so many paintings and sculptures by Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo Da Vinci that my head is still spinning

- Ice-cream in Florence is the best in the world

- In Florence everyone has a bike or a scooter and uses these means of transportation whilst wearing high-heeled shoes and without wearing any protective suits.

- I have developed a great like for Mr. Iain M. Banks' novels during the course of holidays

Fannish metters

I am in desperate need of a new Western show to watch and will be thankful for any recommendations. Just before the holidays I have discovered absolutely great (although short) Canadian show "Durham county". I highly recommend it and will try to make a proper post.


Asian drama matters

I am watching "Orthros no inu" and loving it. OMPH! Takki is so grown up and pretty! If only Nishikido Ryo and Takizawa Hideaki were cast in the Japanese re-make of "Mawang" instead of the ugly leads that were cast for "Maou"!!!!!

Comments

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

Welcome back! I'm so glad you enjoyed your time in Florence. :) You're reminding me that I never posted a single photo of my trip to Italy this summer. I'm looking forward to yours. :)

In Florence everyone has a bike or a scooter and uses these means of transportation whilst wearing high-heeled shoes and without wearing any protective suits.

Haha, yes, so true everywhere I've been in Italy, and yes, it's rather amazing. This being said, it's pretty much only in the cities that protective gear isn't worn. Our friends who ride motorcycles always wear some kind of protective gear (padded or armored jackets, etc.) when they travel outside of the cities on highways or other roads.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I really loved the country. Such a happy place to live!


Haha, yes, so true everywhere I've been in Italy, and yes, it's rather amazing. This being said, it's pretty much only in the cities that protective gear isn't worn. Our friends who ride motorcycles always wear some kind of protective gear (padded or armored jackets, etc.) when they travel outside of the cities on highways or other roads.

This is what Mr. Alexander and I thought as well. To be fair, in a city like Florence where a) it is very very hot and doesn't seem to rain much, b) traffic is much slower than in , for example, Leeds (otherwise they would have constantly be running over all the tourists wondering the streets) , c) a big part of the city is closed for automobile traffic it seems that a bike/a scooter and a helmet is a pretty sensible combination.

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

I really loved the country. Such a happy place to live!

I agree! I miss it horribly every time I leave - I miss the country nearly as much as I miss our family & friends. :)

Re: motorcycles & scooters - yes, to all your points. However, one thing that Nic points out to me all the time is that scooter usage in the cities is really bad for air quality in Italian cities since many scooters (not all - I don't think Vespa does this) burn gasoline & oil mixed together which generates harmful particulates in a way that cars & motorcycles don't. Scooters then produce a different kind of exhaust which lends to the "blue haze" one sees in many Italian cities.

In any case, I'm always impressed when I see a woman in a skirt and high heels flying by on a scooter, because I'm always impressed that she manages to not let her skirt fly up while she's driving! :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Re: motorcycles & scooters - yes, to all your points. However, one thing that Nic points out to me all the time is that scooter usage in the cities is really bad for air quality in Italian cities since many scooters (not all - I don't think Vespa does this) burn gasoline & oil mixed together which generates harmful particulates in a way that cars & motorcycles don't. Scooters then produce a different kind of exhaust which lends to the "blue haze" one sees in many Italian cities.

This is interesting - Mr. Alexander pointed out that quite a large percentage of the scooters we have seen in Florence were electric, and we also have seen few really cute electric one-seater cars there. In comparison with around here where I am yet to see an electric car or even a hybrid in RL I thought it was a big step forward. but may be this is specific for Frolence?