Gordana & Vladamirs Party

Gordana & Vladamirs party..what a blast..!!!

Thanks to Gordana & Vladamir for hosting an awesome party; Thanks to Helena & Carmila - our cocktail glass was never empty; thanks to Marco & Vladamir - we have photographic evidence; Thanks to Sabine, Martina, Olga & Zelka we kept dancing all night; Thanks to handsome Marco (junior) & Yardira for entertaining my Mamma; ... and thanks Mamma for ensuring that the party didn't get too out of hand...

Jules' 37th Birthday Celebration

Could a girl wish for anything more on her Birthday....

A GORGEOUS day!

My Birthday started with breakfast on the balcony of the Quiranelle Hotel, via Nazionale Rome with Mum and ended in Firenze with Marco.

The photo below was taken by Marco as I was about to blow out the candle on my 'Birthday cake' (ok.. dessert 'cause I'm too old for Birthday cakes).

Do you want to know what I wished for....?

Rome

Mum & Jules, Trevi Fountain, Rome.

...and at Piazza Esedra, Rome.

Museo Vatican (above) & marble sculpture from Basilica San Pietro (below), Rome.

September 23rd, 2007

Dinner near Piazza Navona, Rome to celebrate my 37th Birthday.

Sistine Chapel, Rome.

Street performer

Spanish Steps in Rome on a Saturday night...

Cyling - Isola D'Elba

Isola d'Elba
September 2007

Isola D'Elba

Esedra & Jules - La Dolca Vita

September 2007

Isola D'Elba is a natural archipelago island off the coast of Lazio and Toscana. A beloved oasis, which I discovered in August when I went on my "Italian Summer holiday"..

After Mum arrived in Italy to visit me, I decided to take her to Isola D'Elba to get her acclimatised to the Italian way of living.. and relaxing. ... La Dolca Vita... ahhh.. pure heaven.

Above, Breakfast - local style and below dinner with seasonal locals.

One Sunday morning, Mum and I were casually introduced to Rebecca & Ron by Chessi's local icon, long distance swimming champion and humanitarian Piere-Luigi. We had breakfast together in the nearby town and then went to Marciano Alta for dinner the next night.

They are a really interesting couple. Ron is a real character and after a few glasses of red wine had many stories to spin particularly from his adventures as a photographer for National Geographic. Rebecca is sweet, intelligent and down to earth and is a film producer based in London.

Esedra & Jules relaxing on Chessi beach, Isola D'Elba.

"Italian Summer holiday"

August 2007

Jules on the balcony of her beach front apartment in Chessi and an image of her heart's desire...ahhh..one day....

Calabria Summer 2007

Marco & Jules on the road to the Calabrian Coast.

Calabrian coast & our fun fishing expedition with Eugenio.

Red peppers drying under the Italian sun in Calabria.

Driving home to Firenze from Calabria.

Aeoilan Islands

Piccola

Julie, Julie, Julie...

Ma cosa mi fai piccola? Hai strani poteri sai Jules, qualcosa di magico che fa fermare il tempo e lo spazio... non posso creder di avere trascorso tutto il weekend abbracciato a te, riempiendoti di baci e saziando il mio cuore con la tua presenza, mi stai facendo letteralmente impazzire e devo stare attento a non perdere il controllo!

Ciao un bacio, Marco

Pablo Neruda

To you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao Jules, come stai??? Anzi: "dove sei????"

Ti mando questa poesia e fai conto che te la to leggendo io. Ricordi? Eravamo seduti all'Autogrill vicino alla Calabria (mi sembra che si chiamase Sala Consilina il posto) ed e uno dei tani dolci ricordi che ho del nostro breve viaggio...

Ciao Marco.

XLIV

Saprai che non t'amo e che t'amo

perche la vita e in due maniere,

la parola e un'ala del silenzio,

il fuoco ha una meta di freddo.

Io t'amo per cominciare ad amarti,

per ricominciare l'infinito,

per non cessare d'amarti mai:

per questo non t'amo ancora.

T'amo e non t'amo come se avessi

nelle mie mani le chiavi della gioia

e un ncerto destino sventurato.

Il mio amore ha due vite per amarti.

Per questo t'amo quando on t'amo

e per questo t'amo quando t'amo.

- Pablo Neruda.

Gordana & Sabine's Birthday celebration

Piazza Beccaria


Gordana, Sandra and Olga.

Dreaming..?

Although I've been here for over four months, it still feels like this is a dream. Time seems to be standing still and I feel as though I only moved to Italy last week.

I ADORE living in Firenze and feel as though this is where I'm met to be at this point in my life.

Life is essentially simple and I'm very happy. BLISSFULLY HAPPPY...

I started working full time at Casini, Pitti Palace a month ago. I work in both their stores. The first is an exclusive and beautiful shop which sells accessories and clothing for women (all Italian designers and natural fabrics). The adjacent second store, sells mens and ladies leather coats, shoes, brief cases, wallets, bags and belts. The most challenging aspect of work, is trying to comprehend their instructions when conveyed in frenetic Italian speech and stress levels in the store are high.Naturally this is a world away from my career, career aspirations and professional comfort zone, but for now I'm okay with that. I feel secure that I'm an intelligent, capable and resilient individual and that I can learn from this new experience and the people around me. 

Each day I kayak for an hour in the mornings before work and then in the evenings I'm free to play - to meet up with friends in ambient wine bars for an appertivo (or two), go to a friends house for a candlelit dinner vat their villa, attend contemporary art exhibits, theatre or dance shows, or sit on the Ponte near San Spirito, eating an ice cream at sunset whilst watching the crowds that past. I've made friends with some of the girls from work and have started swimming two nights a week at a local outdoor swimming pool. There are so many beautiful visual memories that I just feel like I'm dreaming.

I believe that I first fell-in-love with Italy as a country, a culture and its traditions when I was 23 years old; but I've somehow I've also imagined that I'd fall-in-love-in-Italy one day... Although I'm reluctant to say I'm in love because it may be too soon and I don't want to focus on that, 7 weeks ago whilst kayaking at the Firenze Rowing Club I met someone very special. Marco the handsome Florentine architect and we have be together every day since. He is beautiful. Really beautiful and I'm swimming in a sea of happiness. I feel secure, content, cherished, adored, stimulated, and sufficiently challenged. Gradually, he is etching his name and the memory into my life.

Everything is going well, however we recently litigated about a clash in our dreams. Naturally, I want to inevitably get married and have a family and Marco has already fulfilled these dreams and needs. I understand his situation, but am also in a dilemma, because these dreams are important to me and I want to see them fulfilled with the man I love.

As a result of lengthy discussions, I recently thought: What is more important 'Finding my soul mate? Or finding my husband and the father of my children?'. With Marco there is incredible synergy, natural energy and shared passions. I never thought I'd met a man who complemented me in every dimension of my life (art, theatre, food, sport, and culture) as he does. I don't know what the answer is or where this will go.. and I don't care either, because for now, I just want to be free to enjoy his companionship, attention and tenderness.

The weather is constantly hot and humidity is really high. Which makes walking through Firenze or dressing elegantly for work an immense challenge. Tomorrow I have the day off, so I'm heading to the Tuscan coast, Monte Argentario with Marco.

With the help of some friends, I recently relocated my belongings from Baccio da Montelupo to my 'own' apartment in San Frediano, in the heart of Firenze. We moved all my gear on a balmy Saturday night at 2.30am and spent the rest of the morning celebrating with red wine, pizza and laughter. We felt like adolescents. It was fun!

New address: Via dell'Orto 2C San Frediano 50124 Firenze Tuscany ITALIA.

Please come and visit... I don't ever want to leave.

Contemporary Arts in Firenze

George Tatges' photo exhibition at Villa Bardini, Firenze (September 2008).

Photography exhibition on contemporary dance, Piazza Pasera, Firenze (July 2007).

Falling in love

Marco and Jules, Fiesole

Marco & Jules, Fiesole

Marco & Jules walking through the streets of Fiesole after visiting his son Matteo.

A trace of him

I want him.
He wants me.
I hold the pillow where his head lay.
I lie on his side of the bed.
Doing this makes me feel closer to him,
Until we meet again.

Casini

Working at Casini's is a like a page out of a novel.

Who could have believed that Holly would stop and offer me a lift that day and that on the way to Florence, she would ask me if I was interested in working at Casini's.. ?

I still remember her description of me and the dialogue that followed

"You look like sunshine and sweetness. Do you want a job?.."

"..ah..mm..yeah..well I was actually..."

"Okay then! Do you have a phone? ... "cause's he's interviewing today"

I reach into my bag instantly

"Great then, okay now ring this number ..oh yeah and ask for Giorgio."

"Giorgio.." I repeat as I begin to dial 39..

"Yeah that's right Giorgio, tell him your interested in a job - and that you know Holly."

I was thinking about how I was casually dressed as I dialed the number and then felt like I tumbled over my words as I asked in 'pigeon Italian' for Giorgio.

I also remember the conversations Holly and I had in the car as we drove to Florence and her attempts to trigger some recognition in my face when she mentioned this well established and revered store.. "Casini's.. in front of Palazzo Pitti?.. You don't know it.. you sure? Anyway your great, you'll be great.. you'll get the job.. I'm sure"

Although the work can be challenging and demanding at times, it is a fun and interesting place to work and working in an international environment is enriching. I work along side woman from France (Sabine), Mexico (Claudia), Serbia (Gordana and Zelka), Crotia (Helena), Macadeonia (Olga), Romania (Carmen), Israel (Mera), Brazil (Dora and Carmila), one Florentine (Martina)... and I'm the Aussie girl!

Jules outside Casini, Palazzo Pitti.