Looking out over the city of Florence from the top of the Duomo is abosutely amazing. The red terracotta roofs expand and gently fuse with the bright blue sky. 436 steps. No lifts. ugh. But it was so worth it. Yesterday we also went to a beautiful garden overlooking the city from the south end. It really made me quite homesick being in a garden, sitting on grass for the first time in ages it feels like. As I finished a sketch, I was feeling nostolgic and really just wanted to have dinner and go for a walk by the river at night, I passed a street vendor making balloon animals. In his hand he had a butterfly on a long balloon. He was gently fluttering it about in front of him as I passed, Ipod in hand. It was so perfect. I hope he seen the big smile I had on my face as I passed him, because his simple gesture made all the difference for me.