Sunrise and smelling the coffee

canada goose outlet vancouver 5am is an ungodly hour: not even God has woken up yet. And not trusting myself to do the same, I have stayed awake for the sake of walking to Santa Maria Novella and catching the 5:45 intercity to Rome. Pleasantly full of fried potatoes and blood orange juice, canada goose outlet toronto factory I gingerly close the goose outlet canada door so as not to rouse my housemates, one of whom is in the middle of exam season, descend the worn stone stairs and step out into the Friday morning. canada goose outlet vancouver

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canada goose outlet store montreal Although sunset was about eight hours ago, I can smell the heat rising off the road, a metallic smell that I always associate with Italy. The stink of the drains has largely subsided and the air is somehow both warm and canada goose outlet store uk fresh. A man canada goose outlet uk sale approaches me from the other side of the road: “Hai da accendere?” he asks. canada goose outlet store montreal

canada goose outlet in uk Then the Cupola interrupts the sky, and I’m in the piazza del Duomo. But I can’t be, because there’s nobody here. In this part of town I normally up my pace from casual sightseer to frazzled journalist, threading through the crowds at my most Anglo Saxon speed; now I actually pause and take in the majesty of the white and green cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Without the thousands who will gather here later today, it canada goose outlet new york city looks strange, like a ship in a dry dock. All is quiet, apart from the far off whine of the mechanical street sweepers. canada goose outlet in uk

canada goose outlet edmonton The sky has shifted to a paler azzurro; it’ll already be a bright day back home in Northumberland. As I get closer to the station I realise that I am walking alongside others, backpackers who have presumably spent a night or two in Florence and are now maybe going to accompany me to Rome. canada goose outlet edmonton

canada goose outlet online store review There are a handful of people in Santa Maria Novella. I feel sorry for the officials to have to man the new ticket barriers; I feel a sense of solidarity with everyone else. We canada goose outlet are the night walkers canada goose outlet , we are beating the crowds; we either have atypical jobs, vast canada goose outlet sale commutes or canada goose jacket outlet the day off. canada goose outlet online store review

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