A Visit from Keara

Note: I've posted this out of sequence, because I know family members have been waiting to see what we did when Keara visited us in Florence!

We aren't the only world travelers in the family. Our niece (actually grandniece) Keara has been traveling abroad for over a year-and-a-half now.  She's a writer, too. She's a freelancer who writes proposals for businesses that seek to do business with the State of Texas or with other governmental entities, and she can work wherever she has an Internet connection.

Although Keara's job means she has to stay close to a computer at certain times, it gives her the freedom to go where she wants.  We felt honored that she came to see us and didn't complain at all about having to sleep on a bunk bed in an alcove. She's a good sport!

We did have fun, exploring everywhere from the Duomo to the heights of Florence near San Miniato and Piazzale Michaelangelo to the Ponte Vecchio.

Honestly, she's so photogenic, I don't think she can take a bad picture!

The Ponte Vecchio was the scene for a pleasant lunch.  Here's the view from the restaurant's balcony.

Of course, we rubbed the nose of "Il Porcelino" for good luck. As you can see from his polished nose, a lot of people are hoping for good fortune. (Though this little piggy is actually a copy of the original.)

I was sorry that between Keara's work and my poor planning, she didn't get to see and do more, but Kevin and I enjoyed every minute we had together.

Also, an amazing coincidence occurred during Keara's visit. She had offered to take us to lunch, and, at the last minute, we decided to go to the restaurant downstairs in our building. But who should walk in but a former boyfriend whom Keara once had a serious relationship with, and his brother!

The boyfriend had retreated to the men's room, and unsure of what to do, Keara left. She later wrote a gracious email saying if he wanted to meet, she was fine with that, and if not, she understood.

With echoes "of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world..." spinning in our consciousness, we were shocked. Had this been a romantic movie, it would have ended in a sweet reunion, but sadly, this is real life, and sometimes the differences are too great to be overcome. There was no answer to the email before we all left Florence.

Still, this was the strangest coincidence that I have ever witnessed. It had been a couple of years since they had communicated, and yet, there, in that tiny restaurant in Florence, their paths crossed again. As they say in Italy,"Com'è piccolo il mundo." 

The great 4-euro Happy Hour margaritas at the Tijuana Mexican restaurant in Florence.
(Not the restaurant of the encounter!)

We hope we meet up with Keara again, on one continent or another, before this adventure of ours is over. After all, it is a small world.