Una Pausa

Yesterday was a busy day taking the train to Siena, walking (slowly and with two trekking poles) all over town and taking the train back to Florence. That's why today was a very low key day full of logistics.

We started with brunch at Caffè Gilli, in business since 1733. Yes, 1733. John practiced his Italian with the waitress and I figured out a plan to take the train on Sunday to Pisa,  then Monterosso. We'll spend the night there, tour the Cinque Terre and head back to Florence by train Monday. We just booked an Airbnb on the water so it looks like last minute coordination is possible!

On the way back home from Caffè Gilli, we stopped at an exhibit where the artist took a data set of  thousands of paintings from the 14th to 17th centuries and used artificial intelligence to create a "hallucinating" interpretation of Italian Renaissance art. Trippy.

Il Campo in Siena

Using both trekking poles for this adventure.

Siena

This section of the Fountain of Joy in Siena was said to inspire Michaelangelo when painting the Sistine Chapel.

No horses, just horseshoes.

The Duomo in Siena.

The crypt in the Duomo.

In the crypt.

The famous Florentine bistecca.

Hallucinating, digital Italian Renaissance art.

Feel Good Friday Flashback #2 - Rubicon Bakery

Happy Feel Good Friday! I'm traveling for the next few weeks and will be tapping in to the FGF archives for stories. Join me as we look back at some favorites from the last 9 and a half years. 

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Friday, August 26, 2016

Today's Feel Good Friday is a Rubicon two-for-one special!

First, Rubicon Bakery.

Located in Richmond, California, their motto is "Treat yourself. Transform Lives." Why? Because they employ people who need a second chance, whether that's because they've done time in jail or have had issues with substance abuse.

The short version of the story is this. Rubicon Bakery was founded in 1993 as a social enterprise by Rubicon Programs to provide job training skills and employment to low-income clients in their program who were the hardest to employ. After 16 years, with the bakery losing money and down to 14 employees, they sold it to Andrew Stoloff, who promised to continue the bakery's mission.

Now they have over 100 employees, are growing at a rate of 30% per year and their products (made with all natural ingredients) can be found in stores around the country, including your local Whole Foods! You can meet some of the bakers and hear how working at Rubicon Bakery has changed their lives in this 3:50 minute video. You can also read this Berkeleyside article by Alix Wall which gives you a much more detailed version of the story and includes photos!

That leads us to the second Feel Good Friday group, Rubicon Programs.

As explained on their Facebook page, "Rubicon's mission is to transform East Bay communities by equipping low-income people to break the cycle of poverty. Since 1973, Rubicon has provided employment, housing, mental health and other supportive services to individuals who are very low-income, especially people who are homeless or have mental illness."

Their programs include a one stop career center that provides workshops, coaching and job placement assistance as well as a host of legal services. They also operate a fully licensed landscape maintenance and installation business called Rubicon Landscape, which provides training and employment to a team of 60-80 people.

You can support the work of both groups by buying some cupcakes, hiring help for your yard work and following them on social media! Remember, treat yourself. Transform lives.

Rubicon Bakery: Facebook page and Twitter @RubiconBakers

Rubicon Programs: Facebook page and Twitter @RubiconPrograms

A Peek in the Pitti Palace

We are getting in to our Italian groove. We started the morning with pastries from a place down the block, then stopped at the doctor to get an all clear on the knee and directions to a farmacia for a knee sleeve, pain reliever and ice pack. After that good news, some pictures at the Duomo, and stopping back at the apartment to put on my sleeve, we headed out to lunch and the Pitti Palace.

If people from Berkeley opened a cafe in Florence, Carduccio would be it. I had a salmon poke bowl (delicious) and admired all the organic food for sale. While we were eating, a man who was walking down the street with a bench put it down on the sidewalk and then began chatting to all the passersby. That's one way to pass the time.

On to the Pitti Palace, former Medici residence turned museum. The theme of the rooms in the royal apartments is... over the top. It's made me realize I am not maximizing the use of my wall and ceiling space to display art. None of us are.

After the art, we strolled out to the Boboli gardens to sit in the shade. It hit a high of 87 degrees today (much higher than I packed for) so after some time watching the people go by, we've come back to the house for our late afternoon rest and icing the knee before going out again. The loose plan as of now is to take the train to Siena tomorrow. Let's see what happens!

Pitti Palace

Neptune in the Piazza della Signora

Whose got your head?

The Duomo

Salmon poke, so healthy!

BYOB (bring your own bench)

76 trombones led the big parade...

Using all available space

If Dr. Suess worked in ivory

Boboli gardens. The Italians love a good obelisk.