Palazzo Corsini and The Four Seasons Florence Copyright Carla Coulson Chasing a Dream
My heart broke the day I left Italy and I remember making my final tour on my bike first thing in the morning. As the sun rose, I rode around and around Piazza Santo Spirito in Florence, through the back streets of Oltrarno and over the Ponte Vecchio with tears streaming down my face. I headed to the Duomo, paused and ran my hand over the cool stone of the battistero hoping to be connected to Florence forever.
I didn't have the courage to say goodbye to so many people that I loved and I truly thought that I would be back within a year.. Unfortunately those plans kept changing. It took so many years for the wounds to heal.
Italy and the Italians will be forever in my heart...
Have a great weekend.. Carla xxx
I went to Italy for the first time this summer and it was beautiful so I totally understand you connection to it - such a beautiful country. Oh, and don't get me started on the food.... wowzers! xo
ReplyDeleteOh, heartbreaking post, Carla. I know what it's like to leave a place you love. The home of your soul. I haven't been back to the home of my soul; I can't even visit. Hoping Italy works it's way back to you soon. xo
ReplyDeleteOh Carla - I can feel your pain - I experienced much the same when I left Crete in 1996 for a holiday back in Australia with my then 3 month old. We came with a suitcase of summer clothes and for a short holiday. Illness then forced me to stay in Australia and it broke my heart. I never thought I would get over it - I pined for Greece and felt totally alien back in Australia even though I had lived here since 1962. My first trip back to Crete was very hard - but we did it and have been back 4 times since - each time is easier to visit and easier to leave as I know I will be back. But Crete has changed and will never be the same place I left in 1996. Still I am blessed for that time I spent there and in the long run Australia was a better place for me to recover and for my daughter's education. Fate has a funny way of intervening - and invariably for the better, though I could not see that at the time. Emotionally it took many years to heal as I didn't get a chance to say goodbye and the isolation was hard. I still yearn to return to a life in Greece - and will do so one day as it's so deeply a part of me. For now I am content to see my daughter grow and thrive with all that Australia has to offer her. One day we will go back to live there together for she has my peripatetic spirit. What we are left with are amazing, happy memories and those are ours forever - and aren't we lucky? Francesca x
ReplyDeleteIt is always so hard to say goodbye!
ReplyDeleteLeaving someplace so important is one of the most difficult things--it's just good that you were able to go back and reconnect with everyone.
ReplyDeleteI'm not good with goodbyes. Dislike saying them.
And you can always come back. Italians love who returns even better. Rosanna
ReplyDeleteI can too can't say good-bye to people. There is always a feeling of loss when I have to leave people who are special in my life.
ReplyDeleteHowever, places are different. I may leave a place, but it never leaves me!
Bon weekend.
Wonderful images of Italy - you are now in an equally beautiful place - when leaving one place you always find something new? Paris is a wonderful city!
ReplyDeleteMy wife has always wanted to visit Italy. Especially Florence and Rome. Maybe when we've saved up enough money, as it is such an expensive country. Looks a fantastic place for photography going by your and other people's pictures.
ReplyDeleteYou have a forever connection in your heart. I know because I have one in mine. Never returning is just not an option.
ReplyDeleteciao lisa
ps did you get the email I sent with my details? not sure it went through.x
Such a heartbreaking post! Carla i can feel your pain through your writing. Thank you so much for sharing xxx
ReplyDeleteOh it is devastating leaving when a place has captured your heart. If you're really going to live & experience love though..there has to be some heartbreak. My heart broke when I left my gorgeous Greek island in my travelling days...many years in Australia had me still pining for what I had decided was realy 'home'. I think my heart only healed recently when I found a new 'love'..and settled here..and you know what, Carla..my island is still there waiting for me with all those people and your Florence is too..I'm glad us romantics have found such a new deep love again. Thanks for sharing such a powerful memory..made me think of some of mine..
ReplyDeletexx Kylie
Totally understand ! I have the same feelings always when I leave Italy and even but to a much lesser degree when I leave Paris (where I was yesterday by the way to visit Paris photo and to enjoy broccoli soup in le petit fer à cheval - I told the waiter how I knew od the place - ha ha). because I know I will be back very soon...bellisime fotografie; tuo blog mi piace tantissimo, un caro saluto!
ReplyDeleteNo one really says goodbye, maybe for now but eventually will come back. Who will never say no to see the beauty of Italy again?
ReplyDelete