Day Three: Rest

What everyone needed today was - rest. After two hectic days, two amazing and very full days, we got to relax - to go out into Florence and see this beautiful, magical place. Some took themselves off for a bit of quiet time alone. Some got into groups together, some just twos and threes. Gardens, churches, museums - all were visited. As well as cafes, gelateria, shops and more besides. The weather is amazing this week in Florence. The skies are the purest of blues, and the temperature is full-on summer, without being oppressive. Yesterday (in Rome) there was a moment when the rain came, but then the sun returned and restored order once more. This is ideal vacation weather - and though there's a lot of work on this trip, eve so, it really does feel like the most amazing break. Great company, great music, and the opportunity to see amazing places.
We are very lucky this week - although all of us have contributed the the trip financially, some friends of the choir have also donated generously, and we are really, really grateful to them. Meals, travel, some of the sights we have seen, experiences we've shared together - these have been made possible by friends of the choir, and it really does feel very special to be part of a wider community around the music we make and the chapel life at Worcester College. Thank you!
Our itineray has had a couple of last-minute changes, and Marcus, Caius and Matthew met with Fr Bernardo at San Miniato al Monte during the afternoon. Fr Bernardo has invited us to sing Compline on Sunday afternoon at his amazing church which sits on the hill top overlooking the city.
This will now be our final stop. So our schedule for the weekend includes a very special Evensong at St Mark's English Church on Saturday at around 4pm, High Mass at Santa Croce at 11am Sunday morning, a private event in the Duomo, and then Compline at 4pm Sunday at San Minato al Monte. In the evening we ate at another beautiful restaurant. The food this week has been consistently amazing!
But everything has. So far! The only thing missing from the rest day was us all being all together. And supper put that right...
Then it was off into the evening - and finding local nightlife, a boxing ring in the middle of a piazza, drinks at a bar, a long walk home. Some gifts are simple and yet they mean the most.

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