Emergency Room Visit in Florence Italy

Cari Amici,

Well, thank you Gene P. for suggesting that I have pneumonia! That snapped me out of a week’s lethargy. And after a long debate, I saw a dottore today. I was hoping it would be less expensive visiting the Pronto Soccorso [Emergency Room, or First Aid; although one of my language texts translates it to mean: casualty (department)]

I had to wait a while before being seen and since I have difficulty sitting anyway, and was falling asleep a lot, I decided to move to another area of the waiting room (without people) and stretch out on my tummy over three wooden chairs. Alas, it was not to be – at least not in a Florentine hospital. The woman who chastised me gave me a look as if I should just picture myself as she said, “Non e bella!” (“That is not beautiful!”) I had heard and read that Italians are sometimes very concerned about appearances and expect people to look their best, but I did not realize this concept extended in a building full of sick people!

It was kinda fun to get wheeled around like a little princess and I had a good laugh. One attendant was carrying a full bed-pan and as he rounded the corner of the hallway, he almost spilled it on me. Yikes! The man exclaimed, “oofa – cerco per il bagno.” (Oops, I am looking for the bathroom.) But the attendant who was wheeling me around was not fooled and joked with him, “Ah, caffé!” An easy laugh, but I took it.

Anyway, my X-rays revealed that my lungs are clean, but I am now on drugs and was told to lay around for the next 7 days until I kick this influenza. I doubt I have that ability after wasting my last five beautiful days bed-ridden (and not in the good way), as well as losing out of my Monday opportunity to street paint.

So, I leave you with these beautiful hand-painted and designed eggs by my artist roommate Dragana. She boiled the eggs first and then added her design in watercolor paints all by hand and then sealed them with fingernail polish. These images do not do them justice at all. How charming and colorful they are!

Siena Italy - Santa Maria della Scala Hospital

While in Siena on Saturday, Hafiza and I also visited the Santuario di Santa Caterina and the museo archeologico inside S. Maria della Scala. If you first pay to enter the exhibit “Nel segno di Ingres” nearby, you will receive a ridotto (reduced) price ticket to enter this building.

Santa Maria della Scalla was one of the first hospitals in Europe. A cobbler named Sorore who died in 898 is its mythical founder. The hospital was not only an important economic resource for Siena, but also became one of the city’s most important centers for art. It remained a working hospital until only some years ago when the restoration project began and has been used for various exhibits since then. It is an impressive building.

The art inside was not particularly moving, although I did rather enjoy the fresco of several babies climbing up a ladder that was leaning against an archway in a church. Above the arch was a fresco of a mother that appeared to come to life so she could welcome these babies.

The museo archeologico has been set up in the labyrinths underneath the chapels in Santa Maria della Scala. This is where I took the photos you see. One hallway housed many old stone urns. They were rather funny reclining/half-seated figures on the lids, many with large heads. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the tunnels. And the second image of a vase – well, I not only liked the arrogant figure depicted, but also the shadow shapes around the vase. I hope you do as well.