We are having a lazy day today and I was thinking back to
some of the characters I have met. One in particular made me feel warm and
fuzzy because she reminded me of my grandmother.
We had spent the rainy morning in Florence searching for
leather and the troop headed back to the Hotel for a siesta after lunch. Allan
and I decided to go looking for ‘Il Gatto Bianco’ (The White Cat), a
silversmith who specialises in modern designs (none of which I liked by the
way). As we were power walking through the city, I asked Allan if he wanted to
go to Santo Spirito where the best shoe smiths have their shops.
“I need a pair of shoes” he says. So we head up river and cross
the Ponte alla Carraia and head for Via Santo Spirito. I am a lover of shoes so
I was very pleased Allan needed a pair.
We head for Stefano Bemer who makes a great array of men’s
designs. The shop is small and pokey but full of incredible shoes. The lady
assures us she can make a pair but the first template will be ready in July
(yes July) when Allan will need to return for a fitting. He should get the completed
shoes by mmmmm…maybe October. That's a 'no'.
Off we go and we come across Calzature Francesco Da
Firenze. It is a dusty little shop in
front with a factory out back. We head in to be greeted by an old woman who is
the epitome of the Italian ‘Nonna’. I make polite noises in Italian whilst
Allan peruses the boots. He sees a pair he likes and they are perfecto. Awesome
boots with a gorgeous finish. So, Nonna notices that we both like the boots and
she calls out her son, Valerio.
“Measure his feet subito” she instructs.
Valerio does this and that and eventually pronounces ‘ha ha…I
am finished’. He tells Allan he has normal feet. Nice to know. He then pronounces
he will make a perfectly fitted pair of leather boots and send them to New
Zealand once they are complete. This will take 5 to 6 weeks in total. He then
names the price.
Allan pales…thinks for a few minutes .Nonna waits patiently.
Finally, Allan decides to ring Susan and pulls out his phone.
“What is he doing” asks Nonna.
“He’s calling his wife” I explain
“Why” she asks quite perplexed.
“Because he and his wife make decisions together”
Nonna shakes her head. She slaps her hand on her chest and
pronounces that this is not the way she does things.
“If I want something” she tells me “I buy it. It is my
affair and not that of my husband”
“What if your husband wants to buy something?” I ask,
“I tell him NO” she says. “Whatever he thinks he wants, he
does not need.”
I can certainly tell that Nonna, in her dark dress and
apron, wears the pants in the family. I love Italian women.
Oh…and Allan bought his shoes…with his wife’s blessing.
Calzature Francesco Da Firenze
'Nonna'
Nonna's husband...the shoemaker.
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