Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of October 1, 1880

Overview

They leave early in brilliant weather, with six oxen hauling the luggage, and reach Florence by ten before settling comfortably into the Hotel New York. An afternoon drive to San Miniato delights R., who loves the church and its view, and the evening ends with Buonamici amusing them with the story of his wasted twelve-hour wait at the station in Pistoia.

Content

Friday, October 1:

Up early; R. lively, plays the finale of the C Minor Symphony as a farewell. Glorious sunny day; six oxen pull our luggage; at ten o'clock in Florence. Very nicely accommodated in the Hotel New York.

In the afternoon a drive with R. and the children to S. Miniato, after R. tried to surprise us in the Loggia, unfortunately in vain, for we were in S. Marco and the Medici tombs. R. much delighted with the glorious church and particularly the wonderfully beautiful view. The cathedral gives me the impression of being the mother church.

The drive home is also very lovely (R. says he cannot understand what M. Angelo's David is doing there in the square). In the evening our friend Buonamici, who makes us laugh with his very humorous description of his vain twelve-hour wait for us in the railroad station at Pistoia.