The week of long (but not lost) friends

What am amazing week!
Florence is not only on the trail of evrey American tourist heading north of the equator for their spring-summer vacations, but also, it seems of long standing friends of mine.
Thursday night I met Alastair and his partner Clare for a drink near the Ponte Vecchio. It's been at least 2 years and whilst we first met in London, had our first lunch in New York, it was here in Florence that we met again to catch up.
Friday I went to Marche, to meet Sion and Liz (recently engaged, congratulations you 2!) - friends from Hong Kong, who now live in Dubai... they were with Ceri and Shams - also hong kongers, now living in Abu Dhabi.
Saturday, a brief jaunt to London to see Luca from MIB, and to attend my friend Caroline's wedding party. Caroline and I travelled Asia Pacific a lot together when we worked together in Hong Kong and also last met in London over a cocktail or two more than a year ago.
Tonight, dinner and drinks with Sarah, a friend and former colleague from New Zealand, currently also residing in London.
And on Saturday night, the plan is to head for Bracciano, to more Hong Kong friends, and to welcome in a new decade for Alex, another London/Hong Konger.
All in all its been a wonderful time. Full of old mates, rehashing the old tales of mischief, and having a lot of laughs catching up on the new gossip for us all.
Tonight Sarah and I headed to the extravagant but wonderful Ferragamo-owned Sky Lounge at the Hotel Continentale just off the Ponte Vecchio for a glass of bubbles. And then to the wonderful, but far less extravagant pizzeria which Massi took us all to our first night in Florence, for a pizza and pecorino with honey (if you have never tried it, do! It sounds unlikely, but is really delicious!)
Talking of the first night in Florence, tomorrow marks one month since my first day at work. And fittingly today I did a presentation to update on all my work so far. When we wrapped up 2 1/2 hours after we started, I was certainly ready for that glass of cold prosecco.... And there are worse places to drink it than on the roof of a chi chi hotel, with the good and the great of Florence, overlooking the Arno!
To any friends reading this who have not made it here yet, do think about it - Italy is pretty fab at any time of the year, but the long summer sun-filled days are really something to behold. Book those tickets!