Florence Fleur de Lis

The symbol of Florence is a variation on the French fleur de lis (according to Wikipedia pronunciation as in lease, not lee). The basic flower design includes unique spikes between the petals.  Which one is the model?  Is it these two from the Palazzo Vecchio?

Or perhaps this one from the Giotto campanile of the Duomo?

It can be spotted everywhere around town.

On utility covers.

In stone on old buildings.

On napkins.

On this municipal fountain.

I see that I have a lot more pictures of these, but you get the idea. It was the obverse of the Florin as well.  Florin of 1256:

 

Dogs and people in Italy

The fashionista.

The woman so proud of her black dog.

The unmistakable Roman who cleaned up after her dog.

These two hurrying through the Porta Romana.

The sheep dog in San Geminiano.

This woman sharing her gelato in the Piazza San Marco.


The dog in the baby carriage on the Ponte Vecchio.


The dog on Capri who went with us into the Blue Grotto.


Or this man on a bicycle.

It is impossible to choose.

Neon Landmark

I am old enough to remember the Milk Farm Restaurant that stood beside the road at this spot in Dixon. We would stop here for breakfast on the way to Berkeley for high school choir competitions.

Dog in Florence

It seems I have already been doing dogs for a while.

Roman Dog

Tucked in with my pictures of Rome is this one of a dog with coat.

Sacramento Sheriff

I didn't have my camera with me and took this with my iPhone. These are members of the Sacramento Sheriff's Department in their summer outfits. Not exactly La bella figura.

And, yes, that means it is starting to feel like summer already.

Roadside Trees

Trees along the road in New Mexico in spring. The last two are taken through the window while we were driving.