Hi, again, everyone. Below we bring you, Florence. Mike and I learned a few important things on this particular day.
First, no one city should have this much art in it.
Second, no person should try to see it all in one day.
Third, if you leave your cell phone on top of your car and drive off, you will lose it.
And, fourth, just because you add an "a" to the end of a word, does not make it Italian.
Just-a ask-a Michael.
We learned (the hard way) that we can only look at so much art before we start to lose interest.
The first thing we did was go to the Academia Gallery and see David. We were in awe. I mean, it was cool to see the actual statue in person.
No cameras allowed (which was true inside almost everywhere in Florence - which sorta sucked, but ugh, is understandable. Still... obviously pictures won't kill him, I mean, hello, there were about a bajillion online).
So, Mike and I stood in this spot and stared up at David.
Then, as if on cue, we turned to each other and said:
ME: "His hands are off."
Mike: "His hands are too big."
Which they are. Just look at the huge mitts. They are way too big for the arms. Anyway...
We left the Academia Gallery which was filled with tons of cool stuff we can't show you because pictures are not allowed... coughannoyingcough... and went down the little tiny street that opened up to the Piazza del Duomo.
Here is the Baptistery of Florence (smaller than Pisa):
And the Florence Cathedral. Which we decided to not go inside. We didn't want to kill ourselves on art. (We still did. Kill ourselves. But that was later.)
Me making friends with a horse in the piazza.
And a street performer:
A side street. Cars actually drive down these. I'm not even kidding.
This spot was probably my favorite in all of Florence.
There was this building, the Loggia dei Lanzi. It is an outdoor statuary. As far as the art in Florence goes, I realized I am a fan of statues. And there were plenty to be seen.
We went to the Uffizi Gallery and saw some of the most famous paintings in history, and you know what? We didn't really care. By this point we were tired out on the art - and we were pouty grumpy faces because we couldn't take pictures. We were right there in front of Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Caravaggio, Raphael and others' greatest works and we were like, "Yep. Looks just like it does on the internet." We're not party poopers. We just discovered that we're not big fans of paintings as an art medium.
In May of 1993, a carbomb exploded at the Uffizi gallery. It is not known who is responsible but Italians believe it was the Sicilian mob. The paintings at the Uffizi were not harmed in the explosion; however, five people died. There is an olive tree memorial in the alley behind the museum.
The view from the Arno River.
Obviously have to include the Ponte Vecchio Bridge.
Another shot from the other side. There's me...
And Mike on the bridge. Which is still filled with shops. Mostly jewelry - I would have no place to wear it. I mean, I could always throw on my huge ruby necklace and diamond tiara to run to Target.
This was actually my true favorite spot of Florence. I know, I know. Above I said it was the statuary, but it was truly the Pitti Palace. We took a tour inside of this palace that while it is a museum today, it used to be the home of the ruling Duke of Tuscany and was owned by the Medici family for hundreds of years. In the 1800s Napolean stayed here and they have his rooms still set up as they were then. It was cool to walk through the Duke's place.
Another side street.
Ah, yes, me taking a picture of Mike taking a picture of the Palazzo Vecchio (where the Florentine gov't meets).
Selfie back at the cathedral/duomo before leaving.
Mike and I sharing a caramel gelato at a cafe at the entrance to the Ponte Vecchio Bridge...
And-a, that's-a all for now-a.
But ask Mike about leaving the parking garage in Florence. He'll blame me, but I don't even care. It's the funniest story ever and is best told live - not typed up.
Bye for now. Until the next post.. Sorrento.
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