Florence is a great city, not my favorite on the trip, but if you are a lover of art it is a must.
Funny thing, the food I craved most on the trip was fruit and veggies. I made Aram stop at a market a day to pick up some for the day. Luckily, in all the cities there are free flowing water fountains everywhere to fill up our bottles and wash our fruit. Thank heavens for these or I might have thrown a tantrum having to pay for more water. Two things I hate to pay for, I feel the are an unalieable right (obviously I grew up in America) are water and bathrooms. And, when in Europe you usually have to pay for both. Argh, nothing makes me more irked than paying 4 dollars for Aram and I to drain our tanks. And, the restuarants are quite comical. You ask for tap water, and they say they don't have any or that it is "no good", sure...you just want my 3 euro for a dumb bottle of water.
Me and the Man.
We met this sweet lady, named Ines from Argentina while in line at the Uffizi Gallery. She is an artist and had been to the Uffizi many times and loved to share her knowledge. She ended up taking us around the whole gallery, it was better than any tour guide we could have asked for. She was a friend and a mentor. Love her. I now have a new love for Tiziano, he has the most amazing portraits.
This women was recreating this masterpiece in the middle of the street using chalk. I will never look at sidewalk chalk the same.
Aram and I got about 3 gelatos a day. One thing Italy does right is their ice cream. Yum!!!
Have you ever wanted an Italian Grandma to fuss over you. Well, that's what we got during our stay in Florence. She came recommended by our trusty guide, Rick Steves. Marcella rents out 3 rooms in her home, and everynight when you come in she makes a big fuss over you and makes you tea. What a sweetie!
We went on a one day bike tour through Italy. It was awesome! We started out at a 16th century castle, where a count and countess still live and is now a winery and an oil press production facility. We toured the the castle. Then mounted our bikes and headed off into the vineyards and little towns of Chianti, Tuscany. It started out drizzling, but our last mile it was like a good old fashion Monsoon, no joke.
Just had to get a picture of a bathroom. They call them Water Closets, and literally that is what they are, closets converted into bathrooms. This one was about 4 feet tall, so you had to hunch while in the closet.
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