Because we wanted a full day in Florence, we left early, before breakfast, in a taxi cab through much traffic to the train station. We were disappointed that we had missed the street vendors that we passed on our ride. It might have been fun to find some deals on the street, but we encountered it later in Milan, so it resolved itself.
The train ride was several hours long, and if I remember correctly, we sat with an enjoyable couple from Norway that was taking a summer break to Italy. We had to go back a town to ride on the faster train to Florence, and we prayed we would not be ticket checked, as we didn't purchase the short backwards tickets.
We were Cranky on arrival, however, due to the early arrival, no substantial breakfast (we ate some on sale cookies we purchased at the convenience store), and the general discomfort of riding on a train for several hours. The cheap mom that I am said that we had to walk to our hotel, which was well rewarded for an awesome place in the heart of the city. It was a bead and breakfast type set in an office building of sorts on the first floor. We left our bags after taking the tour, with instructions for entering if we arrived after 6 pm. We had the tour, which included a lovely courtyard and a small kitchen where breakfast was to be prepared.
We hit the road again after relieving ourselves of our heavy backpacks and began our trek after noon. Statues and glorious architecture accompanied our walk, and we encountered plenty of traffic and tourists. As we entered the Quorum, the huge square that held incredible Byzantine architecture, we knew we were where we wanted to be. We stood in line for about 15 minutes assessing our situation, asking fellow line standers about our next move. Turns out the line in which we were standing was about an hour long, for those people who had already purchased tickets to the museum, either online or at the box office a few blocks away. We went online and found that we could buy our €15 each tickets for JULY 5!
We considered, watched a wedding party leave a lovely chapel, and decided to proceed to the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Rachel's bucket list included a trek up the 435 steps To see the awesome view on a beautiful day. Tourists crowded the ticket office which we reached after a long walk around the huge building, and while Rachel waited and toured outside, I purchased €30 to climb the steps and see other chapels on the grounds of the piazza. We lollygagged further around the building to the line to climb and realized we had a minimum one hour wait in the afternoon sun. We watched an amazing bubble blowing man entertaining children with his huge ring dipped into soapy water. We decided to relieve our wait with some gelato, so Rachel left me to find some. It was hit, the lines were long, and after she proceeded in the direction opposite the way the line was moving, she returned, about 25 minutes later, dripping with the creamy substance all over her hands and arms. The expensive gelato did not match to the flavor of that we found in other Italian cities, and by time we finished, we were both covered in the sticky mess. We entered the church not inour clean Sunday best.
We were Cranky on arrival, however, due to the early arrival, no substantial breakfast (we ate some on sale cookies we purchased at the convenience store), and the general discomfort of riding on a train for several hours. The cheap mom that I am said that we had to walk to our hotel, which was well rewarded for an awesome place in the heart of the city. It was a bead and breakfast type set in an office building of sorts on the first floor. We left our bags after taking the tour, with instructions for entering if we arrived after 6 pm. We had the tour, which included a lovely courtyard and a small kitchen where breakfast was to be prepared.
We hit the road again after relieving ourselves of our heavy backpacks and began our trek after noon. Statues and glorious architecture accompanied our walk, and we encountered plenty of traffic and tourists. As we entered the Quorum, the huge square that held incredible Byzantine architecture, we knew we were where we wanted to be. We stood in line for about 15 minutes assessing our situation, asking fellow line standers about our next move. Turns out the line in which we were standing was about an hour long, for those people who had already purchased tickets to the museum, either online or at the box office a few blocks away. We went online and found that we could buy our €15 each tickets for JULY 5!
We considered, watched a wedding party leave a lovely chapel, and decided to proceed to the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Rachel's bucket list included a trek up the 435 steps To see the awesome view on a beautiful day. Tourists crowded the ticket office which we reached after a long walk around the huge building, and while Rachel waited and toured outside, I purchased €30 to climb the steps and see other chapels on the grounds of the piazza. We lollygagged further around the building to the line to climb and realized we had a minimum one hour wait in the afternoon sun. We watched an amazing bubble blowing man entertaining children with his huge ring dipped into soapy water. We decided to relieve our wait with some gelato, so Rachel left me to find some. It was hit, the lines were long, and after she proceeded in the direction opposite the way the line was moving, she returned, about 25 minutes later, dripping with the creamy substance all over her hands and arms. The expensive gelato did not match to the flavor of that we found in other Italian cities, and by time we finished, we were both covered in the sticky mess. We entered the church not inour clean Sunday best.
Our trek to the top was ahead. Rachel had the fortification to count the steps as we circled up antiquated stone and steel steps. At times, we encountered exhausted people, skinny people, Italians, Americans, Germans, Asians and many different languages. Occasional steel grated window openings greeted us on our way. It was surprisingly cool, and the pace was very doable. At about the halfway point, we came very close to the gorgeous painted ceiling, and we marveled at how difficult it must have been to paint it. I was concerned about the endurance of my knee, but obviously the cortisone shot was doing its work, along with the occasional one step at a time with my right leg. Everyone was joyful it seemed, especially when we reached the joyful opening at the top!
Once at the top, we barely wanted to leave. There was a feeling of euphoria after climbing nearly a quarter mile into the sky.
Going down was a bit tricky, as I was wearing a cute black and white polka skirt, and we had to step over a small bar and maneuver down a ladder, with people waiting to go up below us. Another feeling of joy arms we descended and entered the church on the way out. The inside of the church was much less impressive than the exterior and certainly less elaborate than the churches we'd visited in Budapest and Venice. We stepped outside and am found a side shop to lurchase much needed water, a Coke and a Peroni, and sat in the curb and drank.
Our next stop on the self-guided tour of Florence was to the baptistery across the square from Santa Maria. Gold plated walls and ceiling, a lovely place to sit down and rest our weary legs. We relaxed in awe for a few minutes and then Rachel pulled the goofy trick of posing with a water bottle over her head, demonstrating baptism. Goofy girl. :-) We then headed for the river and a destination on the other side where a friend had promised the best Gnocci in Italy.
On our way, we took cool photos and then crossed the cool bridge where vendors barked their wares. Google maps assisted in our quest to find this fabulous restaurant. When asked if we had reservations, we did not, and the hostess stated that we could sit, but must be finished in an hour and a half or so. We agreed and sat down. We ordered an incredible salad and a bottle of Chianti, to be followed with the Gnocci. O-M-G, it was the most tasty meal of the trip, and we had plenty of good ones, and possibly of the year. We were stuffed, and had to pass on creme brûlée, and we had a long walk home to work it off, giggling as we crossed the bridge again and took a few more photos at sunset.
Since we were near the end of our trip, we decided to make a late nighter of it and we picked up a bottle of Proseco, made it Italy, with plans to enjoy it in the hotel courtyard. After picking up our packs, which had remained undisturbed at the front desk, we began a search of the kitchen to find a bottle opener, as the cork was wedged near the top of the lip and we could not pull it out. That, however, proved disastrous. The pressure of the liquid inside forced out the cork as soon as the sharp metal pierced the other side of the cork. It caused a breakage on the neck of the bottle. Thank goodness we were already outside and the spillage did not affect our room. We picked up the pieces and tentatively drank a little, but because of our concern for the glass, we abandoned the bottle and reverted to sipping the Linonada.
We turned before midnight after a thoroughly enjoyable day in Florence, Italy!
Once at the top, we barely wanted to leave. There was a feeling of euphoria after climbing nearly a quarter mile into the sky.
Going down was a bit tricky, as I was wearing a cute black and white polka skirt, and we had to step over a small bar and maneuver down a ladder, with people waiting to go up below us. Another feeling of joy arms we descended and entered the church on the way out. The inside of the church was much less impressive than the exterior and certainly less elaborate than the churches we'd visited in Budapest and Venice. We stepped outside and am found a side shop to lurchase much needed water, a Coke and a Peroni, and sat in the curb and drank.
Our next stop on the self-guided tour of Florence was to the baptistery across the square from Santa Maria. Gold plated walls and ceiling, a lovely place to sit down and rest our weary legs. We relaxed in awe for a few minutes and then Rachel pulled the goofy trick of posing with a water bottle over her head, demonstrating baptism. Goofy girl. :-) We then headed for the river and a destination on the other side where a friend had promised the best Gnocci in Italy.
On our way, we took cool photos and then crossed the cool bridge where vendors barked their wares. Google maps assisted in our quest to find this fabulous restaurant. When asked if we had reservations, we did not, and the hostess stated that we could sit, but must be finished in an hour and a half or so. We agreed and sat down. We ordered an incredible salad and a bottle of Chianti, to be followed with the Gnocci. O-M-G, it was the most tasty meal of the trip, and we had plenty of good ones, and possibly of the year. We were stuffed, and had to pass on creme brûlée, and we had a long walk home to work it off, giggling as we crossed the bridge again and took a few more photos at sunset.
Since we were near the end of our trip, we decided to make a late nighter of it and we picked up a bottle of Proseco, made it Italy, with plans to enjoy it in the hotel courtyard. After picking up our packs, which had remained undisturbed at the front desk, we began a search of the kitchen to find a bottle opener, as the cork was wedged near the top of the lip and we could not pull it out. That, however, proved disastrous. The pressure of the liquid inside forced out the cork as soon as the sharp metal pierced the other side of the cork. It caused a breakage on the neck of the bottle. Thank goodness we were already outside and the spillage did not affect our room. We picked up the pieces and tentatively drank a little, but because of our concern for the glass, we abandoned the bottle and reverted to sipping the Linonada.
We turned before midnight after a thoroughly enjoyable day in Florence, Italy!
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