We.
Monday.
We sleep in.
We still have no luggage delivered, and enjoy the new habit of traveling light. So do Dan and Pam, as we help them with their luggage. We're new to this, we've all over-packed.
We have, at the Roma Termini, cappuccino and conretti's to start the day off right.
Figure out the train board. Impress ourselves.
We take a beautiful, relaxing, scenic train ride
from Rome to Florence via Tuscany.
We are driven down cobblestone streets
barely wider than the car to get to our hotel.
Gawking.
The entrance to our sweet hotel in Florence. Nice gates.
We are in awe over our charming 8 room hotel.
Ahhh, Firenze.
We gawk.
Dan lays on the floor in awe.
Fresco's on our ceilings are 15th century.
We have a garden courtyard,
in the middle of historic Florence.
We adore the lovely staff
who offer to chase down our bags.
We feel like we are royalty in a contemporary castle.
Was owned by a Baron in the 1600's.
We eat at a nearby small, charming restaurant
suggested by Sally @ A Slice of Tuscany,
and it is the best meal we've had in Italy by far.
We are in heaven on earth.
Wine for lunch.
We now are getting a hang of being on vacation....
$500 hams hanging above us, cured 3 years
Ham & artichokes. Simple and delicious.
We have a somber moment,
and a special toast for our friend Priscilla,
who has, heart breaking for all,
lost the battle with her liver back home.
We cross the bridge.
We see the famous Ponte Vecchio
We love saying that, "Ponte Vecchio".
We love saying that, "Ponte Vecchio".
How about rhinestone scorpions?
We travel down a street filled with
many of the top fashion houses.
Salvatore Ferragamo's store is a full city block.
More gawking by me.
Prada, Versace, Robert Cavalli, Dolce & Gabanna,
Fendi, Gucci ....
We realize Florence is close to Milan.
Well, since I don't have my luggage yet...
I do need more shoes .... Right Chris?
How about $1K Prada pumps?
But, cobble stone streets and high heels don't get along,
so I had to pass on them.
We tour the Duomo. Breathtaking.
Actually beyond breathtaking.
Built in 1296.
Beyond comprehension.
We ooh and aah the entire day.
We shop in San Lorenzo Market area for leather.
Hard not to find things we "need"!
Have fresh squeezed OJ and a cannoli
for a mid afternoon sugar rush.
We are enamored by the fresh food available.
We visit the Mercado Central. Too many choices.
Why are people not fat here?
Oh yeah, fresh food, fish... no processing.
We hustle, because we are American
and do nothing at a slow pace,
all the way across town
and over the river to the top of the hill
to Piazzale Michelangelo.
We and a gadzillion others,
go to see the warm golden sunset
over the hills, the city, and river.
We decide this lifestyle feels like we are in a movie,
it is too good to be real.
We try for drinks on the terrace,
but we are Americans in a hurry,
and they are Italians who take things slow.
We have to leave thirsty
to make our 8PM dinner reservation on time.
We take this cool path down.
We have a delicious dinner (set up by Sally)
at a plesant restaurant in a treed setting.
Ummmm, Coccoli, my new fav.
We decide we like big lunches and lighter dinners.
We also like being on vacation.
Especially in Italy.
We are also getting use to the bathrooms.
Will write a whole post on that one day.
We explore the empty, cobblestone, narrow,
softly glowing city streets
on the way back to our regal hotel.
We love Florence.
Open our hotel room door in hope for luggage.
Nope.
Time to do laundry in the sink and hang it outside the window.
Because, when in Italy...
Labor Day for us was no work at all, but this one day, felt like a week!
We explore the famous wonders of Florence tomorrow....
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