all aboard....next stop firenze

we said goodbye to venice this morning...a little earlier that usual for us...the sky was still waking up...

we hopped a train headed for firenze (florence)...the train was new...a wonderful ride...we arrived in florence about noon...we took a cab to our hotel...Hotel Jane...this was only the 3rd taxi ride this entire trip...i am amazed by that...we checked in, made a pit stop and then hit the streets....the trip to florence was not part of the original plan...we decided while in nice that we would alter the itinerary to include firenza...i know little about the city...i have little expectation...except that david is here...

we make our way through the streets...our first stop, the basillica (San Lorenzo)...

i am amazed at the size of this place...i can not get the whole facade in one shot...

ginny helps put things into perspective...

we mark our steps...on the steps of San Lorenzo...

life outside the basillica is busy...

on the train this morning, ginny was reading about the "roma"...gypsies...we came across a few gypsie women in the square...

another catholic church...just around the corner...the facade is a little deceiving here...the church is massive...but the difference in appearance is stark compared to its counterpart 150 meters away...

we head to the Academia to see david...we almost walk past it...nothing special at all with this building...

we are pleased to discover that the Academia is also featuring a Mapplethorpe exhibit...it was wonderful...

we hit the streets...a stop at a local market

we mark our spot again...this time in the street...artists have been creating copies of famous works on the pavement...this one fades away.

a new one is being created....

we make our way to pointe vecchio...

this is the river arno...

we invest a few euros in street artists...

there are statues all over this city it seems...this is his better side...

there is no picture taking allowed in the Academia...how nice that there is a replica of naked david in the street....

we wonder through streets adiring the shops and markets as we make our way back to our hotel...a low key evening ahead...laundry and dinner...it is so good to have clean jeans for tomorrow...nothing better than putting on a clean pair of jeans...

we are coming to the end of our trip...three and a half days left...i am really looking forward to rome...a great way to end this wonderful tour of france and italy...