Abroad in Wales

Firenze

We arrived at the central train station in Florence just after sundown.  We got a bit turned around, as the numbering system is a little strange in Italy.  But a nice old man helped us to find the hotel.  We had a dinner of McDonald's - the first I'd had since leaving the states - because the Italians don't believe in kebab shops and we didn't feel like sitting down in a restaurant.  We called it an early night.

 The next day we slept in.  It felt really, really good.  Since we had wasted a lot of daylight, and Melissa had been feeling ill and I wasn't feeling too good either, we stayed in the area and did our shopping.  Here is the market we came across.

Sharon got the most beautiful leather coat for Melissa, here.  I splurged a little and got a red-brown leather purse for myself.  I know, gasp, Jill bought something girly.  But it was on sale!  And it seemed like it would be so wrong to go to Italy and not get something leather.  Hey, I got gifts for other people, too!

The next day, we went to see the sights!  Here is one of the old churches.

 This church was much newer and preservation attempts were clearly present.  A Byzantine influence is also apparent - unusual, to say the least.

 This one is just for my mom, because she doesn't think I'm in enough of my pictures.

 Look at the detail on the doors alone!

 This was inside the church - the dome above the altar.  Absolutely gorgeous.

Now there's an interesting fountain.

 We saw this beautiful house on the way to the museum where the Statue of David is kept.  Wish I could live here.

We did get to see the Statue of David, but pictures were not permitted.  It was absolutely breathtaking.  You turn a corner into a hall, and there he stands.  I think that was the one site I wish I could have taken a picture of.

 Mostly, I wasn't impressed with Florence.  It was definitely the dirtiest of the cities.  I am fairly certain it was the air here that made me sick.  After a day, every time I breathed the smog would hurt my windpipe.  In general, it just wasn't an enjoyable city.

 Needless to say, I couldn't wait for Rome.

Posted at 09:44AM Jan 12, 2008 by Jill S Brink in General  |  Comments[0]