There and Back Again: This Is The End...

Today was the last full day to be in Florence. I have to say that I am ready to go home, most of us are in agreement. I have seen things that I never thought I would ever see in real life, I have walked where the most famous artists and writers have walked, went into churches that were designed by the Gods of the art world.... I have lived my art history dream these last ten days. Now let me tell you about this day in particular.

Today we went to see the Picasso exhibition, not my cup of tea (not a fan of the man). The gallery was freezing, so glad I wore my jacket, and I was unable to take any pictures. Actually, they wouldn't let me take any of my bags in the gallery, and since there was a no pictures rule I packed the camera away as well. Most places here had a rule against flash photography, this place had a stick up their butt about the rule. So this photo to the left is my only proof that I got to see some of his works. Most of what was up I didn't recognize, so I didn't even get to see his more well known stuff. I gave Picasso his due credit, but I was in and out of that place in record time, maybe a half hour to forty five minutes. I was not the only one to feel this way.

Once we were done there the time was ours to do as we pleased. I decided that I couldn't have come all this way with the intent of illustrating Inferno and not see the Palazzo Vecchio. Pam and Francesca left the gallery with me but had their own plans for the rest of the day, so I went all by my little lonesome. It was fine, and I didn't feel the need to keep up or slow down. The ticket could either be for the museum alone or for the museum and tower, I opted to do both (gotta earn my dessert tonight). I loved when the ticket lady asked "reduce or regular?" Offering me the reduced rate means she thought I was 25 or younger (I refuse to believe she was just being polite), I thanked her for the compliment but paid the full price of 14 euros.

This place is A-MAZING!!!! Every room I went into was another to take my breath away. The ceilings were just as wonderful as the frescos.... if not more so. You go into the Hall of the Five Hundred first, this is one massive room. Sculptures line the walls, ginormous paintings are above those, and the ceiling is just so.... "wow!" I found the one sculpture that makes Robert Langdon cringe, there is no mistaking why, I even got a little queasy and I don't even have the same parts! Once I got my fill of the room I went up more stairs to see various rooms of those that lived there. I got a little picture happy with some of the furnishings that were still in the rooms, I guess it's from having a daddy that

is a wood worker (among other things). At one point I felt that most of my pictures were of ceilings, every room was different, but I found something of interest in each room other that what was above my head. I wound my way through the rooms and found the stairs that lead to the tower. You know that line in 'A Christmas Story' where Ralphie says "The line stretched all the way back to Terra Haute, and I was at the end of it..." that was my feeling when I got in line to go up to the tower. Thank heavens it wasn't a long wait, every time a group of five or more came down they would allow others to go up. So up those stairs I went, my thighs hating me with each new step. I have to admit that it was hard, but not nearly as bad as the bell tower, that one was pure torture. The trip up didn't take nearly as long either. Of course, once I was up there I knew it was worth it for the views.

Back down I went and decided to leave my experience at that. I think there was one more area to go see, but I didn't feel the need to add to what I saw already. Once outside I decided to find that chocolate shop (sorry, no pictures of that) and bring some home for my family to share. Then I decided to take just some random street shots. I took photos of people taking photos of each other, vendors, items for sale, artists in the streets, and kids playing. I walked back over to the big market that I was at yesterday with Francesca and took lots of pictures there. At one point someone looked at me and said "you are in Florence, you are so cold, you must buy a leather jacket." My reply, "I am actually too hot, I already bought one, I don't need another." He was not the only one to try and sucker me into buying something, but with each new attempt I would answer the vendors and I kept walking (my momma would be so proud). I continued to take pictures of random people as I made my way back to the hotel. I got a few good dog pictures, the people here take their dogs everywhere, even in the restaurants (US health inspectors would go nuts). These dogs are so well behaved too, only once did I see a 'fight' between two dogs... that was interesting.

After a nice long rest, and some pre packing, it was time to meet up for dinner. We went to a fantabulous place called 4 leoni, oh my heavens was it good. We decided as a group that it was best to have this place as the last meal because any place we went after would have been sub-par. Francesca said she had the best salad ever, in her life.... I had the most flavorful and juicy fillet mignon... it was unbelievable. Some people ordered dessert, but Francesca and I heard 'gelato' and decided that would be our dessert. Bob took us down to the best place, the one we've been to many times before, and got us our well earned dessert. Since it was just me and Francesca, Bob took us to a place that had fantastic light reflections in the water. I told him he should have told me sooner, I had already packed my camera. I did get a few shots with my phone, not nearly the quality that my camera would have produced, but passable.

So back in my room, showered and packed (except the last minute things), praying for my luggage to travel well so my things won't break, and really wishing my flight time wasn't 11 hours long. Oh well.

Get ready for a ton of pictures.