Italy: Florence

Florence must be the most beautiful city in the world! It was my favorite. Here are a few of the pictures. There are so many beautiful churches and doors. Of course, the favorite of everyone is the Duomo. And Chris likes doors so he took many pics of beautiful doors. In the city center, many of the streets are now walking streets because they are so narrow.

We stayed in a very small boutique hotel but had a very nice large room with completed updated private bath. (You have to be careful in booking rooms in Italy because many have shared baths.) We were staying in the city center which made it very convenient for us. And we had a gelato store next door to the hotel so that was the last stop of the day before going back up to our room (every day).

One of the many nice things about Florence is that it is so compact, you can walk everywhere and we did. I think the only time we got a cab was when we first arrived and it was raining. The walking is very good exercise especially when you are eating the best food in the world. We atayed 5 days in Florence and I could have stayed longer. It is so beautiful and there was an abundance of fresh fruit to buy at the various markets.

First, Chris found the Ferrari store and I took his picture in front of the store. I thought he would want to go in but he said no, he just wanted a picture. Then the day before we left, he wanted to go back to the Ferrari store, and this time he wanted to go in. We walked out with a bag. He bought a very attractive Ferrari jacket, and I was glad.

We learned that the marble David that Michelangelo carved was now inside a museum and you need to go early to see it because everyone wants to see it, or better yet go early and buy tickets for the following day. It was moved there after an attacker caused damage to one of the feet. However, we learned that up of the pedestal on the hill was a bronze casting of David, and it is quite lovely. It's on the other side of the river but an easy walk, except for climbing that hill. The bronze casting is quite lovely.

We could see the top of the Duomo from our hotel. Just couldn't get enough pictures. It is so beautiful, but then Florence is filled with beautiful churches. One day we found a Jewish Synogogue. It was lunch time and there was a Jewish restaurant next door. That is the only meal we had in Italy that was non-Italian.

It was a great time but we had more good times ahead, so next segment, we move on to Rome. Enjoy the pics!

Wednesday, 7 May 2008

Great news today! I got to go look at housing and it looks like we may be able to move into Niger Towers (our first choice) within 10 days using rented but new furniture, etc. Who cares if it gets us out of this hotel? I will check to see if I can find some pictures we took before of Niger Towers. The unit I have conditionally accepted is a flat on the fourth floor of one of four towers. It has 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, office with built-ins, formal dining, kitchen with walk-in pantry, separate laundry room, maids quarters incl bath off the kitchen with separate entry.

Makes me happy! YEAH!!!