Lets talk about stairs
Last day in Firenze
Up up and away
So, if you've been tracking with me, you can probably see I've been going pretty non stop. I understand now the need for the siesta. So I could slow down, but that would be no fun. So lets ambitiously climb through my day.
DUOMO
This is the artsy angle shot. Don't worry, there will be another later. Notice though the backdrop, Let's go in!
But to go in one has to go up
463 steps, 92 meters to be exact.
Before the grand reveal and the view, quick shot in the dome with the ceiling and stained glass. Yes its a insane angle, no I did't really have a choice seeing is how we tight rope walk over to the next set of stairs while being enclosed in plexiglass.
Now from here, the stairs get more narrow and the tourist get sweater. And even though the presence of Disney can be felt and seen everywhere still here in Europe, the Duomo's line execution sadly was not one of those places. I'll spare you the claustraphobic rant and just say, things got tiny, tight, and tricky.
But the view
One of a kind experience. Well, sort of. See that bell tower? Remember that for later.
Back down and roaming through the streets, I found lunch in a place with an indoor view that was actually prettier than outside
Indoor garden, open flower shop, and yes my coffee in a wine glass.
The fancy smfancy shopping district is on a bridge called Ponte Vecho. Here, like many a bridge in Europe we find lover's promises marking the metal.
Too lovey dovy? Ya, I thought so too. MORE STAIRS
Lets go back up that bell tower eh?
414 steps, 82 meters. Need a break? Me too, here's a photo on the way up
Now check out the Duomo from this angle
My favorite explanation for this wonder is a Church in Pajama's.
Yes Yes Yes Florence.
Now, Let's to it after dark because who needs rest, not me.
Also fascinating were the carts was the keepers head home for the night.
They crank open and close. The lemonade stand for tourist.
Let's conclude back at the pretty Florence.
It's a gem of a city. Beauty in all the cracks.
Yes, Sammi and I did see someone hit by a car (don't worry, he got up)
Yes, we were yelled at and insulted once or twice. But I'm not holding it against you Florence. We part ways as friends.
Now coming to a blog near you
The Cinque Terre!
Oh I'm so excited, I guess I should do some sink laundry and gets me some clean socks
So Fresh So Clean
Here I come Coast!
A long day, a quick post
Two galleries, a touch pass with the Duomo, shopping
When I say I average at 10 miles a day on foot, I'm not kidding.
Sammi's ankle can be the true marker if you don't believe me. After today, it was melon sized.
We walked back and forth and through and up and over Florence today, soaking it all in before Sammi has to head back to the state's. Since a good majority of the day was spent inside galleries, I'll spare you the art in art and just give you some samples.
First of, the Santa Maria Novella
I saw this church in my dream last night. I'm not making it up I swear.
I mean there were some structure differences but this is the church I saw. Either my Italy has taken capture of my subconscious or I've seen a lot of churches in Italy and they are merging. Either way, this church in all its painted light luster was a great way to start our early morning.
Then it was off to the Acadamia to see an old pall David
Oh, look at that butt
I mean look at it! It's not the shot you were expecting I'm sure. You can shop that shot on google. I took this one because what baffled me time and time again was seeing these Michaelangleo's in person and noticing the vein work. They really were frozen in time.
Quick! Run inside the Duomo!
Look familiar? Apparently more than one of us artist type had similar dreams. Wanna go to the top? Not yet, that's for tomorrow.
Now Uffizi time. Do your U-feet-zi's hurt like ours yet? Ha!
SO MUCH HISTORY SO MUCH ART NOT ENOUGH TIME
So here is an art to prove we were there
Even though there was more walking and eating involved let's wrap it up for the day. But for now, here is a really really bad joke
What do you do with a bad statue? Stick them in the corner with a perfect view, and turn their heads away
I'd be making that face too if I was frozen in time with a stiff neck and a bad view (that bad view being inside the Uffizi, how tragic)
It was a great day and the time with Sammi was amazing. Join me tomorrow as Kit goes back to solo Europe for more walking, more Florence, and of course more adventure!
Firenze
Wine country?
Not for Kit, but the infinite land of good espresso
Good Morning Florence!
The first massive difference was actually last night finding the hotel in almost complete silence, I guess Rome is also good at stealing all the noise. And trash.
The streets are clean, we are not in fact the only ones here as we come to realize on our way to find a late breakfast.
This was 2.5 EURO. ALL OF IT. 2.5 EURO. HOW.
Shocking! I believe both Sammi and I also managed to shock the merchant with our reactions to this shocking discovery. Shocks all around!
And it wasn't just here, as expensive as Florence can be, espresso flows practically free in the streets. Bene!
Caffeinated, we set out to explore with our Firenze cards in hand. They were practically the biggest purchase (besides gifts), but got us into basically everything with skipping the lines. Truly a good purchase when you have a limited time to art, eat, and shop here.
Look Look Look
Our first day was for wandering around and getting our bearings. One of my favorite finds if you brave the outdoor Central Market, is the upstairs indoor Central Market.
Outside Market: going to be yelled at. alot.
Indoor bottom floor: so much meat and various parts of animals I didn't know could be consumed.
Top floor: food paradise. various vendors offering everything from cheese, wine, bread, seafood, pizza, burgers, gelato, everything.
Meanwhile outside
The Duomo, more on this later I promise. It's kinda a big deal here.
Different church actually, I was just making sure you were paying attention.
This is San Lorenzo. Well technically, that is Jesus in San Lorenzo. But look up. The church was massive and had plenty of other sites to offer however, this was my favorite. It's the first and only star map I've seen in a church. Go ahead, scroll back up and give it a second look.
Back outside!
There is no mistaking it, this city is beautiful. So why not hike up a mountain and see it in full.
This is the view from the Piazzale Michelangelo
Which of course comes complete with a David Statue replica. He gets the best view of the city and I'm fairly positive the Italians pay the moon to light him up.
Tomorrow is for all of the things. And I mean ALL the things.
Feet up and tuck in time.
Blast from the past
I'm going to be honest
I really didn't put Ancient Rome up on any kind of pedestal. My dad (mostly probably my dad) and I made a wax figurine of the Colosseum in the 7th grade, really grade A material stuff. That is about where my true interest in Rome has held its roots, a wax figurine and of course the one scene in the Epcot ball where Rome burns and everything smells like bbq.
Good thing Kit is growing up and traveling
First, about traveling. Taking the metro to get to the Colosseum proved educational in that we witnessed a phone being stolen out of a tourist pocket literally one person over from us. The culprits, a group of three youth's working as a group. Shoving their way into the tightly packed tube, they push grabbed the phone and spread into the train. Once our victim realized his loss, two of three culprits spent the whole 2 minute interlude arguing who had stolen the phone while member 3 remained silent, only to rejoin the pack safely on the platform after our tube shot off the next station. Sad, educational, glad it wasn't us I guess?
Now for Rome!
The Colosseum was a good start, walking in circles in mops of people staring at a very clever place to hold 118 day massacres while cheering. Massively terrifying for a history, pretty dang neat as a structural feat.
Looking through the archways, we got a hint of what was to come
On to Palantine Hill! Up the way, nice chance to stop to get a drink of the fresh clean water flowing throughout the city. Yes, I did. No, it was not graceful.
On to the Forum. Ok so here is when it really hit me, just what I was looking at. A glimpse into a world that really existed and that brings life to the statement
All roads lead to Rome
I was taken back in all ways here. It is just massive and the pictures don't do it justice. I tried taking a detail shot up close that might make you feel a bit more like the ant one is while standing here.
Ok, two more to bring my point home
Looking back at my own photos, I still don't feel like there is a way to show just what standing here felt like. It really shifted my own perspective in a way, almost like weaving in my thoughts and experience into a past that I share with humanity. Cheese, I know. But hey Italy sports some great formaggio.
Before jumping on the train to Florence, two more important things. Well three, if you count even more gelato.
Seeing Michelangelo's Moses
One of the people I respect most in this world gave me some great advice for my trip about this statue
"If you can't hear his heart beat or see the blood pulsing through his veins. Stand there until you do! Pay no attention to the crowd."
The crowds came and went, I stayed.
Lastly, some advice I also followed from my sister.
Grounding myself to Rome, also proved staggeringly rewarding advice.
These feet are off to Florence!
The Heart of Rome
Cobblestones and thin-souled shoes are a match made in heaven, its time for another 10 mile plus day
So I invite you to enjoy this day with me visually as there was a lot for the seeing and less for the talking. If you have any questions, feel free to comment and I'll explain away. Hopefully the visual tour will be less tiring but just as rewarding!
Hidden Steps
Golden Geese of the Tempio Di Esculapio
Piazza Mignanelli
Trevi Fountian
A little proof of the crowds I've been mentioning
Pantheon
Pantheon's Behind
Caffe Break
Piazza Colonna
Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Lighting Detail
There's no place not to be paying attention to really
Campo de'Fiori
Just stumbling in random doors
Street Life
Back once more for good measure
As for the city of Rome, it is loud but more so robust. Full of people selling selfie sticks and pushing past you to stop three seconds later to take their picture. There is trash on the streets, not many waste bins and sheer chaos. I'm 1000% convinced that the game Frogger was based solely on the street crossing, near death experiences of this city. But the chaos has a beat, and once you learn when to jump in the street and how to say no to strangers, it really has a charm that grows on you. Honestly when I first arrived here, I was massively overwhelmed. A few pizzas later, Kit is a happy Roman.