ITALY 2013-DAY 4!

March 25th-FLORENCE

(well, actually the 26th, but for the 25th)

So after sleeping in real beds for more than 5 hours for the first time in about three days...we got our butts out of bed, prayed to the travel gods, and got on the road to Florence. 

Discovering how to avoid the road block lead us through some lovely countryside, including taking us past a lovely town by the name of San Casciano Dei Bagni.

The place has HOT SPRINGS!

Into to Florence we went, with such inspiring exchanges as:

"Well, we made it by the seat of our pants."

"But some of us don't even HAVE pants!"

and

"This is like the Wilmette of Florence."

"Yeah, you don't get much older money than this."

"Egypt."

"(pause)...Good Point." 

We found our way back to the same garage that we had found before and started walking around, but didn't get to do so for too long as we had to head get back to the airport before 8:00 to (HOPEFULLY) get our luggage. We split up, with half of us staying in Florence and the other half taking the paper work and crossing our fingers and getting to the airport. We got to the lost and found...

Reunions are a lovely thing!

After finding our way back to the same parking garage, we wound our way to a LOVELY Trattoria that proceeded to let us stuff our faces on wine, cheese, pizza, and pasta. 

After that we wound our way to Santa Maria de Novella...

...and the lovely Gelatto store that was across the plaza. 

After stuffing our faces yet again with yummy goodness, we followed the winding streets to a seriously impressive site...

Pictures and words do not do the Duomo justice. The size alone is enough to boggle the mind, but when you get up close and see the DETAIL that went into EVERY PART of this church, and then think about when it was constructed, you have to stand in awe. 

I am not even joking, but it reminds you of what humans can do when they get together, pool their knowledge and resources, and work together to create something beautiful that will last...

The Duomo is lovely during the day, but I think it is even better at night. The crowds are MUCH smaller, and even though the structure itself is closed, they have it lit in such a way that it practically glows in the night.

We were walking around the structure when Tristan saw a still-open leather shop and dashed inside. We all followed to try and stop him from doing something foolish...

...and may or may not have ended up making these guys' night. Oh hell, we probably made their week. This is the good stuff, handmade italian leather, and at RELATIVELY reasonable prices. There was a handmade white leather coat...with a white fox collar...and HAND-STITCHED accents...with real white-gold thread...that fit me like a glove...that was only 1,700 Euro. 

I came THIS CLOSE! (I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have made it through a Chicago winter)

We wandered around to the Medici church and palace, which is probably better during the day, but it does remind you of the amount of power that this family help for a VERY long time.

Winding our way back to the cars and back onto the A1, we found our way back to the Villa, passing deer and GIANT rabbits and the even more beautiful at night San Casciano Dei Bagni, then home to the villa where, despite the late hour, we were so excited from the day and have CLOTHES that we stayed up talking and unpacking for a while. Now, we look toward another lovely day wandering around this country side and seeing what we can see!

CIAO!