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Today has been really lovely. We started off by climbing the Duomo which is 463 steps, part of the way you can stop within the dome and be just a bit of plastic away from the beautiful old paintings on the inside of the dome. Which had seemed so small when we visited the cathedral of S. Maria del Fiore. Then up the remaining steep steps we got to the top of the dome for an amazing view of Florence. We could see the hill we sat on looking at it the other day, and the Piazza di Santa Croche that we saw yesterday. It was a nerve wracking and hard climb after a very long queue in the sun but it was more than worth it. Was so beautiful. We then walked to a palace called Palazzo Strozzi which was a 'splendid example of Renaissance architecture' and was surrounded by shops like Gucci, Prada, Valentino, D&G and Cavalli - which all began their empires from here.
After the most amazing ice cream of my life, a special cheesecake flavour, we headed back to the room and chatted with our roomies for ages, now all having English as a first language, two Aussies, two yanks and us two we had a good chat!
We then headed to dinner with Todd, where we found that it was not open for food in the evening but the waiter (the Milton keynes guy) kindly made us some lasagne and we enjoyed some white wine. We had a good chat with the waiter who even sat down and drank with us and gave us advice on where to go, he has lived in London, Sydney and cape town so we were very intrigued! We then went up to piazza michaelangelo again, the place with the good view on the edge of florence, but by this time it was dark so we had a completely different view of it!
We got some midnight ice cream then headed back to the room with Todd!
Not looking forward to the early rise tomorrow, but will be going through Pisa to Cinque Terre. There will be no Internet there so I will probably upload a few at a time when I can! :)
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G&D Sorry pressed the wrong key and rated the last blog 3/5. Meant 5+ !! Mid morning so you will be well on your way to Pisa and Cenque Terre.Never heard of it just looked it up. Looks like an awful lot of WALKING involved...... No bus passes for OAP's. Sacre Bleu ! (Yiddish..) You seem to be very much taken with the ice cream. We needn't travel to get it as a genuine Italiano visits Orchard Lane most days. Double 99 with splash of brandy suits me I find.Remind you again, pace yourself !! 3 days of mountain climbing in C T will have briught it home no doubt. Dawn says to tell you she is absolutely delighted with your accounts and loves the photos of you both. High praise indeed ! We will miss your blogs with no internet. Semaphore possibly. Still remember it.Also heliograph morse using sun and a high point. (Still live in the past !! No change there then). Just phoned Simon. In London training for the Olympics (as a helper !) Says Monty is still alive.... Hope you are having a good journey. LOL, D&G
Simon Wow you must be getting your full dose of Renaissance architecture and maybe a dash of Baroque (yes yes I've studied a module in 'The History of Architecture'!). I'll be interested in what you think. I think there is a fine line between real beauty and gaudy, a lot of those buildings they just stick on extra details for the sake of it.
G&D Now Tues even.Temp 29 today, now showers. Trust all goes well in the 5 villages. New shoes reqd.? Suspect Simon designing Gothic(ugh) kennel for Monty to surprise you all! Advanced warning : a lot in the Times about how dodgy Barcelona is. Police stations full of tourists reporting muggings etc. En garde at all times. Look like me, just a poor white needing a meal.... (No change there then.) Trust times are good and all AOK. LOL, G and Dl