Florence

May 18-22, 2009

Gladys and I left Rome on a train bound for Florence, while Yuanting and Kenny had arrived in San Francisco. We were really impressed with our hostel. Owned by brothers Vito and Carlo, Casa Dolce Casa was well kept, comfy and in a good location.

In parts of Florence, you still get a sense of the olden days with cobble stone streets and stone architecture. One wouldn’t use modern to describe the city, but rather antiquated yet charming. We took it easy that evening. We had roasted potatoes (cut like fries but fresh and lightly fried with olive oil) and linguine with calamari for dinner and strolled around the small town center.

The next day, without really having an idea of what we wanted to see, we again walked where our feet would take us. First, we went to check out the bus schedule to The Mall, a factory outlet about an hour away. That done, we walked in the central area, passing the cathedral, also known as the Duomo.

The queue to get in was long and the Italian summer was proving to be quite a test of our endurance. Along the way we were tempted by gelaterias. We gave up trying to get into the cathedral. We also found our way to the shopping district where Gladys wanted to go check out some bags. And we didn’t stay out in the heat too long. Eventually we called it a day and stayed indoors watching TV.

The Mall

So we took an hour long bus ride to the Tuscan countryside to get to The Mall, a factory outlet shopping center. Gladys’ colleagues had recommended the place to her and we were going to check out what we could find.

In the end, I actually bought more things than Gladys because she was fussy. And I know a good deal when I see one. Bought leather shoes and a wallet. Eventually, Gladys decided to buy her handbag from the boutique in Florence.

Brands represented at The Mall

Florence

Back in Florence, we had plans to visit the Uffizi. But another long queue for it really dampened my spirit. It was way too warm, the summer, and yet another museum/gallery wasn’t what I wanted to view. Watching TV online was way too tempting. Instead, we walked with less of an aim, looking at more sights around town. The list of sights we had drafted on the first day was quickly ignored.

Florence's central piazza, while I was having gelato

Replica of David by Michelangelo

Vespa galore

River Arno

Ponte Vecchio

The day before, we had dinner at a German pub and I managed to satisfy my cravings for chicken wings. Always trust a pub for great fare to accompany their beer! For our final meal in Florence, we settled for Italian, which was amazing as well.

Bread, asparagus with butter and cheese, pasta with porcini mushrooms and red wine from Chianti.

So long, Florence!