We skipped ahead in our trip yesterday on the blog mostly because Lisa was tired of writing so got to a post where it would be mostly pictures. So I will pick up on where we left off. We spent two days in Florence. As Lisa posted earlier our first day was mostly filled with visiting the market tour and getting to know Florence a bit. Our second trip into the city was to visit the Duomo and then head for a Context tour of the Uffizi Gallery. So first a few of the sites we saw in the city day 1 and then onto day 2.
Florence wall art. These little guys were all over the city
After the market tour on our first trip to the city we visited the Ponte Vecchio.
The bridge was the first time we came across all of the locks pledging couples undying love for one another. Little did we know that we would witness these in many cities on our journey.
In case you can't handle Italian coffee, wimpy American:
We also found the lucky pig of Florence. Tom and Tristan rubbed his snout to ensure that they would once again touch foot in Florence.
Statue pre-mockage:
It seems in a couple of the cities we travel through we have come across some pretty weird art installations. In Paris we encountered the Panty Hose art at the Pantheon and in Florence we encountered a saran wrap maze that they actually allowed you to crawl through (unfortunately not when we happened upon it).
Trip to the Duomo
Statuary outside the Duomo
On the way up the many, many steps of the Duomo (467 roughly) we encountered this weird and fantastical murals on the ceiling. Unfortunately there was a huge plexiglass barrier that prevented us from taking better pictures. (Note from Lisa: At this point in our journey I am WAY over the Catholic torture fetish. If I see one more martyred saint I may spew.)
View from the top of the Duomo
Lunch at Teatro de Sale. Unfortunately they do not allow pictures inside. I found that out shortly after I snapped this picture. This was the best meal we've had yet in Italy. The food was abundant, diverse and wonderful, and the service and atmosphere were completely charming.
Statuary outside the Uffizi
Very poor replica of the David. On our way to meet Tom and Tristan for our tour we stopped and visited the Original David. He was magnificent. Much larger than I had imagined and his features were breathtaking. Lisa read the text describing the statue. The stature represents David in contemplation after slaying Goliath. It is one of triumph and relief but if you look at him from a different angle you actually get a sense that he is fearful. At first I thought this was because he was about to go into battle (obviously I had not read the placard) but maybe it was because of the power he had within him and the responsibilities that he had to face moving forward after this victory.
Ardbeg and the door jam. You really have to keep your eyes open in Italy for all of the little flourishes of art and decoration.
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