Italy Part 7

Italy Part 7

Florence

On this day we had a tour of the Ufizzi Gallery.  Not one of my favorite parts of the trip. If you are interested in history and art, then this is the place for you. I, myself, am not interested in it, so it was pretty boring to me. I feel bad that I do not appreciate everything that was in the museum. Our tour guide, was very knowledgable and patient. Mike, Jo, and I sat for a lot of the tour and partly listened with our headphones. I couldn't take a lot of pictures in this museum, because there were monitors all over the place.

Now, the coolest part about this tour was we got to go down a 'secret' hallway that took us though all sorts of art and portraits. Only our group got to go...well, I'm sure other groups get to go too, but if you are just touring the museum on your own, your don't get to see this amazing hallway. It takes you across the river and then drops you off in the Piti Palace area. The secret hallway had portriats we got to see that are worth over one million dollars!!!! I don't remember how much they said this entire hallway is worth. It was incredible though!

The Market

 I forget what Elisabeth mentioned about this hog in the previous tour, but it's kinda like a wishing fountain, I think you put the coin in it's mouth...something like that.

 The Ufizzi Gallery

 Setting up for a concert later that night

 The one who defeated Madusa...for get what his name was...

 While walking across the river on the Ufizzi tour

 There was a church service going on that we could see too from the bridge.

 Piti Palace

 More Penis...

 Piti Palace

 Walking back from our tour across the 'Gold' Bridge

Italy Part 6

Italy Part 6

Half Day Florence Tour with Elisabeth...but said with a very Italian accent. We met on the bridge--which had a name, something to do with gold, but I don't remember and then made our way to Piazza della Signoria-City Hall, where we saw Hercules, then headed to Duomo of Santa Maria del Flore, then to Brunelleschi's Dome which has over 400 steps if you wanted to take the hike to the 'heavens', and of course we stopped for Gelato. And we ended the tour at the Accademia where we saw the REAL David Statue!

Elisabeth was a great tour guide. She had a great sense of humor and did a lot of joking around, especially with Mike.

The Bridge, which is the oldest in Florence

City Hall--which I feel is where all the 'balls' started!

The backside of Hercules, I don't remember who's head he's cutting off.

Oh crap, I forgot which artist this was...either Da Vinci or Michaelangelo carved his portrait in the side of the Ufizzi Museum.

The Fake David outside the Ufizzi-we toured this the following day.

 Herc..

 The Duomo-Church. This clock goes backwards and one is at the bottom of the clock and goes to 24.

 Prayer Lights

 The Dome that has over 400 steps to get too.

After Gelato, we went to the Accademia...all these pictures are illegal by the way :)

 The Real David

 More David

 I don't remember what building this was, I just thought it was pretty.

 The end of our tour, the Square-Piazza della Republica

 After our tour, we napped, then went to eat at Gilli. Of course it was amazing. I had steak and this is where I found out that Italy Medium steak is like American 'not quite dead yet' steak. :) They were very nice and cooked it a little longer for me.

And another fabulous day in the oldest place I've ever been. It is so cool to see so many things that I saw and 'learned' about in school. Now, give me a test on anything that I saw or 'learned' and I promise you I'd still fail!

Happy Father's Day!!

Italy Part 5

Italy Part 5

The last of The Jewel's Tour of Tuscany

After our amazing Wine Tasting and Lunch we headed back out and about the Tuscany Countryside and went through San Gimangino (again, don't know if I spelled it right) and then headed to Pisa.

Countryside

 Remember, the towers were cut off when the Florentines took over.

 GELATO!!!  Along with a wine addiction, I also left Italy with a Gelato addiction!!

 Some Cheeses...Jo and I got kicked out of this cute little store, not litterly, but she told me I couldn't take pictures.

And on our way to Pisa...

 The wind turbines reminded me of home and T. Boone Pickens!

 This was a cute itsy-bitsy little church...and I really mean itsy-bitsy.

 And we are here!! I don't remember what these building were, but the Leaning Tower is to the right.

 The Leaning Tower of Pisa!! I don't know if the picture really shows how much it really is leaning. If I remember right, it continues to lean more every year! You could take a tour in the tower, we chose not too, only because it was getting late, but Mike also because of the leaning...it really looked like you would fall right out of those pillars!!

 The Blood Evans

  The only reason the Blood Evans can be reproduced :)

After our tour was over, it was really sad...Alessandro, was amazing. He was so personable and shared his own life stories with us throughout the day. We wanted him to join us everywhere we went, but he stayed professional and did what he was 'suppose' to do. I mean I know we are super fun people and who wouldn't want to hang out with us, but maybe he just didn't want to hang with us silly Americans.

Alessandro, also gave us dinner recommendations and even dropped us off at a restaurant that, of course, was incredible! And guess what, we had some more wine!!

More Italy to come soon!