Getting to know Florence

Week 3 - Sept. 12-18 (I think...)

Sunday, Sept. 12

No buses on Sunday, so we walk down to Ponte Vecchio.

Walking by Villa Giullari on Pian de Giullari

Arrival at Piazza della Signoria and look at the sculptures at the Loggia dei Lanzi

Palazzo Vecchio

Entrance to the Loggia dei Lanzi

Perseus with the head of Medusa

by Benvenuto Cellini

Face of Cellini 
The back of Perseus' helmut

Hercules & Nesseus

Rape of Polyxena

Fountain of Neptune

With Neptune's Horses

After some refreshment in the Piazza

we walk toward Porta Romana and pass the Palazzo Pitti

Walking Via Romana, we stop at Carrefour and then taxi home.  A good day!

Monday, Sept. 13 

Do laundry in the morning getting to know how to laundry in Italy is as challenging as France 10 years ago.  We are lucky to have this little washing machine and small drying rack - It's better than drying clothes in the stairwell of the gite in Esperáza.

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In the afternoon, we walk into the Old City to find Tuscany Vespa Cycle and Bike Tour near Bagatelle Palazzo.  No one there, so we walk to the end of the street to rest and wait.  After a bit, I call and someone answers and says they are there and to come in.  We make our reservations for next Monday, Sept. 20 at 9:30 for the Vespa Tour of the wine country with wine tasting and lunch.  

We then wander around and look at the wares at the Mercato de Porcellino.

Now we try to find the entrance to the Uffizi...

A long walk to the Uffizi

Rowing dock for the skullers

Ponte Vecchio

We then have a drink at a little cafe on Via Romana before going home.

Another day of fun discovery in the Old City.

Tuesday, Sept. 14

A stay at home day for me to rest my feet, do laundry and make reservations for a tour at the Uffizi.

My window views...

In the afternoon, I walk the neighborhood and enjoy.

The window of Giullari, 65

The view to the west - Galileo's observatories on the right,

Olive grove in the valley

Clouds through Galileo's Cypress trees

Wednesday, Sept. 15 

(Looking forward to Zooming with the Ancient Mariners at 7 pm Florence time.)

Today we walk to the Old City to see how far the Duomo and the Baptistry is and get ready for the Uffizi Tour tomorrow.

The Gate into Firenze
by Fort Belvedere

One way to the Old City is to walk down the hill towards Fort Belvedere.  There's a gate that indicates you have entered into the City.  It's not quite as impressive as Porta Romana, but one still knows you are entering the walled city.

Walk along Via Bardi to Ponte Vecchio...

to the Uffizi and walk through the piazza...

the Piazza della Signoria

Palazzo Vecchio

and on to the Duomo and Baptistry...

Cathedral di Santa Maria del Fiore

Battistero di San Giovanni

Now back toward Porta Romana to catch the bus up the hill to home.  

We stop at the Mercato de Porcellino and buy me a new purse, then find a dress on a small shop on Via Romana.

When at home, we rest up, have dinner and I get ready for my Zoom with the Ancient Mariners.

The screen shot of me waiting
for the Zoomers to check in

Only Candace and Christine showed up and I forgot to take a screen shot of the 3 of us, but it was fun to see the friends and report on how our lives are going on with this new normal of "Covid"

Thursday, Sept. 16 - Uffizi Tour...???

We take the 7:45 bus so we can get to the Uffizi in time to find our meeting spot, meet our tour guide and begin the adventure into the famous Uffizi Gallery.

Ricardo is our tour guide.  While going over the introductions and instructions, we realise we need proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid test.  We left them at home, so we can't go in.  Ricardo tries to see if we can reschedule, but can't reach the office, so he gives us the number to see if we can reschedule.  

I am disappointed, Ricardo sounds very knowledgeable, personable and helpful.  I hope we get someone that is just as likeable when we reschedule.

After going home, I gather my documents
and go to our phone store, Power Computers,
to have a copy made to carry with
me in my purse at all times.

We now wait for the bus to go home.

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Friday, Sept. 17 - The Uffizi Tour!!!

Angelo is our guide for this day at the Uffizi.

The piazza is blocked off for parking of the G20 meeting at the Palazzo Vecchio.

We follow Angelo up 4 stairways

2nd Floor corridor

Angelo explains the significance of the
floral dress and all the flowers in 
Botticelli's La Primavera

Botticelli's Birth of Venus

Parking lot is filling up!

Looking the other direction
Rowers on the Arno and Ponte Vecchio

Annunciation
Leonardo Da Vinci

La Nuova Sala
Leonardo

Lunch at the Uffizi Cafeteria with the Duomo in the background

After lunch we view the 1st floor and find Alessandro de Medici,

"The Moor"

Alessandro, The Moor (on the left)
and Lorenzo, The Magnificent (on the right)

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Today, we wait for the bus by having a drink
at Bar d'Angelo

Saturday, Sept. 18 - a day of rest 

We sleep in and decide we need to go to the store for groceries - not much in the refrigerator.

Make a list, catch the bus down the hill shop at Carrefour Express, catch the bus back up the hill in less than 90 minutes, so we only have to use one ticket!

I hope we got enough to last us until Wednesday!

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That's it for Week 3! 

Next week - Vespa Wine Country Tour! Let's hope we can stay sober enough to drive those Vespas😜