Arriving in Florence

Well, this was this evening's reward for a long day of travel.  We flew out of Vancouver to Paris where we had a 4 hour layover and then on to Florence.  We are enjoying these long trips while we can as they get more exhausting with each year.  But, while we can do it - we will!  It was extremely easy to hop Italia Rail right outside the airport and take it all the way into the Santa Maria Novella train station across from the Santa Maria Novella Basilica.  What an introduction to the city.  While it was a short walk to our hotel, we made it interesting.  Via della Scalla was easy to find but the numbering system threw my math teacher for a loop.  Sequential?  Hahahaha, what an assumption.  Back and forth we went up and down the street looking for #48.  Finally, we had to break out the phone and follow it 250 metres down the road to our place.

We had a quick nap, just enough to boost the energy levels and then out we went into a hot and muggy late afternoon for a stroll.  So much of what we wanted to see this day was just a short walk from our hotel.

The building on the left is the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, just  a few blocks from our hotel.  The plaza around it was filled with tourists and locals and yes, gelato was evident everywhere .  After a stroll around this area we headed up Via de Conti through the street artists and sidewalk cafes.  At the end of walk, in the background of the picture on the right, are the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels.  On down the Via de Puccito to the Duomo (the religious centre).  Again, the plaza was filled to the brim as the sun began to set and the temperature dropped enough to be comfortable.

  

The Duomo was filled with statues and frescos in honour of many of Italy's historic figures.  Tourists and pigeons were everywhere!  Again, the sidewalk cafes and parked Vespas and bikes were exactly as you would expect.  I think, for me, the highlight of our walk was catching a glimpse of the Arno River through the long, winding streets.  On to the Ponte Vecchio which I had read so much about before coming.  It didn't disappoint.   Below is the view from the bridge as the sun sets over the Arno.

  

The shops across the bridge are filled with jewelry shops and leather shops.  I didn't see a lot of people shopping but there were hundreds catching the view and a bit of the history.  You could definitely imagine life as it was in the days of the Medicis as you stroll through this part of Florence.

We hit a wall after  the sun set so headed back through the narrow cobblestone streets looking for a bite to eat before we headed to bed.  Dinner at a sidewalk cafe in the Plaza Santa Maria Novella, followed by a wee bit of gelato was a perfect ending to our first day in Italy.

Buonanotte, amico mio!