Up at 7am.
Took my own butter and vegemite to breakfast this morning.
Had a hankering.

Magnificent day.
Sunny.
Forecast 25 degrees.

Off on the walk to see David!
Changed my voucher for a ticket at the separate ticket office and stood in line.
I was 45 minutes early.
Sent an American man off to the ticket office to exchange his voucher for 4 tickets.
He didn't really believe me.
He thought the voucher would get them in.
Came back thanking me!
With his 4 tickets.
( The ticket man had told me all this yesterday.
I was well prepared.)
They were lovely.
Anyway, snuck in with the 8.45am group.
My ticket was for 9.15am.

It was magnificent.
He is just incredible.
From absolutely every angle.

I wandered this museum for over an hour.
Lots of amazing paintings and sculptures.
Kept going back to look at David.
He is just amazing!
And so, so very big.
His eyes especially grab you.
Loved it.
And so nice to spend as much time here as I wanted this time.
Looked at 'The Prisoners.'
And tried to imagine them encased in red brick silos during WW2 to try to protect them from the bombings.
And David, hidden in his massive brick silo.
Again, I didn't want to leave.

Then onto climb to the top of the Duomo.
Had to search a bit for the place to buy a ticket for this.
Several queries later, found it hidden between 2 shops.
So armed with the ticket, off I went.
There are 463 steps.
It was quite a climb but I didn't really have any worry.
Just took it steady.
And there are places that it is pretty confined.
And a few people climbing with me.
Round and round... Up and up and up.
Lots and lots and lots of steps and 'ducking' involved.
Imagine building it!
Then there was small pathway to the top.

First you reach the inside rim of the Dome.
This is amazing, looking down to the floor below ...
And up, so much closer to the paintings decorating the Dome.
Loved it.
Tight fit again.
Very narrow walkway around.

Then up again.....
Out into sunshine...
And, isn't that worth the climb!
WHAT A VIEW!
Fantastic.
Perfect day.
Sunshine.
And terracotta everywhere!
It is just amazing.
Greg ... I loved it!

What a view!
Circled around several times and took ages up there, soaking it all in.
Beautiful.
I was lucky, not that many people up there either.

OK
So down now.
Did that.
That's interesting too.
Down and round and down and round ...

Decided to sit and have lunch and look up at where I had been.
Had pizza.
And gazed up!

Sitting might have been a mistake.
Legs a bit wobbly when I got up.
But off I went.

Went chasing the Firenze Passport.
That was way too involved and a very long story.
But saw some amazing sites on my travels.
Walked to the railway station and back.

So ...
Where now?
OK ... Santa Croce looks interesting.
Tried to walk into a back entrance of the National Library.
They wouldn't let me in.
Looked like a church.
Let's try up here.

Recognised a waterfall on the Arno from last year's trip.
That was quite fun.
And then found the square.
And queued for a ticket into Santa Croce.
Best 6 Euro I have ever spent!

I wandered around.
Beautiful church.
Then I tagged along with a tour group.
( I do that quite often ... you just have to pick an English speaking tour.)

I was so glad I did.
We headed outside ... ( me pretending I wasn't listening to a word he said.)
And he pointed out a small plaque 4.7 metres up on a wall.
That was how high the water was during the floods of 1966.

What?

So, then with new eyes, I retraced my steps and looked at what was covered in flood water in 1966.
Then I bought a book.
And read it.

It had pictures of the floods and the aftermath.
The huge paintings in the church ... the water covered the bottom 1/3.
So, wandering through with the book ... very moving.
I could see where the water had been.

This is also a monastery and there are many, many different chapels throughout.
Mud and water and rubbish raged through all these.

Ancient paintings, artworks .... All covered in mud.

This was an amazing place anyway.
To suddenly know some of the history made it incredible.

By the way, the church is on Piazza Santa Croce.
I didn't enjoy this square last year.
Little did I know what wonderful buildings and gardens lay behind the facade of that church.

Also, inside stood at the tomb of Michelangelo!
And Galileo!

WOW!
Just absolute magic.

After that.
Had a gelati.
( When in doubt, eat gelati.)
And bought 2 salad rolls for tea.
And wandered home.

Checked at reception for the nearest BIG Post Office.
Got directions for tomorrow.
But she said...
"They don't like posting things to Australia."

Hmmmm ...
I wonder what we did to them?

Will see how I go.
Not really fond of queues that don't accomplish much.

Nothing planned tomorrow.
Am just going to 'wing' it.

Xxx


Hey, David ... thanks for saying 'Hi.'
( it's this David, not the other David. Right?
Either would do.)