We got up bright and early this morning and started on our exploration of Florence. We walked in search of breakfast and found that it is not common for people to be up and active at 8am as there were very few places for us to get some food. We finally found some food and I got some of the fresh tomatoes and cheese of Italy that I remembered so fondly on a sandwich. We then walked to the Duomo (sp?) and it was amazing!! It was so huge and the church it was built behind was absolutely stunning with much more colour and life then we have seen in other previous churches. We were lucky because since it was early there were few people around and we could enjoy it without the crowds we saw there later in the day.

We then proceeded to go to the muse Academia where the Daved is held (as per the advice of travelers we had met earlier on our trip who studied there) but there was a huge line. Luckily we had Karlee with us, and with Mathilda's travelers instinct she did a little scoping out and found that for a few extra dollars we could buy tickets from a booth down the road that would bypass the 2hr line, so that's what we did. We walked around the museum and saw many beautiful sculptures and painting but when we got to the David it was breath taking. Even if you are not religious I would encourage you to see it. It is for one the most massive statue I have ever seen! And it is so well known because he is so anatomically correct. When I first heard that I thought it meant life sized (not the 17foot statue we saw!), but no its more like muscles correctly shaped and flexing in line with how the limbs are places. There are veins showing in one had that is flexed and in the elbow crook, where as the loose hand the veins are not visible as per a real human. We spent probably about half an hour there looking in awe, and eves dropping on tours going through (so I would have a few fun facts!) before moving on and leaving the museum.

After the David we went to the market area where my book said you could find good bargaining and quality leather products. I have to tell you, with all the sales on in Italy and Spain I was being tortured by shoes! I have no room for new shoes but there were beautiful and cheep ones everywhere! All you shoe or sale lovers will understand what torture it has been walking by beautiful pumps for 10euros, or beautiful Italian boots for 40euros! So we went to the market and had a great afternoon of shopping and bartering, each one of us girls ended up with an Italian leather purse (thanks Grandpa!) and a few other things. We then had a late lunch and figured out our game plan for the rest of our time in Florence.

We were all pretty tired so we decided to take a seiesta and then sit around and play some cards and drink some wine before dinner. At lunch we found out that it is common in Italy to pay a "cover charge" to eat at a restaurant, so when looking for a place to eat dinner we found a menu that was reasonably priced and looked good, and then to top it off the hostess said that there would be no cover charge for us. We all had great meals and then of course got some gelato before headding to bed with good food in our tummys and happy faces (well except for the humidity in our room!).

Fun Fact: The David is not circumcised. While this may not sound like anything interesting to you it really is quite interesting. Michelangelo, the sculpture made the Dave after the biblical character, who at that time would have been circumcised, however the sculpture wanted the statue to represent more then just David, but man as a whole and thus left him as it so that it would be inclusive to all religious backgrounds.