Ok Ok I know I'm a little behind on my blog. I'm having some trouble with this program and twice I've had a fully written entry and twice I've hit the"publish" button and poof, it disappears! Very frustrating. So, I'm going to post a bit at a time and will keep adding to this entry. Ok here goes

On Saturday we headed off to see the Palazzo Pitti, an enormous residence not too far from us. Built by wealthy Florentine banker Luca Pitti, his family hung out there for about a hundred years or so. Then the ruling Medici family, themselves bankers, made an offer the Pitti's couldn't refuse (they needed the dough) and moved in. Filling it with art, treasures and furniture, they called it home for the next couple of hundred years. When their time in the sun was over, the Hapsburgs moved in, followed by that little French guy ... Napoleon in 1810. It was his headquarters in these parts until he had his issues. Finally, when Italy unified, their new king chose it to be his rather large man cave. The Capitol was later moved to Rome after they settled their differences with da Pope. Now it's owned by the city. Behind is the wonderfully shady Boboli Gardens, a slice of heaven in a beautiful but not too greenspacy city. A nice respite from the crowds. However soon the shops were calling and off we went. I think I tried on another leather jacket until I came to my senses. The shops here are quite amazing, you can get custom-fitted shirts, suits and shoes. Imagine custom-fitted shoes! Very stylish clothing as well. My travel clothes just went down a notch.

We popped back over to Piazza Santa Croce, where the church of the same name is located. Another beautiful church, but in particular we wanted to see the final resting places for a few local guys who did good. Michelangelo, Galileo and Dante are all there. See, if you can accomplish what these guys did maybe you can also have a final resting place surrounded by gawking tourists.

We then tried to figure out the bus system, after consulting my guidebook and no end of Googling I stepped out of my comfort zone and asked a local, in Italian no less, how to get to San Miniato al Monte, Soon we were rambling up a hill to the top where the church was located. Built in 1013 (I always wonder how they know the exact date) it has a commanding view of Florence below. There's a monastery next door, originally started by the Benedictines, followed by the Cluniacs, and then finally the Olivetans. They've looked after the joint since 1373. We went down into the grotto underneath where every evening Cistercian monks chant the lastest Gregorian hits. To support themselves they make famous liqueurs, honey and herbal teas. I wonder how much of those liqueurs don't make it down to the gift shop.

With the sounds of the chants still ringing in our ears, we went down the hill a little to a piazza clinging to the edge. We were treated to 2 surprises, the first was an amazing sunset (see photos) and the other was the gelato festival underway. Victoria has Beer Fest and Rib Fest, Florence has Gelato Fest. Pleasant way to end our evening.

The following day, Sunday, was going to be a little more subdued but it seems we still got caught up in this enchanting city. Beth and I went into the Duomo, the massive church that dominates the skyline, and the Duomo museum where they keep the good stuff. Recently renovated, they have sculptures and art that were once exposed outside but are now protected. In particular the doors from the adjacent baptistery are there (Google them to get more info). On our way back we stopped at a market at Piazza Santo Spirito and bought some locally made organic pasta, sauce, cheese and bread for our final dinner. At the market Keith bought a very cool knife made by a local artisan, and Gaye bought the pasta, and interesting gluten free made-from-chick-peas spaghetti. It was... interesting. But we had fun for our last evening at our apartment up the zillion stairs at 21 Via delle Caldaia.

Tomorrow we ride the rails to the Cinque Terre.

Ciao for now!