Italy 2019 - Florence

So after winding our way through the cobbled lanes of Orvieto we hit the open road for Forence. We travel through the Val d'Orcia hoping for stunning Tuscany views but BC has definitely spoiled us......very interesting, golden rolling hills, cypress lined driveways.....best to get into Florence in reasonable time........somehow we know that there will be some challenges - we are learning!!......after the usual driving anxieties we end up at a GPS spot with no Hertz.....Linda spots an Avis sign and goes over to the doorway which sends Avis customers further up the road.....once again as we get close to the Avis place, Linda spots a ramp up into a garage with Avis, Hertz and a couple of other car rental companies - Linda does it again!.....so happy to hand the keys over to the rep!.....Florence is lovely and our first day starts with a climb up into Brunelleschi's dome and up the Campanile bell tower followed by wandering....day 2 starts with the Uffizi Gallery then wandering......Florence is not quite as busy as Rome otherwise very similar - narrow cobblestone streets, lots of traffic and incredible architecture everywhere.....the food is amazing!

too many pictures of the Duomo but, wow, what an amazing place!.....

complete with psychedelic dome.......

the Campanile and Florence from the top of Brunelleschi's dome - 370 stairs later....I mean little, windy, stone stairs - dark!!!

let go of the wall honey......you'll be fine....

my kind of town!....

no YOU step back!!!!

climbing up the Campanile bell tower - another 275 steps.....oh ya!

made it!

the dome from top of the Campanile.....

back to the crowds below.......

you want the middle one-I'll get the pasta?

old guy and the Ponte Vechhio (old bridge)........

no I said old Bridge!!......jeez!

enough said!

sunset on the Arno River......people walking around with glasses of wine.....lovely....

this is the 2 horsepower model....very good on fuel consumption but the exhaust can be a little overwhelming.....

the Uffizi gallery is quite amazing!

a view of the Arno and the Ponte Vecchio from the gallery -

honey you've been just sitting here and staring for half an hour - are you ok?...

some De Vinci.....

Michelangelo.....

Bernini......

Steven Tyler (self portrait) - the guy can do everything....

more psychedelic ceiling work.....

1.2 kg. of bistecca fiorentina a chianina........

70kg of fantastic Albanian server - Indrid........

now you see it......

now you don't - unless of course you are looking at my expanded mid section.....

chillin' in the piazza......