Italy 2013 Day 7

Up early, breakfast then bus to Florence at 7:30.  We drove along the spine of the Apennines, the scenery was breathtaking--our heads bobbing right and left.  We had a stop at a high overlook for coffee, etc. that had photos on the walls from the early years when the road was being built. Arrived at Florence at 11 where we met our walking guide. After a couple of stops with the guide, Carol, Sandy and I took off on our own.  We had been there before and thought our time could be better spent so we crossed the Pont Vecchio, visited The Pitti Palace, the gardens and the ceramic museum before going to the Zecchi Art Store to buy paint.   We shopped at the stalls along the x plaza before heading to the bus, passing the Santa Cruce where many famous people are Interned (Michalangelo) and stopping for a beer in the park by the bus stop.  We visited the Michelangelo Plaza overlook before heading back at 5, arriving late for supper at 8.  After supper we sat outside in the cool night air after the blazing heat of the day and traipsing around Florence for 6 hours.  It is such a wonderful city and we made it through without any of that "petty crime" happening to us.

Bus stop at the high spot along the Appeninnes on way to Florence.

Arwed, Sandy, ordering coffee at rest stop where I bought local dark green olive oil.

Margaret Egli Thomson at rest stop.

Photo of photo when they first built the road, this was our rest stop.

Scene along the road in Apennines.

Shot of typical trees in this area.

Giotto, artist we did some studying about.

By the Pitti Palace, Florence

Gardens at Pitti Palace

View across the Arno from Pitti Palace

And we thought we invented pretty mugs here in this century, these at Pitti Palace Ceramic Museum

Pitti Palace water feature.

Pont Vecchio tooking towards Uffizzi

The David at Michelangelo overlook.

Michaelangelo overlook view of Florience