A new day in Italy.

We slept in to day. We needed it. After so much walking, museum touring, and general excitement, our bodies told us to rest.
But now we must get going. The Pitti Palace and the gardens are first on our stop. What an amazing place. The exhibit in the gardens of where fashion in Italy came from was amazing. To see how the silk is made for a dress that then took 5 months to complete is unbelievable. We feel very un hip in our REI pants and walking shoes. Oh well comfort first when traveling.

We spent the rest of our Florence vacation taking in famous sites, including the Duomo (you MUST hike the stairs to the top). 424 steps up and then back down, but well worth it - even if you are slightly clastrophobic and afraid of heights.

The view of the Fresco'd ceiling was amazing, as was the view down into the cathedral. Michelangelo's 'David' statue, the Medici Chapels, and the churches of Santa Maria Novella (the Dominicans), Santa Croce (famous people buried there include Michelangelo, Dante, Machiavelli, and Galileo to name a few!). Another must is the view of the city from Piazza Michelangelo, which offers a very different view in the day and at night.

Chris and I took a bottle of wine up on Saturday at dusk. A little to touristy, but amazing views. Carol and Rob will need to join us tomorrow night for our last night in Florence. We will be sad to go.

Climb the bell tower and walk the square. We have seen as much art, architecture and taken in as much culture as we can this trip. We rent bikes and explore the rest of the neighborhoods. What a great day. We ride over to meet Carol and Rob for lunch at our favorite Kebab hole in the wall. We recommend they rent bikes as well.

Off to explore and do some shopping. Drop the bikes, grab salami, cheese, olives and bread for our evening up above Piazza Michelangelo. The four of us head up and reminisce about our great trip and how easy we all are to travel with. It is nice to have people you can travel with. We open the bottle of wine Alex gave us as a parting gift. Salute to Italy, our new friends and our travel partners. We are sad to go.