Florence & Pisa

The 5+ hour trip to Florence was uneventful yet fascinating. Viewing the Cararre marble diggings was an eye-opener. Marble here has been quarried for an astonishingly long time — for over 2,000 years. I could see the pure white areas in the surrounding hills. If I had been surprised by the number of perfumeries near Nice, I was stunned to find out that there are over 650 quarries in the Apuan Alps. I met a woman, Ruth Young, who has authored an Italian-English dictionary. She pointed out many of the sights along the way. Her help made the journey more interesting.

Upon arriving in Florence, I took a taxi to my hotel. When I stepped out, I found myself in a narrow, dark street and thought I was in the slums of Florence. But I wasn't! From the outside, my pension was barely noticeable, but inside it was very pretty, with a lovely ambiance. Terry had arrived and joined me in my room. We then went to a quaint Italian restaurant facing the famous cathedral.

I spent the next morning touring Florence, but I considered it a waste of time. The only worthwhile aspect was a visit to Belvedere Castle, the Royal Palace of the Medici. During lunch hour, we moved to a new hotel, which was more centrally located.

I then decided to go see the famous statue of David. I hid behind one of the large pillars and took a photo, even though I wasn't supposed to. I'm glad I did because I enjoy having that photo in my files.

Subsequently, I went outside and took a photo of the famous Baptistry doors. Those famous bronze doors, often called the gates of paradise, are among the most celebrated artworks in the world. Apparently, these doors mark a turning point in Renaissance art. I'm not very knowledgeable about art in general, let alone Renaissance art, but I really enjoyed examining the doors' realistic perspective, emotion, and even naturalism.

The Baptistry itself is a wonder. It is meant to symbolize the city's spiritual heart. For centuries, every Florentine was baptized there. Its distinctive octagonal shape represents the eighth day - supposedly, the day of resurrection and eternal life. I don't believe in all of that gobbledygook, but there is no denying the beauty of the building

In Florence, there seems to be art everywhere: plazas lined with statues of historical figures, and they are very well attended by tourists.

My visit to Pisa was one of the highlights of my entire trip. That tower really leans! We had a guide who provided a very good explanation of the leaning, its history, and how it is currently being stabilized to prevent it from falling. I climbed to the top of the tower and found it both interesting and confusing to be leaning one way on one side and the other way on the other side. However, I did make it to the top and spent a little time admiring the city from this vantage point. And, yep, going down was just as confusing as it had been coming up.

The Leaning Tower wasn't the only attraction in the city for me. Right next to it is the baptistry, where we received a demonstration of how one's voice echoes from one section of the building to another. I found that building to be acoustically extraordinary, and I was told it was unique. Sound actually echoes for several seconds! The guide demonstrated this by singing a few notes, which resonated and harmonized beautifully. These acoustics result from its domed ceiling and circular design.

I eventually walked to the famous Ponte Vecchio. This is the only bridge that survived World War II. I wonder why that happened. Today, it is the most iconic landmark in Florence, a city renowned for its famous landmarks. I understand it is also one of the world's most famous bridges. Walking across the bridge, I found a multitude of tiny shops built along both sides. Historically, the shops were occupied by butchers, fishmongers, and tanners, who would dispose of waste or garbage, and it fell directly into the river! Eventually, these trades were banned for sanitary reasons and replaced with goldsmiths and jewellers, a tradition that continues to this day. Frankly, walking across the bridge felt like stepping into a living, medieval marketplace. Absolutely fascinating!