More Florence, then some relaxation and romance!
Trip Start
Sep 23, 2010
1
14
20
Trip End
Oct 13, 2010
Monterosso, Italian Riviera, Italy
Thursday, October 7, 2010
After making a quick trip across the street to the pharmacy for some anti-itch cream (we are eaten alive), we started out by going to the Duomo Museum. We chose against going to the Duomo itself, as we had sort of seen the inside already from the top when we climbed the dome, and we knew most of its art was in this museum anyways. And again, we're burnt out on churches. Although it had some neat pieces, it was a small museum and therefore didn’t give us much of a thrill. There will be some attached pictures though, if you are just aching for more info!
We walked down to the Bargello Museum next, another recommendation, and although much more impressive than the Duomo Museum (I’m liking the secular art right now…), with works by Michelangelo, Donatello, Michelangelo-followers and follow-ups, we were both feeling burnt out and tired, so we didn’t stay long. We hit the highlighted rooms, including Donatello’s famous bronze David, and Michelangelo’s first work in marble (a Madonna and Child), wandered around appreciating the old building that housed the museum (previously a Medici government building, then a government economic office, then a jail), then thought lunch was more in order.
We ate so-so food at a cafeteria to keep it quick today, but the lack of cuisine enticement was forgiven by the fact we were on Piazza Signoria, looking at the Palazzo Vecchio while we ate! After lunch, we proceeded to wander (out of the things I would tweak on this trip, not enough time in Florence to just wander, window shop and people watch would be one of them), walked up and down the Ponte Vecchio in its entirety, looked through the street market, got one last gulp of gelato (Steve branched out with a fruit flavor! Have no idea why…he was broken…I did chocolate that tasted like brownies melted in my mouth, and stracciatella (chocolate chip), then headed to the train station.
After a less than exciting train ride, as the train was not air conditioned and it was immmmmensely humid (ick!), we arrived in Monterosso. Ahhhh, if there was a place to relax or be romantic or both, this is it! You step out of the train station to see a beautiful beach, a nice promenade along it, gelaterias, restaurants and classy bars, and cliffs that are gorgeous. I don’t think Steve was impressed, but I have to see this Maui he speaks of, because he claims it’s better than Monterosso. I think he’s too American :)
Anyways, we can both agree it was gorgeous. We walked to our hotel, at which we splurged for a suite. Loft with queen bed (no European double), downstairs sitting room, frescoed ceilings (it was like we were in those palaces!) Not really, but it was still fancy. Relaxed, walked out to the breakwater and just stood to ooh and ahh the area. The water is that wonderful clear we saw in Positano, there were couples everywhere just being cute, and it was so quiet, except for the sound of the water. I felt a sigh all the way through my body, as I knew this was a great place to relax and just focus on some time together instead of time with a museum :) We walked from there to a dinner on the seafront, where I had some linguine with pesto (pesto was invented here! And you could tell! Yum!), while Steve tried some giant looking shrimp thing, with calamari. This town is known for some awesome food: fish (of pretty much every kind, but primarily the kinds we did not try – anchovies and mussels), focaccia bread (invented here and like bruschetta, MUCH better than the American bland version), pesto (invented here), and their wine (nothing special, but I did have some with dinner and it was good). Feeling very "Cinque Terre"-ish, we went back to have some down time, watching TV shows and passing out at 10pm. (Yes, at this point we apparently are sleeping a lot, so just be patient with these blog entries…they’re not being written at night anymore, but on train rides).
Comments
Dispite a couple of "ughs", we're gald that you guys are still having a wonderful time.
Looking forward to the next trip blog.
Don