Italy 2022

Il nostro treno è partito alle 9:31. (Our train left at 9:31.) È stato un venti minuti a piedi dal nostro appartamento. (It was a twenty minute walk from our apartment.) I treni sono normalmente in orario. (Trains are normally on time.) This one was 5 minutes late - very unusual. It was supposed to rain but, never did. Of course – that's because we took our rain jackets.


We bought our tickets online using Apple Pay - very easy . The tickets are downloaded to our phone. We have the train app - Omio and it works very well. Use this app if you use a train in Europe. Most people on the train have tickets on their phone and not paper.


We walked around Florence for a while - there are way too many people and way too many tour groups! But it was nice to see this city again.  For two  years we stayed here for a week before going to Lucca. For lunch we went to Trattoria Buzzino. Great meeting Alessandro and his wife again. A complementary glass of prosecco. He first recommended the porcini mushrooms so that is what we had. Dow had tagliolini with porcini mushrooms. I had gnocchi with porcini mushrooms. Next course Dow had a chicken special and I had beef braised in wine for days. Vin Santo and biscotti rounded out this special lunch.


Here's a small world story!  Toward the end of the meal Dow asked the folks next to us where they were from. (Dow could tell they were Americans by how they held their utensils.) They said they were from Pittsburgh and just happened to pick Buzzino.  Later Dow asked where they were staying - Lucca!  And 3 hours later we ended up sitting near them in the Florence train station. Mondo piccolo!


We were tired when we got home. It was a long day - 1&1/2 hours on the train each way and fighting the crowds and heat of Florence.


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View from train
In Florence - wide streets
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Very wide
Piazza della Signoria
Fountain of Neptune
Michelangelo, David, 1504 (copy )and on left - Baccio Bandinelli, Hercules and Cacus, 1534
This is the real one inside -It was 2017 on a previous visit
Benvenuto Cellini's statue Perseus With the Head of Medusa
Street vendor we have seen in Lucca
The Pasquino Group
Giambologna's "Heracles and Nessus"
Pio Fedi, The Rape of Polyxena, 1868
found a quiet spot next to a Medici lion
Medici lion overlooking Piazza della Signoria
Tons of people everywhere
the same street vendor - hoping the tourist leaves a coin or two
Alessandro - owner of Trattoria Buzzino
Gnocchi with porcini mushrooms
tagliolini with porcini mushrooms
pensando (thinking)
Beef marinated in wine for 3 days
A typical digestif - Vin Santo with biscotti
Alessandro and his wife
Good times
The traditional kiss
Sweet
Ponte Vecchio

Giorno Quattordici