Florence, Italy

We arrived yesterday in Florence by train - the train ride was pretty hectic at times seeing how we all got on in Venice and occupied 2 cars.  We were all settled in when we got to the next stop and other people got on saying some of us were in their seats.....it finally settled down but Randolph and I ended up in two different cars and he was with an Italian family.....

We got off the train in a hurry (wanted to make sure everyone got off before it headed to its next stop) and then walked with our luggage to our hotel.  Not bad for a group of 80, huh?  Hotter than you know what...like triple digit hot - we arrive at our hotel to discover that the check-in is on the 4th floor!!!  One elevator about a quarter of the size of ones we're used to.....but we all made it and we were all hot trying to get in and take a shower and let down after the travels.....Randolph and I soon discovered that our air condition didn't work...but it's all good.  We're in Florence, Italy having the time of our lives....and I figure we've all been to camp before so 2 nights without air condition ain't gonna kill us...except now that I think about it the convent doesn't have air either....but who cares.

We hit the Galleria Dell Accademia where Michelangelo's David is displayed - wow - much larger than you think.....pretty awesome to see it in person.  This galleria is also the home of Robert Mapplethorpe's provocative photography exhibit....culture, Randolph, culture.  It's art.

I haven't gotten out and taken many pictures here in Florence but I have a few to share with you.....our hotel (large building with archway - Hotel Pendini) is right on the Piazza Della Repubblica which is a nice little hot spot in town and we are just a couple of blocks from the Piazza Del Duomo.....the beautiful dome that Florence is known for....and that is where the children will be singing mass tomorrow.  Crazy, right?  We leave from mass to head for Spoleto by bus where we will stay in a convent (yes, I said CONVENT) and I am doubtful that there will be any internet access there so I probably won't get on again until we hit Rome.....

The bronze doors are the famous doors on the octagonally shaped Baptistry that sits across from the Del Duomo - there are three dimensional pieces in each panel depicting scenes from the Old Testament.  The beautiful cathedral is the Del Duomo...you just can't see the Dome in this picture.....this is where they will sing tomorrow.

Moving out - going to try to go find the Ponte Vecchio bridge - it's the only bridge in Florence that wasn't destroyed in the bombings of WWII.  (Found it....at night...great culture scene - street music and lots of people.)  The bridge still has several market-type jewelry stores lining the bridge....they are locked up at night with beautiful, large, wooden doors.....each one different but charming.

Imagine what all the old nuns will think when 84 of us squat at their little place for a couple of days.....crazy Americans!