20220429 Florence: Jeff and I had a wonderful time in Florence. Regular wakeup time, regular breakfast time, regular getting in the bus time. Bus was full of folks for the “on your own” experience. Some even are staying overnight and coming back with the bus tomorrow. We left the ship about 9:00 or so and got back around 7:30.
Walked from where the bus stopped to Basilica of Santa Croce and its square. Then, Jeff and I walked to the center of town by the Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, where the crowd was thick…I mean thick! Walked a 360 around the church and baptistry for images. From there, we walked to the Mercato Centrale, a huge general market with lots of food booths. We wandered around the first floor (found a great biscotti vendor) and climbed to the second floor where there is a great variety of food and drink and tables to sit and enjoy your lunch, which we did.
Next, we went to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, which is quite lovely….and also quite empty of crowds! The basilica is beautiful and contains some fantastic art and frescos. Also has nice cloisters. Spent lots of time there.
Then we walked to the Arno (with its crowds along both banks) to look at the river and Ponte Vecchio and past it to the Uffizi and then back to Santa Croce square where we got gelato and waited for the group to walk back to the bus and the long drive back to the ship.
Went up to Sette Mari for another great meal and then to the suite for downloading, emailing, texting, and shower/shave to bed. Also, I am icing one foot due to the results of the five miles we walked today.
Tomorrow we are a time schedule starting at 8:00 for our drive to Siena and San Gimignano for the day.
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