Sunrise to Sunset

I want to begin this blog by sharing with friends and family the trip Kevin and I took to Italy in May 2005. I know it happened several years ago but it's as fresh in my memory just as if it happened yesterday. I've also posted links to the sites that helped me with our itinerary.

May 18, 2005--While waiting to board the plane to Munich we sat next to an older gentleman who has lived in Munich for 45 years. He was an ice skater that performed all over the world. We started talking about our vacation and he told us that he loves Venice and has been there many times. So I whipped out my map of Venice and he told us about all of his favorite places. He said we were staying in a nice quiet spot. We enjoyed our visit with him very much. He had been visiting his sister who lived in the North End of Boston and had also visited Las Vegas. Unfortunately, he's trip was hindered by a bad cold, bless his heart.
Our flight was so nice. Dinner, drinks and breakfast. The Munich airport was clean and orderly. Newly built, but too smokey for me! Just worried I'd get a headache. As we waited for our flight to Pisa we were hot and thirsty. Kevin got some bottled water, which helped. They then shuttled us out to the little plane. We had a wonderful view of the snow capped Alps. I also remember seeing the green mountain tops and valleys below before going to sleep for the majority of the short flight.

Before take off we sat near an Italian man that was incredibility high maintenance for the poor flight attendant. He was very loud and demanded water, which he quickly downed about 3 cups. He asked for an extension to his seat belt. Then he changed seats...needless to say he was very entertaining, at least to those who didn't have to wait on him. Trying not to pay attention to him I decided to take some pictures out the window, such a touristy thing to do, I know.

We got to the tiny Pisa airport at 11 am on the 19 of May. We bought a train ticket and caught the train to Florence with one minute to spare. I didn't want to fall sleep for fear of missing something, but sleep overcame me. We arrived in Florence and bought our tickets to Venice while we were there. We tried to catch a bus but realized after we waited that you buy your ticket first, so we called for a taxi. The taxi was better than any kiddie amusement park ride. In Florence everyone is in the street--pedestrians, bicycles, scooters, cars, animals and our taxi driver quietly maneuvered his way around everything, never beeping or yelling, he just patiently eased his way through being very careful. He took us right to our door at 12 Via Dante Alligheri. Yes, we stayed on the street that Dante lived. We stood in front of the beautiful wood doors and rang. Someone buzzed the door open and we climbed up the 3 flights of stairs with all our luggage. There we met Frano and Peter. They were very nice. Our room was small but comfortable with a huge window that opened onto an alley way. The bed was firm, sheets were clean, but the bedspread was not, so I took it off and laid it on a shelf. The bath wasn't what we expected. It was private but across the hall. At least it was clean. Peter gave us names of a couple places to eat. He told us breakfast would be served from 8 to 10 am. and introduced us to the owner Bruno.

We left Dei Mori and walked to Piazza della Signoria. We took pictures by the Neptune Fountain, the David, and the Uffizi Museum. We walked along the Arno and across the Ponte Vecchio and there found a wonderful little bakery called Il Fornaio. We ate lunch and walked up the road to the Pitti Palace. Then we walked back to our room for a well needed nap. We could hardly keep one eye open. That night we ate dinner at Baldirino's, which was recommended to us by Peter. I had eggplant and zucchini pizza and Kevin had pasta. It cost 32e with tip. We walked up to the Duomo (The Basilicadi Santa Maria Del Fiore, notable for it's dome designed by Brunelleschi) which was more than my eyes could take in!! I could not believe how massive it was in real life. And to our delight it was open that night. It was 10pm and they were offering free guided tours in English. We were able to see the inside the dome. The painting in the dome was done by Vasari. As you enter the doors of the Duomo and turn around there is a clock dated from 1443 that moves with one hand from sunrise to sunset. On our walk home to Via Dante Alighieri we found a Gelatria and tasting our very first gelato we happily ended our first day in Italy.