Florence- June 26

Today was a great day!  We drove about 45 minutes into Florence...and got in line for the Accademia Museum.  We met Lucca, our guide for the morning. 

These photos above were all taken from the bus as we were leaving Montecatini... 

In the museum, he told us about some of Michaelangelo's sculptures... Most sculptures have a plaster cast...but Michaelangelo, when he sculpted David, did not use that.  He had all his ideas in his head.  David was sculpted between 1501 and 1504.  It was the custom that marble was cut and brought to the sculptor, but not for Michaelangelo.  He wanted to cut the stone himself, which he did.  The statue is 14 feet tall...and it is most definitely a masterpiece.  David has 2 different facial expressions, according to which way you look at his face.  Amazing!  Donatello also carved David...one in marble and one in bronze.  These were done in 1408 and 1409.  Michaelangelo's David left leg was partially modeled after one of Donatello's.  We had a 'wee bit of time' to look around and do a little shopping before we took off for lunch.

 I can't remember the name of this cathedral...it was hard to hear our guide in the crowd...but this is where we found the little lost boy, Fisher..

 In the square of Florence, there are replicas of some statues (including David) and the originals of others.

Walking through the very crowded streets of Florence, we came upon a little boy, Fisher, from Virginia who was lost from his parents.  Amir talked to him first, and gave him his phone to use.  We got ahold of his parents and kept him until his dad came running through the streets to meet us.  A few tears were shed at that point!

Lunch was pasta... we had a choice...seafood or cheese.  The seafood pasta was BLACK!  Yep, black.  Most said it was really good.  I had cheese.

Leonardo Leather factory was next on our agenda.  We learned a bit about the making of leather goods...Marina did a demonstration of stamping leather... and then we had some more shopping in their store.   Purses, wallets, jackets, belts...there was some beautiful leather goods for sure!

 Lynne and I were directed here by the owner of the Leather factory...it was a tiny little store full of olives, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, sausage...oh my!  Our suitcases were heavier because of the olive oil and balsamic vinegar we bought!

 Judy as Pinnochio

 Lynne as Pinnochio

Back on the bus... we stopped at this place to look at the city of Florence...and it was the perfect place for a group picture!

and we took off for a beautiful place out in the country where they have pizza making demonstrations...and a huge brick oven.  We were told it gets to 750 degrees.  Again, we were told how the pizza is made...and then we each got a lump of dough that had already risen...we formed it...and made it how we wanted...then watched it cook in the brick oven.  Tasty!

Back on the coach to head back to our hotel..There were 2 guys from Russia in the reception tonight...one 16 and one 18 year old (and their mom and aunt?)Steve asked them if they wanted to meet some American teenagers...

Do I need to say more?  They all had a great time.  At one point, I was handed about 10 iPhones to take pictures!

Tomorrow morning will be a bit brutal...we have a 6 a.m. wake up...6:30 to load the bus...and 7 am. breakfast...and on the road to Cinque Terre by 7:30!