On our last full day in Florence we did all the museums (well, 2) and visited the Duomo, a huge cathedral where you can climb to the top. Paul had a time with the ancient staircases built for people who are 5'4" and no taller... but he managed to get through without hitting his head, but it was funny to watch him crouch while descending the steep stairs... Anyway, great views, even took a video. These computers strictly don't allow you to connect anything, so pics will come soon. Internet is hard to find here, this is the only spot for it. May not get pics up until sunday... Anyway, one of the museums we stumbled across was about the life of Leonardo DaVinci. He was so interesting! They had about 30 wooden replicas of things he sketched and invented. He came up with the bicycle (my hero!), ball bearings, and laid down much of the fundamentals for flight. If he lived in an age where they ahd motoroized energy instead of just man power, he would have seen his ideas become reality! And even his artwork was incredibly scientific. Not only did he get bodies right, but expressions and human interaction and all that business. Really incredible. We spent the same amount of time at that small museum as we did at the grand Ufizzi!
We're in the middle of our cinqueterre visit, spent a couple nights in one of the southern towns, tonight we hike about 3 hours to another town to stay for another two nights. We are excited to have our own place after staying in an 11 bed dorm here, although I have to say it was a good experience because everyone was really nice, adn we had a kitchen to cook in! Made some fabulous pasta and invited a canadian girl to join us who was traveling by herself. Ended up being a wonderful evening, we talked and drank limoncello and wine into the wee hours of the night. Yesterday we walked to the next town over (the trail was flat, wide and paved, to our disappointment), ate amazing pizza, walked back to our town, and rented kayaks. Got off to a rough start, Paul capsized in the bay before we got very far. Had trouble fitting his long legs into the narrow opening. I was cracking up, until I watched him try to get back in and instead it looked like he was trying to drown his kayak, quite successfylly. The whole thing was submerged at some point, and he hauled it to the water's edge where another fellow helped him dump the water out. Once the poor boat was rescued, he got in and we were on our way. Admiring the unique, beautiful blue of the ocean, the perfect temp of the mediterrainian... although the wind picked up and caused quite a bit of chop. We cut our trip a bit short due to being tossed around, but we still got out for an hour when it's all said and done. We spent the rest of the day on a rocky beach, reading in the sunshine, and giggling at the young couple who were not just kissing, but practicing for a HBO special on techniques for making out in public. 20 mintues they were at it before they finally left and got a room! Very different PDA standards in europe...
Paul and I are really enjoying the pizza, the relaxing and reading (I'm almost through my 4th book, have to look for another one) and the beautiful scenery. He's even picking up a little italian! And he did better than me with greek. All is well, the weather finally improved (we had afternoon thunderstorms for a while there). I'm excited about the long hike today, we will see a lot of the coast line and stop at the towns and break for gelatto, i'm sure. It's been over a day since we've had any, so we have to catch up!! Hope all is well wherever you are reading this. ;)
No comments:
Post a Comment