Fun in Firenze!
Leaving the hotel after our visit to the cathedral, we grabbed a taxi. Our driver was so, so kind. She took us to pick up our luggage and then waited so she could take us to the train station. Though it would only have been a five-minute walk, she made the whole morning so much easier! Dropped off out front, we found our platform and headed to coach 2 and soon we were in our seats!
After checking in at Hotel Constantini, we walked out our front door and right before us… Duomo! It is breathtaking sight! Off to the side, I noticed a guy dressed up as a banana. Reminded me of a friend from work, named Corey. He’s a lonely banana. This guy seemed to have friends … all dressed in black. He really stood out! So now… back to the Duomo.
Walking around the Duomo, we smelled all the Italian food… drawn in by the friendly waiters, we took a seat outside so we could people watch! Such a powerful experience to be sitting at the base of this massive piece of architecture! I felt small sitting at our table with the walls and the dome of the Duomo. The perimeter is lined with restaurants. Quite an energetic experience!
Cocktails served… food ordered and, on the way, ideal weather… heaven. That’s the only word that comes to mind. I’m in heaven! Our hotel is in the perfect location. Very easy to find because it’s right at the Duomo. The building stands out… towering above the rest of the city.
Clams in wine and butter sauce to start… we really didn’t expect such a giant bowl! Not a single clam was left untouched! So good! My favorite part… gluten free, tomato free pizza!!! Oh my goodness… Prosciutto, burrata and truffle. A most incredible combination. Pizza is something I really miss. Surprisingly, almost every restaurant in the three cities we’ve visited, has had gluten free pizza and pasta! This is a dream come true for Miss Lupus girl!
Wasting no time, I went to town cutting this pizza into bite sized pieces!!! The first bite… DELICIOUS!!! The burrata was so fresh and the perfect combination with the prosciutto. I’m in Italy!!! Later in the evening, thinking about my meal, I realized I should have gone the extra mile by putting olive oil and balsamic on the burrata!
Here you see the actual view just outside our door. Thankfully, our room has an elevator, making it easy to get to our room. It says second floor but is actually on the third floor. We have an outdoor bar/restaurant one floor down. With a good crowd every night, we will have to try it before we check out!
Walking the streets… roaming, exploring… enjoying the sites. No matter where I travel, it seems a photo of arches makes the cut! The long tunnel of arches is a thing of beauty!
Formerly, a 1920’s cinema, this building is unique. The first floor is a well-stocked bookstore. Very organized, with many books in a variety of categories. The building has a top-notch sound system and excellent picture quality to compliment the giant screen in the center of the room. The outer perimeter is lined with seats in the balcony. During a 2006 renovation, 600 seats were added on the floor. What a fun way to spend an afternoon. For Firenze residents, tickets can be purchased in packs of eight. Each ticket allows two persons to enter. I’m thinking I’d spend a bit of time there…..
Now on the other side of the Duomo, I snapped a couple of photos. One of the cathedral portion and one of the tower. Formerly called the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower, building begin in 1296. It took around 140 years to be completed. The Cathedral Complex in the Piazza del Duomo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sun setting, shedding a glowing light on the top of the dome. The time? Wine-thirty. After the lunch we had, we were surprised to be eating again. The food is so good that we just can’t get enough! Still just a stone’s throw from our hotel, we are loving this city! At this rate, we will be waddling onto the ship…
Sitting at our table, we got a “bonus view”… right in front of our table, a man knelt down to take a photo of his family. Believe it or not, he had pulled his pants up before this photo was taken. We got a good chuckle out of this!!! Do you think he’s a plumber???
Light fading away, our waiter brought us a faux candle. It was a nice touch. Staring in awe at the magnificent architecture before us. Honestly, I could sit for hours … at all different angles… just marveling at the Duomo.
From the looks of it, our exploration has come to an end for today. Hard to believe how swollen my foot is! After suffering with frozen shoulder on the left side, getting the beginning twinges on the right that have progressed a bit and an inflamed right hip…I’m just falling apart. Plain and simple. Ibuprofen, elevate and a good night sleep better get this back in walking shape!!! There’s lots to see tomorrow!
