After much debating we decide to go for it and tackle Florence for the day. As we are leaving the hotel, the receptionist tells us it is much better to take the train than to drive. She gives us directions in case we don't make the train, which leaves in 25 minutes from another village. Good thing we got directions, we missed the train by mere minutes, after blower €10 on parking. Once we find out way into Florence to park at the train station-we can see why the receptionist told us to take the train. There are scooters and cars everywhere and the lines in the road serve as nothing more than suggestions to where to drive.
The big city is much more stressful with the kids especially when Jillian refuses to sit in the stroller, then refuses to walk and then refuses to let Jason carry her. My hips are killing me at this point and she has no choice. The terrible two's have hit our sweet little girl with avengeancee and we now have a screaming terror. I walk ahead with the other 2 while Jason lags behind with a screaming Jillian.
We stop off for a very expensive lunch and head over to Giotto's Tower and the Duomo. I can't believe how black the marble is on the Duomo. In fact most of it is covered up for cleaning at the moment. We take a few picture outside, and head indoors. The kids light candles and say prayers and we gaze up at the huge dome.
Outside to regroup...we are entertained by the illegal vendors trying to avoid the police. The top designers have gotten fed up with the fake stuff being sold so the police have really cracked down on the vendors and even fine buyers a large amount of money. The vendors have portable cardboard displays that they pick up and walk away with whenever the police drive by, then about 5 minutes later they return only to play the same game again on the next drive by.
Next stop-the Academia. Although we called ahead for reservations, we still wait in line for a good 30 minutes (vs the 3+ hours for those without reservations). So far everywhere we have gone, Jillian and Griffen get in for free and sometimes even Kaitlyn. The kids were in awe over Michelangelo's David. Most of the museum is closed due to construction but that is about all the kids can handle anyway. We set off for some more gelato and a view of the Arno River from Ponte Vecchio. The crowds are immense and the kids are tired so we make our way back to the car and out of Florence.
All afternoon Kaitlyn has been moaning about her shoes hurting her feet and Griffen's toes are ready to shoot out the top of his, so we keep our eyes open for a shoe store. As luck would have it there is an Outlet Mall about 10 miles from the Villa. Kaitlyn scores with a pair of bright pink trainers and Griffen picks up some Pumas (all the little Italian boys wear Pumas and sweats). Jason finds a few shirts-styled much differently than US shirts! They are shorter in the sleeve and body as well as a bit more form fitting. Give him a hard time if you see him in one.
We eat another yummy dinner at the hotel. Kids got plain pasta and steak. I get an artichoke appetizer with a cheesey fondue kind of sauce and Jason gets asparagus. We both order the penne with ragu and have a bottle of local red wine. I go for the coffee creme brulee and Jason has a repeat of the dessert he ordered previously. The kids sit in the reception area drawing their depictions of David for Adriana (much to my horror) while we drink our espresso. The receptionist offers to take the kids to meet the chef after they claimed their food was the best ever. Another couple eating dinner next to us compliment the kids on their behavior. We are proud parents, despite the David portraits.
No comments:
Post a Comment