Italy sweet as gelato: Florence

At Ponte Santa Trinita looking over Ponte Vecchio. For the record, we sat there for 2 hours for sunset!

On Ponte Vecchio itself. This is the bridge that was so pretty, it was spared the fate of being bombed during the war.

David overlooking the city at Pizzale Michelangelo. AND David at Piazza de Signoria (which was the original location of THE original David, but the statue has been shifted indoors for preservation, and no, we didn't visit the hunk at Galleria dell'Accademia)

Most (if not all) Italian cities have their own city Duomo. Besides the historical background to this, this Duomo stands out simply by its grandeur. It gleams like a chunk of gem, especially at night. So lovely we initially thought that it was a fancy modern artwork projected on screen! (hey, we survived a 5 hr train ride, 2hr train breakdown and then were traumatized by the address incident ok!) The impressive, 94m height Duomo is actually 2 concentric domes built with a 463 steps passageway in between. Talk about creativity and engineering skills!

The paintings inside the Duomo is equally impressive, not an inch uncovered. Visible after climbing all 463 steps.

il Fratellini. A small snadwhich shop that serves big in taste and about 20 types of sandwiches. We rushed here to tabao 2 sandwich to-go when we stopped by Florence from Pisa enroute to Rome!
Another noteworthy meal we had at Florence was at Teotro Del Sale. For 20 Euros + 5 Euros 'membership fee (it's like a theatrical association concept, so....) we got to eat so much wonder Tuscany fare we didn't stop (and neither did any of the lunch-goers there) eating from 12:30-3pm. Oops...

Have not been updating as fast as i wish i could. So, here they are (some of them anyways).

Florence got on a bad start, well, not exactly bad, but less than ideal because we could not find our hotel. Sent us on a wild goose chase because of their too unique way of addressing the apartment units. We couldn't locate our hotel at No.12 which is clearly NOT beside the unit called No.11. Try No.17 besides No.12? AND the reception is on the 3rd floor, serviced by a half-manual elevator. DUH?

Anyways, that was an almost comical hiccup. The beauty of Florence (and the glorious glorious food) made it hard for us not to smile and just wanting to take in as much sights, sounds, tastes, feel as we could.

Florence is a city that is visually and emotionally outstanding. It is a centerpiece for the Renaissance, home to icons from Michelangelo to Guccio Gucci (yes, THE Gucci). Florence exudes a charm, somehow, and makes her presence known in the bustling pulse of city life.

It just gets to you. It is hard not to be in awe of the River Arno jogging past the lovely riversides, admire the splashes of colors on the lovely Ponte Vecchio at dusk, witness the white and green marble-made Duomo gleaming and playing peek-a-boo as you walk towards it, sit down at Piazza della Signoria people watching and munching on a goat's cheese and fennel sandwich on sun dried tomato bread.