Not Another Cloud!
Posted by Jackie , 10 November 2010 1:29 PM
Rain has been the common theme of the last few days. Both Tuesday and Wednesday morning in Florence started incredibly rainy, but (thankfully) ended with a bit of sun.
On Tuesday, I took advantage of the rain to get into the Academy Gallery where Michelangelo's David is on display. I got there about an hour after opening and expected a line, but I waltzed right in. It was a great way to get out of the rain for an hour and see some magnificent art; by the time I left, it was barely drizzling and the line was around the block. From there, I meandered around to a number of different sites. I saw Dante's home and the church in which he (reportedly) saw Beatrice. Since I'd been mostly in the western part of the city on Tuesday, I went into the eastern half and explored some more piazzas and all the high fashion shopping streets. I also did a good amount of shopping in some more inexpensive stores trying to find a leather jacket for myself. Leather is a big thing in Florence, and there are leather shops and street vendors everywhere. Sadly, no luck on that front (though I've got my fingers crossed for Rome). In the afternoon I went to the Uffizi Gallery with a guided tour. The Birth of Venus, Raphael, Michelangelo, Davinci; I saw all the big pieces and they were all fabulous. There was even a special exhibit on Caravaggio that we saw, with his Medusa shield and a few pieces by Artemisa Gentileschi (one of my favorite painters).
This morning, I got up with only a few hours in Florence. I finished up my shopping in the San Lorenzo market and meandered through the city for the last time. I was so sad to leave, but Rome was calling! I got into Rome around 1:30 and finally got to my hotel around 2:30. Of course, it had started to rain again while looking for the hotel on the Via Tacito, so there was a great deal of relief when I finally found it. After getting a map, I set off on foot to hit a few of the major sites. I found the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, a delicious pizza place (I have a new faith in olives), a few churches that had their doors open and the Piazza Del Republica. I also thought I might check out the opera tonight, since it's next to the Piazza d. Rep, but no luck. Either I was way too early when I got there at 6, or there's nothing going on tonight. As I was all the way on the other side of town, I took the metro back to my hotel and have been doing some internet stuff every since. My stomach is rumbling though, and I think I'm going to get a pizza and bring it back to my room.
On the plus side, tomorrow and Friday should be sunny and warm...keep your fingers crossed anyways! I'm taking a guided tour of the Vatican tomorrow morning including the museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. I'm not sure what I'll do in the afternoon, but some of my friends from UCL ill be in town and hopefully I can hook up with them for dinner or something.
Ciao!
