This morning we checked out of our hotel in Rome and took the Eurostar high speed train to Florence (Firenze). The train ride was pretty cool. We traveled in excess of 155 mph, and the ride took about an hour and 40 minutes. We arrived at the Santa Maria Novella train station and walked to our hotel a few blocks away. This hotel is substantially nicer than the first (which Nate hated, but I thought it wasn't too bad).
The Hotel Centrale is on the 2nd floor of an office type of building. In the evening, we have to leave through these huge metal doors and be buzzed back in, then buzzed in to the hotel area. We also leave our key at the desk if we're leaving in the evening. Kind of weird, but it's very quiet, and the windows open, and it's comfy. The best part is that there is a bidet. I was going to be totally disappointed if I didn't get to stay in a hotel with a bidet. Luckily, there is a buttwasher! How exciting!
Today we visited the church of Santa Croce and saw works by Cimabue (crucifix), Giotto (frescoes of scenes from the life of St. Francis) and the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo. The Donatello (Annunciation) relief that is in a chapel of the basilica was being restored (as was a large portion of the church, so Machiavelli's tomb was inaccessible as well). Huge scaffolds are built, and you can see restorers working on the frescoes and the plaster work. It was just cool to see that. What an interesting job!
We walked to the Arno river and across the Ponte Vecchio, which is basically a big shopping mall of gold stores. Lots and lots of gold.
From the little bit of time we spent here today, it seems the people from Florence are nicer and the food is better.
We went out to dinner, and Nate had bistecca alla fiorentina (grilled, lightly seasoned steak). It was pretty good. I had the menu del giorno that included an antipasto of three different cups of vegetable soup (including ribollita, which is made with veggies and day-old bread). SO GOOD. Soup is pretty much my favorite food, so I was already in heaven. Then I had a stew beef with a type of tomato topping, and spinach with garlic. Amazingly good. Finished up with some fresh pinapple and a limoncello (lemon liquour). By far, this was the best meal I've had here so far (and mine was only 15 Euro).
Gelato flavors today ---
Me: Coconut (again). Nate: KitKat (yum!)
Did you hear the WW2 story about Ponte Vecchio?
ReplyDeleteDon't you trust anyone to TAKE your picture instead of just holding that shit out in front of you?
ReplyDeleteThat photo is tradition now! We always do that!
ReplyDeleteIs the WWII story about how they bombed all the bridges on the Arno except the Ponte Vecchio (because it was the oldest), so they left the bridge and bombed the shit out of the buildings on either side? If so, yes. :D
leaving the key at the desk is so weird. In Peru we had to leave our key at the front desk in each hostile, AND our passport! I definitely didn't like leaving my passport with them. It went into a safe, but STILL!!!! yowzA!
ReplyDeletebtw - I, personally, LOVE the self-portraits! :)
Looks like you 2 are having a blast and making memories for a lifetime... :)
Amanda, we had to leave our passport at the first hotel for a little while. They all ask for it, because they make copies/write down the info because they have to submit it to the local police. Weird!
ReplyDelete