The Real Deal

After another long arduous wait for the free internet, I can use it again! Went first thing to the Accademia today, and saw David. Got there just after 8AM and didn't get into the Gallery until just about 9AM, so yes going early is a really good thing! What can I say about David (that countless other people haven't already said) but that he's really good-looking (lots of messages scribbled in the museum washroom walls exclaiming, "David's hot!") and yes, definitely a masterpiece. I didn't think that I would appreciate him that much before I saw him because of all the hype, but in the end, he really did make an impression on me. I'm glad I saw him; pictures really don't do him justice. It's just one of those things you have to do when you're in Florence!

Spent some time at the open-air market around San Lorenzo Piazza. Lots of stuff on sale there, including fake brand names (I love these names, like Vouge, G&D, Vida, Giorgio Mariani, and others - hilarious!), and leather goods of dubious quality. But still lots of fun to look through. The thing is though some of the salespeople can be a bit pushy; if you show the slightest interest, they call after you to offer you a "deal". But I couldn't walk away without buying a nice soft little leather purse that I had to bargain for.

Definitely a masterpiece...

Went to the Duomo (seems like each city has their own grand cathedral), which was again a very different style than the other churches I've seen. Love the pink and green facade of the outside, and inside it was slightly plainer than some of the others, but no less majestic and grand.

It's great that everything is about walking distance from the hostel. But it was really hot today. Went back for a nice little mid-afternoon siesta. A lot of the shops close down in the middle of the day too, and re-open again at 3:30PM, something that's really interesting here. Had my first Italian gelato today, hazlenut, and it was very rich and yummy. Actually, that was pretty much my lunch!

After a nice Benedryl-induced nap, we walked to the Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge to survive WWII. Lots of street vendors selling the fake merchandise again. Walked to Vivoli, supposedly one of the best gelaterias in Florence. I tried the pistachio gelato this time, and it was olive-brown in colour, made with real pistachios - not bright green from food colouring. Oh it was delicious. Apparently you can tell it's good quality gelato by looking at the banana flavour - it should look dull yellow, meaning they used real bananas and not artificial flavouring and colouring. I can't believe I had gelato twice in one day but I did! I'm gonna have my fill while I'm still here in Florence.