Florence-whatever they say (the guide books, that is!) is true. As beautiful as ever but oh so crowded in the centre! You imagine there can’t be tourists anywhere else, they must all be here now!
We did all the usuals - Michelangelo’s “David” at the Accademia was perhaps our best - oh, and his “4 Slaves” - pure poetry in marble!-contention if he even touched the latter with his chisel. And a 5 minute walk away, this beautiful Moorish style synagogue built in the late 19thc. The walls and ceiling beautifully adorned-recently restored-and the copper dome, now a lovely soft green=-visible as you walk up from Piazza San Marco.
We did manage to get on a bus heading in the wrong direction to my cousin, but in true Italian style, once I asked 1 person on the bus where to get off, 5 women got involved with our dilemma~each one with a better route for us!
We are trying to get my cousin’s local to move his restaurant to Takapuna!-Italian cooking that we dream about! -for you Yiddish speakers-really “heimish”! Baby artichokes, lightly dusted and fried plus a buffet of starters - about 15 to choose from-marinated veg and stuffed veg, and grilled veg, a host of different seafood done simply and oh so tasty and then pasta (home made, of course!) with simple delicious sauces. I am hoping that all the walking will offset all the eating!
Ciao for now