Florence

We spent a few days in Florence since our trip to the Cinque Terre region was cancelled.     Florence is a beautiful city (although November is a very wet month to visit)    

This is the old bridge over the river.    When you walk across it is non-stop jewelry shops.     The glitter is almost blinding.    Apparently a lot of people spend serious money when they visit.      This is the back side of the bridge.     You can see how they have just built their shops out over the river.

Another restaurant displaying their fresh seafood.

Dinner was a new adventure for me - Pappardelle fatte in casa sul cinghiale - it was incredibly delicious.     I have to admit I wasn't sure if I would like wild boar, though.     Plus, the pappardelle was hand made.

We were told that the Steak Florentina was even better than Kobe Beef.     Bob just had to try it.     These are ordered by weight.....

Some local Chianti Classic with dinner

We stopped by Eatalia - it's a fantastic Italian products only food store.      It would be so much fun to have this nearby.       Their package of Lardo Tuscano caught my eye.     I would have to dig out an authentic Italian cookbook to use some of these items.

Another Wild Boar - this one is a statue

Anyone who has joined the Le Jardiniste ladies on our bus trips knows how much we enjoy our chocolates.    Couldn't resist visiting this shop.

I thought this was a unique street sign.

We stayed in a boutique hotel.     RJ is sitting in the breakfast room.     There are paintings everywhere,       There was also a large ceiling painting in our bedroom.  

If you are in Florence, you must visit the Duomo - a beautiful cathedral.       I am always drawn to the beautiful ceilings.

The exterior was more detailed than most

All of the officers patroling this city wore these white handbags (although I'm sure they have a different name for them)

Rubbers come in many colors

 More sidewalk art, again in chalk that will disappear over night.

You can't come to Florence without visiting the famous statues in the city.    

We'll say goodbye to Florence with some night shots....

We are off to Milan......