Day 3: Our first day in Firenze

We finally arrived at Florence's termini (train terminal station) and got a taxi to take us to our hotel ("Hotel degli Orafi").  It is in view of the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge - which is covered in shops.  The name means "old bridge."  It is a beautiful sight.

Our room was also very nice.  Pretty big bathroom (compared to the bathroom at the Dona Palace in Venice).  They had a bottle of champagne waiting on us with a "Happy Honeymoon!" note.

We actually couldn't check in to our hotel until 2 p.m.  So we went to the Duomo and waited in line to climb to the top of the dome.  It was insane!!  It was almost 500 steps up!  The inside of the dome was very impressive.  I can't imagine how they painted the inside of the dome!  It was sooo high up.

The walls are completely flat and contoured.  Notice how they
painted the man's leg in the center of this picture. 
It looks like his leg is hanging over the edge.

We finally got to the top and it was completely breath-taking!  We took plenty of pictures and video then made our way back down.  I was soooo sick this day.  I had body aches and felt like complete crap.  But I sucked it up and put a smile on anyways!

This is the Chapel of the il Duomo (the dome is
behind this building)

We began walking back to the hotel and came across a bunch of replica sculptures found in this square near the Uffizi gallery.  We walked around and took in the amazing sculptures.  We were very impressed.  There was the replica of the Statue of David standing where the original stood for many years.  After taking some pictures we headed back to the hotel and checked in.

Notice where the spear pierced Jesus

This is the replica of the Statue of David (they do not allow
pictures taken of the original)

Next on our list was to go to the Galleria de Academia which is where the original Statue of David is located.  There were numerous original paintings by Michelangelo and other famous artists found in the gallery.  Without a doubt, the Statue of David stole the show.  It was absolutely gigantic!  Very impressive!  I just kept staring in awe at it just thinking back to my different art classes where I studied this figure and now I am seeing the real deal in person!  Spectacular.  We then made our way through the museum; I couldn't stop looking at the intense detail in each of the paintings.  The other sculptures there blew my mind.  It was amazing!

We headed out of the museum and bought some post cards then went and found some awesome gelati.  We sat outside the Duomo with its enourmous walls towering over us while we ate our gelati.

Strawberry (or fragola in Italian) was my favorite gelato

We took a slow walk back to the hotel and took a detour to the Ponte Vecchio.  On the other side of the bridge we ate dinner at a nice cafe.  They all seem to sell the same stuff...pizza, pasta, gelati, beer and wine.  We both got the calzone - which was a little different from what we were use to.

We came back to the hotel and used our free voucher for two drinks we received upon check-in.  We sat on the terrace of the fifth floor with views of the Duomo on one side of the river and Ponte Vecchio on the other side.



The dome in the center is the Duomo - we walked to the very very top of the dome





After enjoying a few drinks and the amazing view we went back to the room to enjoy our champagne.

Tomorrow morning we will be picked up to be taken on a private tour of Tuscany.  We are going to see if its possible to visit the Leaning Tower in Pisa.