We are in Florence!

One of our continuing issues-jokes is over the hours places keep. It's all completely random, and even though they say certain hours, it's hit and miss whether or not they actually keep them. Our internet place in Castelnuovo was closed yesterday, even though they said it was open. So that's why no one got emails yesterday.

Our apartment here in Florence is small, but it is so pretty. We are on the 4th floor of a 13th century building, but our apartment has been fixed up nicely. There are four sleeping spaces, but one is in the kitchen so we won't be using that one. Ray and Judy have the bedroom in one wing of the apartment, and Mike and Laurie let us have the nicest room with a bathroom. Pretty generous. they said it was because we did so much work to find the places, and Brian drove.


Yesterday, we took a trip in the morning to a beautiful town named Pienza, which Pope Pius II tried to make into a memorial for himself. He had a summer place there. The view was spectacular. After we got home, and had a nap, Brian and I took off for about an hour in the car, and then we all went out for supper. Our little town was really small, so the menu wasn't in English and Brian had to translate everything. We had some good laughs over the food, especially when they set a plate of very, very rare meat in front of Laurie. She doesn't eat meat and thought she was getting a pasta dish. We did some trading and everything turned out fine.

After we got a bit settled in our apartment today, we all went off in our separate directions. Brian and I booked tickets for the Accademia for 4pm today (that's where David is), and tomorrow at 11:00am I am going to the Uffizi ALONE. That's the best way to do art, I think.

I have just been wandering around, looking in shops. The shopping is unreal here, but way beyond my budget. The stores are all ones you would see advertised in Vogue. Dolce and Gabbana, etc. Really high end.

Now I have found the internet cafe, I'll be in touch more and I will see you all soon!