Florence

Florence is utterly cute. It would be beautiful if it weren't for the hoards of tourists. But you can generally ignore them as long as you watch where you're going (I got bumped into so many times by people walking backwards and taking pictures). We got into the main train station around noon and only had a short walk to our hostel. The hostel was actually a redone hotel, so it was almost half hostel/half hotel. All the amenities of a hostel but none of the camaraderie. We leave our packs there to go get some lunch and then head back to get our room. We spend most of the day just walking around and exploring - Florence's downtown is pretty small and compact, so it's really easy to navigate. It's also a little confusing when you start wandering down the teeny alley ways. We also make a stop in the Disney store and I am very disappointed to find that they don't sell music. No Italian Disney music for Lauren.

That night we wander around some more and hang out outside the Palazzo Vechio (which is open till midnight if you feel like doing some late-night sight seeing) where this American dude is singing. He's actually pretty good and he's gathered a huge crowd - he sings the Beatles, John Denver, and some American classic rock, so pretty harmless stuff. Everyone in Florence seems to stay up really late, too. When we were heading in around 11:30 the streets were still buzzing. Most of the gelato places were doing a rousing business and most restaurants were still open, too. Wandering around at night was great because we got all the good, warm weather, and none of the sun (which is awesome because I've already gotten a bit of a weird burn/tan from my t-shirts).

The next day we do the Uffizi, which actually takes only a couple of hours. In my opinion it's a bit overrated - there's the couple Botticelli works and couple Da Vincis, but the rest is just okay. I don't know why you have to reserve a month ahead, but judging by the line outside you clearly do.

We wander around some more that night - coincidentally it's the day for the patron saint of Florence so there's lots of revelry to be had. We watch the fireworks along with a huuuuge crowd (watch being a loose term - we really just tried to crane our necks around a corner without toppling into everyone). We wanted to get gelato at this place we discovered earlier, Grom, but it had a huuuge line around 11, so we thought we'd just try the next day. We had discovered this place in our guide book, dubbed a local favorite, but they had run out of vanilla by the time we got there. Their other flavors were very good, but we really wanted to try the Madagascar vanilla. We get to it the next afternoon and it was so worth it.

The next day we do the Duomo, the Medici Chapels, and the Accademia. The Accademia wasn't hard to get into (we didn't reserve ahead) - we waited in line for maybe ten minutes before getting in. Though, when we were leaving the line was getting long, so I guess it just depends on when you hit it. The Accademia is also overrated. You have to pay 10 euros just to see David. Now, he's kinda worth it, but I just wish there was more. I mean, there's Michelangelo's Prisoners series, but you're there all of a half hour to see these, which are all in the same room. Everything else in the museum is by amateur artists and really not that impressive. If you want to see David, do it, but realize that you'll be there all of a half and hour, if that.

The Duomo felt like a hospital. It was the only place we've found that enforced the dress code of no baring your knees or shoulders. When someone comes in dressed inappropriately, they give you an aqua pull over foam-like thingy that you have to wear. Nearly half the girls were wearing these over their shirts or around their waists, so when you're sitting on the side you feel like you're in one giant mental facility. The church inside isn't that impressive. It's actually kind of a let-down, but it's free so I suggest waiting in the five minute line to see what all the fuss is about. And yes, I was wearing shorts cause it was so gosh darn hot out so I got to wear the little blue thing around my waist, too. I was very annoyed.

The Medici Chapels are pretty nifty, or would be if they weren't completely covered in scaffolding. Even the inside of the chapel, which is supposed to be awesome, is covered in sheets and scaffolding and plaster for a restoration. Very much a let down, but at least the crypt that Michelangelo did was untouched. That was pretty nifty.

We get gelato twice that day because Grom is just that good. We find out later that it's a chain, so if you're ever in Italy you must look it up and get the gelato of a life time. Their vanilla is amazing and their coffee ice cream tastes like you just did a shot of espresso. We wanted to watch the guy singing American songs again, but instead they're having an orchestra play outside the palace. They're playing ABBA so it's an ok substitute. Afterwards, we try to hunt down the four ninja turtle inspirations among the statues outside the Uffizi, but can't find Raphael. We figure he must be behind the scaffolding (yes, everywhere in Europe is undergoing restoration) and go to get more gelato.

It's sad to leave Florence, but we're getting homesick so it's on to Turin!