Day 2 :
Yesterday
was sunny, but it has gone really cloud today. We started our day with
breakfast in the hotel itself. We asked if we could go to the terrace, and one
of the serving ladies guided us to the same. Then only we realized we were
walking through their living room on the floor above to climb the steps to the
terrace! It was a bit surprising as normally Europeans will never let you enter
their living areas so easily. Italians are more like Indians in this respect as
well? It was a nice view of the Duomo from their terrace, but it was in covered
by mist.
Cloudy, and misty, not a wonderful day!
Started walking by 9:50, towards the Duomo, and walked through the route we
walked yesterday night to Piazza Della Signoria, and then further towards Arno
River, walked through the road along its banks. We passed through the entrance
of another museum, but I didn’t get a feel that neither Krithi nor Pranav were
interested. The bridge in front of us - Ponte Vecchio (meaning ‘the old
bridge’) - across Arno River gave a feel that we are on a pilgrimage! The feel
as when I was walking through Hrishkesh or Haridwar….!
We
crossed the river through Ponte Vecchio bridge to the southern side of Florence,
walked to Palazzo Pitti. This building, Pitti
Palace as it can be called in English, was constructed in 1458. From initially
being a residence of the ruling families of Tuscany (the state where Pisa and
Florence are situated), it was used as a power base by Napoleon in late 18th
century, later became the Royal Palace of the newly United Italy. Currently it
is one of the largest art galleries in Florence. The description about the
palace also mentioned Boboli gardens behind the palace. Initially I got it confused
with the famous hanging gardens of Babylon, which was one of the wonders of the
ancient World J.
Anyway, all of us voted unanimously to not to pay money for entering the same,
Pranav as usual taking this initiative with maximum protest J.
The
plan for us was to go to Piazza Michelangelo. We continued in slow pace as
Krithi and Pranav were tired (already!) with the walk. A steep climb awaited
us, to the top of a hill, where this wonderful square is situated.
We
reached the top at 12:30, a gelato to cool us down. The view from the top of
the square was really the most memorable sight in Florence! The piazza (square)
is filled with tourists, vendors (mainly selling souvenirs) and a bronze
replica statue of Michelangelo’s David. If only the Sun could come out for a
few minutes….!
It
was 1:15. We took a bus back to the hotel. Bus took 30 mins to reach where we
started our walk in the morningJ ! Took a 10-15 mins break in hotel,
then went out for lunch. Hotel had kept our passports with them for some
reasons to verify or something. They gave it back in the afternoon, when we
informed them of our checkout next day morning. That was another restaurant we
found on the way in one of the narrow cut roads around the Duomo. We were again
left impressed with the service and food!
Time
was 3:30. Reenergised, walked around some of the streets, the Sun is out now!
When these two told they really want to take rest, I had no second thoughts. As
Krithi and Pranav walked back to the hotel, I took the bus again around 4 PM, to
the Michelangelo square. I also was tired to again walk all the way and climb the
hill!
It
was heavenly! I took enough snaps walking around the square, returned in the
same bus, back in hotel by 5:30. We were satisfied (or I should translate it as
really done with, for Krithi and Pranav) and done. Pranav had become a pet for
the family running the hotel. And he also started feeling at home, was asking
for hot milk! Krithi translated it as, ‘could we boil some milk if we buy it
from outside’. The answer was a smile, followed by a cup of hot milk from their
kitchen! I was really impressed with this place and the family!
We stayed back in the hotel for the rest of the day
except for an hour of dinner.