Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Europe Weekender - Italy4 - Florence


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.