Arivaderci Italia

Today we drove to Florence Italy, this is actually where our Tour Guide lives when she gets a few days off between tours.  Florence is in the region of Tuscany, a region full of mountains and vineyards. 

When we arrived, we got to tour a museum where the famous statue "David" is shown. This statue was created by Michelangelo, who painted the Sistine Chapel in Rome.  He wasn't really a painter, but a sculpture and David is his most famous piece.  David is the one from the famed tale of David and Goliath where David used a sling shot and a rock to slay a giant.  The statue is carved out of one piece of marble and is impressive.

Of course we had to take a picture of the three guys named David in our group. (I'm still known as 'no nuts').

Next, we took a walking tour of Florence to see a massive church. This area of Italy was controlled by the Medici family back in the 13th century. Some say they were like an early mafia and made their fortunes through commerce and banking.  They were not allowed to charge interest but got around this by donating to the church. The massive Duomo was built and it's the largest church in Florence ... entirely built with impressive marble.

Now I have to say, after so many churches in Italy, I'm kind of tired of seeing more, this one like so many others was impressive,

Tonight we drove to the Tuscany Hills to the winery where Machiavelli, the famous Italian writer lived for many years in seclusion. We saw his apartment and the original furniture where he wrote his famous piece called "The Prince". This document outlined how to govern and build and enduring political structure.  We even saw the desk and chair where this famous document was written 500 years ago.

The winery took us on a tour of Machiavelli's apartment and then out to his terrace where we enjoyed yet another Italian 5 course meal. I don't know why Italians are not all over 300 pounds eating all of this food and drinking so much wine.  But again we played the game and had a good taste of everything.

We were serenaded by a couple who sang and played Italian songs and other very popular music while we dined outside and looked out on the vineyards.  Incredible and again Barb and I just look at each other and cannot believe we are actually doing all of this. It really hasn't all sunk in.

 

 

We said goodbye to one of our group today. Min was the young lady from Shanghai who is studying in Western Canada. She has decided to join another Trafalgar group. While she enjoyed the time with us, we are all over 50 and I'm sure that she felt a little out of place with all of us wild old folks. We will see her again in Paris when both of our groups cross paths there. She wrote each of us a lovely letter to say goodbye. She is a very nice and determined young lady and we both wish her well for her future studies and much success.

Tomorrow will be a long day on the bus with over 600 Km to travel out of Italy and into Switzerland where we will again enjoy the Alps.