Bella Firenze

Today was Florence. Unmatched Firenze. We asked Simonetta for the best directions and the easiest place to park and she really came through. The last time I drove in Florence I was in the heart of downtown and it was comparable to driving in Tijuana. For those who have done that, add in a few hundred (thousand!) Vespas and motorcycles, and you've got Florence. With Simonetta's directions, we missed all but the round abouot traffic as we left town this afternoon.

We parked at Piazelle Michaelangelo and walked downhill to the Ufizzi. We had 11:30 reservations to see the museum so went directly there. I am so happy that we went. Tom wasn't going to go in with me, but in the end we had reservations for two so he joined me. We are both really glad he did. He discovered some artists that he really enjoyed their work, and he was there with me to see my two favorite paintings in the entire world. Both in one place! They are two paintings by Boticelli: LaNecita Venus (The Birth of Venus )and La Primavera (Allegory of Spring). This is the second time I have gotten to see them, and I hope it won't be the last. They move me in a way I don't understand. I started crying as I approached the gallery that they are in. I cried the whole time I was in that room with them. I'm crying alittle now, thinking about having shared that space with them. Go figure. I do love them, that's all I can say to explain.

We wandered around Florence and took photos at the Piazza Della Signoria and Plazzo Vecchio, and ended the day back at Piazalle Michaelangelo (after the uphill trek of course).