Firenze

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In Firenze we found the market, and had lunch at Nerbone, a place recommended by Rick Steves.  It was great, just good marinated pork on great bread, slathered in gravy.  I went off & explored the Medici Family palace.  The place is elegant, borderline gaudy though.  Every celling is coffered and gilded.  The apartments for senators are sometimes large sometimes small, all a tactic of keeping power.  This also provided the first view of Flounce from above, it’s great, red clay roofs as far as the mountains.  

We then hiked to an overlook near the city.  A short hike, but well worth it.  The view was spectacular.  Everywhere we had been was in view, Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, the Medici Palace.  While at the church up there we saw a woman getting interviewed about her wedding (she probably paid for a documentary).  I read Atlas Shrugged (I’m in the middle of John Galt’s 50 page speech now!) on the steps of the church, and someone used me as a model taking my picture candidly, how cool.  I felt like a citizen of Firenze.  Reading on the steps of the church with the view of the city, just wonderful. (more photos) (even more)

Duomo

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Firenze does not have a bad angle.  It is much prettier than Milano.  I could really live here, not forever, but for a while.  The food is great, the coffee smooth, the architecture regal, and the history rich.  Right out of the train station Duomo (Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore) rises above the buildings.  The train got in after dark, and the dome was lit up beautifully.  This is one of the most confusing cities, on a few occasions I have gotten lost, and once actually went is a circle without realizing it.  Getting lost in Florence is not a problem, it’s just a detour.  Everything is really close.  

Our hotel here is great.  The owners are really nice and are very flexible.  The rooms open out to a nice courtyard and the ceilings are very high.  It is the type of place I want to live in (though not so far from home!).  (addizionale foto Milano) (last day in Barcelona)

Milan

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I finally made it to Milan.  The French were protesting so that canceled a flight from Spain to Italy (?), delaying us by one day.  One more day in Barcelona is really great anyway.  Milan is a newer city, at least where I was, in the fact that it has skyscrapers, busy people, and less of the old time charming feel that Barcelona had.  We managed to find a great little gelato place near a park.  The coffee is amazing.  I had 3 cups yesterday.  The espresso is not bitter and tastes great.  One day in Milan seemed enough, it is more for shopping.  We never made it to the city center (and the cathedral).  On the train we met a nice lady from Lithuania and another from Italy who told us all the great places to go in Firenze and Roma (Florence and Rome).

Palm Sunday

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Happy Palm Sunday (and April Fools)!  I went to mass in a local church.  The entire service was in Spanish.  I could follow somewhat along because it is a similar service as at home.  When they read from the Bible though, it seemed like the priest read what Jesus said and another person read the rest, like a narrator.  The church was pretty and their words echoed throughout the place.  All the children had palms, the boys had palms wrapped with ribbon in a staff, and the girls had ornate woven patterns.  (et cetera photos)

Eclipse

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Ever since we got here I’ve seen this ship, as it is directly across the harbor when we walk to the city center in the morning.  It is being worked on, however it looks very familiar.  When I walked around the harbor I purposefully tried to see the back of the ship to see the name.  It should be expected, the dock is isolated and private.  Surprisingly, from the W Hotel I could see the name on the side of the top floor, ECLIPSE.  As it turns out this is the largest yacht in the world.  It’s owned by a Russian billionaire (worth 12 billion), and cost between 300 and 800 million dollars.  It has pools, helicopter pads, movie theaters, disco halls, 3 smaller boats, a submarine, ect.  So cool to be able to look out & see it.  

Barcelona Market

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Yesterday was pretty calm.  I tried Sangria (red wine and fruit juice) for the first time.  It was ok, not much different from red wine.  Maybe juice was short.  It was only one euro, thats what I like about the market, it’s inexpensive to try things so there is little risk trying new foods!  I walked all the way around the harbor, 35 minute walk, ending at the W Hotel.  The views of the sea and Barcelona are amazing.  It is still difficult to grasp the fact that the surrounding coast is Spain. (complementary photos. and now all the photos can be seen on flickr).