Cortona

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Firenze is tough to leave.  It has been my favorite place so far.  I love the food, atmosphere, and the feel of the place.  On the last day I took a trip to Cortona by train.  Cortona is a hilltop town of 23,000.  It is quaint and old school.  Little did I know that the train does not stop at the top, but at the bottom, in a different town.  When I stepped out of the station I saw Cortona, my goal, on the top of the hill.  I wasn’t sure if there was a bus or where it would pick up, and there was no one around to ask (from 2-5 in the afternoon everything closes, the place is deserted, making my arrival somewhat depressing).  Being from mountainous Tennessee, I started walking up the hill.  The hike was a little arduous, but the rewards (both the longterm of the view from the top and the short-term views from the side) kept me going.  Along the way I met an elderly gentleman who spoke some English.  He pointed me toward a small footpath that was 10 minutes to the top (not including time to take photos).  Taking the road meant winding back and forth.  I was walking near a couple about my age (we kept leapfrogging each other as we stopped to take photos), I beat the to the top by about 20 minutes.  The results are amazing!  Other towns, vineyards, paths, old churches, all spread out before Cortona.  I grabbed a gelato and just gazed out (even though I could see my breath, and people were looking at me funny, I was wearing green, orange shorts and eating gelato, in the cold).  The place is very laid back & I dont know if I could live here, but it seems like the perfect retirement town.  Pretty sights, few tourists, chill attitude, and good restaurants. (pics).

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).