We arrived bright and early at Stazione di Santa Maria Novella and after a quick baggage check, we hit the streets. Great going early on, as we were among the few on the move that were not headed for work.

We got a little freaked leaving Rome, as Termini is vast and we were having difficulty identifying which train was ours. Jane grabbed a
most helpful Gent in a yellow vest who in fact looked in a little notepad he was keeping to direct us. Thanks Guy!!!

First stop in Florence was Piazza della Republicca where Jane ordered us up some fancy coffees and flaky croissants. Great price too, a rarity on most piazza! It helped us orient after a very early 5:15 start.

We strolled into a virtually solitary Piazza della Signoria, taking in the statuary on the southern section of the plaza. There are monuments
of account within this collection, including the replica of David, the
Rape of the Sabines, and Hercules. We were mouth open when we entered the piazza. It is really out of this world... having so much art on display in an open market.

Our first visit was the Palazzo Vecchio and we were as alone in
this building as any we've traveled. In fact, what had happened is
we'd passed by a wrongly posted No Admittance sign into the museum. Thus, we were it! No one else had arrived. Great walk through, with one of my favorite spaces being the map room, with what was described as one of the world's earliest globes.

Following the palazzo, we walked to the Basilica di Santa Croce area. While there we took in the church, with its many famous crypts including the sites of Michelangelo and Galileo. A museum attached to the basilica detailed a vast collection of Byzantine Art, as well as history regarding the church and devastating flood in 1966 which forced a complex period of restoration. There is also a beautiful courtyard on the way out and we took advantage of the facilities there before heading back along the Fiume Arno.

Next stop was Ponte Vecchio, the "Gold Bridge". The bridge, complete with shops that line either side of the passing, hosts jewelry and gems of all type (didn't realize there were so many types). Jane window shopped while I took some pics from the archways in the centre. Crowded with tourists, and I'd hate to think how busy it would be in high season.

Speaking of that, the weather from Day 1 in Rome was absolutely
gorgeous, with temperatures between 12-17 degrees during the day and sunny skies with cool evenings.

Our guide book recommended highly a visit to the Uffizi Gallery... with noted warnings. One was an alert to purchase tickets before
arriving, as the line-ups can be extensive. The other was to realize that crowds are heavy within the museum itself. We saw the potential for both when we entered with our reservations in hand. Why someone would spend an hour or two in Florence in a queue instead of planning I'll never know?

The museum was loaded, a vast arrangement of Italian art from sculpture to painting. We saw the works of Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Raphael and we especially enjoyed Botticelli's Primavera. It was also loaded with tourists, many of the class trip kind not interested in being there in the first place or the 15 person tour stogging the path while explaining a specific piece. We angled around these groups and would double back if we missed something. With both of us being teachers, we sighed and noted, "At least they aren't ours"!!!

After the Uffizi we picked up our bags and checked in at Hotel Fiorita. Great little digs (Si, si, si...). Super location for us as we were just minutes from the station. Friendly host and beautiful big
windows that open to the streets below (after we actually figured them out).

Our obligatory evening trip for groceries landed us goodies and wine for wind down! We always tried to grab enough for lunch the next day each visit. Usually the purchase consisted of bread, cheese, meats, and vino!!! We also secured a pair of wine glasses for the rest of the trip. The evening ended with a bus ride to Piazza Michelangelo. Jane asked our hotel manager which bus would be best and we boarded the Number 12. Awesome view of Florence at night and Jane got an exellent picture from across the river! With wine and snacks we closed out a very busy day!