Florence in 24 hrs and on to Venice

By: Becky Adams

I know it’s been a while since we have posted, but mom (Joy) has run us so ragged all week that we have been dog tired by the time we returned to our apartment and had to go right to sleep for an early next morning! Note to Gladys: don’t think for a minute she has changed her busy pace!  Haha   Florence was a 24 hour whirlwind!    After our train ride there we got to “experience” the 460 some steps to the top of the Duomo Cathedral for some fantastic views over Florence.   We enjoyed some shopping in the markets and some good food.  We made a few leather jackets and leather purse purchases and we got to see the David sculpture by Michelangelo!!  We are now in Venice for the rest of our Italy stay.  As I type this, I hear from the dining room window, a gondola passing by with an Italian serenade of singing and accordion playing!  Wow, I could definitely enjoy this for a long, long time!!  Venice is beautiful!  What a change from Sorrento and Florence where our journey began, where cars and motor shooters would just whiz past you in a flash…. Here it’s just walking or boat rides.  Yesterday (Tuesday) we toured the Doges Palace and Saint Mark’s Basilica.  They were both beautiful buildings and the history was just amazing!!  In the Palace as we were walking around I tried to imagine what it was like in previous centuries when the Doges and such walked the halls of the palace, and lived the life they did.  We had a wonderful Chateaubriand dinner followed by a Grand Canal water bus cruise while a lunar eclipse was happening with a full moon.  

Thursday by Joy:

Finally, our first day to sleep in with no alarm clock set!  While Becky, Joe and Tim slept in the rest of us went to the Rialto Markets and bought 2 big bags of fruit.  After lunch in the apartment we went to the Jewish Ghetto and took their tour followed by a short afternoon nap before dinner.  Stacy has developed a cold and skipped dinner.  Hopefully she will fill better in the morning. 

Will try to get some pictures loaded tomorrow.