Oct 10, Day 3
We have our land legs again! After a visit by our landlady to try to get our internet working (Lucy is so kind) we head out to visit Pitti Palace. We walk through Piazza Santo Spirito and there is a street market and it looks like a neighbourhood garage sale. Love looking through other peoples stuff. We decide we have better junk than them. People is great.
Next stop the Palace. Oh dear, look at the lineup. Plan B says because it is a glorious day we will start by visiting the Boboli and Bardini Gardens at the rear of the Palace. Should have planned a picnic. The garden took us up the side of a hillside to enjoy spectacular views of the city.
Lovely pools and statuary to enjoy. The gardens are very simple and restrained. Very peaceful compared to the streets not far away. Very few flowers and smaller plants like the lemon trees are all potted to move indoors for winter.
When we left the Palace we were looking for somewhere to eat but found that most places close their kitchens between 2:30 and 3:00. Came all the way home to finish off the last of our cheese and etc. Food is so yummy when you are hungry.
You would not believe the miles we are putting on our sneakers. It is such a compact city, it is easy to navigate and make your way by foot. The buildings are all shades of gold and cream and it is very pleasing to the eye. Buildings are low for the most part and we have not seen any modern buildings to mar the city’s beauty. It is very medieval.
We had to be back at 6:00 to meet Lucy and her boyfriend to try to tackle the internet again. No joy again. So off to dinner we go.
It is Sunday night and we expected it to be quiet but we had a real challenge to find a seat in any of the near by restaurants. We were told that Italians eat after 9:00 but it isn’t so. They only do one sitting and we were too late for most places. Found a nice spot eventually and share our pasta dishes with each other to get the most benefit.
After dinner we opted for a gelato. Oh how hard it was to choose. Yummmmmmy! We had our second wind by then and walked across the Ponte Vehicco again. Very different at night with all the merchants closed. Back into the city and the streets were so different. Lots of people and illegal purse sellers with their goods out on the street on a sheet. That way they can grab the four corners when the police show up and make a run for it. If you are found with one of the counterfeit bags you can be fined a large amount. I bought a scarf from a young woman and bargained down for a velvet scarf from 10 euros to 7. Lyn is a good foil as she will hum and haw and say maybe it isn’t worth that. Fun.
Back across the north side of town and across the next bridge to take us home.
Travel Tip:
Boboli Gardens - When you visit the gardens wear good walking shoes it is hilly. Make sure you bring a picnic. The entrance to the gardens is several blocks down the side of the Pitti Palace. You can buy your ticket at the palace or at the entrance to the gardens.
Next stop the Palace. Oh dear, look at the lineup. Plan B says because it is a glorious day we will start by visiting the Boboli and Bardini Gardens at the rear of the Palace. Should have planned a picnic. The garden took us up the side of a hillside to enjoy spectacular views of the city.
Lovely pools and statuary to enjoy. The gardens are very simple and restrained. Very peaceful compared to the streets not far away. Very few flowers and smaller plants like the lemon trees are all potted to move indoors for winter.
When we left the Palace we were looking for somewhere to eat but found that most places close their kitchens between 2:30 and 3:00. Came all the way home to finish off the last of our cheese and etc. Food is so yummy when you are hungry.
You would not believe the miles we are putting on our sneakers. It is such a compact city, it is easy to navigate and make your way by foot. The buildings are all shades of gold and cream and it is very pleasing to the eye. Buildings are low for the most part and we have not seen any modern buildings to mar the city’s beauty. It is very medieval.
We had to be back at 6:00 to meet Lucy and her boyfriend to try to tackle the internet again. No joy again. So off to dinner we go.
It is Sunday night and we expected it to be quiet but we had a real challenge to find a seat in any of the near by restaurants. We were told that Italians eat after 9:00 but it isn’t so. They only do one sitting and we were too late for most places. Found a nice spot eventually and share our pasta dishes with each other to get the most benefit.
After dinner we opted for a gelato. Oh how hard it was to choose. Yummmmmmy! We had our second wind by then and walked across the Ponte Vehicco again. Very different at night with all the merchants closed. Back into the city and the streets were so different. Lots of people and illegal purse sellers with their goods out on the street on a sheet. That way they can grab the four corners when the police show up and make a run for it. If you are found with one of the counterfeit bags you can be fined a large amount. I bought a scarf from a young woman and bargained down for a velvet scarf from 10 euros to 7. Lyn is a good foil as she will hum and haw and say maybe it isn’t worth that. Fun.
Back across the north side of town and across the next bridge to take us home.
Travel Tip:
Boboli Gardens - When you visit the gardens wear good walking shoes it is hilly. Make sure you bring a picnic. The entrance to the gardens is several blocks down the side of the Pitti Palace. You can buy your ticket at the palace or at the entrance to the gardens.
1 comment:
That would be so refreshing to be surrounded by so many historic buildings. Not like home, where everything old is torn down and rebuilt after 20 years. You're making me hungry!
Have fun
E
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