Days 2-3 in Florence I was on my own.
Kyle had to work those days which was a bummer, but still. Hello, it's Italy??? I was super nervous about being alone in a foreign country. Now that I've done it, I'll take exploring on my own in Italy any day.
I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.T.
I mapped out a game plan for what I could do without him those two days that weren't the BIG things. I didn't want to leave Kyle out of seeing the sites that truly make Florence amazing. We started the day with breakfast together at the hotel. Um WEIRD. They had so many different types of food that were not typical breakfast foods. We both stuck with croissants I think? Kyle left and I went back to sleep for a little bit!
Day 2:Uffizi Gallery and
"Getting Lost in Florence"
AKA the day I learned the difference between people that LOVE art, and people that appreciate art.
I am definitely on the appreciate art team.
My day in pictures:
I walked over to the Uffizi Gallery to begin my day. I was worried about the lines to get in, but they were a breeze! I purchased a headphone guide set to use so I knew what I was looking at. I was actually short euro's and this super sweet couple behind me ended up giving me the money! Great start to my day solo!
Apparently this is one of the most famous rooms in the entire Gallery.
View from the Gallery of the Arno River
Cool Ceilings!
View of the Palazzo Vecchio from the Uffizi Gallery
After the Uffizi, I walked around the city for a bit. I wandered by a gorgeous church, Santa Croce, and on a whim decided to stop in. They had a dress code and because I wasn't planning on this I had on shorts. They made me tie my scarf around my waist to be more modest. This was my second favorite church of the trip behind St. Peter's Basilica!
Tomb of Michelangelo
Massive!
Sad to think people just walk over these
This cross was ruined when the Arno River flooded back in the 60's (I think?). They restored it and hung it in a side chapel.
Pazzi Chapel
Santa Croce
At this point I was all the way across town:
Santa Trinita
I headed back to the hotel and read until Kyle returned from the GE Compressor Test. A guy from his work joined us for dinner that night at Osteria Santa Spirito. This place had pretty good food from what I remember!
From there Kyle and I made the long trek over to the Piazza del Michelangelo. We must have climbed thousands of steps to get up there, but the view was 100% worth it. I wish we would have been 45 minutes sooner.
Probably my favorite picture from Florence:
Ok, I lied...this one is my favorite!
The view was breathtaking. When I think back on Florence, this is what I will remember.
And walking a billion steps.
Eduardo Gelato :)
On to Day 3: Florence
Pitti Palace & Kasey is in Florence!
This brings us to Friday, September 4th.
Kyle and I ate breakfast again before he left for GE. My sorority sister, Kasey, also happened to be in Florence so we made plans to meet up! I started my day at the Pitti Palace and used another audio guide. So much learning!
This palace was beautiful in a non-traditional palace way. It was more fortress-like than the palaces in England that I'm used to. It was the home of the Medici Family at one time and sits across the Arno
I'd take this for our entry way!
Napoleon's Bathroom
View from the palace (See the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio?)
Famous painting?
I lucked my way into a private tour of a normally closed off part of the Palace and saw the palace's medieval kitchen.
I met Kasey and her mom for lunch after touring the Pitti Palace. Somehow I didn't take a single picture. Boo :(
At that point I was very familiar with Florence, so I took them on a walking tour!
Later that night, Kyle and I pizza for dinner at the Piazza del Santa Maria Novella!
See the shoes I'm wearing? Not my best idea...
Outside the Duomo!
This was the best suggestion we may have gotten for the trip: Magnum Build Your Own Ice Cream!
The Miller's honeymooned in Florence and Rome a few weeks before we got there and Megan recommended this place. It did NOT disappoint!
We probably should have shared?
And then we climbed back up the dang hill. This time we went to San Miniato al Monte. I feel like the al monte part means "on the mountain" because that was another eleventy million steps (in stupid sandals). Again, we were about 30 minutes too late.
Day 3 Step Count:
Up next: our BIG day TOGETHER in Florence!
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