Florence

Friday, May 30

We want to get to Florence to visit with David. Lovely Milania, our hostess, 
helped us plan our day. We were to catch the train to Florence from nearby 
Chiusi at 9:09 a.m.  She was VERY concerned that we had to have breakfast before 
heading out. Normally breakfast starts at 8:30, and we tried to assure her we'd 
be okay without it.  She seemed offended. "I will come in early," she says. 
"I'll have your breakfast ready at 8:00. You will have plenty of time to eat and 
get to Chiusi."  O.K.  We've been bamboozled into breakfast. 

But Miliania doesn't understand our special skills of getting lost. And so of 
course...we get lost and miss this train. Now we must catch the 10:45 train for 
the two hour trip to Florence where we have a 1:00 reservation for the Accademia 
del Galleria where David resides. So we are cutting this close!

By the time we de-board the train it is already nearly 1:00. We have never been 

to this museum before, but we have studied the map while on the train. We take 
off running!!  We arrive at the museum at 1:20. No problem. We get in just fine. 

Then I remembered trying to visit the Uffizi, the largest museum in Florence, 
and we got there a bit early for our reservation. "No, no you must wait!"  

Evidently this must be the Italian way. It's fine to be late...but don't dare 
try to be early!!

I can tell by the expression on his face that David has been waiting a long time 
to see us. He looks overjoyed, but not nearly as awe-struck as we are. Near the 
David statue are several of Michelangelo's incomplete slaves/prisoners. They 
give you a great idea of what his work looked like partially through the process 
as he chipped away the excess stone to release the captured prisoner inside.  
Most of the sculptors of his time made plaster molds first, and then used them 
in assisting them with the sculpting of the stone. Michelangelo chipped at the 
marble free hand!!  What an amazingly talented man!  And David is definitely one 
of man's greatest artistic accomplishments!  And to think...we got to see it 
with our very own eyes. 

While in Florence, we also visited the Duomo. What a beautiful church!  The 
marble work on the exterior and interior are amazing. But it seems I can always 
find something to giggle about. Here, you hear from the loud speaker this 
message repeated often, "Shhhhh, silencio, per favore. Shhhh, silence, please."  
Now I understand the need to constantly remind tourists to be quiet in a church, 
but it made me laugh that they had to translate "shhh."  Jacque decided she 
could truthfully tell people she can speak 12 languages...as long as she only 
has to say "shhh". 

 the famous duomo of Florence, inside and out

Unfortunately, no pictures of David were allowed.  But he will be emblazoned in our minds.

We get back to Montepulciano without much delay...to our astonishment...where we head 

to a fabulous dinner at a great restaurant.  There we witness an elaborate wine 
pouring by our waiter and eat Italian style...with many courses lasting 
hours. And Larry photographed each course for they were not only delicious, but 
a feast for the eyes as well. 

  It's truffle season so we had many courses with truffles.

This is risotto with truffles.

After eating more than a person should be able fit in his/her stomach and enjoying several glasses of vino...we make a 

monumental decision...let's sleep in tomorrow and pretend we're on vacation. What a concept!

 John tries to reach the door handle to let us into our hotel at the end 

of a long, but wonderful day.