Florence

Florence was sort of a big deal

Maybe you heard of it?

(DATELINE CHRIS) When we were planning this trip, and we knew we were going to Italy, I was most worried about how we would deal with Florence. You have to go to Florence if you go to Italy. It's the birthplace of the modern world. Each and every ninja turtle contributed epic works, including the fifth ninja turtle (Botticelli). It is full of museums; it is, itself a museum. 

Otis hates museums. 

How would we deal with Florence?

Well, let me say first that you should go to Florence because you should see this Michelangelo painting. You can skip the Sistine Chapel (we did), but see this with your eyes:

Holy Family by Michelangelo

The thing about Florence is, many of the things that are there are so famous that you know exactly what they look like. What's there to say about David? You know exactly what David looks like. You know exactly what Birth of Venus looks like; you probably know what Spring looks like. But you're in Florence so you go around spending tons of money to see them anyway, because that's what you do in Florence, and that's what we did.

Florence has a bonkers Duomo. Everyone is there looking at it. 

Florence has a historic bridge, and it's odd because everyone is also on the Ponte Vecchio. 

How can they be both places? Especially when they're also on line waiting to get into the Uffizi? and the Academia? WHERE DID ALL THESE PEOPLE COME FROM?!

Florence has too many people in it.

Here's what I liked about Florence.

I liked where we stayed, which was a private room at the Emerald Palace Hostel, which sounds like a mid-grade Chinese restaurant, but is a conveniently located hostel with a nice room and chancy wifi. Our room was big and comfortable and it looked like this:

We asked for room for three, they gave us three beds!

I liked some places we ate, including Wegetarian, which has the clever idea to serve felafel sandwiches, but with non-traditional toppings. I had French and American, Jen had Indian, and Otis just had pickles and Ketchup. We also liked Shake Café, which had the elusive vegan croissant and the always-appreciated Dude-Who-Speaks-Perfect-American-English™.

I liked the Buontalenti Grotto in Boboli Gardens which is weird and whimsical and charming. 

I also like the Boboli Gardens because they feature this guy, and sometimes you must let a player play.

I see you shining

What I LOVED about Florence, though, was meeting our fellow Montclarions, John, Kathy, Elena and Julia Bachmann who happened to be visiting at the same time. We had two dinners with them and some of their family visiting from Germany. Definitely a highlight of the trip. They stayed at this crazy Countessa Apartment AirBNB that was like a museum itself. It had Banana trees. You should try to book it if you go to Florence.

Now, here are some pictures of our Florentine adventures!

Jen just told me we've spent about $100 on Gelato

On our way to Boboli Garden

Some street artist painted Florentine works of art, but with swimming masks, all over the city

The view from the top of Boboli Garden