Yes, your two European DOM-TOMs
Part III:
Our next port the following morning was Livorno, Italy, the entry point for Florence. Bill and I and another couple hired a taxi to take us into Florence for 35 Euro p/p vs. the ships transportation into Florence for US$79 p/p. I always opt for a taxi over a bus full of up to 50 people loading and unloading the bus at each destination. Our driver took us to the high point of Florence to give us a bird's eye view of Florence, then drove us to the middle of all the attractions. He gave us a map with all the places of interest, and our first destination was the Bargello museum where we spent about an hour and a half. That was followed by a visit to the Duomo/Baptistry through to San Lorenzo Basilica. Then to Medici Chapel, and to the Uffizi museum where we waited in line for almost 30-minutes because of some medical emergency. We spent some time in the Palazzo Vecchio/Plazza della Signora for people watching and lunch. We then went for our tour at Ponte Vecchio, the famous bridge on the Arno River with many gold shops. What I loved about our visit to Ponte Vecchio is the age of the buildings - they really looked old!
We walked around for a bit enjoying the scenery of shops, restaurants, and people, then returned to the location of our taxi. Our taxi driver was waiting for us. We returned to the ship in plenty of time, and we enjoyed a bit of respite from so much touring/walking for the past couple of days.
We missed Pitti Palace on the other side of the Arno River, but what the hay, trying to take in everything at my age is not a good idea. Maybe for another time.
On November 11, Friday, we arrived at Civitavecchia, the port for Rome.
The bird's eye view of Florence.
A view of Ponte Vecchio from above.
Interior (actually, pictures inside this museum is not allowed, so this is the only one).
Most popular piazza in Forence.
Some of the statues around the piazza.
Some of the old buildings on Ponte Vecchio.
Another view of the dome.
Baptistry's "gate of paradise."
I enjoy these, of course, but the more so since my own Ponte Vecchio photos were apparently tossed somehow when I got home.
The word harrange is associated with this piazza... as there was a built up platform called the arringhiera (or some such word) quite early.
Bonfire of the vanities happened there, a few times, as there wasn't just one as it seems people think. Sometime shortly thereafter Savonarola himself got bonfired, if I remember right, and just around the same spot as the key bonfires of jewels and mirrors and paintings.
cicerone imposter wrote:Who can this be?
First planet of the solar system?
