One more day in Florence
Siena: Everyone was up early and we
were on the road to Florence before 9 am. The morning was cool and there was
a beautiful layer of fog over the valley. The harvest began today - or so we
assume - because the tractor was gone this morning we woke.
We took the crew to Santa Croce first so they could see the tombs of
Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and all the other icons of the Italian
Renaissance and then walked down to the Uffuzi to see all the statues in the
square.
David and Hercules - and the Uffuzi beyond
Mary really wanted to go to the
Institute and
Museum of the History of Science and we all had a great time looking
through all the things invented by those clever Italians. Not only is
Galileo's perpetual motion machine, thermometer, clock and telescope on
display - they also exhibit
Galileo's middle finger! During The Inquisition, The Church wanted
Galileo to recant his belief that the earth revolved around the sun. He
refused. Finally, he was forced to say so, in hand cuffs. As they dragged
him from the room, he shouted back that it was true - the earth DOES revolve
around the sun! Galileo's students kept his middle finger - raised-up - in
tribute to those blind to science. Admittedly, Galileo's finger, preserved
in a glass egg, is something I don't see every day. The museum has several
of Michelangelo's scientific instruments on display - a great museum.
Galileo's finger
Florence traffic jam (jwr)
After touring the museum, we split up and decided to meet
after Steve, Mary, Woody & Kathy had visited the Uffuzi and the Academia
museums. Dave and I walked to a pleasant square and enjoyed an incredibly
leisurely and delicious luncheon at Osteria del Porcellino (Little Pig by my
translation, plus Osteria del Porcellino is near the Little Pig statue in
the Straw Market around the corner). We tried Fried Brie, in a sesame
truffle crust, Panzanella, asparagus risotto, pasta with shrimp and mango
and chicken with artichoke hearts. It was one of the most enjoyable meals we
have had since arriving in Italy - with lovely wines and a great wait staff.
Our table was on a nice patio, in the shade with elegant linens and crystal.
A perfect afternoon!
Fried Brie
Panzanella
Asparagus Risotto
Pasta with shrimp and mango
Chicken with deep-fried artichoke hearts
Ponte Vecchio (jrw)
After
lunch, we walked back over the Ponte Vecchio and did a little shopping and
then tried to locate a shop where I had noticed something for Lisa about a
week ago, but neglected to purchase at the time. After being in Italy for 10
days, we have decided if you see something you want - buy it - because you
may never find it again. Luckily, Dave recalled the shop and we quickly had
the precious purchase in our bag.
Our errands completed, we headed back up to the Hotel de la Ville (where we
stayed last week) for a coffee in a place we knew the chairs were comfy, the
coffee is hot and strong, the air was conditioned and the bathrooms were
spotless.
Later, when we arrived at the Piazza to meet our friends, the crowds were
massed to view some sort of wine ceremony. We really have no idea what was
happening (possibly something with the harvest starting???), but there was a
huge wagon - pulled by two huge white oxen - stacked a mile-high with
Chianti bottles! A band was playing and a team of men were prancing through
a carefully choreographed flag-waving routine.
The ceremony begins
Chianti Ruffino on Parade
The team
The Band
City Hound
As it was getting dark, we all headed back to the van and
Dave drove us back to Siena. We stopped at two empty restaurants that would
not seat us because we did not have a reservation. We can't figure if they
just don't want us, or if they really had a full house arriving momentarily.
Back to the Coop Supermarket for more bread, cheese, cured meats, olives and
wine! We are playing cards, and keeping track of the Duck v Sun Devil game
via various Blackberries. For some unknown reason, Italian television is not
showing the University of Oregon v Arizona State football game live. Mary
cannot understand this.
Pedometer today read 21,057 steps (nearly 9 miles). Gelato of the day:
Coconut - my favorite (so far).